Jessica – HallSpring19

What It Means To Be Chicano/Chicana

The Last Supper of Chicano Heroes

The painting is a re-construction of Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper”. The Last Supper is the final meal that Jesus shared with his 12 apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion.

Artist Burciago stated that his intentions were, “To portray the 12 Apostles dining on tortillas, tamales and tequila instead of bread and wine” ( 1988). The typical Mexican food that we already know of. But for those that don’t know, tortillas are made with water based dough which is pressed then cooked. Tamales are made of dough, which is steamed in a corn husk or banana leaf. They also vary from spicy to sweet but if you want to be basic you can have the plain ones that are made with just cheese. Tamales are typically made only on special occasions, whether it be a birthday party or a holiday but tamales never miss out on any family gathering . He decided to also replace the religious figures with 13 Chicano heroes when he was persuaded by students to mix humor with religion.

The creator, Jose Antonio Burciago, had also polled a total of 200 Chicanos students and activists from the late 1960s to find out whom they considered the top 13 Chicano heroes . But not all the heroes had to be Chicano. In the painting the important historical figures included was Mexican general and politician Ignacio Zaragoza, legendary bandit who became a hero Joaquin Murrieta, American labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez along with Dolores Huerta, the father of Chicano theater Luis Valdez, La Virgen de Guadalupe, revolutionary Che Guevara, Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, poet Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution Emiliano Zapata, Mexican American guitarist Carlos Santana and Death-La Muerte received enough votes to stand behind the lucky 13.

The 200 people that were questioned took important parts in Burciaga’s tribute “and to all those who died, scrubbed floors, wept, and fought for us” the reason for why I choose this picture. The quote pays respect to those that contributed to the Chicano history so that we would be able to have an identity and to those that brought about change to our society during that time. So that students could be encouraged to be biliterate, helping schools to promote bilingualism by providing medals and seals which is known as The New York State Seal of Biliteracy. It was signed into law by Governor Cuomo on July 31, 2012 and was introduced into my high school just last year. It’s important to realize that what we know as history is relevant to our life right now and helps us understand our society today .

Cinco de Mayo

An important date that allow us as Chicanos and overall the latino community feel connected to our ancestors and represents the mixture of Mexican American culture is May 5th. Every year a Cinco de Mayo Parade takes place around Sunset Park which is located in Brooklyn or in Manhatten. The city is flooded with Mexican pride. That day I could walk out in green, white and red and not be the only one. According to Ph.D writer Felipe de Ortego y Gasca, “Cinco de Mayo is regarded by most Mexican Americans (Chicanos) as a day of commemoration symbolizing the strength of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity”(2011). Cinco de Mayo is the day that commemorates a victorious battle that took place in Puebla, Mexico. Known as “La Batalla de Puebla” and not the Independence Day of Mexico . The celebration of Cinco de Mayo became among Mexican immigrants a way of encouraging pride in their Mexican heritage in the United States. Serving as a reminder that we are powerful despite the discrimination we face. That Cinco de Mayo is the day that represents unity. To be able to celebrate our pride, remember our roots, honor our traditions and remember where we came from along with our community. Therefore we shouldn’t be ashamed but rather proud of our backgrounds. As Chicanos we protect immigrants and Dreamers and we can fight against discrimination and racism not in a form of violence but rather showing that we can become doctors or lawyers and make a difference in society while remembering and honoring our ancestors.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Our Lady of Guadalupe, also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe, is an iconic symbol of Mexican Culture. She is depicted with brown skin, an angel and moon at her feet and rays of sunlight that encircle her. Her image was used as religious figure like god is used but during the Chicano Movement it was used for equality in the United States and as a visual representation of the fight for independence in Mexico, the farm workers struggle in the 1960s and as a symbol of justice. According to Raul A. Reyes an attorney and member of the USA Today Board of Contributors stated, “To the present day, Our Lady of Guadalupe remains a powerful symbol of Mexican identity and faith, and her image is associated with everything from motherhood to feminism to social justice”(2016). As a Chicana, it is our duty to keep our traditions alive and continue to support them. To me she is not only the mother of all men and women but she is a sign of hope and more than just a saint. Every year during the night of Dec. 11 on the vigil of her feast thousands of faithful come to the shrine to sing to the Virgin all over the world. On December,11 my family goes every year to The Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Bernard located in Manhattan, where many gather and wait on line to enter the church for a short mass where we honor and thank her for our family, health, the many blessings, and for being our hope in difficult situations. As I grow order she is one of the many beliefs I will carry throughout my life because she is important not only to me but to my community.

