ipl-logo

Mexican American Culture In Bless Me Ultima

1414 Words6 Pages

Culture is an essential part of a community’s identity, because it links individuals to a collective bond. The Americas have always contained a vast variety of cultural communities, especially in the United States. The US is known for being one of the most diverse nations in the world, housing hundreds of different cultures. Mexican-Americans display a strong sense of a cultural background, which falls as a subset of the bigger Latino culture that links all Latinos. Oral history is a major aspect on the Mexican culture, which contributes to the truth of how history in the United States actually happened. Many stories embody the cultural aspects of Mexican-Americans and their struggles with living in a discriminatory society. Stories like With …show more content…

Through Antonio and Ultima, readers identify the creation of a culture that has been forge by war, discrimination, and common hardships. With Ultima being a powerful curandera, the story shows the importance of the female character within Mexican culture. Today, this is prevalent in many Mexican-American households, as the elderly women are held in the highest respect. Another aspect of Mexican-American Culture is masculinity, which is shown in Bless Me, Ultima when Antonio’s father says, “a man of the llano does not run from a fight” (Anaya, 1999, p.37). There are countless examples of Mexican-American masculinity in this novel, like when it mentions that Gabriel’s two eldest sons are fighting in WWII. Bless Me, Ultima also presented the process of acculturation for Mexican-Americans, especially in the education system. Vikki Ruiz specifically mentions this process, stating “Students also became familiar with U.S. history and holidays” (Ruiz, p.266). this is portrayed when Antonio talks about one learning English only after going to school. Acculturation was an intrinsic aspect of the creation of Mexican …show more content…

Much of the economic sector within the community is agricultural based. Many Mexican-American in the early 20th century were braceros and vaqueros. Vikki Ruiz mention the Economic status of Mexicans, and states, “Pushed by the economic and political chaos generated by the Mexican Revolution and lured by jobs in U.S. agribusiness and industry, they settled into existing barrios and forged new communities both in the Southwest and the Midwest” (Ruiz, p.265). these communities were build on the economic opportunity available of migration. Mexican American believe in the concept of the American dream; therefore, they sought the best economic opportunity for their situation, most commonly agribusiness opportunity. The economic status of this community is connected with the educational quality found within the members. It was very difficult for Mexican-Americans to successfully finish schooling, because the system was geared toward white individuals, which contributed to an inferior economic status. Both With a Pistol in His Hand and Bless Me, Ultima the style of economic status of the Mexican American Community, as well as the economic

Show More
Related
1447 Words | 6 Pages

Chapter One- Mexicans in the United States Chapter one outlined historic dates ranging from the 17th century to the 1900s and how these dates impacted Mexicans in the United States. In 1610 the town of Santa Fe, New Mexico was founded and in the 17th century became the number one location for settlement. Cities such as Albuquerque, Nacogdoches, San Antoni, San Diego, Tucson, San José and Los Angeles became settlement centers in the 18th century. Moving forward into 1802 the Louisiana Purchase became a catalyst for expansion. One of the most important events of the 1800s occurred in 1821 when Mexico became independent from Spain.

Read More
518 Words | 3 Pages

Bless Me, Ultima is filled with Antonio's dreams. In these sequences a lot of the boy's fears and perceptions about religion and his family are vividly portrayed. These dream sequences are imaginative and beautifully written. They add a great deal to the novel. They allow the reader of Bless Me, Ultima inside the mind of this little boy, we can now see what he is dealing with.

Read More
833 Words | 4 Pages

Albert D. Saba Mr. Amoroso English 12 AP Period: 3 LAP Topic: 2 BLESS ME, ULTIMA The Classic by Rudolfo Anaya Saba Page 1. The powerful force of a Latino family begins with the basis of the strength in a man. In the novel Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya, Antonio Márez a six-year-old begins to wonder if his destiny lies in being a vaquero or a priest. Inside Antonio, he has the blood of two different customs streaming through his veins. Is there an outlet to which can help you view your own life or guide you through it?

Read More
102 Words | 1 Pages

Gloria Anzaldúa, in the essay “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” (1987), claims her experiences as a Chicano taught her that her culture was not looked at highly in comparison to the English language. Anzaldúa argues her view about her Chicano language by giving examples of both cultures Chicano Mexican and American cultures. Anzaldúa’s purpose is to inform her audience on how it is to grow up in a Chicano speaking family. Anzaldúa writes in a frustrating tone throughout the story of her life experiences. Thesis: Anzaldúa use of her personal experiences, and Music, Film and Literature are relevant sufficient and

Read More
819 Words | 4 Pages

The implementation of the history of New Mexico’s events and peoples is important to better your understanding of the book, Bless Me, Ultima. The novel, Bless Me, Ultima, is a fictional story written by Rudolfo Anaya, who writes the story from the point of view of a young boy named Antonio Marez. He based his novel on his own life, people he knew, and the history of New Mexico. Because he implements parts of real New Mexican history in the novel, we will be able to relate the state's past to the place, time, and people to the novel. Although the novel is a work of fiction, multiple events in New Mexico’s history relate to the novel in many ways that are obvious to spot.

