Aguirre, Claudia
Murphy
English 1A
28 September 2009

A Mexican American

One in the morning was slowly creeping towards my way. I was somewhat tired and yet at the same time couldn’t get off the phone with him. He was probably the best looking guy I could have possibly talked to in a long time. He is a club promoter and at times a model. He is well known throughout the internet community. Very gorgeous guy, as we were talking about random things I asked him a question I tend to ask people…
Me: “Are you in touch with your Mexican heritage?”
Guy: “no, I don’t really care about that stuff”
Me: “so you have no idea where you come from? Your history?”
Guy: “no, like I said all that stuff is stupid to me I don’t care”
Me: “well one day ....Ill take you to a museum and teach you some of your own culture. Its important for everyone to know where they come from. Especially Mexican-Americans.”
Guy: “uhhhhhhhhh no…I don’t really care to learn any of that
Me: wow I never met someone like you…”
Guy: “my grandpa fought in world war 2”
Me: “REALLY!? That’s great! Was he a marine? Army?”
Guy: “uhhh I don’t know he doesn’t speak English plus I don’t care. I mean I wanna know if he killed anyone, but other then that its whatever””
And just like that…a guy who a million girls would line up to be with…became the ugliest person to me. Not only was I disgusted, not only was I turned off, I was ashamed.
So I’d like to speak to all of you, all not just “raza” but all creeds and colors about the largest group of people in America, that for some reason have the smallest amount of success, Mexican Americans. Our accomplishments have been overlooked from the beginning of the Aztecs to present time music accomplishments . Mexicans have been stereotyped to be undereducated and not able to reach higher feats than being a construction worker, and yet we are swayed by the same media that stereotypes us in this way, for they’re political or financial gain.
Many historians love to give the Egyptians a lot of credit for their pyramids and culture, which is very cool of intriguing the Egyptians are a smart group of people, (ancient Egyptians) but a lot of their achievements have overshadowed Aztec architecture, art, science, and culture, but you will never really hear about it for some odd reason. Why such events have been forgotten while focus has been concentrated on Europeans causing a “Eurocentric” attitude is the question at hand. Hugh Honour recognizing the question at hand, said, "The . . . current revivals of classical architecture cannot be dissociated from attempts in other fields to assert the preeminence of Eurocentric Western culture." A lot of what came to make the Mexican Culture has been overlooked therefore there is an outlook of Mexican Americans having no background or, never the less, have not contributed to anything meaningful in the past so are considered stupid or ignorant. The Aztecs temples were made to inline with the calculation of the stars. The Aztecs built a temple where at a certain time of year and hour you can see a shadow of a snake going from the top of the temple to the bottom as if its slithering down. To accomplish this feat even today the smartest would have to be extremely smart, and they had no technology to do so, how did they do it? The Aztecs invented the number 0. The Aztecs used to make
land. How? Picture a big lake. They invented a way to make fences from hard wood and lay it over the water. Adding other mixtures, they would cover lakes and build houses above the water. Some lakes are still being found under temples. They ran out of room so they built over water. (“Mexico Profundo, Reclaiming A Civilization.” Batalla. Pg. 68-150.) The Japanese accomplish something with similar features like the bullet train underwater that they currently have from one of they’re islands to the main land and you hear all about it, The Aztecs have gotten minimal credibility for having done what they did thousands of years back. The Aztecs invented a sport identical to soccer and basketball where you couldn’t use your hands. Only feet, legs, chest, and head and the point was to hit a ball the size of a basketball into a hoop. Needless to say the losing team would be sacrificed. The Aztecs at a certain time of year when the sun is just at the right angle it shines through a small hole in the temple, and bouncing and reflecting from gold plates and water. The sun light finds its way and lands in the middle of an Aztec calendar 100 feet inside the temple. The Aztecs built temples higher and more complicated then the Egyptians! They built temples over temples. Meaning when someone of great importance died they built a Temple. When his son died they built a temple over his temple like stacking cups into each other.(“Mexico Profundo, Reclaiming A Civilization.” Batalla. Pg.1-228.) This ancient Indian culture was only one of two mixed to make a Mexican. Later on down the years the conquistadors came, bringing Catholic ideology and a more civilized culture, Spaniard +Aztec= Mexican! So although a lot of us may have family or we ourselves may not speak perfect English, I may say that we Mexicans aren’t as ignorant as we might seem due to the marvelous feats our ancestors have accomplished.
