My recap thus far...

Overall I would say that I have enjoyed the material we’ve covered in this class. It is the first time that I’ve studied Chicano literature and so far I have found it to be quite intriguing. The books we have read as well as the film we watched, together offer four different perspectives on past and present day issues including, but certainly not limited to, race, gender, society and politics.

Our first reading entitled: Who Would Have Thought It? by Maria Ruiz de Burton, disguises itself as a book about family affairs, passion, romance etc. However, underneath the surface we find that it reveals the many different societal and political hierarchies, while at the same time, highlighting a series of gendered relationships between the government as well as particular government officials and those without power. This work turns out to be a sort of “comedy of manners” on a political stage. I really enjoyed this book...it captured my attention..loved everything accept the ending!

Secondly we read a series of short stories by José Martí, including: El Puente De Brooklyn, Coney Island, Fiestas de la Estatua de la Libertad, El Terremoto de Charleston, and Nueva York Bajo La Nieve. The works of this author who fought for the independence of Cuba acted as a bridge between the Anglo-Saxon and Latin-American worlds. (I plan to reread these stories though...because I am still somewhat lost as to their content...!)

Finally, it was: Y no se lo tragó la tierra written by Tomás Rivera, that concluded our readings. This story was about the hardships faced by los campesinos in the 1950’s. Rivera is able to weave the stories of particular campesinos into that of the main character and his struggle to overcome the oppression of religion as well as racial and classist discrimination. This book delivered such a strong message of a need for justice and redemption in this corrupt world of ours...I thought it was very well-written.

Now for the film: Salt of the Earth written by Michael Wilson. (Unfortunately I was only able to see the second half of it.) This video has to do with a lower class community of Mexican American and Anglo miners and their families, all of which who fight for better working conditions. In this film, class transcends gender and racial differences, as this mixed community is able to unify themselves to achieve their common goal.

Well that’s all for now...til next time...!