f: I i I Reflections of an A Collection of Poetry by I JOE NAVARRO Reflect ons of an A Collection of Poetry by JOE NAVARRO Contents Introduction I. Experiences in the Barrio Untitled (English) 2 Untitled (Spanish) 3 You Came Here So Speak Our Language 4 Thank You Mexicano 6 Mexicano, Te Lo Agradezco 9 Los Politicos 12 Derechos 14 Hot Splash 16 II. La Migra Feel The Terror 20 My Carnal's Experience 21 III. Familia My Chicana Daughter 24 Respect 26 Ready For School 28 Men and Women 30 IV. Education & Media Education 34 Accuracy In Academia 37 Punishment 38 Misty Blue Radiation 39 V. Central America Artwork on Our Mirror Image 46 cover and pg. 23 One Hundred Million Dollars To The Contras 49 are details from a mural by Xocitl Guerrero, VI. South Africa Oakland, CA. Constructive Engagement 52 Sounds So Right To Me 53 Copyright © 1987 by Unity Publications p.o. Box 29293, Oakland, CA 94604 All rights reserved. Introduct on REFLECTIONS OF AN AZTLANECO is a reaffirmation of our cultural identity as Chicanos. Jose Navarro blends this historical theme with current sociological thought to make "un chile picoso" that will raise your consciousness as well as make your blood boil. Jose is an Aztlaneco, a new breed of urban revolutionaries armed with pedagogy, commitment, and deter­ mination. An Aztlaneco is the alma of our people. Through Jose's writing, it is transformed into human energy, with a burn­ ing desire to recreate history. Jose portrays human emotion as he leads into the past as well as the future with strong images of being controllers of our own destiny. He describes historical anger. He paints pictures of historical rage. However, he touches you with his approach in changing those conditions that are op­ pressive to all. His book is about humanity, brotherhood, and equality. Jose writes about what he does. It is not unusual to see Jose at an immigration meeting in the morning - then run into him again, with his family, at a police brutality rally. His book is educational. It will make you travel into the innermost depths of your soul. His themes encourage you to ponder a critical ques­ tion asked by the ancient philosopher, Socrates, who said, "KNOW THYSELF." Jose's poems are also sprinkled with internationalism. He writes of building coalitions with people of color. He writes of the intense frustration experienced by poverty communities. He takes you into his own world where he learned cultural values of respeto, carnalismo, and personalismo. Read and enjoy! This book is certainly one that should be placed in our schools' ,I libraries so that all of our children can read it. I - ramon del castillo i Untitled Untitled Where did I come from? You ask. l,De d6nde soy? me pregunta I came from a great civilization, soy de una gran civilizaci6n a people who knew what day it was while un pueblo que sabia cual dia era the rest of the world did not y el resto del mundo no I came from a people who knew soy de un pueblo que sabia where the earth fit in relation to the universe d6nde cabe el mundo en relaci6n con el universo I came from a civilization soy de una civilizaci6n of great art and advanced culture de gran arte y una cultura adelantada a people with advanced mathematics un pueblo con matemciticas adelantadas and structures which were symmetrical to the sun y estructuras en coordinaci6n con el sol I came from a great civilization soy de una gran civilizaci6n which has survived brutal conquests que sobrevivi6 conquistas brutales I have survived forced bastardization yo he sobrevivido bastardizaci6n y violencia at the point of a sword soy de una civilizaci6n I came from 'a civilization que luch6 por la independencia !hat fought for independence from three foreign nations contra tres naciones extranjeras en un solo siglo III one century alone! I have survived a bloody annexation yo he sobrevivido una anexi6n sangrienta and to this day I maintain my identity pero, hasta este dia yo he mantenido mi identidad against pressure to become forcibly assimilated contra la presi6n de asimilar I came from a civilization soy de una civilizaci6n which has been here que estaba aqui since the beginning of time desde el principio del tiempo I am the heir to the traditions of iYO soy el heredero de las tradiciones de Cuauhtemoc, Benito Juarez, Emiliano Zapata Cuauhtemoc, Benito Juarez, Emiliano Zapata and Emma Tenayuca! y Emma Tenayucca! I am indigenous to this land! iYO soy indigena de esta tierra! and now, yahora, I hear the voices of stupidity, oigo las voces de los estupidos whose narrow national chauvinistic words quienes tienen palabras racistas come passing through their ignorant lips, pasan por sus labios ignorantes