Now in modern day America we are Chicanos and Chicanas. We are part of the biggest group of people in this country, Latinos, but for some odd reason we rarely succeed in a lot of things we should be amazing at. Our music skills are far above hip hop or techno. Our art skills are far above average, such as Picasso and Frida Kahlo. I wouldn’t mind seeing a Mexican playing for the Lakers. We do not excel in School. Yet we do come from an educated heritage. Mainstream media or society seem to have the mind set where we are a bunch of laborers who have the education of an 8th grader. Fact is in Mexico, if your family is fortunate enough to pay for your education to get to the 8th grade it is similar to a high school diploma in the U.S. because of the rigorous academic standards the school system holds. After
30-40 years since my own grandfather had been out of school he still schooled me on my Algebra home-work in 10th grade! “Bunch of underpaid wetbacks” - This is something I heard on the radio station 105.9 (KPWR or Power 106). Now although they were joking, in a lot of ways this is the way the media sees Mexicans. I remember watching a skit on Mad TV, a parody of Survivor; there were three teams; one African American, one Caucasian, the other Mexican. They were to all build shelter with some minimal objects like a stick and a piece of cloth. The Mexicans where the only ones to build a full home out of it and receive one of the least rewarding prizes, yet the Mexicans themselves were content with this. It’s time to realize Mexicans do the jobs other people don’t want to do. We choose to cut grass, work at McDonalds, and sell oranges or roses on the side of the freeway. What a lot of people don’t understand is this is all done in thought of transition, never thinking it would be forever. A lot of Mexicans come to this country with a dream to be something and Those “underpaid jobs” are transitional or a way to keep food on the table for the next generation that are expected to thrive, making a gateway for the rest of the family or future generations. Mexicans can be doctors, lawyers, athletes, comedians, vets, anything really, after all we are just as human as the rest of the public right? Also just because a Chicano becomes a cop doesn’t make him a sell out. It makes him a role model for others to see, he is arresting and making a difference aside from those who kill other Mexicans. Rather than choosing to kill each others own race on the street he decides to make a difference and stop that vicious cycle.
Music dominated by Rap and Hip Hop, so many people idolize this with out knowing the contributions made my the Mex2ican American Heritage. Regardless of popular demand such as Britney Spears, guess what, Carlos Santana won eight Grammies. The most anyone won at one time. Totally swept and dominated the Grammies. The only sober survivor of Woodstock (which was dominated by Caucasians); he came, he saw and he conquered the Grammies. An award show who lives off hip hop and bad studio music; Carlos and his guitar owned the Grammies. Puff daddy, 2 Pac, Mariah Carrey, Jay z, all country artists, Britney Spears, Nsync, Backstreet boys, none of them ever came close to doing what Santana did despite all the hardships of growing up Mexican or Chicano, he said, “when I was younger I used to go to the music store and stare into the window at the guitars and dream. We were poor, we just crossed the border from Mexico to America And one day I was staring at a Fender Stratocaster and I heard someone yell “get away from that window you f***** wetback”-Carlos Santana. Although most of our “paisanos” that have come to great achievements in this industry and others the struggle is hardly seen which can sometimes be an even greater achievement than the original prize.
