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Marxist perspectives
Marxist perspective
Capitalism and class in america
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The conflicts between the citizens of the Arroyo Blanco Estates and the Latino and Hispanic characters - otherwise known as the bourgeoisie and the proletariats, respectively - are symbolic of the class conflict theorized by the Marxist school of thought. This excerpt shows the members of the Arroyo Blanco Estate rejoicing over the disbandment of a labour exchange – an informally agreed upon meeting location where immigrants (both legal and not) lay in wait in the hopes of finding work for the day, at any pay rate. This quote is spoken by Jack Cherrystone, one of the most developed characters of the bourgeoisie and a symbol of capitalism itself; Jack is extremely vocal about his hatred of immigrants, citing their economic codependence as a
In Peter Winn's Weavers of Revolution, a factory in Santiago, Chile fights for their independence against the Chilean government of the 1970's. While this rebellion is going on, presidential elections are taking place and Salvador Allende is the presidential candidate which represents the common people. The relation between Allende and the people he represents is a unique one because at first this class, the working class, helps and supports Allende to become president, but then both parties realize their different plans for the future and the working class actually contributes to the downfall of Allende's presidency.
It describes the immigrants point of view as they sacrifice their most beloved things. Bodega and Chino risked their love ones in order to help other people and the community. Relationships throughout the story elaborated the sacrifice that they went through to better the community. The relationship between the Chino and Blanca demonstrates that they sacrificed themselves for the better outcome of their upcoming baby. Sacrifice was also demonstrated through the business in the community being overpowered by Bodega to ensure that the white supremacy did not change the Puerto Rican community. Sacrifices that the characters made affected the development of the community of Spanish Harlem. El Barrio transformed its bad reputation to a well-know and conservative community. People give up their most precious loving memories to ensure their or someone else
Throughout the time I spent between the covers of The Prince of Los Cocuyos, I was astounded by Richard Blanco’s dynamic relationship with the novel’s sole “antagonist”: his abuela. It seemed that no matter how many times he was chagrined at her attempts to negotiate the English language, or was forced to repress his very personhood to meet her traditional standards of manhood, she never ceased to be a pillar of support for a young Richard Blanco. But beyond his grandmother, Mr. Blanco made it quite clear that he was surrounded by a pueblo of family and friends throughout his childhood and adolescence, a village that would confound his “becoming” but foster his growth, make him question his identity and yet be intricately connected to it. It
In Pocho, Rubio could not identify with any group because he didn’t want to be categorized. In fact, Rubio didn’t have a hard time fitting in with the Pachucos or queers. Although, Rubio seemed understanding about other peoples chooses he ultimately decided to identify as American. This was seen when Rubio joined the Army, as a means to escape his reality. Another theme presented was in regards to fighting social inequalities. This ultimately led to Chicano protest, which became essential to the Civil Rights Movements. The strong will of these Chicano/a activists were similar to Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzalez and his “Crusade for Justice”. The film “Quest for Homeland” acknowledged Gonzalez as an important figure for the Chicano Movement because he inspired people to demand for equality. Even though the Chicano Movement had a tragic ending with the death of Ruben Salazar, Chicanos made their voices heard. Similarly, the Chicano walkouts were the beginning of “consciousness”. For instance Castro mentions, “Chicano’s have long been sleeping giants” he continues by stating looks like we woke up”. This shows that students living in these areas were oblivious to their ability of obtaining a higher
...en once the rebellion took place. A courageous society takes all responsibility from its back whenever a major level goes down. As Garcia Marquez suggests, this determines a stabilized level of power where distinctions are to be created again to be taken to a macrocosm, and prove that rules, even in the highest level of hierarchy may be mistaken or not proper to the generation or culture that the society is living in.
The book The Squatter and the Don was written under such a political and social background, therefore, this book is considered as one that carries political colors and that is similar to Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Actually, through reading The Squatter and the Don, it is not difficult to find out that Ruiz de Burton was trying to challenge the social borderlines of her time and place through her application of political illumination and her integration of historical
Being a colored nerd is difficult, but being a Dominican immigrant colored nerd is virtually hopeless. Oscar lives in a world that reflects the history of his country. In Junot Diaz’s The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, the use of historical references is important to the book as a whole in order to understand the present day life of Oscar. Although the book is about Oscar, a majority of the novel tells the story of the de León family history and their life according to the fukú curse. For Oscar’s family, being an immigrant was difficult due to how history has affected the family. Living in the Dominican Republic during the time of a horrible dictatorship was not an easy life for Oscar’s mother Belicia. The way that she has been treated and her family has been treated is a reflection of how Oscar’s identity has been shaped. For Oscar, being a Dominican immigrant, lives a life struggle after struggle in order to prove to others how truly Dominican he is despite what others think. While people think he is the complete opposite of a masculine Dominican, Oscar tries to prove them wrong. His struggle to find love and be in a stable relationship also reflects the way his family’s romantic history with the constantly failed relationships. All the mishaps, events, and unavoidable conflicts in Oscar’s life are a direct representation of the history of his family’s past. The cultural, political, and family history explains the similarities between the past and present that ultimately leads Oscar to his inevitable fate.
The struggle to find a place inside an un-welcoming America has forced the Latino to recreate one. The Latino feels out of place, torn from the womb inside of America's reality because she would rather use it than know it (Paz 226-227). In response, the Mexican women planted the seeds of home inside the corral*. These tended and potted plants became her burrow of solace and place of acceptance. In the comfort of the suns slices and underneath the orange scents, the women were free. Still the questions pounded in the rhythm of street side whispers. The outside stare thundered in pulses, you are different it said. Instead of listening she tried to instill within her children the pride of language, song, and culture. Her roots weave soul into the stubborn soil and strength grew with each blossom of the fig tree (Goldsmith).
