Connected Through The Arcuate Fasciculus

Dear Broca and Wernicke,

Spanish

is a language that should come easy to me
Spanish
is the blood of my ancestors pouring out onto the protest scorned streets
Spanish
is a language that I should know
it should be ingrained in my memory
burnt in my skin
when my skin breaks open, I should be able to see the words tumbling out from beneath my veins
But I don't
I shouldn't have to have a translator for every family reunion
I shouldn't have to question everything I'm saying
I shouldn't scream out Selena lyrics without knowing what I'm saying
But I do
And I feel guilty
I try to tell myself that it's not my fault
It's the way I was raised
My parents decided not to teach me this beautiful language that I would need in the future
I tell myself it's okay
But it's not
You see,
Spanish is not just a language
It is a lifestyle
A culture
A family
I may call myself hispanic
But I feel like I'm lying
It feels fake
Like I'm trying to a appropriate a struggle that is not mine to claim

I need you to help me out here

Because I want to embrace who I am

But I just can’t find a way to do so

I don’t know everything they’re saying

But I know this:

Spanish. Is. Love.

Love,

A Proud Rodriguez