Dear Latinas: You are not allowed to make fun of yourselves

Dear Latinas: You are not allowed to make fun of yourselves

Hmm..  I never thought people would take Sofia Vergara so seriously. In this article, it says that "she can hardly be imagined credibly portraying an intelligent and sophisticated Latina". But she is an actress! I wonder what they would have to say about Will Ferrell. Has he ever done anything intelligent and sophisticated? Intelligent and sophisticated Latinas can have thick accents and curvy bodies too!!

It looks like no one will be allowed to make fun of themselves in order to make good television because it might be politically incorrect. What do you think? Is she offensive?

Pureza de sangre, pureza de lengua

Mucho de lo que hemos visto en las últimas semanas sobre la situación actual en Arizona tiene que ver con la discriminación y el racismo.  Lamentablemente, también la llamada por la oficina de turismo nuevomexicano ha publicado últimamente un anuncio racista. Después de un análisis sobre el racismo actual y tras leer numerosos artículos sobre la cuestión lingüística en el suroeste de los Estados Unidos, me pregunto ¿cómo cabe la lengua en el discurso racial ? Pues, sea para valorizar o apreciar la raza de uno o para llevar a cabo actos raciales, el idioma está al foco del debate racial.  No es de extrañar que cuando vinieron los españoles llamaron a los indígenas bárbaros porque no dominaban el castellano. Pues, en el año 1492, año de la conquista americana, se publicó la primera gramática de la lengua castellana,  herramienta utilizada para suprimir y controlar a los americanos. Siempre hablamos de progreso y cuánto hemos modernizado, pero ¿seguimos llamándolos bárbaros a los que no dominan el inglés en este país? O quizá, bárbaros a los que no dominan el español o cualquier otro idioma? En mi opinión, en el caso de Arizona sí, tristemente los diputados del estado de Arizona han conquistado la política por medio de la opresión racial, cultural y lingüística. ¿Qué piensan ustedes?

What are the numbers today?

Although the articles we read last week about the census were interesting, I was curious to hear more about what the current make-up of the Latino/Hispanic population is in the United States. In my mind the number was pretty high, and after doing some investigation to find a breakdown of numbers from the most recent census I came across the image which breaks down the numbers quite nicely. It is surprising to see the that between the years 2000 and 2010 Latinos/Hispanics were responsible for 56% of the population growth. Also, the one trillion dollars in buying power. Also, just as the articles we read suggested, most of the growth is due to immigration coming from South and Central America, with the highest number of immigrants coming from Mexico. That is very cool. It seems that in just ten years the population of Latinos/Hispanics in the United States has increased substantially. Que bueno!
En mi opinión, son cifras alarmantes.  

Aquí está la imagen:
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/563045_10150804216618623_102947668622_11736948_1760648911_n.jpg

Un dia con los penitentes

As you all know, Ashley and I are doing a project on the penitentes for class. Some of the topics we are interested in are Spanish/English language use, language maintenance, and identity. So we went up to Abiquiu on Good Friday to spend the day with them, and man, what an experience! I think anyone who has heard about the penitentes probably has some pretty negative thoughts about them. I did growing up in Albuquerque, but only because we only heard the stories about them flogging themselves and acting out the crucifixion. Well, they don't do that anymore, at least not in public. In any case, they represent so much more than those negative depictions. They are devout Catholics maintaining traditions and language that have been in northern New Mexico for hundreds of years, and it was so neat to observe them and talk with them. A few of them whom we talked to are very educated on the subjects of identity and culture. After having a discussion about these issues with them, I asked one of them what he identified as, and he said, "I'm a Spanish American Mexican." We thought that was pretty humorous! Anyway, we spent about 10 hours there and it was hard, mentally and physically. I can only imagine what it's like for them after staying up for 72 hours straight - talk about discipline! We'll talk more in detail about what we experienced during the project presentations, but I just thought I'd share that it was a really neat experience. The best part is that I am more educated on them and I don't have a negative perception of them anymore. Isn't that what education is all about?? Even though I may not fully understand their devotion, I can definitely admire their desire to keep tradition and language alive.