Works Cited

“Why Chicanos Celebrate Cinco De Mayo.” Somos En Escrito
“Our Lady of Guadalupe Is a Powerful Symbol of Mexican Identity.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group
Burciaga, Jose Antonio. “Cinco De Mayo–Some Uncommon Heroes for a Day Commemorating Heroism.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 1988

Jessica Garcia

Professor Hall

Eng 1101

April, 27, 2019

Suicide is described to be a very difficult topic but it is important and necessary to talk about. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States”, some problems that often contribute to suicide are related to relationships, substance use, physical health, job conditons, abuse, trauma or housing stress. After the tragedy of losing a loved one due to suicide it is devastating for family and friends. Therapist Mark Redwood explained “that for someone in grief they may experience feelings of guilt which is very common” (Redwood). Guilt comes from the belief that we should have, or could have done something to prevent that person from turning to suicide. Learning more about what might lead to suicide may help prevent further tragedies from happening but if it couldn’t be prevented, you are always informed.

Robert Bryson Hall II some may know him as Logic, grew up in poverty in suburban Maryland. In his album Everybody released on May 5, 2017 , he confronts the challenges with identity that he experienced growing up and announces it as a piece about race in America that is explored through the lens of Logic’s biracial identity. His father is an African-American, while his mother is Caucasian but he lived a troubled childhood because both of his parents were alcoholic and addicted to drugs. Ahead of the release he explained, “It’s about me being black and white, seeing life from two sides, and about that cultural evolution and how you can go from the darkest of skin to the lightest of skin” (Logic), he focuses on issues and the importance of privilege, equality or racism in America. In Logic’s interview discussing anxiety, depression and education his famous motto is “The fight for everyone regardless of race, religion, color and sexual orientation and against racism, oppression, discrimination, and sexual orientation” but in his music he also touches on depression, anxiety and suicide. You may remember from your history class the quote “All men are created equal”, stated on the Declaration Of Independence that regardless of race or ethnicity we must be held to be equal. It’s important to point out the issue that although we may be born equal we are not being treated equally therefore there must be change.
Throughout his album he discusses his race and experiences because he is proud of who he is but he also seems to be rapping from different perspectives. Logic focuses on “the fight for equality” because in society we aren’t treated equally. One of the songs in his album that I believe had most impact would be “ 1-800-273-8255”, that has in fact saved many people’s lives. It is clear that there is a transition from “ I don’t wanna be alive” to “ I finally wanna be alive”. The name of the song is the number of The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. He raps from the perspective of a gay man who is struggling with his sexuality and is trying to find acceptance within himself specifically but he is scared about coming out to this family.

In the music video it took a dark turn when the truth comes out, the boy’s father finds out that he is gay and the boy runs away from home. His dad doesn’t accept the way his son identifies himself leading to the phrase “ I don’t wanna be alive” while the boy is calling the hotline. In school he is bullied adding on top of the fact that his own dad doesn’t support him. In the phrase “ I know I’m hurting deep down but can’t show it “, the idea of isolating yourself and putting on a fake smile to fool others that you are okay when in reality you aren’t. He is shown sleeping in a small corner even sleeping through classes, his track coach reaches to his dad because he notices that he is not getting any sleep even buys him food. The only one noticing that the boy isn’t okay is the track coach. The phrase also lets the listener feel connected, having the power to inspire the listener to call the hotline because they feel exactly the same. Later on the boy is shown running home to get the gun, crying because he realizes what he is going to leave behind, the love for track and his family but is also overwhelmed with his surroundings. The ending of the song delivers a message of hope, “You don’t gotta die, I want you to be alive,” told from the perspective of the person offering emotional support, the operator giving the reasons to why he should live. At the end it fast forwards to the future where the young boy is a man marrying the love of his life and says “ I finally wanna be alive, I don’t wanna die today”, calling the hotline had saved his life and allowed him to experience what his life had in store for him, learning to make the most of the present.