as they tell me, to go back, where I came from cuando me dicen "vayase a donde vino" *Escrito en ingles - 1187 por lL. Navarro 1187 © Copyright 1987 Traducido - 3/9/87 por lL. Navarro, © Copyright 1987 2 3 What the hell is wrong with you? You Came Here So Your language has you using the wrong side Speak Our Language of your brain! You brought over a linguistic gap with profoundly confusing That other language etymological sources is tearing at All because you weren't the fabric ambidextrous enough of this nation to adapt to You refuse this nation's language to assimilate You ought to feel You refuse greatly ashamed to give up at your disgraceful your identity and language pronunciation Wouldn't it have of our nation's language been better The disgusting sounds of to give up pewblow instead of Pueblo all of your bewna vesta instead of Buena Vista semblances of culture ca.1arada instead of Colorado for the sake of calefornea instead of California one united nation? la jonna instead of La Junta First, you You came to our Chicano nation burden us with you should speak our language your presence Then, you bring that other language You should just give up your every desire to speak that other language in this nation That language bonds you and keeps you from joining the melting pot 9/86, © Copyright 1986 4 5 The true US. emblem Thank You Mexicano The American Vulture Ain't satisfied yet Wants to take away Our language Along with our culture Thank you Mexicano The Yanqui tell us For coming here "Be Americanized" To remind me . But what they want Of who I am­ Is for us to be Chicano 'Bastardized! ' EI Mestizo No Identity, Struggling for freedom No Language, Pushing for the day No Culture, That No Unity, Liberation will come Therefore, Mexico! Aztlcin! Our enemy is the same We won't have That ravaging beast A cause US. Imperialism is To make any trouble Its other name No land to fight for No rights to be gotten Once a proud Mexico No revolutionary struggle Glorious Revolutions Now but a Thank you Neo-Colony Mexicano Corruption and decay For coming here With Counter-Revolutionary To remind me Solutions Of who I am­ Chicano Chicanos in the US. Land Expropriation! Our struggle is one National Oppression! We have to unite Denial of Rights! Against our oppressor Super-exploitation! Until Our struggle is won! 6 7 u.s. Imperialism You need to fret more Because when Mexicano, Te Lo Chicanos and Mexicanos unite You know What's in store Agradezco The bloody annexation Of the Southwest Mexicano Gave birth to Te 10 agradezco More enemies Por haber venido aca Added to the rest A recordarme Quien soy­ Chicanos and Mexicanos Chicano Building unity With all oppressed people El Mestizo Looking for a solution Luchando por la libertad The one imperialism Avanzando hacia ese dia Fears most- Cuando Revolution! La liberacion vendra Thank you jMexico! jAztlan! Mexicano Nuestro enemigo es el mismo For coming here Esa bestia rapaz To remind me Imperialismo yanqui Of who I am­ Le llaman los demas Chicano Mexico, una vez orgulloso Revoluciones gloriosas Ahora solo Neo-colonia Corrupcion y decadencias Con soluciones Contrarrevolucionarias Chicanos en Estados Unidos jTierras expropiadas! jOpresion nacional! jDerechos negados! 6/83, © Copyright 1983 jExplotacion en sumo grado! 8 9 El verdadero emblem a Imperialismo yanqui de Estados Unidos Solloza mas El buitre norteamericano Porque cuando Aun insatisfecho Chicanos y Mexicanos se unen Quiere despojar Sabes ya Nuestro idioma Lo que te aguardara Y tambien la cultura La sangrienta anexi6n El yanqui nos dice Del Suroeste "Haganse Americanos" Dio brote a Pero 10 que de veras qui ere Mas enemigos Es que seamos Aunados a los demas jBastardos! Chicanos y Mexicanos Sin identidad, En vias de unificaci6n Sin idioma, Con todos los pueblos oprimidos Sin cultura, Buscando una soluci6n Sin unidad, La que el imperialismo Teme mas- jRevoluci6n! De ahi que, Mexicano No tendreIhos Te 10 agradezco Causa Por haber venido aca Por que crear problemas A recordarme Ni tierra por la cualluchar Quien soy­ Ni derechos que anhelar Chicano Ni lucha revolucionaria Mexicano Te 10 agradezco Por haber venido aca A recordarme Quien soy­ Chicano Nuestra lucha es una Tenemos que unirnos Contra el opresor jHasta que seamos el triunfador! 6/83, © Copyright 1983 10 11 campaigns should be based on important political issues and gaining political Los Politicos access for our raza. They tell me that I should know the reality ... You want to know what I've been up to ... huh? that becoming a politico is based on I just spent a couple of months having a lot of money and a strong base of support trying to be political, you know ..