Read More
1616 Words | 7 Pages

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom,” is a quote by Aristotle, providing a vivid understanding that if someone knows who they are as a person, it is difficult to persuade them into thinking otherwise. However, if one is ignorant of their identity, it is easy to provide them with conflicting thoughts as well as confusion toward their culture, customs, race or anything particularly having to do with their background. In Bless Me, Ultima, the author exhibits the most frequently used cultural conflict from the Chicano culture in rural Mexico in the 1940s and purposely clashes it with Catholicism and the English Language. The book introduces Antonio who can be described as a young boy who is prone to moral questioning, in search for

Read More
338 Words | 2 Pages

This article examines Rudolfo Anaya, Tomas Rivera, and Reyna Grande attempt to capture the cultural identity of Mexican American by interweaving the lives of their protagonist and that of their families with religion, spiritualism, myth, and mysticism. The author compares the internal pilgrimage of the young protagonist from Anaya’s Bless Me, Ultima, Rivera’s … And the Earth Did Not Devour Him and Grande’s The Distance Between Us: A memoir to find their shared identity as Mexican Americans by interweaving Spanish and indigenous religious figures. On The Distance Between Us: A memoir the author emphasizes on the way in which Abuelita’s Chinta role as the curandera gives peace to Grande after being indirectly abandoned by her parents.

Read More
1139 Words | 5 Pages

In her collection of short stories, Moths and Other Short Stories, Helena Maria Viramontes elaborates on the importance machismo has on struggles of Chicano women in their daily lives. In the short story, “Growing”, Naomi is faced with the struggle of growing up in a “machista” household where transitioning to womanhood means to forgo any trace of childhood. In another short story, “Birthday”, Alice is faced with the struggle of an unwanted pregnancy and a decision to terminate the pregnancy. Through the use of plot and diction, both of Viramontes’s short stories “Growing” and “Birthday” illustrate the influence machismo has on the norms and gender roles of women to grow up and bear children, in order to emphasize the characters breaking through

Read More
478 Words | 2 Pages

In this essay, I will argue how the Chicanos in the U.S. have responded to the lack of inclusion in history, opportunities, to racism and violence because through time we have seen how the Chicanos have been part of the country history and what it came to be, but we have been left out of history. The Chicano helped build what the united states came to be, we are part of its culture since the treaty of Guadalupe was signed, but our path has not been easy, many have been victims of oppression, poor working conditions, lack of civil rights and segregation. I’ll argue not that the Chicano has been a victim but what he or she have done to change the way things were for our ancestors in this obscure past of our history, how we have come together

Read More
1212 Words | 5 Pages

Being Mexican American in The United States, I wanted to learn more about my culture and the impact Mexicans or Mexican Americans have had in the community or the communities surrounding me. Researching historical places, I stumble upon Olvera Street. Olvera Street is known to be the first pueblo in what today we call Los Angeles, California. When Olvera Street was founded in 1781, it was called El pueblo de Nuestra Señora Reina de Los Ángeles, which translate to “The Settlement of Our Queen of Los Angeles.” After googling Olvera Street and noticing that I live a couple of miles away, I decided to take a small trip.

Read More
899 Words | 4 Pages

Throughout “The Mexican in Fact, Fiction, and Folkore” examines the term “Mexican” as it is applied in Southwest literature and argues the Anglo society has made a conscious effort to misrepresent Mexicans (Rios 60). He states the people of Mexican descent are viewed as un-American because they are perceived as filthy, lazy, and dumb. Ricatelli adds to the conversation of Mexican stereotypes by examining the literary expressions of Chicanas and Mexicanas in the literature of both the United States and Mexico. In “The Sexual Stereotypes of The Chicana in Literature” Ricatelli explains how in Yankee literature, the Chicana is referred to as the “fat breeder, who is a baby factory” meanwhile the Mexican is described as an “amoral, lusty hot tamale” (Ricatelli 51). He makes note of these stereotypes in order to highlight the ethnocentric and nativist points of view that dominated Anglo literature.

Read More
874 Words | 4 Pages

Topic Disclosure Today I will be talking about legends in Mexico, and what they tell us about Mexican culture itself and the tradition as well as the importance behind them. Audience Link Some people Don’t see much importance of being informed about these legends, because many will see them as a made up fantasy in ones head. Nevertheless you may never know for sure when you might come across with something similar to it. Preview During this speech I am going to share with you; what legends are along with a commonly told legend that has survived many decades.

Read More
1632 Words | 7 Pages

The Mexican American population is comprised of a myriad of different statuses. Many families have resided in this area since Spanish American first began to migrate and settle here. The lower class arrived in Texas along with Indian and Mexican immigrants to go to work on a Spanish ranch. Others more recently attained their status as citizens here after migrating from Mexico to the United States.

Read More
750 Words | 3 Pages

I’m the first generation of my family to be Mexican -American, but I have been introduced to the Mexican culture since I was born. I appreciate the difficulties my parents have faced to make me the person that I am today even though I wasn’t born in Mexico my parents have taught me the language and the culture which I’m so proud of being part of. For others being Hispanic is actually being born in any Latin American countries which is not true at all. Being Hispanic is much more than my cultural background it actually describes how much I appreciate my culture and how I get to experience things other people don’t. I fit into the Hispanic community through the experiencing the culture first hand ,participating in traditions and planning to include my culture in my future.

Read More
648 Words | 3 Pages

As a first generation Mexican-American and the first to go to college, I am also the proud son of two immigrants. My parents immigrated to the United States in the 1980s to give their children a better life than the ones they had. As I’ve searched for an identity of my own, I’ve become more committed to public service and what I can do to better the community. The unfortunate reality is that there are significant amount of individuals living in neighborhoods that have been diminished in quality and condition. Therefore, I propose instituting a statewide program modeled after the City of Reno’s initiative called the Neighborhood Renewal Program (NRP) in order to rebuild local-low income neighborhood communities, educational facilities, and other areas in need of repairs while at the same time strengthening the personal connection between individuals and their local city officials.

Read More

More about Mexican American Culture In Bless Me Ultima

Open Document