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Oral History And Art By Debra Blake Chapter Summary

913 Words4 Pages

In the book, Chicana Sexuality and Gender, Cultural Refiguring in Literature, Oral History, and Art by Debra Blake reveals the various experiences and perspectives many Chicanas endure growing up with the culturally symbolic female figures: La Malinche, La Llorona, Mexica goddess, and La Virgen de Guadalupe. Blake describes the multiple forms Chicanas refigure and reimagine these powerful figures that are originally used to confine and marginalize women by providing the oral history and insight of the working class and semi-professional Chicanas and Mexican Americans. Blake emphasizes how these female figures need to be preserved and redefined to dismantle the heterosexist and patriarchal narratives since they have a profound effect on the …show more content…

Blake describes that La Llorona’s consists of themes of assimilation, lost, and dangers of being a person of color. For instance, “La Llorona would be used to warn children from not only natural dangers such as waterways or the unknown dangers of the night, but also hostile Americans right outside their doorstep.” (Blake, 151). In other words, La Llorona’s story is utilized to warn children of the harm and racism a Chicanx person endures. The legend reflects the Chicana experience by depicting the systematic oppression and challenges many face in the real world. Therefore, La Llorona is portrayed as the women who lost her children due to the injustices and patriarchal institutions that are forced upon people of color. Through oral history, Chicanas are able to preserve, relate, and sympathize with La Llorona’s story and view her as a victim of symbolic violence. Likewise, La Llorona’s legend reflects the way patriarchal society failed her and continues to fail Chicanas. Thus, Chicanas are able to dictate the truth and meaning behind the legend by changing her malevolent oppressive

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