Tato Laviera

Richard Blanco, a famous Cuban-American poet who became the first Latin American, immigrant, and openly gay Inaugural Poet in 2013, wrote a variety of works based off his life and all the things that were going on in it. In Richard Blanco’s, “El Florida Room” and “The First Real San Giving Day”, Blanco provides the readers with a look into his personal life with information about his family and some characteristics of his life. Dealing with many different societal issues due to his culture and even his sexual orientation, Blanco describes what his life was truly like, more specifically geared towards his culture; being Cuban-American. Through his use of a chronological storytelling in his memoir and a reflection on the past in his poem,

The author pleads to the political powers to give countries their fair chance and govern their own countries. “Lower yourselves to the unfortunate and raise them up in your arms…let the country’s natural blood surge and throb through its veins,” (Martí 287). The author asks the people in a higher social positon to be an even level of humanity and celebrate a triumph rather than subject Latin American countries under submission. Martí inquires once again freedom for nations that have been under a certain sovereign power. On a rhetorical level, he is also canvasing for equality through the learning of native languages and culture once again. Writer Carlos Urzaiz proclaims that Martí had centered his writings, “concerned with American indigenous populations, emphasizes their capacity to animate their respective cul-tures and associates the restoration of their respective soul— “identity” in modern terms.” Conserving primitive civilizations had become important to Martí and saw the seriousness of bringing back the abandoned cultures back to the surface as revolutions throughout Latin America were

First of all, the setting of this novel contributes to the Rivera family’s overall perception of what it means to be an American. To start this off, the author chooses a small American city where groups of Latino immigrants with their own language and traditions, lived together in the same apartment building. All these immigrants experienced similar problems since they moved from their countries. For example, in the novel after every other chapter the author

Indigenous people of the past and the present carry a rich and characteristically distinct culture. The way of living and this culture is what defines these people and is a measure of the threshold of belonging amongst the population. The term ‘chicano’ is used interchangeably to define someone of the Hispanic population with also a symbol of coming from a struggle (Rochin, 2). The indigenous civilization of the American people as well as the intellectual traditions need to be in connection. There have been a few moments in modern literature on culture and ancient Hispanic culture, that argue and show the need for general indigenous beliefs through interrelations of the sources of life itself. This paper seeks to analyze the poetic

In the narrative, “Take the Tortillas Out of Your Poetry” by Rudolpho Anaya expresses the emotions of well known “Chicano writers” how they felt when judges constructed those type of novelists to write out of thier element due to the fact that many readers had a difficult time reading the “Chicano” writing.

“I know what's enchanting about my beautiful Puerto Rico. That's why I love her so, and I'll always call her Precious”. This verse is part of a song called “Preciosa,” which is cataloged as another anthem of Puerto Rico. I was born and grew up knowing the island of Puerto Rico as Borikén, the island of charm. I had the opportunity to know the rural paths of my blessed island, its culture, and its history. Every year in school, I learned about my roots, the “Indio Taino,” the African slaves, and the Spanish colonizers. As I was part of a folkloric dance group, I was able not only to learn of the Puerto Rican culture and history, but to represent it as well. Along with the Puerto Rican history, I always knew Puerto Rico was a territory of the United States, but I

Espada uses different types of literary techniques to help portray his fears of Puerto Rico’s fall into the hands of American culture/influences. In the poem, Espada uses setting as a major literary technique to help get the point through. He would use it in such a way to compare and contrast his hometown of Brooklyn with Puerto Rico. “On his first visit to Puerto Rico, Island of family folklore. (1-2)” This line sets that the poem will be talking about his experience on his first trip he had in Puerto Rico. Also, he includes a couple lines about Brooklyn in the first and second stanza, to show that he is comparing his time in Puerto Rico with his life style in Brooklyn (NY). The inclusion of setting, it helped the reader understand where he was from and what his family’s ethnic background was. Which helped push the feeling of culture loss, showing you the ways of America and showing you Puerto Rico’s ideals as well, and you can see that they are very similar. If Espada did not show that there were two settings in the poem you may think that they were in the same place because of the similarities. Showing that Puerto Rico is very

Pietri’s Puerto Rican Obituary focuses on the problems that the Latino community have faced. Although the poem in centered around Puerto Ricans living in New York City, the lifestyle and events can be generalized to Latinos across the United States. There are two major themes Pietri highlights in his poem. The first is the emptiness of the American Dream. Minorities immigrate to the United States with the hopes of achieving the American Dream. Throughout the poem Pietri repeats this idea:

