anzaldua 1987ocr

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7La concietJcia de la mestiza

Towards aNew Consciousness

Po•·la t1111je1' de m· raznhtJM,mlolespfrittl.1

jose Voscocelos, MeJCican philosophcr, envisnr,cd Nlla raza

miiTth•, una mezel,; tÚ raza.r afineJ, N id raza de eolor- la. primera r.tza sfmuis del p.fobo. e Clllle<l ir a cosmk roce, la raza

e6smiea,n fifrh rnceembracing me fnurmajor roces of the worlcFOppv>ÍIC 111 thc: thL'<try nf tbe pure Arynn, and ro che pnlicy nfrucial purity that while A m e r k ~ pranicc), hL' theory is one of

inclusiviry M rhe conflucncc nf twn or more generk srream. ,with chrnmnsomcs cons1andy "crossing over," this mixture of

roces, rnrher thnn resulri ng in on infcrinr bcin¡¡,provldes hyhrid

progony, umutnblc, more mallea ble spectes with n l'ich ¡¡cuc pool.from thls rncinl, ldeological, culru rul und biolnnicn l crt>ss· Jpollini zn tion, ron "a licn" consciuusncss ls prese11tly In tbcntukilt,L;- lli1Cw me.rtiz4 consciousness, 11na coocit:ncitJ de n¡tJ.ier.

l t a consciousncss of the Bordedo11ds.

Utsa lucha de frotJStras 1 A Strnggle of Bordcrs

Because 1, a tnettila ,continuaUy Witlk otll of one culture

aod ¡nro anothcr,because .1 a m in all culrure_\ at the same time,

altna enerc doJ mrJtJdoJ, lr6r, C11a1ro,

tne zumba la cabc7.a C<Jrl lo conlradt& or1o.

lii11J)' •u¡rtctttla p t ~ r tudar laJ IJ0&8J q11e 1110 habla•J¡;m-ultá1tea·11t.ente.



79

lA aJtf( l. , l tltl tl1 /11 r t u ~ ¡ Toward.'-a Ntw ConscmuJI\tU

The ambl\•lllencc frnm rbe clash uf voices r e s u l t ~ in rnenralnntl emorionnl srn1es of perpiL·xlty. Interna! suife r e ~ u l t ~ in

insecuricy uml lndecisivcness. TI1e mcstizn's dqn l or tllLIÍ tlpleperson ttlity is ¡>lu¡¡ued by psychlc rcsdessness.

In a cun•tolll srnre of rncncal nepr•11cilisrn, un i\1.rcc worc.l

meaning corn berwccn ways, la •11/ltlltza is a produCt of rherr>mfer of rhe u•hural and spiritual v o l u ~ ' S nf on e gruup 10

anorher. llcing triculrurnl, o\ooolingual, bilingual, ur ~ ~ u h i h n -gual, spealdng o pawi.s,andina statc uf perperual n s r u o n !meJtiza faces rlte dilemmnof tite mixed hrccd: wbrch wlkcuvny

does cbuAluer of a durkskinned mmhcr llsren tu?

(Blchot¡IIO du ""alma atrap11d11 011tro el mum/(¡ de l8fj1frit11 Y

el mtmdo dula té&tlica a vc&er 1,, deja #tltl'llada. Cradlcd In one

culture, sandwtchcd bccween rwo cultures, scrnddliug all rhrce

cultures an d chcrr value syscems, lo melliza undergoes a ~ < r u l l J i h . 'of flesh, a MCUII81e of burdcrs, an inner wur. Like all pcople, wepcrccive the version of realiry chat our culru re communicucs

like orhe rs having or living in more rhun une culrurc, we gec

mu lriple, nfren oppusi11{l messages. Thc conung cogc1her of rwoc o n s i s u : n c buc habimn lly iiiWlllj)llllble f1amcs of rcfcrcncclcauses un cbot¡IIB, n culnu:al collision.

Wichin us anc.l within ¡, "'ll1<r11 ciJieatla, commonly hcldbelíefs uf the whnt t ~ l r u r e :utack communly held belld• of the

Mexican culture, and bntl\ auack cumrnnnly held bcliefs of cheindigenousculwrc. Subconsciuusly,wt see nn ottack 011 o u r s ~and our bcllcfs ns a th rcat and we acrempt ro block Wtrh n

countcrsran ce.But ic l$ 1101 tnough m stand on rhe npposice rivcr bank,

shout ing quesuons, chnllcngmg pnrriarcltu l, whice c o n v e n r i o n ~A coumerstance locks

oneintu a duel

ufoppressor

and

oppressed ; lockcd in mnrcal combllc, like rhc cop and thc criminal, botb are reduced to a common dcunmrnawrof v10lence.Th e

counrerstllncc refutes che dmnlnanc cu lrnre's views and beliefs,nnd, fut' this, Ir ls pmudly tlefiant. All ,·cacrioo is linlitcd by, anddependenr cm, what h is reactirll{ agnlnsc. Oecause the councer·scnnce sccms from n problem with nuchority-ouccr as well ns

inner- it's n srcp rowards liberatinu from cultural dom ination.Bur ir is nnt a way of life. /\e sorne poinc, cnr ou r way w acumciousness, wc will ha ve 10 leave che opposite bank,che 'phc

becween che twO morrnl combatonts somehuw bealed su rhac weare on both shores nt once nnd, nc nncc, see 1hrough scrpent und

7?

lA COHC,HCI4 tl1 m•m:"' f T u W i t r d ~ 01 Nc:w C u n ~ i u u s l l t $ S

caglc o:yes. Or p e r h a p ~ we will decide w dt'ICngage from the

domtnam culture, wm e it offa lm¡¡echerns o lostmuse, und CI'OSS

thc border inca'' wholl y new nnd scpurn tc cerricory. Or we tlll111t1

go nnothcr m ute . 1.'he o . ~ s l b i l i r i nre nurncruus nncc wc decidetll ncr ood 1101 rcuct.

A Tolcrance Fu r Ambiguit)'

Thesc numerous possibilities len ve In tmutiza fluuudcringin unchnrced s e a ~ . In perceivinA confl ,cting informncion nnc.l

pnillL\ uf vicw, she is :.ubjccred ro a swampin}lof hcr psycholosicn l bordees, She hn s discovered rhuc she catú hold concep1s oridons in rigid boundnrics. Th e bor<lcrs nnd wulls chuc nre su¡o ·posedw kccp rhe undestrablc ideas out are cmrenchcd ltabirs nndpnnerns of bchuviur: rhese habits uoKI parrerns are lh e er'lemywulun. Rigidiry meon< dcarh. Only by rcmaimng flexible is $he

able to stretch the psyche borizuncally and verlic-dlly , lA m6Jii'ld

con<rnnrly has LO sltifcuuc of habitual f o r m ~ d o n s ; from convergemthink ing, nnnlyl icnl rcasu n ng rhnt tencls10 use raciona 11 t)' tu

move cowarú a ~ l n s g o ~ t (a W e ~ u : r n mode), to diver¡¡e11tltl uking ,• charnctcrizcd by movemcut uwny from se r potrerosnnd goals and cuwnrd n who le perspecrive, an e thar induc.lc>

rorher rhan excludc'

Thc new 1116SIÍt4 copes by developcn¡¡ u tnlcr.mcc fur con lrradiccions, a wlcrance for ambil{utty, She lenrns ro be an lnd11tn

iu Mexicanctll ture, to be Mexican (rorn un Angln point uf vicw.She lenrns w íusgle cu ltu res. She hus n p lura l perso!HlÍily, slteu pernees in n pluro llsdc mocle-nothlu¡¡ 1,, rhrust onr, che goodrhe bad and the ugly, nothing rejeueci, no1ltin{l ab:lndoned. Not

only does she sus ca in conrrodiction>, shc turns rhe ambivalence

inco someching e lse.Shccan be jarrcd ou rufambivalenceby"" imen.\C, and often

poinful, emocional v c n r whicb Íf1vercs 11r resol ves rhe nmbivalence. l'm uot ;ure exnccly hmv Th e work rakes ploceunderground-subconsciously. lt is work chncthcsoul pcrfurms.Thut focal point or fulcrum , rhnt juncturc wltcrc thc rncstizasrunds, is whtre pltcnomena tenu ll l cullide. lt is wnere chepo55ibíliry of uniting all rh31 i.< separare occurs. 'f'his assembly is

no eone whcre se veredor separa ed pieces mtrelycome o ¡ ¡ c t h ~ rNnr is it • blllancinA uf opposing powers. In uncmpcing w wurkout a synrbesis, che sclf hns addcd u chi1·d element which is



l_

RO

((mciendll In me .rli4a ¡ 'foward> 1.1 Ntw Úln'iC:ÍHUSI)tU

greacer n che su m uf its severed a r t ~ Tllnc chi rd elememi s ancwcon;.ciousness-•mestiu consciousnes•-and chough ic is a

source of incense puio, its eoergy come' frnm continuo!cmcive

mncinn chal keep5 breaking duwn che unirary ~ p c : c c of eaeh new

poradlgm.IJn unas fJOCM centuri<JI, che: future will be long en che mes

B e c : ~ u s e thc fmurc depends on rhe hrcakinJl down uf para

cligms, it dcpcnds on che strnddling uf twn or more cuhures. l\ycrcnun¡¡ a new mythos-rhat is.a change in wuy we pe rceivereoliry, che way wc see ourselves, oml thc way s we pchllve-/a

'IJUJJ'IiZ(l crea tes n new <:onsduusuts:'i.

'J'he work uf musúza consciousness is ro break down the

suhjccc-ubjcctuuaJicy rhnr keeps hcr u prisrlllero nd wsh<)W in rhe

flésh llml thruugh che lmages in he•· work how dunlicy is t1ilns·cended. Th c n ~ w c r LO the problem hccwccu whitc race ami

rhc culorcd, between males 2nd femalcs, lies in heallng che sp lit

eha eoriginares in th c ' l ' I )' fouodacion ofour i v c ~ . ourculturc,nurl o n g t t a g ~ . u u r thougbu. /1 mossivc uproming of dualistic think·

m¡¡ 10 the Individual and cnllectivec o n s c i o u ~ n c s s

ls che begin·ning of a lnn¡¡ s1ruggle. bm on e thar cnuld, in our be" hopes.

brin¡; us 10 th e end of mpe, uf vmlence, of wor

lA c u c m c i j a d e ~ 1 l 'he Crossrm•ds

A chi.ckeo is be in¡; sacrlf•ceduta c:rossroads, o simple mound of eurth

a mud shri ne for IJ,¡·hu,

Yom(m gou of lndeterm inucy ,who blesses her chok e of path.

