Selena Quintanilla Perez

Selena holding Grammy at 36th annual celebration (Image Address: http://www.latinlife.com/media/tinymce-images/SelenaGrammy_5E3ItCs.jpg)

Selena Quintanilla was born April 16, 1971 in Lake Jackson, Texas. Selena was a young, talented woman who received countless awards and admiration because of Tejano music style. She is a hero in my eyes and in the eyes of many other Mexican/Americans in the United States of America because of her ability to empower multi cultured people to showcase both cultures successfully in America. Selena grew up with parents who embodied true Hispanic cultures. However, they adapted to American cultures because the United States of America was home to them and their children. The United States of America has always had large minority groups of the same race throughout different eras in history. Selena grew up in the peak of Mexicans migration to the U.S.A. She had to learn how to live through a struggle that many teens are still facing to this day. In a country where prejudice and racism are seen, Mexican/Americans must learn have both qualities. Many problems come with having to learn two different cultures, two different languages, and two different ways of living. Selena Quintanilla shows Mexican/Americans how they can succeed in a country that throws negativity to them everyday. Selena passed away March 31, 1995. Her life and legacy still radiates hope through the souls her billions of fans (Martinez, Mariah., n.d., Para. 2).

In 1997, a biographical movie was made in memory of Selena. It starred Jennifer Lopez and was made with the help of Selena's family and friends. The movie depicted many scenes that showed the struggle she had as an Mexican/American. Her dad, Abraham Quintanilla Jr. pushed Selena into the artist world at a young age. Although she hesitated to enjoy singing in public, she eventually grew love for it. Since she lived in Texas, traveling to Mexico regularly was common for her family. As her singing became well-known, her dad insisted that she create Spanish music. She released various Spanish songs and they became number one hits in the U.S.A and Mexico. However, Abraham produced the Spanish music she made because Selena could not speak perfect Spanish. The next step Abraham had in mind was to have Selena go tour in Mexico. Prior to that she had only toured in the U.S.A. Before going on tour, Abraham told her that she would need to perfect her Spanish. He talked about how Mexican fans would frown upon her if she could not hold conversations with them when she spoke to them. In order for her to continue to be a top artist in Mexico she would have to learn the language in order to sound native rather than foreign. Her family remembers Selena complaining about how she had to be just enough Mexican and just enough American in order to keep all her fans happy (Gregory Nava 1997).

Selena successfully managed to learn Spanish and go on her first tour in Mexico. Her fan base only grew and her concert was sold out. Selena was now a successful artist in both countries. However, her friends still remember many Americans looking down on Selena because of her race. When she began walking into high end stores to buy dresses, outfits and shoes the employees would not pay attention to her because they thought she could not afford anything. At one store, her sister recalls that an American employee was negatively talking about Selena to another employee. The employee made remarks such as saying that Selena could never afford clothes in that store. The employee obviously did not know who Selena was. Moments later, fans realized Selena was in the mall and rushed into the store asking for her autograph. The employees were surprised and in the midst of it all, Selena paid for the high end dress she wanted and left (Gregory Nava, 1997).

These story depict how a Mexican/American will always be stereotyped by Mexicans and Americans. Americans will never think someone is American enough if they are not the right color, or have the right accent. Similarly, a Mexican will not think someone is Mexican enough if they do not speak Spanish fluently, and know how to communicate in the same way they do. Mexican/Americans struggle with finding a group that accepts them. School carves you out to be American. However, at home and with friends one must be Mexican enough to fit. Many other races struggle with the same problem. Sociologists have found that the stress behind having to balance two cultures makes many minority groups unsuccessful in mainstream cultures. Minorities tend to feel disconnected no matter where they are from and tend to act out for this reason. Sociologist have made theories that mixed cultures generations usually end up having to pick a culture in order to succeed in America. They must find one culture that they identify the majority of their life to. This helps them be able to identify with a strong support system that does not stereotype them (Anderson, E., 2006).

I believe what sociologists assume is sad. However, I have even found myself drifting from my Mexican culture in order to better fit the American mainstream culture. As a student at a private university, it is very hard to find people who understand the culture struggle I face everyday. It is hard to be at a school where I feel like I must be a perfect American in order to not get mugged or looked at differently. I have found that I hide my Mexican culture so that people will assume I am a full American. However, when I am reminded of Selena and her success as a Mexican/American artist, I am reminded that I can embrace both cultures and still be successful.

Selena's success can be seen through the many awards and nominees she received. Twenty-one years later her fan base still remembers her by holding vigils and buying her music. Selena performed her last concert February 26, 1995 to one of the largest crowds in the Houston Astrodome. Selena's last album became number one on the Billboard 200 chart, becoming the first album by a Hispanic to reach number one. She was also awarded a Grammy Award for best Mexican/American album. Her songs and albums were nominated for many other categories. After her death, she kept received many other Grammies. Selena's albums went platinum, which means her album sold over 500,000 copies. Selena's album is the best-selling latin album of all times in the United States as of the year 2015. She surpassed all limits that were on her shoulders. She is remembered as a Mexican/American. I think that is important because many people are usually remembered as one or the other. However, almost all of her fans recognize that she is both and still admire her (Martinez, Mariah., n.d., para.4-9).

I have accepted that I will face many challenges by choosing to embrace both cultures. I will never be an ideal Mexican or an ideal American. Both cultures have very different lifestyles and ways of communication. However, like Selena, I will learn to be an ideal hybrid. Selena did not save any lives physically, but mentally she has helped many multi cultured people rise to their full potential while embracing where they came from. In a country where bullying and discrimination hinders millions, I hope many can learn about Selena and be inspired. Every race and cultural group in America was at some point a minority. It took people of their cultural group or race to succeed and encourage others to succeed as well. Mexicans have not yet succeeded as a race in the United States of America. However, Selena is an ideal example of a Mexican/American that is empowering her cultural group to succeed. Her legacy will never die and she will live in the hearts of all her fans forever. I would like to one day be a part of the cycle of hope for multicultural groups that Selena is already a part of. For this and many other reasons, Selena is my hero.

References: Anderson, E. (2006). Code of the Street: Decency, Violence, and the Moral Life of the Inner City. New York, New York: W.W Norton & Company. Martinez, M. (n.d.). Remembering Selena. Retrieved April 09, 2016, from http://www.latinlife.com/article/425/remembering-selena Selena [Motion picture on DVD]. (1997). Gregory Nava: Warner Brothers.