Within this essay I am going to compare and contrast two rather different nationalist ideas that prevailed in Latin America during the nineteenth century. My concentration in this comparison is on how ethnicity and race are illustrated. The first nationalist thinker whose ideas I intent to discuss is the Cuban national hero José Martí, a precursor of Latin American modernism. I will contrast Martí’s ideas and writings with the Peruvian journalist and political philosopher José Carlos Mariátegui, the representative and advocator of twentieth century Latin American Marxist ideas. There are some similarities between the offered social solutions between these authors: mainly their rejection of imported models of society and politics. However, within this essay I am arguing that the humanistic points of view between them have little in common. Whereas Martí promotes acceptance of all people and all races, and considers all people equal to each other, Mariátegui, despite claiming to be racially indifferent and accepting, in fact reveals racist and discriminating arguments that undermine his claimed acceptance and embracement of the different races of America. To support my argument, I will be offering relevant examples from both authors’ most famous publications, Martí’s ‘Nuestra América’ and ‘Mi Raza’, and Mariátegui’s ‘Siete ensayos de interpretación sobre la realidad peruana’, and ‘El problema de las razas en América Latina’.

The fabricated and illusory American culture tears the emigrant family apart, pulling each member in a different direction as each chases his personal piece of the staple of American culture — the unattainable ideal. Rodriguez examines the irresistible lore of American perfection through her sister’s yearning for the perfect “TV family.” Her sister seeks to rid herself of the differentness she feels in society due to her Cuban heritage, “to sever the question from the answer.” By embracing the American concept of family, her sister loses her genuine relationships by becoming an empty reflection of popular culture, “a glossy ad of the ideal American living room.” In addition, the metaphor implies the depth of the cultural rifts because by becoming

Therefore, she was frequently exposed to both the rural Puerto Rican, northeast and southern United States cultures from an early age. The author’s personal history of frequent transitions, both physically and culturally, seem to be the driving motivation for this poem. Ms. Cofer’s work is a reflection of “the rifts and gaps that arise

Forced to live in a society not of their own choosing, author Daniel Alarcon presents the life of a struggling Peruvian family as they aim to return to their happiness and freedom, while simultaneously striving to survive in the land they call home. Throughout the story, the family adamantly seeks to remain in contact with the oldest son, Francisco, through various avenues, including letters and postcards. One distinct gift they attempt to send him is a necktie. On account of the simplicity of the object, many readers may assume there to be no real significance to the necktie for Francisco; however, upon further analysis, the reader can conclude the tie is a symbol of the family’s endeavor to salvage their hold on both Francisco and the United States of America. Nostalgic memories, problematic jealousy, and political corruption all show the reader the struggle of the family as they strive to do what is best for Francisco, even if they in turn must suffer.

Upon continuing the discussion of what it means to be Puerto Rican, it is clear that the early US colonial rule fundamentally shaped the character of this definition. At the conclusion of the Spanish-American War, Puerto Rico became a possession of the United States subject only to the privileges that the US was willing to grant it. The dichotomy between Puerto Rico’s expectations and what it actually became after 1898, helped to formulate elite definitions of what it meant to be Puerto Rican. This new Puerto Rican identity, which was in large part based upon historical myths, served as defense mechanisms to combat the elite’s dissatisfaction with the new political, social and

“Hey look ‘la niña de afuera’ (the outsider).” That’s all I ever hear when I go visit my “Hometown.” As soon as I arrive to the airport and I breathe that satisfying fresh air, an air so pure and so fresh, breathing becomes so much better; I become so content until I reach the door of the airplane and I start to make my way down the stairs and they’re already giving me stares. No matter how hard I try to fit in I will never be “one of them.” I can dress like them, I can talk like them, and I can even become “one of them”; because I am one of them and still they’ll look at me weird and they’ll treat me differently. They seem to forget that not so long ago I used to be just like them, And now I’ve become “the stranger” in the village, of my own village. It’s like no Cuban American teenager has ever set foot on this island.

Through the Viewpoints of Said, Wilson, and Acuna on History and Culture. Said, Wilson, and Acuna, express throughout their various stories of the struggles their culture faces and protrude the reality of what is being done to keep what they so desire silenced. Said sincerely speaks upon the merciless lies of American and Europe and how they depict many different cultures are orientals, ever so without understanding their culture that they have to offer. Wilson fears that African Americans are losing their sense of self and their culture has for them and are becoming what they were not meant to be. Acuna expresses the multitude of cultures that thrive in central america and perpetuate that their way of living was better off without the involvement of whites, as they developed many major developments that inspire the present day. Words were changed, from their encounter in America, but Acuna, finds justice in speaking the truth as his people were not. these authors may protrude what they are saying in a different sense, but they all share the same meaning.