She hegins her journey.

Su C116rflu es una buCRcalle. La mestiza has gone frum being

th e .•aCttficial goac to lx.-cmrung th e offici ating priesress at the

crossruach..

As • me11iz11 J have no country, my homeland Cal>l me out;

yer all coururie• are mioe because 1 am cvcry woman's siscer or

potencial lover ( As a lesbiau 1 have no roce, my own pc:ople

dlsdaunme; bue1om oll races bccuuse rhere is rhc queerof me in

oll rnces.) l um cuh ureless because, as a fcminiSI, 1chullcnge rhe

collccrlve cultural/ rcligious mnle-derivecl bchefs of 1ndo-His-

l.t &Q,ICiéN&tlf Je 11 me"Jiiza ¡ Tuwards a ConKIOUsneoss

panics oncl Anglos; yet 1om rulcured because 1a m partlcipnting in

che creation o( yct anothcr cultu re, n new .rnry 10 cxplain cheworld and our parridpa<ion init, a new value system with imagcs

and syrubols tbat c:onna-r cr,each other and 10 rhe planee. Soyun m 4 J < ~ m i • m o , 1aman act of kne-Ading,of unido¡¡ and jolningthor nm only has produced boch a crearure o( dnrkness and acrearure of líghr, butabo • creature rhnc questlun• che ddinidons

uf light ond dork ond gives rhem ncw meaninJlS.We urc th e pcople who leap in rhe dnrk, we ore che peop le

on th e knees o( rhe gods.lo ourvury flcsh, (r)c:vnlution works out

thc dash ofcultures. lt mokes tJs crazy consrnncly, bm if rhe cencer

ho lds, wc've mude snmc kind of evo lucin nury srcp forwurd.Nua.r·

traalma ellra.bajo, cheop us, che grcat alchcm •cnl work; spirhnaJtJICJtiztJjo,u"murphogenesis,"5 a n inev rnble unfold i ng.We hnvebecome che quickenlng serpcm rnovcmcn1.

lndlgc:nnus like com, like corn, the 1/ICJti::a is a produce uf

crossbreeding, designed for prcscrvation undcr a ''ariety of con

didons l.ike an ea r of com-a female seed-hearing organ chemCJi iu is tcnacious, tigluly wappcd in rhc hu•k• uf hc r cultur<\l.ike kernels she clings coche cob; with chick stalks and srrong

bracc rtK>l>, she hulds tighr t<l rhe e a r r h ~ will •urvfvc th c

crossronds.

Lavamioy remoja,.d(J el m.alz q¡ ¡ agua d11 &al, dnpoja•1do elpo/lujo. M o l i ~ 1 1 d o , mixteatJdo, amaJatJdo, bacie11do tortiii11J du

r a . e Shc Slccps thc com in lime, it swdls. soft.cns. Wit h sco nero ller on metttte, she gr inds che corn, •hen grinds agoin. Shc

kneads a nd mould> the dough, pnrs the round hnl ,, Í l lw to,·ttlltu.

\V/e are the porous rock In che sronc mol«tosquJJtLing un thc ground\V/e are che ro lllng pin, el malr )' ap,utt,ltt 11/ttltl han11a. Sonuu / a m a s i j o .Somos lo molido 871 el me111te.We are che &ormJ si:zzling hor,

th e hot lorlilla, che hungry mn111h.\V/e are the roarse rack.

\Y/e «<C tbc Jlfindin,¡¡ n'lotfon,

the mixed pocion, romo! el molcaJCIII.\Y/e are thc pcs tle, che comi11o , ajo, p m t ~ e 1 l l a ,



82La euiJ,if411CI.- t l ~ t 111 m ~ r l i u f Towanls • Ncw . : o n . s c • o u s n c ~ : o .

We ore rhe cbile colnrado,che ¡¡reen shutll rhat crocks thc rock.

We wl ll ubitle.

El camhm de la mastixll 1 Th c Mesrizu Way

Caught between thc sudden contraction, rhe hrcathsucked in and thc cndless spnce, th c browo womuo srnods

srill, looks at th e slcy. She dccrdcs ro go down, digging hc r

way nlong rhe roo of rrces.Slfring chrough the boncs,sh e

shakes chem w scc if chere is uny marrow in rbcm. Then ,

rouching che<lirt to hcr fnrchcnd, co her rongue, she rukcs a

fcw bones, lenves thc rest in chel1· burinl place.

She 80<.!' through her backpack, keeps hcr journal und

address book, rhrows away the munl·bllrtmetromaps. Th e

coins or e heny and rhey go ncxt, theo rhc grcenbacks

fluner rhrou¡¡h rhea ir. S he keeps her knife, can opencr aod

eycbrow pencil. S he pues bon es, picces of bark, bierbaJ,eagle fcarhcr. snakeskin, rape rccorder, th e rnttle nnd clnun

in hcr pnck nnd shc scrs ou t 10 bccornc tbe complete tol·teca.1

He r first scep i> tu cake invenmry De1pojando, d•1¡¡ranando, qaiiando pa¡a. Jusc wha< did she inherit fTOm he r ances·

rors? This wc1ght on hcr back-wh1ch the bnggagc from rhc

lntlian mother, which tbe baggugc lrom che Spanish furher.

wbich rhe buggnge from thc Anglo?Per /1 et dificil cllffercntia ting becwccn lo bcrcdfldn.lo d q t ~ i

rido, Jo impuesto. She pues history tl 1rou¡:¡h n sicvc, wlnnows out

rhe lies, lm1ks at the fon:cstha t weas a nK"C,ltS women, ha ve been

" purt of. Lsugo hola lo que 110 vale, l111 tkJmicntoJ, lo J dc.r<!ll·&11611101. e1Bmbrutl&imifmlt1. Aguarda 11 j11icio, honáQ y tllral·Zttdo, de lage1116 anti¿;u11. Tbis scep is a cunscious rupture wich ull

op presslve rrnditirms of nl lt:ulmre>und religions.She comnnuti·

caces dmt rupwre, clocuments che str uggie. She rcinterpretshiswry and, using uew symbols, she shapes ncw myrhs Sl1endoprs new perspecrives roward che darkskinned, wumcn nndquLoers. She srrengrhcns ber rolerouee (a od inwleronee) for

ambiguicy. Shc Í$ willing ro shurc, tn make hetself vulnerable ro

foreígn ways of seeing autl thiolclng.Shcsurreoders nll oocions ,,¡su.[ecy, of rhe fumili<tr. Deconsrruct , consrruo She beconleS n

IHLt. &tmCtiHtt;r l11l• "'-11/i:a / Tuwarcb :1 C o u . ~ u , n t ' J

• ~ a b ~ ~ a l , able ro trun5form he.-sclf inro a cree, o coyore, ;1110

nnuther persnn. She learns ro rra nsform rhc sm aU T' inru rhe

totnl Stlf. Se h a c ~ moldeadora 1le 111 <tl·ma. Según 1, concopcMnque t 1 ~ 1 1 de .1'1 111111/w, " rl s.ml.

Que 110 se llf lS olt•id•lm hm11bres

'7A 110 rirves

~nad•-ynu' re good for nmhmg.

lirsJ pun1 ·z•teja."

"Y' 1 · 1 ,. '. re not Hug lUC il won"'un menns you are clcfcccive. lts

p p o s 1 IS ~ ~ · b e 1111 macho. l'he mo<.lcl'tl meaning of che worcl.maclusmo, wcll ns the cunccpc, is nctually au Ang lo in ven ·

non. Formen l1ke my father, being "mut:htt" meaor bein¡¡ 'lrnng

cnuugh ro p r o _ c ~ c r suppurr m y motherand t15, )'el belng nblcro sbow !uve. 1oda y ' macho ha s duubrs about bis sbility m fL'ed

ond pro.tect hi . fnmily . Bjs "mnchí;mu" i.> an adapcarion to

nppress1on and I)Overty an< l luw 'l:lf·esreem. 1t ¡, thc rcsulr of

hiera.rchical mnle domina nce. 'l' he Anillo, feel ing inndet¡Ul¡rc andl n f c and p n w c r l e ~ s , o1 11·nnsfers rhese fcelings to

Clucanu hy shnu11ng l11m . ln thc C.ringo world, t l u ~ C:hicnnu,uffers from cxcessive humilíry nod scl(-effacr:ment shnmc ol

se!{and self1eprccutinn Around Larinos he suffcrs fr:un u sense

of ~ n g u a g e mndequacy and irs nccompanying discomfott; wul1NuuveJ\mencaus he suffers frnm n •·ncinl nmncsiu. which ignores

our common b lood, 11 11d fro rn gu ilL bccnusc che Spanlsh pnrt uf J

hlm took thcir land onu o ppressed rhem. Ue an excessh•e

compcnsnrory hubris when arouutl Mcxicnns froru the mhcr sidc /Ir overlays a decp seme uf md a l shame. 1

Th c loss o f a scnsc uf digolty and respccr in the muchobrcL'<b • false m ~ ~ 1 i s m o wbich lcuds him ro put dowu wumc1

und e veo to brucollze rhem: Cocxisring wlth hisscxisc bchnvior

n love for rhc morher wl11ch rnkes precedente over rha1 of o.llo thers. D.evored so.n, mucho pig. T o wush cl()wn rhe shnme of

acts, of l11s very bc1118, norl to han dlc the bnue in thc mirrnr , hetakes ro che bmrlc, rhe soort, rhe needle, and tbcJisr J

T hr)ugh we "undcNm nd" che root U t ~ 5 e s o f mole hocred and

fear, and rhe subsequcm woundinJlnf women, we do oo t excuse.

wc do nor condone, and we will no longer put up with fr . I'rom



R1

l11 crmd•nna Ja 11lf ii 11A j 'l•oward!i a New tonsdm11netec¡

the mcn o( our race, we dcmand rhe admissionfncknnwledgmcncfdisclusurcfcesthnony rhnt rhey wound us, vinlace us, arenfrnid uf us and of our puwcr. We need rhem ro say rhcy wíllbcgin ro elimina«' rheir hurcfu l put-dnwn ways. nm more rhanrhe w u r d . ~ we <lemand uccs. Wc sny to rhem' Wc will devclopC<jliUI powel" wi rh yuu nnd lih)Se whu h a v ~ shamed us.

lt Imperad ve rhn r tizas supporr each ttrltCt' in chang

ing the e l e m ~ n t s in che Mexican-lndiun cultut•e. luug aswoman put down, rhe lndian uud t.he Black in nlluf us ls purduwn.The srntggle uf che mcstiu ls above :tila femlnist onc Aslong as lnr hmnbr tu think rhey hove tu ehingarmujttrer•nd ea ehuthcr to be men, as long mcn are taughr rhar<hey:tre superiorand cherefore <lllrurally lnvored over la mujer, as o n g ~ ~ tu be aviaja ls a <hm¡¡ of derision, rhcrc cun be no real hcalíng of ourpsycltes. We're hul fway rhcre-we hnvesuch loveof rhe Mmhet,rhe good mmhcr. The fírsc srep is to l e ~ r n rhe jlllla/v irgenuidJ(Jtúmy nnd ro sec <:rul/./apopeuh·COfltlic"a in the Morht·r.Citlltdlllttpc.

