It happens all across the country
Americans demanding that Hispanics in this country act more American. Oh
That's okay speak English you're in America they come here to live and act like everybody else
Just look at what happened recently in New York?
New York which is considered a sanctuary for all immigrants
That lawyer eventually apologized. Hey, do you guys see more time? Are you ready? Isabella? Yeah
But this woman who just adopted a Latino child
Refuses to do so
Isabella no more Spanish. It's not part of your culture anymore today like
I don't care. You're an American now if you overheard this mother
Only the help speaks Spanish trying to wash away her adopted daughters culture
What would you do?
Michele and Isabella are enjoying their first special outing at the orange town classic diner in Orangeburg, New York
Bella stop speaking Spanish. This first customer is clearly concerned
You're American. That is not your language what is wrong with you? But rather than confront, Michelle
mano-a-mano
believe this
She tests her own Spanish skills instead
Exactly, yeah, I don't speak Spanish
My teacher
She offers Michelle a tip
We're American
Despite her suspicions. She complimented Civello in Spanish
I like speaking Spanish. Well, it's a beautiful language. I think she just gets a little bit upset because
You almost busted us
What prompted you to speak up when it comes to children
I can go from a mouse to a like and I just like I don't like anybody taking advantage of a child
Isabella in
English this next customer is also a teacher I brought you here to give you a better life and I want you to speak American
And she tries to give Michelle a lesson in
patience
I
Know I just want her to speak English. I'm an American I
Am so frustrated when the woman's attempts to reason with me she'll fail I'll be right back
She turns to Isabella and tries to rationalize her mom's actions. Do you think it's wrong to speak Spanish?
You couldn't believe what you were hearing right I am getting a little frustrated yeah, I was I thought you'd have better results honoring
Her background, so why didn't you tell the mother she was wrong? I was thinking maybe it was a very bad
circumstance that she was, you know wishing she would forget but you know
And now a fellow latina sits down, how will she react to Michele's demands
But you're in America now, I want you to speak English I
Have Michele go wash their hands. Mommy's gonna go and wash your hands, okay
Left alone. He Sevilla asks for a little help with her English
But when mom returns she's anything but loving was she bothering you
She covers for Isabella doing her best to avoid any confrontation
I just want her to look and sound American. Yes
Do you agree with me? Yes. Yes. She should let go of the Spanish
No, but I always speak Spanish whenever she walks
He is more willing to confront our angry mom then his Latino girlfriend is
Let's find out why you didn't like what she was saying about not speaking Spanish, right? I
Didn't agree with that because I mean that's who she is. I mean, that's our identity
You really went along with a lot what you said?
I really like she just wanted to give her a better opportunity here in America
I was a little annoyed in a way but because I am Spanish
I'm put everything I believed in Rockland County all my life my dealt with that. So you face discrimination growing up in this area
Absolutely
My mother spoke no English and I had many fights when I was a teenager
People who would make fun a lot of times I didn't win but he doesn't keep his mouthful
This last customer is married to a man who happens to be Greek, what did I just say to you? I'm sorry
Mommy, I like speaking Spanish. She patiently waits for the right moment. Did you hear what I said?
before checking on Isabella
Okay, don't want to make my mama sit
And then she approaches our manager
Okay, take a seat I'm gonna I'm gonna call someone as she walks back to her seat
She makes sure Isabella keeps their little secret, but once Michelle is alone
Okay, she can no longer bite her tongue I
Just I want her to be more American I just forget
So you understand what I'm saying
But she's from Mexico and
This is America shouldn't she melting pot of thousands of different people?
My husband is Greek and my kids will speak Greek. Okay. Hi guys. Hi
It's a TV show
All right, she's in that case I'm so glad because I literally was going to brunch that way
You're very proud of being Greek
I'm actually not gonna cheese great but I lied because I was taught that that she was saying that what is the moral of the
Story here. What America? Hey everyone. I'm here. Everyone can speak multiple languages
If you don't like it can go somewhere else. I'm so glad your money would have been coming home with me tonight
Being English Spanish angry
And in the American melting pot. It's a message that resonates in any language