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Impact of discrimination on individuals
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In “Blaxicans” by Richard Rodriguez, the author has convinced the readers that people should classify themselves by the surrounded culture because the assimilation actually happens. He uses verbal irony and anecdote for emphasizing his argument. In the text, he uses verbal irony for telling the readers that he assimilated another culture; for example, “I answered that I am Chinese, and that is because I lived in a Chinese city and because I want to be Chinese” (Rodriguez 163-165). He is influenced by Chinese culture because he lived a place where expands Chinese culture and his neighbors also affect him to assimilate with Chinese culture; therefore, he recognizes himself as Chinese although he is not actually Chinese. He expresses his feeling about the assimilation as shown in the verbal irony for convincing his argument because it clearly reveals that people are assimilated by the surrounded culture, and they might start identifying themselves by the …show more content…
Further evidence is shown when the author states, “When I was in college: to call myself a Hispanic” (Rodriguez 72-73). In the early 1970s, the President Nixon established the responsibility to identify Americans by race: black, white, Asian, Indian, and Hispanic. Then, he realized that he was classified as Hispanic by the government when he was in college. This evidence is significance for convincing Rodriguez’s argument because it demonstrates that he doesn’t identify himself by race, and he doesn’t believe that he is Hispanic, even if someone defines him as Hispanic; moreover, he opposes classifying people by race. In “Blaxican”, there are some persuasive writing skills that are used to convince the idea that people shouldn’t classify themselves by race, and they have their own identity to classify themselves based on the assimilated
‘A Fabricated Mexican’ is a novel by Ricky Rivera in which he chronicles his life as he grows from a child farm worker to a Ph.D. candidate. He takes us through his journey in his search for his personal identity. In the book we find that his journey has not been an easy one. This difficult journey is due to many factors, most importantly the people who have surrounded him during this journey.
Immigrants have helped shape American identity by their languages they speak from their home country. Richard Rodriguez essay “Blaxicans and Other Reinvented Americans” reveals Rodriguez’s attitudes towards race and ethnicity as they relate to make people know what culture is really identified a person rather than their race. For example, in the essay, it states that Richard Rodriguez “ that he is Chinese, and this is because he lives in a Chinese City and because he wants to be Chinese. But I have lived in a Chinese City for so long that my eye has taken on the palette, has come to prefer lime greens and rose reds and all the inventions of this Chinese Mediterranean. (lines 163-171)”. Although Rodriquez states”he is Chinese”, what he actually
As Rodriguez is looking back at the rise of his “public identity”, he realizes that “the loss implies the gain” (Rodriguez 35). He believes that losing a part of who you (such as your “mother tongue” is permitted since
Social science teaches that a person’s self identity is a reflection of that which other people put on the individual, in other words a person’s behavior steams more from what they see of themselves from someone else’s perspective and less from how they see themselves. In the case of the Mexicans, this concept holds true. From that, which has been studied thus far this semester, Mexicans/ Mexican Americans are good examples of this concept. Their sorted past has resulted in a new kind of Mexican American and perhaps a new kind of Mexican. Certainly the Mexicans American’s experience in this country has brought about some changes from the first generation of Mexicans who were born in this country to those who are born here now with native Mexican ancestry. Luis Valdez’z play Los Vendidos is a satirical commentary on not only the sociological concept of self-identity, but also the change that has taken place in the Mexican/Mexican American over the years. What is of particular interest is the meaning of the title of the play. The literal translation is the sold out ones, however a group known as Somos Raza, who are a part of Unión del Barrio (Liberación Exige Organaización), have a somewhat different interpretation of the word. As part of their ten point platform Somos Raza defined the word vendidos as the following: "We recognize Hispanic vendidos as those people who unite with the government and tell us to assimilate with the system - the very same people and system that is oppressing us."
Chicanx is an idea that emphasizes self-determination; it is essentially a new way of thinking, which in turn reveals a higher sense of “ pride” and “confidence” to pursue a better quality of life. Menchaca’s discusses in “Recovering History, Constructing Race”, how race created a hierarchy among groups based upon skin color and culture. Which relates to what Du Bois mentions about ‘contradiction of double aims’, African Americans as well as Mexican Americans have been labeled as underrepresented groups that are faced with an impossible decision to choose between sticking to their culture or be accepted by American society. However, in the reading, “El Plan de Santa Barbara’s Manifesto” concentrates on the new identity in which Chicanx utilize praxis to ultimately abandon the objectionable image created by Anglo-Americans and create a positive imagine that will ultimately result in success of the Chicanx community. This reading examines an attempt to mend Du Bois’ ‘contradiction’ by highlighting the importance of higher education, social equity, and the ability to stay true to themselves while staying close to their respective communities.
...iscuous, violent, and irrational category of race and gender. Traditional Mexican families highly valued their daughters’ virgin statuses over racial “purity”, while Anglos followed the typical model of reproductive segregation—but with the façade of integration that was inadvertently cultural assimilation, or, bigotry.