Tcndcrness, a sign uf vuluerabillt]', is so fea red thnc ir isshowered on wun1cn wlth verbal abuse and blows. Mcn, evcnmore rhan women, are ferrered w ¡;ender roles. Wumen ntleast

have had rhe gurs m break out of bondngc. Only gay mcn ha••ehnd rhecouragc to eJCpose rhemsdvcs ro the woman imide 1hemund ro cballenge rhe curre m masculiniry. l've cnctluntered • fcwscnuered nnd isvlntcd gencle srrnighr rncn, the beginnings ofncw brccd, bu t rhey ore cnnfuscd, and enc.1ng lcd with. se>rlstbehnviors thn< h cy huve not been nb le ro cmdlcnre, Wc nced .A

new mnsculiniry and rhe new nmn needs a movcmcnt.

l.umping thc males who dcviatc from the general norm

with man, theoppressur, ¡, u ;ross in¡usrice.Aunnbra po1mnqrüinos brmws r t e d t ~ d o en eu po:o otcurodondeelmtmd11 tm&i•mta/¡¡¡ lt:rbian<H. Atombr• pomar qHe hemos, como fermmisi<H ylttJbiauas, eerradtl llllff.rtrOJ eoraz611er a lo! hombres, a IINttstror

bsrmamu loJ jo1os, deshsr4Jdtldw y mar¡¡i11aler cumo 110101m.r.

Bclng che su r eme crossc" of cuhures, hornt1sexuals have st.rongh o n d ~ wirh thc: queer wh ire, lllack. Asian, Nurive American,Lutino. and wirh che qucl!r In lta l)•, Ausrralia an<l rhe tCS t uf tbeplanee. We "'me frnm nll co lurs, all classes, a ll ruces, nll rimeperiods. Our role is ro link peuple wirh each mher- rhe Olac.ks

wirh Jews wirh lndiaus with Asinns wirh whites wirh cxtraterres-

H)

r o u d e n c i ; ~ á(l/11 WtJf/U'II / 'ruwards a Ncw (ouscicw'inC'1s

trials. le is tn rronsfer 1 d ~ - a ~ and mfurmalion frnm une cuhurc 10

nnmhcr. Colored homosexuub h a v ~ mure k n o w l e d ¡ ¡ ~ uf orherr:ulmres; lmve nlways bccn nt che furefront (ahhuugh somedmcstu rhc closer) .of al l. libermion st.ru!lgles in chis cttu11cry; ha ve

suffcrcd more n j u s t ~ r c n11<1 ""''" survived rhcm despltenll udds.(h tn nos ro nclmuwlcdge cite polirica1and arriscit' conrribu·llnusof rhe•r ~ C c r . Peoplc, listcn to wbur j o t e r l t ~ l s suying.

T lu:: mesw.o aud che quccr cxisr Rl L h i ~ time J>Olnt unthc evolucJonary conrinuum For H purpose. \'(/e src o blcndingthat prnves that all hlood is imricorely wuven rogerher, uud rharwe nre Sp;!wned out nf ,¡mi lar snuls.

Somos una gmle

Hay Jantí.simarJ (nuenl!

que divtdon " 111 ¡¡emu.pero ¡un· Clldt!frrm/qo·aexiua ltlmln'én tltl puente.

-G ina Vuldés•

Oividt.od J.oyaltic,. Mony wnntcn and men u( cnlnr do 1101

' ~ A n t 10 have an¡• dealin¡¡.' wirh whice pcnp le. Ir rakestO<l cnuch1 1 1 ~ 1 1 and energy w cxploin to thc downwardly muhile, whue

rr:uddl.:cl:t." o ~ e n chat il s uktty (o r usen wnnr ro own " pussc<·S J U n ~ never havmg had nny u ice fnrniturc cmnurdirr floors or"luxurics" like wnshing machi oc.,. Many feel thn t whitcs shouJdheJ11their owo people du rhcn>selves of cace hnrred and fcur first.l. eho ose ro use some of 111)' ener¡¡y to serve as medioror.1'!>tnk wc need ro whltes to be: our nllies. Tltrough nm·ltr.crnrure, an, corrtdor, and fulkrnles wc must shore ouo· histot·y

wtth rhcm so when tllcy'C I

upcommittcesro help Hi¡¡ MuuutainN ~ · · ~ j u s or the Chica no f a r m w u or lot NicnragÑtmiDf rhey

wun r tnrn " ; ~ • p l e away becau'cuf rheir racial fears nnd ignoran·ces ThC)• wo 11 come 1n S<'C rhoc chcy are nor hdpmg us burfolluw ing Q\1 r lend.

lndividunlly, bur also as a ruda l enrity, we nccd w vuice our

nccds. We nc;cd rosoy ro whitc .1o<iecy: We ncct.l you m nccept chefncr Lhat ChJtanos are dlffcrenc, 10 ackunwledge your rejecLiunnnd nc¿:atton of us. Wc need you ICl own the fan t.hat yuu lnnkedUpun US nsless than human, thut )'Ull srole our lauds,nur ['erson

huod, our self respecL \Y/e "''..¡ you ro makc public resricm ion: to



AAlA C f m , J & r r t ( 11, /4 ·m•IUU. f 'l'uw;m.b .l Ncw Co.nsciuu ..ness

>Ay tbat, ro m n p e n ~ a r e fo r yuur nw n ~ c n s e of uefecrivctle ss, yuu

\lrivc for powcro ver us, you erase our hi\lnry11nd tJurt·xpcriencc

bccuusc it mnkcs you fecl gui lry- yuu'd rnrher forgcr your brurish

ncrs. Tu suy y<Ju've Sf'lit y n u r . ~ c lmrn minorhy groups . tiHtt you

disown IL\, that your rhtal cunsciousness spllrs off pMt.• of your·

sclf, rransfcrrio¡¡rhc "n egarive" porrs onro us. (Where rhere is

¡>ersec:uuo n tJf there is shaclow projectilln. Whcre

thcre ls vllllcnce and wo r, rherc 1& rep rc,,s io l1 uf shttdow .} To yrhot youore afraid of U>,thar ro put disrancc r w e c n us, yuu weor

rhc o fcontcmpr. Adnlttthnr Mcxico rs yuurdouble, rh;u she

cxlsts in rhc shndt>w of rh is w untry, chat weore rrrev<Jcably ticd

m her . Grin¡¡<), accept t.hedoppclgonger in your psyche. lly rakin¡¡

back ynur collecrive shoduw th e intrncu lmnal splir will beal. And

fillally, ccll us whn< you need from us.

l.ly Your True F a c c ~ We Will Know You

1 un visihle-see rhis lndinn facc-yer l tllll invislble. l bnth

b llnli rhcm withmybcnk nosc uoJ om thclr bllndspor. Burl el(is t,we cxisr. Tht!y 'd like w t.bink 1 Ira ve mclted in tite pot J3ur 1

haven·t. we hovctú .

Th e do m!nanr whitc colrurc ls ki ll io¡¡ us slmvly witlr irs

ignonancc. By takinJl nway our sell-dcterminotion , ir loús m ~ d c us

WL'llk an d cmpty. As o people we bave resrsred and we hove rakcn

expcdienr p u ~ i t i o n s but we hove ttever bcen allowcd ro dcvelop

unencumbered-we hnvc n e ~ e r bccJ'I a ll r>wctl to be ful ly n ur·

selves. Th c whires in power w•nt us pen ple of color tu barricude

uurselves behind ou r separare rribnl w a l l ~ sn rhey cnn pick us off

o nc ara time with rhel r h rdden wt•apons ; sn they can wh ircwflsh

and di ;'turt h lstory. lg norancc splirs pcople, crctltes p t·cjudicc>. /1

misinfomu:d peoplc is 8 subju¡¡oted penple.

Befc¡re the Chknno and th e undocumcnrcd worker ond rhe

Mcxican from th c 11ther sidc cnn come togcther, befa re the

Chiconocnn ha veun iry wirh Nntive !lmericans and orhcr groups,

we na'<i ro know rhe histary of their srru88le and rhey need ru

know ourR. Ou r mmhers , our i s r e r ~ and brothers, rhe guys who

han¡: ou r on streer corncrs, thc chi ldren in rhe playgt'<Junds, cnclt

of us rnusr know our Jndian llncage, ou r airo-meuisaje, our

h isto ry uf resis<ance.

H/

LA tuufi•NdJJr lt1 lmtJiizA 1 Tu""anh 1 Ntw C,onscÑtUUla.. l

Tct che irnrnignurt 1/Je;..'icauo ¡¡uJ the •·ecenr r i v u wcmu•H

<éach our hisror)'· 'l'he !10 million mexic4nfl• and the latinos

from Cemrol a nd Scou<h Amcric11 mus< know of onr s r r u g ¡ ; k ~!!u h ouc of us tn usc know basic facts abonr Nicaragua, Chile and

the resr of l.nrin ¡\ mc: t·ica. Th c l.ut inoist 1110vemenr (Chicanrl5,

~ ' u e r t o Ricans, C:ubans and orherSpamsh-spenking¡x .oplc wurk·

to¡¡ethe.' o c o m b n t racial discriminnrion in the mnrket pbce)

rs good bl" " •s not cnou¡;h. Otbur Ll '"" a runmon culrure wc w llhave llOthin!l w hukl us to¡¡etl1er \V/e need ro mcct nn a broader

cnmmunal ground.