On April 28, 2017, the day the song was released, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline received 4,573 calls. It was the second-highest total in the organization’s history, after the day Robin Williams died. Logic wanted to reach out to those that are struggling, depressed or have suicidal thoughts. Reaching out to the public letting them know that if they relate and feel the same way that help does exist because their life is worth living.

In the 2017 VMAs, he performed “1-800” and used his platform to send out a positive message and let others know about the truth even if it hurts because in reality there are people struggling and feel alone. According to the director of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, giving phone numbers where help is available is an important first step because media and public figures are big influencers. The tone is serious because on one hand he is talking about suicide which should be taken seriously but he also wants to spread awareness. During his performance he is joined by suicide survivors and individuals who lost loved ones due to suicide wearing shirts with the hotline number and “ You are not alone” making the message clear. Psychiatrist Jeffery Barenstein stated “Silence can have tragic results but knowledge can save lives” (Barenstein). It’s important to let people know that if you’re in crisis, there are options available to help you cope and help you find a way out when you feel trapped.

Works Cited

“Who Is Logic? Everything You Need to Know.” Logic (Sir Robert Bryson Hall) Biography – Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements of Rapper

“Home.” Lifeline

“Why Guilt Is so Common after a Bereavement.” Counselling Directory

Revision One Rough Draft

As a student, I also spent long hours in school learning different subjects sometimes feeling like class was long even if only 20 mins had passed, taking forever to end and other times when time went by fast that I lose track. What I noticed in my 4 years of high school, was that not only some classmates would take naps with the teacher unbothered while in other classes everyone was so attentive to what the teacher was saying but that I also grew as an individual. School is defined as an institution where children are educated. As students we are taught to listen carefully, think critically, be able to connect points together and the ability to think on our own but there are various ways for a person to be educated such as learning from personal experiences and lessons thought to us by our elders.

School plays an important role in developing skills because their goal is for students to learn and it’s up to us as students do our part also .The issue that revolves in the school system is whether or not each student is provided with enough resources and good school environment or if the student is even aware and taking advantage of those resources. To John Taylor Gatto we may just mindless consumers produced by the school system, implying that school is in fact useless and pointless but why is that some students show more interest than others?, not only will the desire of being successful always be stronger than poor teachings that may exist but it may just be because students don’t know how to ask for help and fight against the system . As students it’s our duty to do our job and be responsible in school which means doing our homework, following directions but most importantly being able to learn and take something from each class and apply it to other classes and especially outside of school.

School benefits us in some of the following ways: learning a new subject, allow us to interact with other people, have access to teachers and friends who support you so you can be the best you can be, the environment we are in allow us to build friendships with our classmates, the ability to learn how to work with others which is also crucial in life and most importantly prepare unto succeed and strive in a profession we worked hard for our entire life, not only for satisfaction but for stability. In “ Learning (Your First Job) by Robert Leamnson“knowledege is what has the potential for improving the individual and society ”(9), the information,strategies and lessons we learned in school can be used to our advantage and outside of school. Based on my experience being part of the school system I disagree that it manipulated us into becoming consumers and addicts but rather provided us with opportunities to become successful and be able to fulfill our desire.