Y La sinvergüenza de la Martinez, ¿qué pondrá en el censo para raza?

It was really interesting to read the study by Hudson etal (1995) concerning the four different language maintenance measures because they show and point to what we, as Mexicans, have said for a very long time... that once you lose your language then you've lost your identity.... "Se les olvida quién son y de donde vienen... ya no se fijan en el nopalote que traen en la frente y ahora se creen gringos porque hablan inglés." - Salido Family, et. al (1970s) 

It is also, extremely interesting to note that Mitt Romney's family comes fro Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, MX, where they moved to because they were polygamist mormons, and they fled the United States to flee religious persecution and legal problems because of their religion... (HUH! Kinda sounds like another story I've heard about) The Hilarious part about this is that Nuevo Casas Grandes also happens to be where my family settled as well!! And guess what? My family knows their family!! 

And guess what, his cousins in Mexico are calling him a traitor and they are saying that he has forgotten where he comes from as well.

The issue that I take with all of these people, and what is happening with immigration is that there are so many of use here that have deep deep roots that they can not just be erased or ignored, or stigmatized to simply obtain power and prestige. For example, what is happening in Arizona is not really about illegal aliens, it is about the hard and fast desire of the few oppressing a marginalized minority and abusing their power to persecute said minority. Case in point, my legal family in Arizona now has to deal with serious racism because of their skin color (I'm one of the few in my family that doesn't "look" Mexican). So... since there is such a large hispanic presence in Arizona, I ask myself if they actually voted for Jan Brewer, Michael Hicks, and Arpaio. Or, did my fellow hispanics that have forgotten where they come from vote for these people? ... I don't know... 

But I do know that the illegal immigrants are a minority and the inhumane tactics to single out illegals spreads onto everyone that does not look like Brewer, Hicks, and Arpaio. 

What is incredibly striking about the article is how the conclusion from the study reads directly into the article about Susana Martinez's family history that I've included below.  Hudson etal state in p.182, 

     "The higher the educational level of the Spanish origin population in any given county, the lower the loyalty and retention rates for Spanish are likely to be."    

     "These relationships testify all too starkly to the linguistic cost of social, political, and economic integration into mainstream society. The disproportionate representation of Spanish claiming communities in the lower socio-economic strata of American society may to some degree safeguard them agains the full effects of linguistic assimilation, but to the extent that they gain more open access to quality education, to political power, and to economic prosperity, they will do so, it seems, at the price of the maintenance of Spanish, even in the home domain." 

      And since, language is culture, then Martinez has lost her culture.

.... You're a racist, a bigot, and you do not represent me Madam Governor. 

http://hispanic.cc/undocumented_grandparents_explains_racism_toward_Mexicans_from_ashamed_new_mexico_republican_govenor_suzanna_martinez.htm

Migraciones indígenas

Últimamente he estado pensando en los indígenas mexicanos que no hablan el español y vienen a trabajar a este país sin poder comunicarse en su lengua. He leído algunos artículos y noticias recientes que encuentro sumamente interesantes.  Como es de esperarse, en los campos de las regiones agrícolas de estados como California, estos indígenas constituyen el capa social más bajo de la fuerza de trabajo. Esto no se debe únicamente al ser desfavorecidos por su situación indocumentada o por la enorme barrera del idioma, sino también por la racialización de los jornaleros indígenas. Estos están expuestos a una estigmatización y desvalorización irracional por parte de diferentes grupos.