T hr: st nrggle is lnner : Chicnno, indio, Amcricnn Jodinn,11/0jddo, mexitd11o, imml¡¡ranr d uo, AnAIO n powcr, w• Jrkln¡¡

class An¡¡ln, Black, Asian-our l>syches resemblc <loe border

tnw ns an d are popul nred by rhe same pcnplc. The sr ru¡¡glenlways becn inner, and is p luycd •>Lit irlthe ourer rer rn i ll,\, Awnre·

uf nur suuatioo musr come b ~ f o r e inncr chan¡¡es, which in

turn come before chnn¡¡cs in sncu:ry. Norlung happens m th e

"renl" world u r d e s u fi rs t ha ppen s in rhe imagcs iu uur heads.

Bl tUa de la Chicana

1 will nut be h a m c u¡¡uinNor· will J shame ll.lyse lf.

1am ptl\sessedb y u vision: rhar we Chk:wa.< and Chicanosltavc taken bnck or uncovered ou r rruc faces. ou r digniry aud

self-respecr. l t \ u validutiou vishm.

St-ei n¡¡ rhe Olicann anew in li¡¡hr nf hcr bistory. 1seek an

exooerarion,llseeing rhmugh th e fictions o f whire suprcmacy,

sccin11 of ourselves in our crue guises and rH)t as rhe fa lse r•da l

personality tlra t hus been give11 10 us nnd t htH wc hA ve g iven w

ourselves. l seck uur wnman's facc.our true fe:uurcs, thc positive

and tlre negntive seen dCllrly. free uf <he rointed biase, uf male

dom inancc. 1&eek new imnges vi idcn<ity, new bellefs ubuut

ourselves, our humanity nnd wonh no lo ngcr in ques tlon.

f!!lamos viviendo 111 la 11ochcd" la Ra2a. tm tiempo c11ando

e l l ~ l l b t l j o N baco a lo t¡lliato, o/ s c ~ ~ r t ! T!l d f t ~ cuandoacctltll ·

mos 111/y COtlt ll mmt/1)' fara en do11de li!J1/IIIJ' ) ' porq11e-e¡ c

rqrá el dú de/11 1<11%11. l '11 lcugr> &mtpromisode tnrp"Jilrmi



,. , c.alfctt!HCiil la mrso:11 ¡ 1·uw"ni5 a New Cónscimlst tc-IIJ

vt1i611, mi sctmbiJuJad, mi pcrup&ió11 de la revnlidacultt d1 ¡,gente 1ntt.YIUnA. JN mdril(), esl•nuci6n, honr11, aprcoo,y t111liduz.

Oc1 Decembcr 2nd when my sun ¡¡oes cnco my first house, 1celebrare old{a de/a Chicanay u/ Chicana. On chut tlay Jelcan my

ni'" liJllH my Coatlalofnmh enndle, hu rn sage and cc¡pu l, wke q/

haflo pam ssfulrllitl'baflll'tl, $Wccp cny bouse. On dtAt dny 1barc

my soul, make mysclf vu lncr11ble ro frícn<.ls nnd fnmll)• by<'xpn:sslng my feclin)l s. On rhnt dny 1nffirm who wc 11re.On chat day l look lnsldc uur coniJicrs and uur b3Sic in tro-

vertro mcial rempenmcnt. 1 idenrify ouc needs, voicc thcm. 1ucknowledge thar che self •nd che race have been woundro. 1re<ognize rhc ueed ro cnke corc uf our personhood, of our racialself.On thac dny 1gurhcr the sp lincered and disown<-d partS of a

geme mexica11a and hold che m in tny am1s. Toda.r laJ t ~ . r r t u r do•lOIOiros vallm.

Oo that duy 1say, "Yes, nll you peop le wound us when you

rejcct tu;. Rejection strips us nf seJf.wonh ; our vn lncrubiliryexptlSl .< us to sbacne. le is our in nace identiry you find wuoting.

Wc are ashamed rhor wc nced your good opinion, rhut we needyour acceptanre. \V/e can 110 longercnmoull:lge our nccd>, can nolungcr Jet defenses and lences sprout arouod us. We can nolungcr withdraw.Tu ragc And look upun you with cmuempt is tnraj:lC and be conccmpwous o ( ourselvcs. We can no lnnger hlamcyuu, nor disown tbe whice pnrrs, th c maJe parrs, rhc parhologirulparts, the quccr parts, the vulnerable parrs. He e wc wcnprlnless wirh opcn arms, wlrh un lyour magic. l.er's try it Ottr way, themes riza wa y, che Chicu nu way , rhe womnn way ,

On thar day. 1search for our essentialdígnity ns n penple, apcopJe wirh a sensc nf purpose- ro belmc)l and contribute rosumerhinggrearer rhan nur purblo.On charday 1seekw recover

aod reshape my spl<nual identiry. ¡A,.ímau! Raza, a cDirbrar•ldla de ¡, Chica111J.

El retomo

All movcments are ucmmplished in six s t n g ~ s .nnd thc seve11ch l>rinxs retuco.

- J h i n g ~Tanto tl811lfJO sb1 vcrtu casa tnÍa1

mi cu,.11, mi bo11drJ ,,Jt, e la IJifcrta .- "So lcdad"t0

><Y

LA tum,itn-ti.i de :a 1 r u w ; ~ _ u l s " ' New <..vnsc•mltnc'll

1 scand ar rhe rivcr, watch 1hc curving, rwi<ling serpeo!, aserpent nnilcd ro the fence where rhe mnutb of th e Riu Grandecmpties inro rhe Gulf

1 lmve co me back. ' f ' t ~ ~ I I O dolr>r me coJtó el AIDjaml•uJo. 1my eyes nnd lnok up. Tlcc booe beak of ,, huwk slowly

c¡,.cling ovcr mc,checkin¡¡ me om ns pocemial crtrrlon In wukca lltt lc bml flickering irs w i n g ~ . swnnrmng sporud ica lly like a

fish. Jn rhe distan<'C thc cxprcsswuy and che slouflh of rraffíc likean lrrltatcd sow.Tbe sudden pull in my gut,/a lie'fd,lru agufiCI1·

r111 My land, el viemo J'oJ!Irmlloltt are/la, el 11gartij" tlab11to d6 1111

114pallto ~ J U ~ e r d o eomo u a ""'"'· {lua regi611 desirttCa du'' " 111 1/amtraJ, cort11rasd4 haj11 ~ I I M I ' r i , de esusa lllwia, de cbapar-rrtles formatÚJJ pormerq11itety IJui;;.ucbtlr. lf lluok real hnrd 1"""almost scc thc Spanish fnthers who wcrc called "rhc l1tv•Jry ofChrist" en ter rhi s valley ridln¡¡ cheir burros, scc lite clush ufcu ltul'es commcnc<.:.

'l'iemt J . a ~ t ~ l T his is hotnc, Lite smo 11 co\v ns in 1he Vn lley, lo .rp11cblhQs with chicken pens and gnacs picketed ro mcsqune

sltrubs. E11lai colo11ias on thc uthcr side of che cracks, juc1k cnrsliue !he front yor<l• nf hoc pink and laveodcr-tmnmed h o n o , c ~ -Chicanoarcbite<ture we call ir, c l f · < . ~ > n s c c o u s l y . l hove nusscd cheTV shows where hos" spcak iu half ood half, an<.l whece nwarthare gíven in the cacegory o( Tex-Mex music. 1 hove mis,cd theMcxicoucemereries bluumin¡¡ with artificial flowcrs, the fields ni¡doe vern ond red pcppcr, cows of sugnrcunc, nf corn hanglug 1111

rhe seu b , thc cloud of f>(ll'll!lf'uda iu the di cr mutls llehin<i nu l n g pickop trud<,ttl111borde l!tmales de rezy 11e111tdo. l huve

missed lrt yegtra colorada gnowing thc wc>OJen gare of hcrrhc smc!J of hocse flcsh frnm Gtrito's co rraJs 1-lu becbo ~ • w J/a¡ r ~ o c b e i calie11tes .ti11 aire, 1 / o c / ¡ e de Jimernas y lacbN'Uilmaking holes in che nighr

1 sci!J feel the old desp2cr when 1 look ar thc unpnínred,dilapidnted, scmp lumber houses consist i ng moscly of corrugutcclnluminum. Some of rhe p u o r c ~ t pcopJe in che U.S live tn che

Lc1wec· R loGram:kVnlley, un orid nnd semi·urid lnnd of itrigutcdfurllling, inrense u ~ t l l g h t nn<i heot, citrus grn"cs nexr to chapar·tn 1nnd occncs . 1walk 1hrong h rile clcmcmary sclwol1uttended solong ago, thoc remaíncd •c¡¡rc,qa1ed unrll reccutly. 1 remcmbl!'rhow rhe white r:eachers used to punish us fDr being Mcxicnn.



wfA tntrt.'lltleia t:lc;IN flltJ#itu 1TnwllrdJ 11 Ncw r( lllMiowmt:ss

J-low 1 lovc th is trar,lc vn lley of South Te xas. ns RicardoSánchtiClltls h; oh is bordcrluoul between ene Nueces and the Kio

G rande. T laml hos survived pusscssinn and lll·use by íivcccmnulcs: Spain, M e ~ i c o , riw Rcpublic o( Te xas, thc U.S., rbe

Conlederacy, and th e U.S. again. h has survivcd Anglo-Mexicn n

bluod fcuds, lynchings, burnlngs, rapes, pillage.Today1 ee che Valle.')' ,t i I struggling tu surv ivc Wherher it

does or no<, it willncvcr be as 1 remember it. Th e borderhu1d'depression thac WAS ser of f by th e 1982 peso devaluation in

Mexico resulred in rhc: closureo( hundreds uf Vallc:y businesses

Many ¡><:uplc o . ~ t their homes,cors, lond. Proor to 19112. U.'i.store

owncrs chrived on retail soles w Mexocons who enme across che

border for groccrics and cloches nnd npplianccs. While guod.• nn

rhe U.'i. side have become 10, 100, 1000 times more cxpcnsive

for Mexicon buyers. g<K>th un che Mexican side ha ve bccome 10,

100, 1000 times chcaper for i \ m e r i ~ ' U m Bccause che Val k'Y ishcavHy dcpeodencon ogricuhurcand Mexican retail tracle, it hns

the highesr unempluymcm rates along che emite border regiun;

ic is thc Va llcy t hnt hns been hurdcst hit.''

