A dinner conversation that's still bothering me.

[nadine_mn]

20. Depends on the era - my grandpa was first generation born in the US

And his name was changed to a more Americanized name (Pedro to Peter) and while yes Spanish was spoken in his home, it was clear that they were "Americans now, we speak and do American things" and gradually Spanish was basically banned from the house unless to communicate with his parents.

He raised his family (2nd generation) and there were no traditional Mexican holiday observations, no Spanish at all spoken, nothing at all to show that his family had any Mexican background. In fact my uncles (so 1/2 Mexican) consider themselves white, my mom even considers her dad to be white (but he is 100 % of Mexican heritage, yet since he was born in America he is white?)

It wasn't until I was in my late teens (late 80's) that he felt comfortable embracing his roots. So I think a lot has to do with where and when each generation is born.