How can i make some people to understand that i can speak d**n English?

Question

i am so sick and tired that everywhere i go ,even at Walmart,people ask me if i can speak English,many people in my ignorant town here in Winchester Virginia when they see me, they automatically think that i am dumb and i can't speak English just because i am Hispanic,i am planing to buy a t- shirt that says"don't bother to ask,i do speak English.do you?", i mean,come on,!!English is just a language , you don't need to be a super genius to speak this language!---careful here! i am not generalizing everyone in my town, actually they're some people that have some common sense here.

Answer 1

That must be horrific.

There happens to be a lot of ignorant, uneducated people in middle America. Some are racist @$$holes and some are just too ignorant to think that someone with brown skin can speak English.

Just consider the source. If someone asks you that question, just smile and say yes. You can think in your mind how pathetic they are.

Then you could save up enough money to move to a large city. There are a lot of different cultures in large cities in America and they won't be as condescending to you. Los Angeles is primarily Hispanic.

If you stay in the small town, you'll just have to understand that these petty people feel good when they try to cut you down and infer that you don't know the language. Just be proud that you are you and their opinion doesn't matter.

Answer 2

Virginia is a predominantly right wing conservative fundamentalist state. That means the majority of them are against immigration, even if it's legal, and even though they immigrated here just like everyone else, they generalize and think that anyone who isn't "white" can't speak English. It's ignorance as you said

Answer 3

Hmmm maybe it's the way you dress?

I don't know, but if you dress like anyone else then they're just being racists.  

Whenever someone asks you if you speak english just say

"Yes i do, do you speak Spanish?"

And if they go "Huh?"

Then say "oh i only asked because you're ___ (race) and i didn't think you'd be able to speak spanish"

That'll shut them up.  And if they start yelling at you and making a scene on you being racist you can tell everyone that that was the person that started it with a racial comment.

Answer 4

You know some people are just ignorant. They really do not know any better.  That is why you should give them the blank stare and reply in English. Maybe they don't know English. Just Ignore the "Do you speak English?" Be like "hmm I don't know what do you think?" That should shut them up =)

Answer 5

Gosh that chip on your shoulder must be wearing you out!  Why do people think you are dumb - do you just stand there and not say anything?  Surely if you are in Walmart and you need some help you will just ask in English.  I think it would be useful for you to stop being so angry and don't worry about other people's mistakes.  If someone asked me if I spoke English I would just say yes and not be in the slightest offended.  It seems like people in the US think about race a lot.  I also think that maybe they have a lot of people who don't speak English so the question is not so offensive and nor is it racist.  Noibody is saying you are stupid even if they think you may not speak English - that part of the issue seems to be inside your own head.  If you are always looking at people thinking they are being racist then that is most likely what you will see rather than someone just asking the simple question "Do you speak English" - there is no offence in those words. And the way to make people understand that you speak English is just to speak to them in English.  I know my answer is going to make you angry but the answer to your problem is inside you.

Answer 6

My dear friend obviously you know English quite well.However you are using words which good speakers don't.Do not use adjectives like 'dumb,d**n or ignorant.' I speak Spanish every day but I am sure I make a lot of mistakes.Dios le bendiga.

Answer 7

Yeah, I see your problem,it can be really annoying!! But its probably the way you look,or your clothing... we are getting judged by that.

me, I have a problem too...everywhere I go, people think I speak their language!! be it germany or greece, its terrible!! something must be written all over my face?!?!  

Answer 8

I get the same darn question (except I'm Asian). Try to make a game out of it: how complicated of an answer can you give them? "Well admittedly my speaking capacities are not up to par in comparison to my writing abilities, however I feel confident in asserting that I am able to communicate in an effective manner when necessary."

That'll shut them up.