" lc 's been n bnd ycur forcur n," my brother, Nunc,suys. As he

calks, 1 remcmber ony fn ther sconning thc ' ky for a ra in d lUtwuukl cnd the clroughc, I<okin¡; up ittttl the s ky, day aftcr dny,

wh ile rhc co rn withcrt d <ntt s sudk. M¡• furher loa;. beeo dend fnr

29 ycars, huving worked himse lf w dcnd t. Th e life uf :1

Mexicnn foo:m lnbwcr is 56 -hc livcd ro be ,;8. le shocks me rhnr 1om oldc r thun he. l, too, the sky for ruin.Like rhe ancicn<s,1 worshlp thc t•n ln gocl nnd thc muize ¡¡oddess . hu t unltke my

fnt·he r 1hnvc rccnvc rcd t hcor na ones. Now for ru •n (ioTogncio n)

onc offcrs not a sacrin ce of hloud, but uf mo ney.

"Farm lng ls i n n bud wny," ony bt•o ther snys. "Two to rlueerhousand smull aml blAformers wenc bunkrupt in tbis councrylaso year. Six yeao·s ngo rhe pdcc uf curu wos StUJI) pcr hundred

pounds," he ¡;()e:. nn. "T iois year it ls H .!/0 pe r htuJ<.lred pounds."Ami, J thi nk to m¡•self, ofcer takin¡¡ inflatlou into •u:oun t, not

plnn1ing nnyrning p u t ~ yuu 11head.

1 walk 0111 10 1he back yard, More 01 lot o ~ ~ > l • r du 111a111tÍ. She

w•n rs me ro hclp hcr prune 1he rose hushcs, dig ou< rhe carpet

jlrass cha1is choking rhem. Jlfa""'J!.'""d' Ramona también 1e11Í<lrorakt. Herc cvcry Mcxocon ,11rows f l o w e r ~ lf they don'r havc a

?1

La HHJt'UtnCttl t l t ~ l r ~ m t H I I 1 'l'uwurds nNcw (.Qnsl·•nusn"'"

p iccc uf di rt , chcy use car ri res , ju os, Cítns, shoe boxes. Hoses arerhe Mexican's fnvnn tc 1 thlnk, huw syl11bu li c - thutns

und ull .

Yes, oloe Clo icunu uud Chicnnn hnve alwu¡•s takcn cure uf

growing rh ings and the loml A¡¡a111 l ~ th e fout' of u.s ki<ls¡:cniu¡¡ uff tloc school bus, chnnging loro our work duthe.,, walk

lng in1o ohdieh.l wltlo Papl u111.l Mtutl,ult.ix uf u.• bcndlng 10 tbe

ground Reluw our feeo, under 1he eanh lie che watermelon seeds.We cuver thcm wirh p•pcr pl;<!cS, putting tcrrcmoleJ unwpuf

rhe piares eo keep 1hem from be n¡¡ blown away by the wind.Th e

papcr pla1c• keep the free>e away Next day ur the ne><t, wc

remove 1he plates, bare thc tín¡ grt:cn h u m • w th e clemems.

They survive nnd grow, give (:ruic hun<lreds of cimes the si•e of

rhc sced. \Y/e water chcm and hu c chem \VIe lmrvcsr d1cm. Th e

vines dry, roe, are plowed under Growth, deoth,decay,borch.Th e

soil prcparl'<i n¡¡uin und ngain, < m p r ~ g n n t e d , worked un. Acuo·stnnc chanA<IlJl of forons, rtJtlllctmiemo.r d61a l tura madre.

Tití' luou.l wus :Mcxocuu uutc

wns t ndlnn nlw<YSnnd

Aud will be



NOTES

1 J.oo¡ T iare\ del Nurtc ÍA> • rt1nj1mlb bYrx.l.

1 Jack U llorbc-J. A {/6(111 t i ~ / Ntmr. TI1c thica.nos of t \ulin. {Circen

wkh. CT : fawn:n Puhliali<m"'• Prender ~ l . 1973), 13. 18}; Eric R.. \'(lolf.Sons of Shalung Earch ((Juc:aftO, 11..: Umvcr!ufy uf rh•asu l'teJ.S.. Phocnix

a..ru.. 19191. }2

3 j11hn R. C tivct..Thc l.oit L!nd; lhtChlrAno1mamnf u ~ S o u t h w c s '(Aibuquerqut. NM · U r u ~ o i r y o/ N" " Mcxocu P ~ u . 1981>.9

1 C'hive1, 9. 1\e•udct d1c A4tt<t. th t U e, G3bn1Uno of <:ahlonua, Pim3of r i z : n n a , ~ l m c Pur:bl•tuf Ncw i c o . C o m a n r h c n f T c n l t , U p . a t a o f S o n o r a ,T:arahunla,.. u( Sin.tloa tnd UvranAU. and che ll uidMII ur Jdi.sco spcalt: thu-

A:ttC(\Ul l J r l g u l l ~ t s and I I f t dttcendcd fruru che <.:&>c:hi¡c ~ p i eRcay Tomuhitl, ~ H h t O r J (1\nortl•ff MamJT. NY: ~ t e H t tlnd

Dayf Publíshcrs¡&tHbotOuAt'l 19RO). 30R.

6. Chivcz. 21.

7, babel l'o.rra, U/ 1 bro Af.11tM¿, ywJ•1• P,.rrt6 (M11t..lrid, fis r:t ñll: Edki·

ones Mícho)'•S.A., 19a)), 1 6.7.

M. fnm1 Mcxicon corndo, "f)u/ pfhgtJJ /¡¡ l f l l t t , . . V ~ I I e t 6 , , " Viccmt' T .

Mtudo¡o,n, Hl Corrido r t x i c t ~ J J n (MCxic:o 0 .1'.: ttcmt.lo De C:ulr\Ha Ec:uu(Hnku,

9 ~ ~ ) •12.

?. A r n o Oc J,c6n, Thcy Cpllcd ·rhgm C ~ t c : Q , ; c r . : J Auu.lo Aulrudcs

w ~ t i ' J . MexLCIIUB n 'ftxu'i. J 1900 (Au:nlu, l'X: Utl¡yershy ol Tcxa$ P n : : ) ' ~ .1981). 2·3.

1O Tho Plan nt Oitgu, 1'cx1u.:. druwl"' ~ ' l ' on jAnuory 6, l9 1 , alle<i for-

rhc indc:pc:ruh:nc.:c: wnt.l , ; c : ~ : ~ , g : 1 4 t l u u o( the .JI ues htlrdc:riug M ~ . l l . l c ' J ' ~ x a s , Ne wMtx .c.:u, Arixuuo, CoiUJado, 111111 CRIHO Inia . lndians wuu l..l Aec lhcir land luck.Blu.cks Wt)uld gec six SIOrc¡ (run'l lhe !1HIId1 and rorm lhelr own mdt:pt.udetU

rt"t>ubHc. OlheJ:, 7?.

1 , ! i ~ . l i Mcllla, "V,ult'mf in thr Rtcl G!'J.ndr VaJlc:y." t:l.l!t1l!!J Qa n/Ftb.

198)).

12. Nmnlr-aJ ¡,,, JobtYI ..,•u che first Mcxinn film th • t ""''" "' lf Muicau

aud au) l • n •mirttlon fluropctn film h nrc>IIC'd th t tf.c.votiun •n d lbvr tha1

c l ' l h J ~ n should hn-c lnr rhcir mmht'r .and how lack wuut..l kOO ro 1hc:

diuip:uion uf thcir c:hara(tcr 'f1,js (ilm St"IWncd • gcrtaatioo of mothcr·

dr:mtHHt/ungnrcful-suns fllms

Prou\ the Navajo c c t - l r H \ (tu be 11pon guiug inrobuttlc) r.cor,Ae \VI (ironyn, ed . Alllcl'irru'l llllH 11 u Puctry. Thc Stlluda.rd

Amholó8.V uf Sones !1\iJ CJu.nu (Ncw Yurk, NY . i8Ju, l9:l4), 97.

J4. <•nce l h ls<lll, LOJ iltJ!MI•• .. rr nl\5 Mo)'O Am uulu SúJ.J:bez (Ediror

iotl D1a.na MrAiu, 197?)

15 . MarRuir• n.Mc h Hic, M r ~ t i c n n \'(IOmt'll Adapt to .Mignt iun,- lnrn ·

nacton.ali g r u i u n

Rcvirw. 197g

Aloi'ÍMint-"S tl e rtbtldln roltiiNJ tfll# trttiri()Noil

t 1-nann'.it'U( ut:rm.11'W'1•re C..ulu1nb•an l.f1nd. A srudy ( ' ; ~ b c r r~ ( sexu:al tfu ..cb drugt alltslln_gbth.&YIOOr. 11mJ thc uuimdl!wwarth.lifc

:and detth. with :a Jt iiVt ' f ur P:\HhtU il«IM' In - C o i , J m b ¡ ~ _ n A u t ~ . r k i l f t\ cw

Yotl. NY! Scmin•r PtM1:. 11)71 J

E1utring ln w thc Serptnt

1 Pront ~ t r n g ".'iMifiO Con ~ , , . , , , , . s ..byStlv1o Rodrif,H<'S. (rom rhesJhnmDhszUonJ.1 'nn,J•ccd tly ' \ , \ J r ~ N Ullu.c with thC' m llahuraúo no f R n<1

Bt.'.u rnuunr and u ; ~ n [llores

2. N t ~ l g a . r VrtAifltt, b u H ~ J C k : t i .

3 Ou;,, f/Nt cu l#bf*ll like to i u.:k th i tbNr: thc;:y s.1ysoakes ltkt: to suckwometi's teat,.,

4. /i_//,, ~ l l t t l l l l tJ tW : shu hns pu wc r from he r ' t11 u1uJ suu l,1he /t)f lú.

Qu•IJt.: wcod.

6. Acndon: huc.

7 Ve11tnt1: n umn, roison ,

R. C u l c b r t ~ d41 ~ ~ l . f & ~ J b t t l : mu lr'iuukc.

9. In Juruc N"htll\ 11 dlnleGtll Tmumi i6 d i ~ J 1'1m«lzJ'n, lil't'.rall)' "Our11nly Morhet." l ' t ~ m m wn' n n"mc: . ~ : t h • c : u '" Noht•oul co sever¡¡J omunwins.

