McNair Scholars Journal Volume 18 | Issue 1 Article 4 2014 Portrayals of Assimilation in Chicano Poetry Crisol Beliz Grand Valley State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/mcnair Recommended Citation Beliz, Crisol (2014) "Portrayals of Assimilation in Chicano Poetry," McNair Scholars Journal: Vol. 18 : Iss. 1 , Article 4. Available at: https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/mcnair/vol18/iss1/4 Copyright © 2014 by the authors. McNair Scholars Journal is reproduced electronically by ScholarWorks@GVSU. https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/ mcnair?utm_source=scholarworks.gvsu.edu%2Fmcnair%2Fvol18%2Fiss1%2F4&utm_medium=PDF&utm_campaign=PDFCoverPages Portrayals of Assimilation in Chicano Poetry Introduction Chicano History I became interested in this topic through The origin of the Chicano is rooted in experiences that involved my identity. the connection to the Mexica, otherwise My introduction to the idea of identity known as the Aztecs. The Aztecs were a happened on my second trip to Mexico; I militant people who migrated to the Valley was about 12 years old. One night while in of Mexico, located in central Mexico, the plaza I heard English being spoken and from Aztlan under the command of their naturally I looked around to see who was foremost god Huitzilopochtli (Buchenau, speaking English. My parents and I saw a 12) Aztlan is the legendary homeland of middle-aged couple speaking English, and the Aztecs, and it has been hypothesized they dared me to go speak to the couple. that Aztlan would be modern day Texas or I walked up, introduced myself to them Oklahoma. During the Chicano movement and asked where they were from; they were Chicano’s embraced Aztlan as a spiritual from Missouri. The next thing they said homeland that represented their feelings of struck me. They asked me how long I had displacement. been practicing my English. I remember The indigenous part of the Chicano’s Crisol Beliz telling them I was from Michigan, but after culture is derived from the Native McNair Scholar that I only remember feeling conflicted. I was a fourth generation Mexican-American American roots of the Aztec. Centuries from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Of course it later large portions of Mexico became was only natural for them to assume I was part of the United States after Euro- Mexican; we were in Mexico and I blended American encroachment upon Mexican in with my brown skin and long black land. The states of New Mexico, Texas, hair. At this time I realized that although Nevada, Arizona, California, and Utah I felt American being fourth generation all became a part of the United States and seemingly fully assimilated—I wasn’t (Buchenau, 52). Mexicans living in these perceived that way. I had two identities at states were given two choices. One choice play being Mexican- American. I couldn’t was to leave their ancestral homelands and avoid my hyphenated identity; I could not relocate to a shrunken Mexico. The second be one without the other. choice was to attempt to assimilate into Anglo-American society. Those choosing Defining Chicano to stay were subject to an unjust and discriminatory United States justice system Before discussing the history of the Chicano that was unsympathetic of their language heritage it is important to define the term barrier and ignorant of their connection to Chicano for the purpose of this study. their homeland. Being born in the United Chicano is a term that is highly debated in Jim Persoon States, but being of Mexican ancestry made the scholarly community. For instance many Chicanos neither Mexican nor American. Faculty Mentor scholars define Chicano as any American These early frustrations led up to the of Mexican descent and often the terms Chicano movement that took place amidst Mexican-American and Chicano are used the chaos of the turbulent 1960’s. interchangeably (Shirley and Shirley, 4). Other scholars deny the interchangeability During the radical protests of the 1960’s of these two terms. The term was originally the Chicano movement began urging used as a derogatory term to shame for a country that was sympathetic and immigrants from low socio-economic accommodating to Chicano concerns. backgrounds from smaller towns (Tatum). Chicanos began establishing associations Chico means little in Spanish, and -ano to support their people’s educational, means man so when translated Chicano economic, and political rights to combat means the little people. The term was very the alienation and discrimination. Cesar popular during the Chicano movement Chavez became the face of the movement as Mexican-Americans embraced it as an after leading the Delano grape strike and identity to take pride in. Since the 1970’s it helped found the National Farmworkers has lost popularity because it typically refers Association. Chavez fought on behalf of to politicized Mexican-Americans. Today migrant workers like himself and in the many Mexican-Americans take pride in the process became an inspirational figure for Chicano identity. many Chicanos. 