A school environment provide students with access to teachers and classmates when we are in need of help, when we aren’t completely sure about something. In my opinion, a teacher should go beyond just teaching their knowledge to their students but rather be role models, a mentor and nature them. If a teacher offers you help but you don’t show that you care, they’ll eventually give up and it’s up to you to show effort. When I have trouble and need a deeper explanation I would most likely refer to a textbook but it’s important to realize we have teachers there to help us, teachers aren’t only meant to give us information that we have to learn for the class but are there to be utilized and allow their knowledge to enforce and grow ours. We have the ability to work in groups, pairs, do projects together even doing projects alone will enhance your ability to know new information while we can discuss about how we can help each other, not only improving ourselves but others also. Gatto suggests that the school “has done a spectacular job of turning our children into children”, the idea of turning us into children isn’t relevant because as we go into the next grade the lessons get harder rather than education being dumbed down to make it easier for us to understand. Schools basically challenge students allowing them to exceed their limitations and what they thought they weren’t capable of doing .

School is defined as an institution where children are educated. As students we are taught to listen carefully, think critically, be able to connect points together and the ability to think on our own but there are various ways for a person to be educated such as learning from personal experiences and lessons thought to us by our elders. Schools play an important role in developing skills because their goal is for students to learn and it’s up to us as students do our part. The issue that revolves in the school system is whether or not each student is provided with enough resources and good school environment or if the student is even aware and taking advantage of those resources. To John Taylor Gatto we may just mindless consumers produced by the school system, implying that school is in fact useless and pointless but why is that some students show more interest than others?, the desire of being successful will always be stronger than poor teachings that may exist. As students it’s our duty to do our job and be responsible in school which means doing our homework, following directions but most importantly being able to learn and take something from each class and apply it to other classes and especially outside of school.

(L) and (+)

“L”- The word “Chicano” is used to describe people of Mexican origin living in the United States but it wasn’t until the outbreak of the civil rights movement in the 1960s that the term “Chicano” became popular. The Chicano Movement was also known as the Chicano Student Movement because it formed as a result of the educational inequality that Mexican-Americans faced. Students walked out of school in protest of fighting for educational equality in their communities. Later the Department of Health, Education and Welfare and the U.S. Supreme Court declared it unlawful to keep students who couldn’t speak English from getting an education therefore Congress passed the Equal Opportunity Act in 1974 .They adopted the term “Chicano” as a point of pride.

“+”

What other goals besides educational equality were they trying to achieve with the Chicano Movement ?
Why is Chicano also spelled with an X?
Where is the word Chicano used more?

Chicano: is used to refer to someone born in the United States of Mexican origin or descent

The speaker is an African American by the name of Ta- Nehishi Coates. In the first paragraph Coates himself writes, “ My father’s name is William Paul Coates. I, like my six brothers and sisters, have always addressed him as Dad” ,besides stating that he has siblings and a dad he is also married.
The occasion is to bring awareness to the situation in which players were called on to stop using “the worst and most derogatory word” after incidents regarding the Miami Dolphins, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Philadelphia Eagles leading up to a funeral of the word in Detroit . As Coates explains the meaning of a word deprives from the context and the main problem is that black people are exempted from a basic rule of communication.
The audience Coates is trying to reach out to African Americans because he mentions the word “we”.
The purpose is to emphasize that whether inappropriate words are said it’s the context and relationship it comes from that gives the word meaning like how two of his Jewish friends joked that I’d “make a good Jew”, gay men laughing as they referred to one another “faggots’ and how his wife and her friends referred to each other as “bitch”. But basically to point out that It would have been a different story if the words were being used in a different context being offensive.
The tone is serious while Coates expresses that they are being excluded from a basic rule of communication for example he states, that n*gger ” is different because it is attached to one of the most vibrant cultures in the Western world. And yet the culture is inextricably linked to the violence that birthed us”.
I agree that we depend on context in order to deprive the meaning of a word, it is different when your friend addresses you as “bitch” than when a stranger who’s frustrated addresses you like that. Also when he states that he has never called his father Billy, even if strangers or friends addressed his father as Billy he shouldn’t address his father like that because there are words sometimes said simply as a sign of respect.

Author: Jessica

Revision One Rough Draft

(L) and (+)

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