Llu::.-C: bcinA rhc cougclwtiun$ of lht' liuch Mwl-rer A spocs con,·MueUl (ur lu:rwurship."The Mexira . t ~ i d c r c d moumwiJImall!l .;nurhwcsr of h ; ~ p u e p t ctO be 1ltt-ar mmhcr, Bu r r C .nwriJihl R n u h J ~ 1 g c : 1"Jn: Pitrh Sun: A7r('!(' Gods

Aucc World (Auuin, TX : Unh·tnily uf Tcx=-s flrru. 1979). 1 ~ 4 . 242.

10. Ena C o m ~ l l , ""'The Virg,iu uf <tua.dahap<' and •he ft tnakSdf-lanat,.'l:

A Me:XIctn r.uc Hmury;· Mmhtr Wonilup: Thcnlc,' •nd VariJtions.Ja.mnJ .

l,rruon. ed (Chapcl Hill. NC; Univcrsny o( Nonh <.:aruliu• P r r . " ~ 19R2) , 22.

1 L Al•n R Sandsttúnl, ''Thc: Tonanu1 t.u.h n( cl)f! Ea.uun N'ahuu .



MU!hcr Worshlp· 'l"hcmc." and Vuiadoos.JomesJ Pr" (On, «i

12. U"" *l•ttjith to n t l - ( > # r 1 1 t /ibnu ú I I J : t U . ' ~ h ' ' 111 nhliin& ritlfh tharh11n.g.s o"et bti..k and tk s tQgcther across the •houkkn

13. 1\ndrc..-c (HKa:U.1C5 C l u ~ r r ~ r o . J r . , l " b ~ S i s u i f i c . : a n u ~ N111tl,..., Sttilur• ¿ ,

GIIAIJJtiMf!landú 1<11.:.. C ú s m i c ~ in rhe Dcvrlopmtnl or .Chicano l'heoi!)Ar ufUhenuinn ( Ann Arhor, MI• Unlversity Micmlilrm lmcrnatu)nal, 19M), 12l.

14. AIJ(MNUJ Jic,11

q••GNatlalu-pe tr NiiA pMIII/JY• d e t i t · i d ~ t f i l / l t J I I B , I I - * Í ~

11r4bftt¡NI i ¡ ; n l / l c J ~ . ..1</tJ Otttllu. "Tumic de Paul3,Th c Tady o(Ciupd¡a!urc{Nc" '

YClrk, NY : lloll<l>) Hou>c. 1 9 ~ 0 ) , 4·1.1 . '' l);u{/u ir/ t /e/rl NJt/J hqrmolti I!Ja0oUa1" frc.m /'ropl'fn t/1 ftt fllh-lf,de

NNIItlt'lt ~ t i 1 1 J , . I l d• GNtuLI.INfH!, GucrrC!ru, 12<1.

Pro11 " l.tt llh '9tW l<tmtiJ,;,'II", G u c r - r e m 127.

( ' 17 J.., Vtl"g#llJlilfrllf lS o(u:•n c:quatc:d with rhc A T t ~ l o o m u m . t llc: Mayat d 1 ~ 1 . th t Inca f t l ~ t u t t ~ r o c b t ~ :.ud dlf Yuraba y , , u ~ ; · A\ 18. Ct o((tty ' d U J I ~ J \X/urkJ Relig;um : Frtlm Ande:111 1 t.!iotory tuthr~ (Nc-.: Vurk, NV· F:aCTson FUe t•ubllatiUtb.l971 11.

19 . , < ; f t ' 8 U p a r a d i , ~ t m which Of"JlOSitJ lt.1111ft ll1 Culturt 1nd (tmalf-10

malc: h»'l uu \u...h validity in dxurty hi$toryof®r ndian rortobelf1 . un c Nash.Azu:<:t. and thc: ldt'UkJSYu( MK Duminance.- Si&M (Winrc:r,l971ll. 349

20.. P a r r ~ n d c r 72

l l P·u rlndtr, 77

22. N., h, 3)2 .

Nu h. no , ! ) ) .

24, Ptm•rudc:r. 3 , .

25. jftt'qliC'$ SO\ IS ie lle. The D:U1y _LJft: u( thc A n c : ~ ~ : ~ on che: l!\'c: nf' thc

Spuuúh tm rguc:.!ot (Nc:w York. NY: M:\cmill:tn PubJI1hlus Com¡>ll l') • ~ 6 2 ) .S o n u ~ l l e c ' l l ' n Olhr:.r bir.ccniutsgm their infnrm:ui.on rrnm !he r.rnncrs(anf:uhcr, tkrn,,dino de Saluagúu, chlef du•uniUer uf Jnd111n r t l l g hfc.

26. N.,h, lS2·2H.

27 IO a>h, 3)11.

za Na>h, 361-362.

29. Karl \Y/ l.uc:krrc, Olmc:c Rc:lig¡on: A KC"y m M¡ddll'! Ame ro and

!l!'.!st!!!l (Noronan,OK: Uolvt'tJityn/Okluhwn• Vre.», I97G),(>l!.GY,87,lll\l.

iO Uelnardfnl)de r l H a g l ~ n . CeocrulHistüry u( tbc l'Jdugs oC NcwSpilin(FIHrc1ulnc God<")t), Vnl. l v i : ~ c d tr-.tns A rh11rA ndarson antl t>ibblc(Su tllt' tJe, NM. SehuHI u( Amer kan Re.'lt:B rch, II)SO), J l.

9i

} J l'l1cA tero murcdSwdcc \Xf•nnan's parron01p ,.f lh•ktbtr th •nd ,.t'gcraw•n b) pJaclnA • nniGcial.knJlt' in rhe w•Pfr cradlc shc c ,ncd on hr r b.uic($tgnr(yil'l.A .. t:hdd whu dicd in chi(Jbinh), chcf'C'hr t n ~ & l c i n ~ e ht r • c!M·ow-er o(

urn(k:iiJ ••«ru1J.Sn.1ke Wnm:.o had rhl!' .abiliry luthanA<'hcrM:II into.a : : ' J ~ I uur enm • lo"cJy youug wnmaumcn ttCt young mcn wlm i t h c : r l ' \ l ~ ~ ; w a y ;rnrJdinfahtt l n t c r c u u r ~ wn h hc:r. Sb e was Jmuwn :u .. wnrh amJ • ShJpt'·'-hiftt-r.H u n d a ~ t . 168·171

,2. AnlluupnloAhtl.ud.rltla:Y)'·Bruhl « Hucd rhe ~ J u . jJJrt t f lp(t / t tm HIJt·uqu•.Act:o rd.nAeu u n ~ . " It de nó t6 u pc.:u lun kintlu( P'Y4 htllog lcgJ Cl1011t'ctmn

. ( in wtuch) 1hc subjec:t coonur dea. rlycllsdugui'ih J1i1U\c:Jf from Lh c:- nhjecthur i11 bouud ro h br o rluec:t rclotuumhrp which > b n t ~ tO jJurtílll l ti!'IHft)·.'V 1 J I IJt, " JJrfinldow '' In y . : : h o g i c u l TYJ.Jt>. ThcCoJhcrt:(! l)f C.G.,1!!.!!8•VolG Pd u«' wn,NJ Pn nc:<liCtr Tnive1Stt)' P rt'U, 195">, 11.1r. 71( l .

H l l111ve lo'\1rhc s.ourc:t of ll ri5 quolt'. lf' n n y l km'I\VI wh.Jt f1 J, ple'a.SC!fe1 ire publ h:bc:r knuw.

\4, ~ - ' 1 \ l c : m w x i r ~ t m n al"'d Uun nos dísnnJtui,¡h !)(lewn:u 11it'l!, a.b, au d nt.tllliJlY(I, II)C tvil SfHriL' •·hkh f"t'SÍ•Ie ¡n rhc a1r

1 Munus Sdmcid4:'r. El nñg.., 1 1 t 1 ~ J d.1 Jet ., .,¡, I ~ M I M I M .,.,.,oJogJ¡¡ r {, -t r•llltr• ~ n l i g 1 1 ~ (lla rcelun•, l ~ 1 6 )

2 <:A. Uur!Juad arw! \'<lc:.rncr n. t-•carhcred ~ r l ? t n t .undMlrro1. •rhc CuJ o¡- nnd l.ul lurcs ul Andent Mcxku (Nc<w Yurk, NY: G.P.1'1"""" •. 9 7 ~ ) .

(icrsllt t\ K:.urmllu, rhe PHWCI oJ C:tr! llM t u t u r i c l ~ e . MA:

Sdn:1aknurn Uut•k!i, lnc. 1980J, \'Í 1 . 'lf'his hnok wutt in'I II' IIIU«:Itlo l ill l ll) un rlcl ·a n r l i i , J t ul xhnrn e..

1 Alfun11inn S.tu rni,dm ul.ogfa Pnhlt11. Sép rhn11 E á i f ' l ~ l l Wuent)J 1\ltes.

IHR<n<il•• l'rlltonol l.o. . >, S.A , 1951\), 42.

