Translator shares examples of American cultural ignorance, discrimination of Hispanics

The word racism has been on the tongues of many since the age of Slavery began its slow decline in the United States during the late 1800s.
However, apart from the implications of black vs. white that the word connotes when mentioned, other types of discrimination abound in the U.S. and in Northest Tennessee.

The number of migrant workers from Mexico and other Latin American countries has increased dramatically in recent years as conditions continue to worsen for their respective citizens. Seeking a better existence and a more promising financial future, most Hispanics travel to the United States, risking not only their lives but their happiness. Oftentimes loved ones are left behind.

However, life in the U.S. has proved less fruitful for some. Not only are migrant workers faced with an overwhelming communication barrier, but they lack adequate knowledge of the American culture, health care and legal systems.
When faced with health care issues or legal problems in Northeast Tennessee, many Hispanics first turn to a translator. This step is inevitable because there are few fluent, Spanish-speaking health professionals and lawyers in this area.

Yet, even with a translator, communication between languages is fraught with difficulties.
In contrast to the fact that American culture is relatively unknown to the Hispanics who travel here, most residents in this area are uninformed about the stark differences in the governmental organizations and health care of Latin-American countries.

An example of such cultural ignorance and discrimination comes from an experience I had while acting as translator for a Mexican family, of which the mother had recently given birth.
While in the hospital, the mother was asked if she and the father of her child were married, to which she replied yes.
When requested to produce the marriage certificate the young woman was at a loss, for the document had been destroyed by a group of vandals that burned down her family's home in Mexico over a year ago.

Thus, their trouble began. Since the woman was not able to hand over proof of marriage, the hospital, because it did not "feel comfortable" doing so, allowed them to leave without the father's name on the child's birth certificate.

After accompanying the couple on a number of occasions to various government offices in the area, I became aware that the decision to withhold the father's legal rights to his child was not based on law, but on a lack of desire to aid those from a foreign country with legal problems.
I encountered more than one racially inundated comment, said to me both in the presence of the family and in private.

With each instance of blatant, discriminatory speech and inflection of voice, one question ran through my mind: Should I point out my disapproval and risk not getting the help I needed, or neglect to show any disapproval in order to facilitate the process of having the father's name added to the birth certificate? I did both.
After receiving the help I needed I pointed out the cultural differences between Mexico and the United States and criticized the guilty party for lack of dignity and understanding of a people much different from their own.

The only resolution to this type of discrimination is education.

A wealth of cultural events, library videos and music abound in and around the area for the use and enjoyment of the students at ETSU.

Some examples are Cultural Awareness Week and Ritmo Latino, the bilingual radio show broadcast by WETS-FM every Sunday evening.