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Symbolism In Salt Of The Earth

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One of the symbolic representations in the “Salt of the Earth” is a scene where Esparanza husband spits on a scab that is a Mexican American and is arrested and beat by the racist cops. Clearly they are trying to intimidate and silence him. The imagery and complaints from Esparanza show how horrible the conditions are that they live in which only furthers the claim that they are treated as substandard. Conversely, the movie Cesar Chavez shows symbolism is the very grapes that are the object of the movie. The grapes represent the migrant workers inability to get out of poverty. They also represent the oppression that is felt by these people who literally provide food for millions that have no idea what the face daily.
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Cesar Chavez influences poor labor workers that nonviolence is the best way to make a change. The rhetorical devices Chavez uses within the article catch the workers attention and helps make them feel as if they can make a change, and of all the devices, his militant diction influences the reader most. The sixth paragraph of his article uses military diction by stating, “But if we are committed to nonviolence only as a strategy or tactic, then if it fails our only alternative is to turn to violence.” This means that if they think of nonviolence as a type of strategy instead of making it a mindset then they will become violent.

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In the altar’s center is “a plaster image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, quarter-life size, its brown Indian face staring down on the woman” (Paredes 23). The implication of the stare is of criticism as the Virgin, symbolic of an ideal Mexican womanhood, looks down on Marcela, whose Anglo features starkly contrast with the Virgin’s, and whose actions are in opposition to the values that she represents. This carefully constructed scene is meaningful. Marcela’s lifeless body lies between the bed and the altar, and opposite to the altar is Marcela’s shrine dedicated to Hollywood movie stars. These are the visual images of the opposing forces that characterize the Mexican-American struggle for resistance against American cultural hegemony.

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Labor union organizer and civil rights leader, Cesar Chavez, published an article in the magazine of a religious organization to argue that it is more valuable to take the time to achieve justice rather than using violence, also known as nonviolent resistance. Chavez develops his argument through allusions, and imagery while creating a strong emotional appeal towards his audience. He adopts a defiant tone in order to gain awareness among his readers. Chavez first opens his argument by reflecting back on Dr. Martin Luther Kings Jr.’s life in order to commemorate his death and to also open his stance on nonviolence through Dr.King. He states, “Dr.King’s entire life was an example of power that nonviolence brings to bear in the real world.”

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1. From Jason Johansen 's Notes on Chicano Cinema, scholars of Chicana/o cinema used to identify the criteria of Chicana/o cinema as "films BY Chicanos, films FOR Chicanos, and films ABOUT Chicanos" (Johansen 303). The Salt of the Earth film (1954) attempts to expand this definition because it achieves more than being for and about Chicanos, it can also be for other minorities fighting injustices and inequalities similar to Chicanos. The film is still for Chicanos because it illustrates an actual account of Mexican American mining workers in Zinc Town of New Mexico during World War II, where the union workers won due to their unity, inspiring others to stand with each other in the Chicano movement. The movie also challenges the criteria because it is a film directed by a non-Chicano, Herbert Biberman, but that inadequacy was compensated since most of the actors were local Mexican-American union associates who had experience and direct involvement in the historical fight for their rights.

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People are even afraid to come near their neighborhood, they fear that they will be attacked. The residents of Mango Street are talked about as criminals, just because of their race and their poverty. As a result of being Hispanic, Esperanza and those around her are viewed by other, higher classes, as a minority. Hispanics at that time made less money and were seen as lessers compared to people in the higher class. Higher class people believed they were superior to her.

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