' 11.e •urtia " e ~ u " J l k l l n ~ s k i n : : ~ n r l ts • •·oNt w d c ~ • b t 1. Jady. -twJI'"no.c uul)• mt.tm: xrpem., ir also 1wm

6 A«otdm& tojuJJg andJames. H jJirn:tn, .. l l i t c l f J ) t S ~ t r c lh r •ft'.JC'fKT:So( gndsotkl a(Kides.56 in rhe J")'Chc.Hillm;ln'i buuk,&·V&\Ñtntngv .rctu;l&ogr

( Ncw York, NY : H1rpcr l:ult•phoü u o k $ , 1 ' ) 7 ~ ) . h.,_, bttn n s r r u u ~ e n r t l tb r~ c l u f ' I I ' Y ' I C ' I 1 1 u( my choughr

?, Y 1 m . : ~ ; J J!lul'lo known as l11=:win<l ,Opi :as t ht whlrlwf1hl. ~ l : u wJ uiuh Telsh! 1a m r f l ~ c.l llU,Elhter (1( rc m"')'IÍ, Wtlh O)'lí the n•oL.hcr who

u l ~ c mr



11 Auuthrr (onn of rht' g1>ddcss ls C h i m t Ú , I ~ . Shit-ld i lan<l, 11

nakt\1 cave tóOtJ.e.'-' ol n h l n a h u ~ who W IJ prrstuun 1\zllán whcn rh cAzrco ld r fro m that ro lm uf u.iAin. Burbl'kl. 166·167

9. A $Culp1ltr t, dcscribetl :u lllt:< m n$1 1Jorrlfyi!'1g ~ t m l $ H O U l ln thcwodd. w:u t.lC.YIItetl rrnrn beot:orh rhe Zuca lo. tl lt: (llthcJral •qunre in Me x ic.'tlChy. iu 1824. whc::rc h had lalo sinrc tlt t dc:srtU<Uuu nf rhe- 1\ ttcc c3picu_l ufT ( ' n o c l u u t ; ~ n lh>ery rn r $-ÍI'l«' tlw: C.on'-JUO«, peoplc: ha d COI»c: durin& 111

a:utumn lt1rival wtth Aihs uf fnu1•m lOowe-rswhi(h tht:)' l ~ t i on th t p•vcmentu( ceutNif SfJUII rc. Tlle Jud i11ns, ulainqunhl thnr 1hetc: ! 0 1 1 \ ~ b t ) d } ' ' '<HY

lml y ctnd puw ::rfuJ uudt:lfleitdJ. 1\n l'l,, utl, 39··(0

lO Ju:an Edu¡,rdt• C t r l o 1\ Oktlurury uf Symbols, u•nsl31td lmm rh t

SJ>ilm•h by J&clt S•A• (New York, NY : l'hikoo¡•hkd 1obnry. 191\2), 76.

lf ow w Ttuue 1t Wild To nguo

1 R"')' f w y n S m i l h ~ Moorland 11ColdC.axan1ry,unpubhshtd bouk.

2. Jrf" rt:l Klcpf••"· .Vi ~ t y ~ t ~ b # p ~ t J T l l e Juurucy Hotuc:.'' in Tlle Trlbcu(

l.liuA : A ~ w i s h Wruucn's Anlh uJc ,ay. Md ::tniC' 1\.tl)'C/ T<:t nii 'OWiu. 11.nd II'IWU

Klep(a.u, cf'ls. ( Mnnr··cflcr , VT· Si.ui'\ICr Wixlcmt l9Ró), 19\ R. (.Ortega. o, ..k\.udual? l.)cl ft3ffl0, U'UO't Horlt'tKi:a Alv..w (L.n

A u ~ < l < 1 , LA· R .C. Or-ce&• l'ubU,hcr 1'. llc••k sel1oc 1?77), 132.

4. Cd\J;'IrÜh ll crnnndi:z·Ch4vcl, A111.lrcw 1), Cohc n, 1 1 \ u l h F. Bd ·Lr.arno. El Leng11ajMJt l.oJ C:hit4tttn Regional sand !,oclal h 1 1 r u t e r i ~ r i n of

l.anguuc U.scd Dx Mesin n At1x:rig rb: (Arfingum, VA: Cc.nael" (o r Applicd

Linj\ulscla, 197$),

' · ll cr nundé1.·Ch4vez1 KVIi.

G lrcnot Klcpfiu:, "Sa.ulat Jtwi'h ldC'Othy; Yidishh ys in Ameuc.a; · inTh c ]'r1be nl Dio". K• J'('/K.ant.nawitz:and Klcp(b4cd$., t \

1. Mt-funlc K3ye¡Kanrro wiu., " ~ l g n . In \'Ue Sutak fn CQ,Jr; Poem.snnrtO thor \Xlritings (PiltshnrAh, PA: Mo ll lemor ttubliaaric•ns, IJtc. , 19RO),

R .Roduiiu o u . t o t . . ~ ' ' • 1 1\m luamaln/Yo Sor fuoguin (Ntw York, NY :Rancuuc ~ .. 1972) h ,...,.r.,., l"'bli<hed in 19/17.

t.>. Kaufmauf 68.

10 Chúvcz. titi 90.

11 "H.aspamc . ls ~ r i ' f ( ' . d ft1Mn IIIJp..uis (P.I/hfñll, a n.ame l l i \ ' ~ to rh tlhct bw ~ n i n s "' 11 ncn=m nmn wht n ir was a 1» re o( th t R.omon EU1p i1"t' )nnrl i$ U U;:.rm desiguBt('d b) Lhe r.s 8-t)n: rnmeOl W mnke U o ; i c : l fO hflnt.lJe Uli

on P\IJ.lCr

'11

L2. 'Lhe Trc¡uy of Gu11tltdup.e Hjd.u..Jgu crea•cél rhc u n · A m r ; r i r iuIMA

1 A.ngl•,_, in orde:1 lJ> alk:viace 1bdrguil1 fclrdispoSJtillllg &.he: Cñ•rano,c u c d Spuuio;h fl<ll l o( "" ttnd pet¡>tth.tt.rd the " 'Y' h of chr. Sp.tnlsh

S.nuhwcs-1 \V/e l1uvc: ac:ccptcd th(: fktif)o 1hnc we 11re 1 nk , rhttl is S ¡ J 1 1iu mdc-r m acccunuludstc u r s t l \ t ~ ' l 1n thc domltHIOt cuJuue 11nd •rs ::Jbhorruml:

t . ~ ( lud.b.m . C h i \ ' t ~ . HB-91

'17/111, 71apalll: The Paclo uf che Red and IJI,.t k lnk

J. IC Curdwl \X1asso.o. 'l'lle \"X'undrous Muahruuru Mycc•IMH iu Mc:'tu.t·u\rrkll ( Nc• • Vorl. NY: Mc.Cirow HUl Uouk n m ~ n ) ' . lW O), 1'). ID}

2. Robe-re l' luu A r m ~ c r o n A . ·nu: P n w c r ~ of P r t ~ t ( e : tunsdruasnrss.f\h1h. nnJ 1\((cc:ting Presc(lt.: (Philrulolphm, l' J\: t J n i v ~ i r y t.l f ~ y l v!'"'-"· 19R1l. 11. 20

3,. Arrn:s.tNng. 10.

<1 U l ~ t , . f .

) M•{:tlleJ Ltuu-l-'urr1 11!1, l.(Jf" A n ltgNOJ J\fexit:.cuw.r: .11 ~ , . r ~ i l l l Jc fiiJ' udm'·

w . . . r . t • u J . t ~ , (México. D.F.: f'ooctode-t:uhura fconómiC1&. 1.>61), 19,1.16 l.rou l'unilla.. 12) .

7. In Xdcbtll iu Cui& ll l$ Niihuat l (()1 nower suld 't.Unp.. jfnt' )' CHUIU.

8. Nicc7.scht. o1'hc WHlco Powa,uy$ rhtt 'b e utH.\t livcotundcr " u r ~ C 'of bcing Vlt.mparrzcd by tus t.. nr

Lit t:u ttciendtt lrt mE<stha / u . c d R Ne w s d l ) U i t n c s ~

t. Thi, itt rnyown ·· tgkc Ylbtuncclo.s' ldcu.. joK- v .. u u ( e l a , ,lA R11Z4C4tmtr•: Atu i4Ntl•l• Ibero A , , r i C d n ~ t (Mbk« ~ u i l • r S . A . d eWocKKlCS, 19ól )

2. VólSCOt'lC:elus.

J. Anh11r Koesder rcrm('(i thJJ b , ~ K u n o n .. 1\lbttl H.mhenberg. Th c

Crcarivc Prort.¡.ua An,Sqcnct. a nd C>rhcr F•ttds (CIIÍUJ(•.II..:1Jniversur o(

C h i c l'ress, 197?), 12.

4. lo J>lll'l, 1 Jer.wc: "')' dc(inhiu us Jur '' n•nvr rAél l t '' u11d u i v c : r ~ t :rhinklng lrurn 1\nrh<rnborg, 12·1}.

5. To horrow d •emL"íl llyl'l l)ngoguk:'" thcnry of "d•ssil,.., tve st.n.a:turt!!.."P r i ~ o g l o c - U.!ICU\'f"fcd l hólt b l o l U l l C C . ~ in rc iRCI UOl lu pret.lic:wblc WRY5 as ,, Wl.Stnug hl in sÓC IICC , buL in dUlc:rtnrnntl fluu1.1111iugways ro J 1'01.111Ct" nc:w auJ UlttrrC0111pltx s u w . . & . u r r . ~ . a kind o( binh he: n t.llcd m o r p h o g c o c < ~ i ~ ... which ( r tMtd



98

unprcdiu.ah lc iunuvau un'i l laruld {ii ll i.unl, Se-mrchln¡; (or tt Nc:w Wnrld

Votw ," lh " W<u!.l l}auuary,l981),2} ,

6. ·1orlll/,u J, mM i"-"''": co(n tonillu are ol rwo ''1J'C."- lllC' r f k k x l •uni(orm onts m.Wc in,. ronílla prcss and u.sualtr hnu¡lu ar 11 wnill.a (atuMy 01

suprrmtrkC!I, and xordi111r, made: by mix ins mtUJ whh lard OC t h o t t t n i n ~ 01huncr (my muchcr m t c : l i m e . \ puL'l in bit.' u( bat::un m thirb.trront/) .

7. (fwt Vafdé,, Plt#nl l l l l m m n o ~ r : Cnhl111 Chlc11nlls A u g d t ~ . CA

Lu;dc L n h u ~ r . 1982), 2,

a. Rl(horrl Wi lhclm, J'hc 1 Ching oo llook o! Ch•pJW. """ '· C".nry F

(Ptluc'C!'tun. NJ; Prim:cm11 tr nh·cnqr)' 1 9 ~ 0 ) , 9R.

?. " . \ ' r e d t ~ sung h)' rhc group, 1-l:¡finntit l Pun1u c• n Orru

10. t"hu 11( tht! ) ' · t W O hordCI In d,(' ro u r hclrdcr 'i tutt:",

1 id11 lgu f uunf)' (11Rmcd ftu' F':uhcr H t d ~ ~ o , ~ t o who wu shm 111 IR IO111 11118Qrm,y Mcxicn' 'l rev•>t ag-:unst Spamsh rule undcr rhc hQm u:r ulln Vírgw1

(r'ttttd.ifN/!rl ) i11 1hc- nu.n-t pm c r ty- suk:keu t:uunry in thc: n s u i t ! l l l l l ~ wr:IJ 1bet o - u l ~ : b ~ t J e (¡,lu uo whh LltperisJ iu C...HlumJa) lu1 U1 lgron • ft'rm

wotktrs J1 WIS bett th l l J wubom raillrd. 1au\ IUIUI:Ced lhtt bo•h ir 1n d 1h:tVt SUM'I\I('d

UnAgitadoViento

fhécatl, TheWind



Gloria Anzaldúa

is also che co-edicor of

'this Bridge Called My Back

Gloria Anzaldúa

Borderlands

La fronteraThe New Mestiza

spinsters 1auntluteSAN FRANCISCO



topyrlglu (1 19H7 by (-flmiot \ < u l d U ~All righu n: liarved

P'ir-s1 P.dirion

10 9 8-7·6 H

Spinsrcrs/Au nr IJHc: Bonlc Glmpany

1'.0 . llox 110<>8?