6 GVSU McNair Scholars Journal Chicano Poetry The four Chicano poets analyzed are from gods as a source of strength to combat the this time period and their poetry centers dehumanization of society. In his second Poetry has both an oral and written history. on the frustrations of Chicanos. They all book of poetry titled Nationchild Plumaroja With the arrival of the Spaniards, Spanish argue on behalf of Chicanos in their poetry. calls for a group effort that resists Anglo traditions had a heavy influence on poetry These poets include Gloria Anzaldua, Gary exploitation. wherever these settlers chose to inhabit. Soto, Lorna Dee Cervantes, and Alberto The most common forms of poetry found Rios. These poets are all from the same Ricardo Sanchez urged Chicanos toward in areas heavily impacted by Spaniards are geographical region in the southwest at the a carnalismo or brotherhood. His poetry the romance, the corrido, the decima, and heart of the Chicano movement. tended to be much louder in relation to the cancion. other Chicano poets. There was no tone The Chicano poets of the 60’s had a and his views were often extreme. His The corrido is most relevant to a discussion militant tone to their poetry, but in the 70’s poetry dealt with the social realities of of Chicano poetry as corridos are often the poets began to shift their focus (Tatum, the Chicano. Sanchez’s poetry can seem referenced and written by Chicano 153). The major social poets of this undisciplined in form according Charles poets during any discussion of Chicano period were Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales, Tatum. Sanchez spent time in prison poetry. This is due to its popularity in the Alberto Delgado, Alurista, Ricardo and so much of his poetry deals with his southwest as well as Mexico. It tends to Sanchez, and Sergio Elizondo. “Corky” personal struggle. It also deals with the be a faster narrative ballad. These ballads Gonzales was a significant figure in the denigration of inmates. He encourages typically focus on themes of struggle or Chicano movement. Gonzales was very finding peace in love, your family and the adventure. Oftentimes corridos will address politically active and he even was in the barrio. Sanchez also tends to be very anti- the tensions between Anglos and Mexicans. process of arranging a march on poverty establishment since he is an extremist. He They are usually written immediately after in collaboration with Martin Luther King argues against the Chicano drug culture an important social event happens, which shortly before King was assassinated. In and the superiority of males. made the corrido particularly popular Gonzales’ “I am Joaquin” he addresses during the Chicano movement. the search for identity and cultural Sergio Elizando’s work was used primarily roots. Joaquin is a character who resists in regard to education. His work was meant Most Chicano poetry originates from the to be the voice of the various injustices 1960’s. This was a time of great tension for assimilation into Anglo-society. He resists the subjugation to oppressive forces and Chicanos have faced such as the Alamo, the United States because of the Vietnam the Great War and returning to racism, and War, the black power movement, a strong instead searches for strength and endurance within his own heritage. In “Villains and a cycle of work as migrants in the fields. left wing, and the Chicano movement. Elizondo also argued for carnalismo and Naturally, Chicano poetry from this period Heroes” Gonzales focuses on dual ancestry. He discusses being both the colonizer and hope. Unlike Sanchez he has a different tends to deal with the socio-historical view of women. In his Libro para vatos y circumstances that affected Chicanos. the colonized due to his indigenous and Spanish roots. chavalas chicanas he focuses on love, but During this period their poetry tended then he shifts to characterizing the woman to focus on the indigenous roots of the Alberto Delgado was very influential as the earth mother and discusses her role Chicano and the traits of the Chicano among Chicano poetry. Delgado was in providing care to the male. He then heritage. Joel Hancock describes poetry essentially a historiographer of Chicano characterizes the male as the warrior who of the 1960’s as a period of defining and history. He did so by reporting on events must deal with the injustices of society. providing a description of the Chicano that were not recorded in the newspapers. people (Tatum, 139). Many of the poets The newspapers were a prominent source of There was a transition from the 1960’s to were also militant activists. news for the Chicano movement. Delgado the 1970’s when the poets took decisively different tones in their poetry.