It is important to note that even with these extended divisions meant to better quantify the quagmire of class, there are common experiences that unite us all as a race. Even those living at opposite ends of the spectrum have a great deal more in common than one might think. This is odd, given the usual belief that since they’re polar opposites, they couldn’t be more different. But all throughout the readings we see that the poor and the rich are quite similar, and face similar struggles and hardships. Both are defined as being nearly invisible to the far expanses of the middle classes, preferring to stay out of the spotlight either to avoid paparazzi or the tax
Legal status is a huge part of why American's have such an advantage, whether it be because they are citizens, or because they have more job opportunities, and education opportunities. Candido and America face many challenges throughout the book, they struggle to find a steady job. "…he was still in no shape to climb out of the canyon and throw himself in la lucha, the struggle to find a job, to be the one man picked out of a crowd, and then work like ten men to show the patron you wanted to come back...'" (Boyle 83).During Candido's recovery all he was able to think about was when he would recover because he had to provide for America and his soon be born child. Due to Candido not being able to find a job, they also are not able to afford an apartment because of the lack of money they have. Throughout the time the Rincons are trying to figure out their food and shelter situation, the Mossbachers and their acquaintances are trying to come up with a way to get all of the illegal immigrants out. Since they believe that immigrants are ruining the U.S. they are making it even harder for the immigrants to have a shot at living the American dream. "...They'd held the two Mexicans for the fire... but they let them go for lack of evidence. And what a joke that was" (Boyle 320). Stereotyping is a recurring theme throughout the story. Whenever something happens the people in Arroyo Blanco automatically blame it
Mexican immigrants in the United States are willing to work hard and long hours throughout the day regardless of the amount of sleep or rest they may get. Conversely, this is not how Efren Mendoza, a public city bus driver, views Mexicans and he believes they are not motivated to achieve things in life. One would assume that he would understand how difficult it is for immigrants to assimilate in a new foreign country without knowing anyone or anything here, but he is not on their side and it is somewhat hypocritical of him because he himself is Mexican. It is as though Efren sees his own people as invisible individuals because he does not acknowledge all their hard work and sacrifices they may have gone through in order to arrive in the United States. He further proves his insincerity when he mentions that the “new wetbacks [are] picky about what jobs they’ll do [and that they] half-ass [the] work” that they are given to do (77).
In the book Drink Cultura by Jose Antonio Burciaga talks about how it is not easy to get into one place and get anything you want in this world or something you wish for, but it’s something you have to work for, like any other person. It also explains how it is being an immigrant, and how it is to grow up in the United States as in immigrant and how had it is, and the obstacles that as in immigrant we have to overcome. Antonio Burciaga specifically talks in his book the Chicano history, the language that we speak as a person, the family values and how we as a Chicano stick together. One quote of Burciaga is “Naces pendejo, mueres pendejo --- You were born a pendejo and you will die a pendejo (Burciaga10)”. This particular quote caught my attention because the author gives you a taste of what he experienced, and what kind of language they used. “When the wells of emotion are filled only by resentment, a crying sense of injustice, racist, affronts, deliberately designed frustrations to personal development and social worthiness (Burciaga131)”. This quote talks about how we as Chicanos have the motivation by bringing in our passion from the past, but as soon as someone brings that wall down of us having that one positive outcome, we can go into a lot of resentment towards other people, and think to ourselves at some point that we are worthiness. In chapter “The Motherland” the author talks about the pride people take about being Latinos, he talks about being back in Mexico and how it’s all so different once you’ve lived on the other side, a quote that gives you a mental picture would be “Many white Euro-Mexican will shrug their shoulders, declare they are 100 percent Mexican do not partition or categorize their ancestry. On the contr...
Throughout the poem, Baca uses imagery to express prejudice misconceptions that Americans have of immigrants. In lines one through three, “Do they come on horses with rifles and say, Ese gringo gimmee your job,” the writer creates an exaggerated image to demonstrate how racist Americans think immigrants are taking away their jobs. In addition, lines eight through ten, “Do they sneak into town at night, and…mug you, a knife at your throat, saying, ‘I want your job?’” depict immigrants as being evil and violent. The author portrays immigrants as physically taking over the work force and doing so with vicious actions. “Do you, gringo, take off your ring, drop your wallet into a blanket spread over the ground and walk away?” (4-6). Baca defends immigrants by asking Americans if they would pack their belongings and leave their families behind to move to a different country. Immigrants leave their home country and families behind in hopes of obtaining the American dream and creating a better life. Through powerful imagery, the reader can witness how Mexican immigrants are stereotyped as using violence to obtain employment.
The Postwar Period in New York City was an intriguing time to read fiction in. The literature we read in this unit was the play “The Oxcart” by Rene Marques and novel “Manhattan Tropics” by Guillermo Cotto-Thorner. Each piece was set in New York City of Puerto Rican families trying to strive for the American Dream. In “The Oxcart” by Marques was a piece we lightly touched on. Although we only read Act III of the play it set a lot of focus on the dynamics of how America set in the characters. Juanita is considered a modern girl and not following the standards of a Puerto Rican woman. She gets “gifts” for a “job” that is frowned upon her brother Luis. She isn’t like the women back home who would not act the way she does. Luis is
The division between Raphaella, the northern capitalist for whom the system has paid off, and Gennarino, the dedicated, southern Communist, is apparent from the beginning. Though the film is centered on these two individuals, it’s emphasis lies in what these individuals represent. Simply put, Rafaella represents the upper class; rich, educated, and powerful within her society. Gennarino is a representation of the working class; poor, uneducated, powerless in a society ruled by wealth. The shift in the balance of power is where these representations come into play.