In the article of “A New Understanding of the Macho Male Image: Exploration of the Mexican-American Man” by Joseph M. Cervantes, this part will investigate the idea of machismo with a case depiction and examination of a Mexican-American grown-up male, and interlace this written work with verifiable/anecdotal perceptions from the writer. As a Mexican American man with solid social and indigenous mindfulness, I have had the chance to watch the extraordinary difficulties of experiencing childhood in the 1950's post war period where obvious partiality also, separation was as yet a characterizing trademark for the country. This was a period that originated before the now casual macho state of mind yet by and by was an expected trademark towards Latino guys, therefore the Mexican-American or Chicano male was suspect. While the term Chicano can be a mark that has contrasting sociopolitical undertones in different parts of the Southwest, it will be exchanged with the distinguishing proof of Mexican
In her essay, Mukherjee uses several rhetorical devices such as figurative language and exemplification in order to lead the audience to believe her argument. She believes in assimilation of culture, but it should not be forced upon any one. Throughout the essay, she goes through a logical thought process that leads the audience to realize this argument and even feel guilty of forced conformity.
Thesis: Through Valdez’s conscientious usage of racial stereotypes and satirical social criticism, he targets the American government as a result of its enmity and prejudice towards Mexican-Americans. Valdez utilizes the stereotypes to highlight on the social conflict between the brutal American powers and the poverty stricken Mexican-Americans; thus, he satirizes how in truth, the American government is a ludicrous robot that does not fathom the gravity for equal rights. Valdez utilizes a satirical tone, understatement, and hyperbole to depict the corruption of power of the American regime against Latinos. Thus, he exemplifies how Mexican-Americans are equal human beings; they are not slaves nor animals, and the Mexican-American
Montoya, Margret E. "Masks and Identify," and "Masks and Resistance," in The Latino/a Condition: A Critical Reader New York: New York University Press, 1998.
Anzaldua grew up in the United States but spoke mostly Spanish, however, her essay discusses how the elements of language began to define her identity and culture. She was living in an English speaking environment, but was not White. She describes the difficulty of straddling the delicate changing language of Chicano Spanish. Chicano Spanish can even differ from state to state; these variations as well as and the whole Chicano language, is considered a lesser form of Spanish, which is where Anzaldua has a problem. The language a person speaks is a part...
Minorities in America have always been seen as different and not even necessarily Americans. But as American society has progressed since WWII, acceptance of Mexican-Americans or any other minority has not altered. Armando Rendón wrote a manifesto determining just how difficult it was to be a Chicano in America. In his manifesto, he talks of his life growing up and how he changed to fit in with his surroundings and how when his surrounds changed, he realized he had completely lost himself. Rendón discusses the fact that his whole adolescent life, people always told him Spanish speaking, Mexican culture would never benefit him in life, and it would never be important to his life (Rendón. Chicano Manifesto. p. 369). Finally, when he graduated college, he realized that he had no idea what he was. He determines that he had no real particular allegiance to his Spanish culture, nor did he feel he was an Anglo-American either (Rendón. Chicano Manifesto. p. 369). It was not until his career brought him to Sacramento to an area completely populated by Mexican-Americans, that he realized that he was no longer part of that culture; he realized that he needed to reemerge himself in this culture. Rendón uses the word Chicano many times throughout his work. Before this it was seen as a derogatory word, until he and the other Mexican-Americans decide they will no longer
By the end of the Mexican American war of 1848, the United States was able to gain possession of Mexican territory. Many whom were living in the new seized land of the U.S. were offered legal citizenship as an agreement to ending the war. However granted legal citizenship for the Mexican Americans would not mean that they gained equal treatment. The problem with the racial caste system was that Mexican American was mixed with Spanish and Indian ancestry and did not fit with the white and black racial categories. They were in fact to be considered white by law but their status, as citizens did not stop the unequal treatment. In the film “A Class Apart” and Juan Gonzalez’s Chapter five depicts the struggles that Mexican Americans had faced with discrimination.
The los gringos, school and the English language are associated with the pubic society. Several other kinds of separation emerge from this separation of public and private society. There are separations of sound and word, female and male, and reason and affection. Richard believes it is natural to move from one separation into another. He needs to do this in order to move from the private to the public society. This movement is voluntary by Richard and forced by his parents. It is done to help Richard’s education. It will give him better opportunities in the United States. Speaking only English at home initiates the movement, instead of speaking Spanish. Ultimately, Richard can have a sense of belonging to the pu...
Racialization is not a one-way highway that directs racism toward minorities. Instead, we should make a more detailed microscopic analysis on multiple factors that demonstrate complicated relationships between minority groups and outer influences from the public. After diving into the understanding toward different layers of racialization, various factors that define identities can be observed. In the game of hegemony, race is not the sole identifier dividing groups of people apart as other characteristics like gender, sexuality and class all contribute to enrich an individual’s background. “Intersectionality,” in this case, is an umbrella term on the subject of analyzing how different minority groups with mixed identities influence and, at the same time, are influenced by social, economic and political forces in a given social construction. Examining closely on “intersectionality” helps to recognize social issues in a more acute manner as the observer no longer lingers at one spot on a spectrum without detecting the entire scope of the problem. From Sojourner Truth’s essay, she asserted that black women were “minority within a minority” in civil right movements since they were powerless against a mix of racial and gender discrimination. Giving the condition that the entire black community was being treated as the “other,” the black women community received a more disadvantaged social place when women became the “other” section within the black population. Another similar example that is closely related to the complexity of “intersectionality” is demonstrated in the text “La Femenista” as the author introduced the Chicanas. These minority women experienced extreme prejudice from racism, sexism, and sexual racism for being members of a “Spanish speaking, culturally different, non-Anglo group” (Gomez 191). Unlike the black women community discussed