¡¡.,, ~ u < I J c o , Ci\ Y·ll4 1

, Jo ly Rclic!l" fi r!lt appcarcd in Cmul1tim11 Six, i9RO

t C J d c " ' flr,u •ppc11rcd m 1.11/J)'nJ, A F#mit1111 Aru }owrti.JI, Vni. 4, '" ' ·WIOI<rl98l

..e , J "u"'''"'' tul•r l•rm•J,.,n '1'"h"" pBnliJu , . ,hyw , , 4g,;..,.,. . • fima p ~ r c t l in IKON: Crldlll-'''1 1111d Clumg#, S c c n t ~ d Serre.'l, 14, 19S) .

Cover an\,t 'l'ex t Oésig11· l'dmcb \'\/il"uu O t : ~ i Stuc.H. •

f o ~ l \ e . J " Are: Pan1cla Wilsun

Prinrcd in 1hc U .;: A

OndyO . y

Motrrh 1 navlsl>ebru Ot'Uumh

ltCJsu.ua u . m : c , ~ c : aAmclia Cinnu lc1

lurraint CNJSM\0

Atubro.sla M.arvln' ) U ! \ 1 1 MuHna

Sukcy Wildcr

K.tllhJetn Wll.kinson

l..ibt:at) orCun1tc:u c a t i o Oati

1\nraldOa, Gloria.Thlrdetllmd$: lhc ntw nu:s1i1o1 = lA frontcJa 1Oloña Amal ·

dúa.- 111 cd. - S•n l'mncisco : Sp!n>ers/1\unt Lutc. <1987.N I J p..,., . . . . s, . -.

S o a w -n n ~ ~ a . .-

MlU I, ·Uo-4 Cfbl.) : \Í .t.S

J. .Mu.ftu•Ati!C lk'ul Uórtl! l lk¡k,.,- l'otl.lf, 2. Mubn Amttll"'lf'wt>mm- I"('M!oy. ) , Mubn·AmuOn tlouhtr R f & i o n - c h i l i t ~ l i o n 1.Till11, 11 Tilk: fitOn!m

PSJ5Sl.N9SII6 1987 811'.*-<1<19 IH0780AAC'R ) MARC

1

Acknowlcdgentcnts

Tu ynu whu wulkcd with me npt>n my patb nnd wh u lu:ld outn hnnd when 1srumhled;

tu yuu who brushed past mear eros:.ruad.• never ro rouch me

aguin;

ro you whnm 1 " " ' " ' chauced co meet bm who mhnb• J

b o r c l c r l ~ t siU1ilttt' e mine;w you for whom rhe bordc rlauc.ls ;., unkoown 'crnwry;

' " Kit Quan, for feeding me nnd li"cning ro me r-...111 1Ul<i

ravc,

ro Melanic K a y c / K t m u o w i t ~ , for he lieviug iu me nnd hcingrhero for me;

10jonn t' inkvoss, my cdiwr a11d pub lisher, midwife ex1 rnordinnire. whnsc wtdcrstat'ldulg, caring, nnd b:ilaoced mixture of

¡:entle prodding nnd prcssurc 1101 only hel¡x.-d lile brtng rhis

"b:Jby" to cerm. but helped ro creare u ; thcse imnge.s and words

are for you.

Tn the producilon s tnff ur Spin<tc:rs/A un• l.tttc whtl bo•e

che pressure of !nlpMslble deadlines wall ; Morthu Dnvis whose

iuvaluable and exa:llcnt cnpy-ediung has madc th e marerial

mMc rcaduble an d cohesive; Debra OcBond1 who wurked long

and hard tu kcc p th e book oo schedule: Pam Wilson nnd Grace1-larwoo<i;

w Frauce.< Dt1ughry, Jun nirn Ramos, Judirh \1(/atcfluaJl,lrena Klepfisz. !Undy Conne<,janer Aalphs, Mu rha N . Quiura

nalcs, Mandy Coveyand nl ana Dykewomon for thctrsupporr an dencouragcrnem. as well ns feedback, ou various picccs; to my

fric1ds, swdent.< u11d Ctl lleagues In che ADP progrnm in VcriL\OillCl>llege, Wo men's Voiccs Wriciug Wo•kshnp ,UCSC, nnd writcrs

whn parucipa ted in my writ ing wnrkshops in NYC, New Hnven,

San l'rancisco. Berkclcy, OakJaod, an d llu.,tin, Texas, in particu

la.r: Pearl Ol.soo, Pauta Russ, Marcy ll lancraig, Mllya Val verde,

llriban, Tirsa Quiñones, Berh Brunt, Chrysros, Elvn !>érez ·Trcviño, Victnria Christian Mcilwen,Ro7. Cnlvcrt, Nina

N cwingcon , and l.indu Sm uckler;



Contents

A'J'I<AV/iSANVO 111<0NTBI<AS 1 CROSSING BORf>HRS

J. The HomeiRnd, A 2 1 l ~ n 1El O-ro M 4 ~ " Í & O , pttge 1El deJ·titJrrr; 1 The l . o ~ r LandEl crurar delmr>jatltl 1 JJJeguJ Crossing

2. Muvi111111111W d11 robq/t/lay larculttmuqNt! tmi&iotllm, puge 15The Strength o( My Rebellion\.uhurul Tyrnnny

Half and llulf

l'ear of Going Home Homophohio

lmim:uc Tcrn"i'm Lifc in che BorderlnndsThe \'qoundingof the iudra-Mesri•a

3 Emering Jmo the r p c n t , JNtge 25Hila tilm11 111 10110

Cuat/,tiiJflttNh,Sht \XIhl) l l a ~ Duonittion Over Serpcrrrs

Por Wnging Wnr ls My Cosmit" Dnry

S11cn11 con rorpionto.rTbe Prcscnccs'"'facilitad

4. La here11eia de Coatlictte 1 "l'he Ct>nrlirne Statc,tu•ga 41Tln/rc111trm.io Jltu "'''Jtl 11/ tdtn,,El ¡ect·oto terlible y la r¡yadllraNQplll do criJ'Iilla

T hc C o t ~ t c l l 6 Stu tcThe Coa tlic11a Srnr.e ls A l' re lnde ro C.ross lltJl

That Which Abidc:,

5 How to Ta mc a Wild 1·onguc, pap,e 53

Ovcrco111ing the Trnditinn f)f Si e oceOy6 corno l11dra: ullollf!.llaJO de la frontqm

Chicano St>nnls hJillguistic Tcrrurism

"VittAJ," corrido¡, y &amida¡: My Nativc Tongues; 16 prcgunJtU a tll·i tlla'lntÍ, f'¿qué eres?'t

6. T/11/i, Tlapalli: che l'nch o( the J{cd nnd Obck lnk, paf(e 65lnv(lking Art

Ni ~ t i c a m : 1, the Singer'J'he Shamanic Srace



Wriring is a Scn.•uoll5 ACI

Sorncrhing To Do With rhe l>axk

7 La C t l l l & i n ~ e i a de/a merttu.· Towards a Ncw

Nmes

C u n ~ c i o u s n e s s , pa¡¡e 77Una lucha de /ro11teras ¡ A StruAA ic uf Borders

A Tolcrance for AmbiguityLa 111crutiiada

/The Crossroads

1!1 eamit1o la mestiza 1 The Mestiza Wuy

Qua 110 se tiQs ott!Íde lo.r fJ11111hr11J

Somor 1111a gente

By Yu\11' '.l'rue Faces Wc Will Know YouEl dlt1 de la Chicatla/U rlfONJO

UN AGITADO VIENTO 1 EHÉCATL. TIJI! WINO

t t\1,ír a .u n e11lur nmehosWhore-wing s s n n , pagq 102

Cervíc•dc, pagc 104hurse, pa¡¡e 106lmmuculu1e, lnviolate: Crww 1'.1/<t, page JORNopttlitor, page 112

U u p6rd11Jatu .l'j i !Ut/ ldl el t1eutn. Pilge 116Cultures, pagc 120.rr¡IN•o piedrat co11 laganijo.r, pagu 121el JOIIIJVtlbitche, page 124mar de reprlll<u, pr¡ge 130A &u uf Cabbugc•. {ulg• 132

\V/e Call Thcm Creasers, fJag• 134Mturi: riuiNmba 11 "el baño de la r N r a IIJII•lll", page 136

Ul. CI'OS$ers y otror ,¡travesadorPucrs have srrangc e:tcing habits, pa¡¡e 140Yo no /NI,¡,.., Teté, page 142TI1c Cannibal's Canción, page 143l l11 mi corazón re inc11ba. pago 144Curncr of 50Th St. 11nd Pifrh Av., ¡1aga 14)

p a ~ J o r a wa11do am<ibamfiJ·, page 146lntcrfucc, page 148

IV. Cihual/yotl, Womau Alunc

Huiy Rclics, f>tlge 1>4E11 e/11ombre de Mda .I fal 111adre1, pa¡¡e 160l.erring Go, p..ge /641 liad Tu - . ~ , Down, < ~ g e 167Cagado abimlo, t ~ i e r o rablf, fJIII(II 170th>r dark 'hining rhing, page 171

Cihllal/yoll, Woman Alune. f'a¡¡t 173V Animas

/,a ttmmdera, pa.ge 176mujor CtlCtfl, 11ftge 1/10

CuyanMca, page 182My Blaclc Angslo.s, pags 11!4Crearure of Dnclm ess, pago 1R6A111igua, mi diosa, page 188

VI. 1il Re1omo

Arribamigente, pagc 192To live in th e Bor dcrlnnds mca>L' ynu, pag11 194

Cancitln de la dioJa de la tJociJe, page 196No re raJe, chtcamta, pago 200Don't Give lo, Chica11ita. p11ge 202

anzaldua 1987ocr

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