Anzaldua Response

Matt Altstiel
11/3/05
3144
Ilona

La Frontera

The Anzaldua article taken from borderlands presents several interesting way to look at the experience of the Chicano and that of the disposed all over the world. As in other reclamation struggles the establishment of a territorial homeland is crucial to destroying the myth that modern day residents are illegals or invaders. Rather it is a case of returning to their rightful land and reconnecting with the heritage. While not disposed in the traditional sense such as Jews (before Israel), Palestinians, Kurds, or Kosovars, Chicanos lack the legal recognition of a proper ethnic identity. Many would not consider themselves American or even Mexican American, yet their favored term, Chicano (a citizen of the ideological nation of Aztlan) is not given legal definition. Lacking a physical nationhood and the cultural ambiguity of elements from both Mexicano and Anglo-American culture, Anzaldua sees the Chicano identity as a matter of belonging to the Mestizo race.

Classifying a group according to race however creates several problems. Race is created cultural concept with no biological basis. Therefore, in creating a separate race as means of determining the Chicano, several ambiguities emerge. Do light skinned Mexican Americans who identify themselves as Chicano receive recognition from other Chicanos? If so, does identifying oneself as Chicano or belonging to the Mestizo race create certain cultural assumptions or stereotypes? Rather as Anzaldua does point out, a shared sense of history, language and artistic traditions are a much better way to group a unique culture within the United States. Anzaldua mentions that Chicanos neither fully align themselves with being American or Mexican, therefore they possess a nationality existing only at the border. Reflecting upon this observation, the Chicano present an interesting modern reality: the strength of modern ideology in cultural reclamation, identity and nationality.