Mexican American Culture In Bless Me Ultima

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

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

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