When Praise Feels Like Permission
When praise feels like permission to belong, speak, or exist. How language, approval, and power quietly shape acceptance.
Tag: José Martínez
Café con José: Why I Wrote Your English Is Great, But…
Why I wrote Your English Is Great, But… — a reflection on language, identity, belonging, and the stories that needed a home.
Why Being Understood Is Not the Same as Being Accepted
Why being understood is not the same as being accepted — and how language, identity, and bias shape belonging.
Assimilation vs Belonging: What’s the Difference?
Assimilation vs belonging explained. Learn how language, identity, and power shape who is expected to adapt — and who is allowed to belong.
Why Spanglish Is Not Broken English
Why Spanglish is not broken English. Learn how Spanglish follows linguistic rules and reflects bilingual identity and culture.
On Turning Another Year Older: Language, Belonging, and Letting Go
A birthday reflection on language, belonging, and growth — and what another year has taught me about identity and voice.
What Is Spanglish? A Cultural and Linguistic History
What is Spanglish? A cultural and linguistic history of Spanglish, its origins, meaning, and role in identity and belonging.
Café con José: Writing About Language as Survival
A Café con José essay on writing about language as survival, identity, and belonging in America.
Why Speaking “Perfect English” Is Still Not Enough
Why speaking perfect English is still not enough to avoid bias. Learn how language, accent, and identity shape belonging in America.
Code-Switching Explained: Why It’s Emotional Labor
Code-switching explained: why adjusting how you speak is emotional labor, and how language, identity, and bias intersect in everyday life.
José Martínez Joins WEEU’s “Feedback” to Talk Storytelling and Identity
Emmy-winning journalist and author José Martínez joins Toni Reece on WEEU’s “Feedback” show to talk storytelling, identity, and his powerful debut book Your English Is Great, But… now available on Amazon.
What It Means to Be Bilingual in the United States
What it means to be bilingual in the United States, from identity and opportunity to bias, pressure, and belonging.