We are now slowly becoming a high power in politics. Now you tend to see presidential candidates try to sway our votes. Not just Mexicans but Latino people of all kinds. “White Mayor of Los Angeles Jim Hahn may have declared recently that ‘Los Angeles is a Mexican City,’ but real problems still persist for Chicanos and their immigrant brethrens.”(Anything But Mexican: Chicanos In Contemporary Los Angeles, Acuna) A what exactly does this mean coming from a Caucasian politician who knows nothing of those Mexicans that are still perceived as just a vote. The Democratic party tries to appeal to Mexicans by spreading false hearsay about naturalizing every illegal immigrant and providing them jobs and want you to believe Republicans are rich white people who want to kick you out of America. Let me explain something, Republicans typically do not like taxing, “At a news conference earlier today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defended the Democrat-only passage of the economic stimulus package, contending that Republicans were indeed included; their suggestions on tax cuts had become part of the bill itself, she said. But several G.O.P. senators and representatives hit the airwaves today, criticizing the spending portions and promoting their view of a more palatable alternative — bigger, broader tax cuts and incentives….remarks made by Minority Leader John Boehner and other House Republicans, who slammed the bill as “partisan” and full of excessive spending rather than the approach of using tax cuts.” Kate Phillips on “Partisan Barbs Follow House Stimulus Vote.” They believe everyone should be responsible for their own wealth and success. Democrats believe in welfare. It‘s as if they want you to be on welfare so that they can make you feel that they take care of you while keeping you down. Keeping you relying on government aid. So while a Mexican works his butt off and gains success and makes good money. He is taxed more than others to keep the lazy or unfortunate people on welfare and keep them from not working as hard as he did. Its all politics and the democratic party is using our ignorance and our unawareness for their advantage. I’m not saying be Republican I’m saying open your eyes and see what there doing to us. White Mayor of Los Angeles Jim Hahn may have declared recently that “Los Angeles is a Mexican City,“ but real problems still persist for Chicanos and their immigrant brethrens.(Anything But Mexican: Chicanos In Contemporary Los Angeles, Acuna)
At last but not least, the disgraces of our race, those people who say, “this is Mexico’s land, forget white people, Mexicans don’t belong in the military, Mexicans are the best out of all of you.” Those unfortunate enough to be misinformed, make no mistake they make up a small percentage of us. Lets see , this was Mexicos land, and imagine how it would look if it were still Mexico’s land! Thank goodness they sold it to America, yes sold not taken. (Occupied America: A History of Chicanos, Acuna) And Mexicans in our military deserve a lot of respect and honor. A lot of Mexicans die in combat for this country. While other run away they warriors fight to the death for the freedom we all take for granted. Please don’t give be the assumption that this is they’re last resort. All your saying there is that your own culture settles for the less demeaning positions because of failure or stupidity. Those brave men and women know what they get themselves into and go forth in doing so to protect all of us here, even those of you who are ungrateful for them and assume the worst of them.
One more thing that binds us to our roots, familia. Family,nanas, papas, ninos, ninas, all of our bloodline, the people that make our culture my grandma’s rice can change your dining preference with a simple taste. Family is what keeps our heart beats pumping and our blood line thick. Always know family is the source of your culture. My friend’s grandpa, Jesus Rincon, was the first Mexican to work at Oscar Mayer. “they white people would crowd around me and watch me work. Even Oscar Mayer came to watch me work… I worked longer
hours and cut more meat in one day then the white people did in a week. They used to throw away the liver, tongues, eye balls, feet, and other parts of the cow…I used to gather them and bring them home. When they asked why I did that…I told them Mexicans love a lot of things from a cow and pig. Menudo, pigs feet, bull balls soup, etc…after me they hired a lot of Mexicans”(Jesus Rincon). This Grandpa had one wife and eight kids and he supported each and everyone of them.
We have been overlooked, put down and forget about to society’s advantage. There is nothing like feeling lower than someone because of our media’s perception and how it grows to reach out beyond than just the TV show or politicians comment. It is worse when our own race of Mexican Americans forget their own culture and fall into the category of ’mainstream media.’ I love my culture and try to keep it going beyond my generation. But do not get me wrong, before I’m ‘raza’, before I’m a descendant from the Aztecs, before all of what I just read you, I still am and will always be, Proud of being an American.

p.s. our food is far beyond the best!






1. Acuna, Rodolfo. Anything But Mexican: Chicanos In Contemporary Los Angeles. Pearson, 1999. Print.
2. Acuna, Rodolfo. Occupied America: A History of Chicanos. New York: Verso, 1995. Print.
3. Bonfil Batalla, Guillermo. Mexico Profundo: Reclaiming A Civilization. Texas: University of Texas, 1996 Print.
4. Honour, Hugh. The Free Dictionary By Fairplex Online. 2000. Web. 28 September 2009.
5. “Felly Fel.” DJ at Power 106. KPWR Los Angeles Radio Station.
6. Phillips, Kate. “Partisan Barbs Follow House Stimulus Vote.” New York Times 29 January 2009. E12. Print.
7. Rincon, Jesus. Grandfather of Andres Rincon.
8.Santana, Carlos-Musician in an interview with Tom Watson of Modern Guitars Magazine, 5th June 2006.
9. “Survivor Parody: Episode 1302.” Mad TV. Narr. Michael McDonald. Writ. Christa Flanagan, Keeyan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Bobby Lee, Nicole Parker, and Jordan Peele. Dir. Michael McDonald. Fox Entertainment Network. 22 September. 2007.