Uno de los artículos que leí lleva por nombre “Los circuitos del capital agrícola y las migraciones indígenas” de María Dolores París Pombo y me preció interesante que la autora mencionara algunas formas de refugio a estas situaciones. Se dice que ellos lo hacen por medio de la formación de organizaciones de indígenas originarios de diversas etnias y de múltiples comunidades mexicanas. La discriminación racista que sufren, tanto en México como en Estados Unidos, los conduce a una revaloración de la identidad étnica, a nuevas formas de identificación. Estos indígenas tienden a entrelazar vínculos de solidaridad y buscan maneras de resistencia y formas múltiples de colaboración. Este desarrollo de la conciencia étnica se da a través de una reproducción y revaloración de las tradiciones y del bagaje simbólico de los migrantes indígenas en ciertos estados (EU). Por ejemplo, en California existen diversas organizaciones que celebran así eventos religiosos, culturales públicos como procesiones y misas en honor al Santo Patrón, o festivales de danza y música como la Guelaguetza, estaciones de radio en diferentes lenguas indígenas. También existen organizaciones, talleres culturales y de derechos humanos, cursos para intérpretes de diferentes lenguas indígenas, etc.

Me pareció interesante que en este articulo no se presente solamente una parte de la situación. El autor apunta que, puesto que cualquier proceso no se da sin vaivenes ni contradicciones, en la migración de estos indígenas también se genera un desarraigo cultural, un procesos de desintegración en las segundas generaciones de estos migrantes. Señala que entre los más jóvenes se comienzan a notar formas de identificación relacionadas a la adopción de símbolos y modelos de consumo norteamericanos. Algunos ejemplos que menciona son: la música rap o hip hop, uso de gorras y camisetas de básquetbol, pantalones anchos hasta la rodilla, minifaldas, etc. La influencia de los medios resulta avasalladora en algunas ciudades y compite con los símbolos y valores transmitidos por los adultos, llegando a crear situaciones de enfrentamiento entre primeras generaciones que intentan preservar su cultura y las segundas generaciones que “automáticamente” se van adaptando a la nueva sociedad.

Artículo 

http://www.revistarebeldia.org/revistas/numero20/04delamixtecamigracionesindigenas.pdf

Otra de las cosas que me pareció importante en esta información que he encontrado acerca de los indígenas y la migración a Estados Unidos es una nota en una pagina de noticias de Tlaxcala: “Los indígenas ahora prefieren hablar inglés que conservar tradiciones.” Esta noticia esta basada en una ardua investigación que ha realizado con mucho éxito Eva Hortensia Cházaro. Se menciona que una gran cantidad de habitantes vienen a Estados Unidos y al regresar, ya traen consigo un concepto totalmente distinto, llegan con la idea de enseñar el inglés (herramienta para el progreso) porque continúan con el deseo de regresar a Estados Unidos. Me parece interesante que se toque el tema del miedo a perder la costumbres y tradiciones que significaría una perdida de identidad en estos pueblos indígenas porque estamos hablando de un grupo de estudiantes que no han abandonado su lugar de origen pero que si están expuestos a un cambio dentro de este lugar.

Noticia

http://www.elperiodicodetlaxcala.com.mx/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7846:autoridades-educativas-buscan-metodos-de-ensenanza-en-matematicas&catid=35:local-tlx&Itemid=27

NM Tourism ad

http://pocho.com/new-mexico-tourism-boards-racist-want-ad-morenos-need-not-apply/

Did you guys see this? I didn't hear much about it, but cuentame and pocho.com called out NM!

El Mezquite: My attempt at linguistic research

I was afraid of doing this activity from the get go. When I finally got myself to El Mezquite, which is just a few blocks from my house, on the morning of the day it was due, I was mortified. I went into the market and just started milling about, trying to tranquilizarme lo suficiente para poder hablar con un empleo. Por fin, lo logré hacer. I waited until an older woman came close to me in the frutería. I felt embarrassed, and finally managed to say very softly, “Disculpe, um, ¿qué son estos?” I held up a chayote. This was probably a mistake, because she answered, “es un chayote.” I put it down and pointed to the group of them and said, “¿qué son?” She answered, “chayotes,” more slowly this time. Then I pointed to the bananas, “¿y estos?” She answered, “plátano,” very quickly. I said “¿Cómo? She repeated, “son plátanos.” she said more slowly. I was sensing that she was getting slightly annoyed by my questions, and I quickly said, “muchas gracias. O, este, una cosa más, cómo se llaman estos?” I pointed the avocados. “Son aguacates.” At this moment another person was walking by us and I noticed they were watching. I felt that they must have thought I was an idiot. I felt really embarrassed. I walked away. She may have not been annoyed at all, but I was definitely projecting my insecurities onto the situation. 

I looked at some candles and soaps and other toiletries, kind of hiding out until she was gone. I went back the produce. When a younger man walked by I got his attention. I ended up asking him about plátanos again, aguacates, papas, tomates and fresas. He seemed more amused by my questions, but immediately tried speaking to me in English. When I asked about the plátanos, he answered, “bananas” slowly and with a smile. I had to say, “sí pero ¿en español?” He answered me in Spanish, but then wanted to know why I spoke Spanish and where I learned. I suddenly felt like an imposter. I regretted coming to the store right by my house. I hadn’t been there in over a year, but still, what if I wanted to start going more often? They have fresh tortillas and yummy queso in the carnicería. Was I supposed to lie? I thought it must have seemed very strange that I was speaking in Spanish but asking dumb questions. I told him in English that I didn’t get to practice a lot and forgot a lot of easy stuff and wanted to practice and remind myself. After that, he was very nice and answered my questions. Still, I felt like one of the younger women working there and other clients were judging me or thinking that maybe I was flirting with this guy. I felt kind of dumb. Once again there was a moment where he answered “es un aguacate,” and I had to repeat, “¿qué son?” After which he said, “aguacates” more slowly.  One interesting moment was when I was asking about tomatoes, and the first time he answered very quickly que “son tomate” he kind of ate the S or cut it off.  I was excited, but also not sure if it was because he answered so quickly. The second time he said “tomates.” 

I thanked him and wandered around again, feeling like there was a big magnifying glass hovering over me and wondering if I could really talk to anyone else. I finally spoke to another young man, but by then felt like the jig was up. I only asked him about tomatoes, and he very quickly answered “son jitomates” as he kept walking by, not interested in me, not really making much eye contact. I thought it was interesting that he said “jitomates” en vez de decir “tomates.” Anyway, I was feeling red in the face and like I stood out in the store. Had he heard/seen me talking to the other guy? I realize now that it would have been much better to ask about many different things, and only one or two per person. Oh well. I was done. I ended up buying some veggies and when I went to pay, the young woman at the register talked to me in English. I was so relieved to get out of there, even though I had only talked to 3 people. Well, more like 2.  I need to work on my investigating skills ;)      

Mr. Hicks is an educator? yikes!

WOW, this is ridiculous! Yes, it is satirical and meant to provoke laughter, but what are we laughing at? It seems we are laughing at how in the year 2012 some people still think we live in the middle ages! How is it that in 2012, in Arizona, our neighboring state, there are people who still think this way, have been brought up with this type of perspective, and refuse to change their way of thinking? It is mind boggling...

Check out this short interview on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. I am not sure about this Mr. Hicks character, but he is an influential individual who will shape the education of a lot of children and young adults in Arizona...how sad! hmmmm, who would you choose as an educator, Mr. Acosta or Mr. Hicks? It seems Arizona has chosen Mr. Hicks because Mr. Acosta is too dangerous. Does Mr. Hicks pose no threat!?

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-april-2-2012/tucson-s-mexican-american-studies-ban?xrs=share_fb

Estos, ¿qué son y cómo se cocinan?

This is a question that I had on the tip of my tongue as I walked around Pro’s Ranch Market to conduct our third actividad de analisis. I talked with a number of different people as I did my shopping and tried to find things that were unusual to my eye. I saw a woman who was sheering nopales, and next to her there were some cooked nopales to sample and a huge sign that read “nopales.” I approached and said: “Buenas tardes, estos, ¿qué son?” After looking at me, glancing at the sign and looking back at me she said “son nopales,” her answered was followed by a “¿cómo?” “Nopales,” she said it slowly this time and in a raised voice. “Nopales, y ¿cómo se cocinan?” I repeated this method a number of times as I walked through the store and completed the activity. Overall, I thought the activity was fun, engaging, and got me out of my comfort zone. I look forward to taking a trip to El Mezquite o El Herradero!