“La larga noche de los 500 años.” La Lucha sigue para los descendientes de la gente del maíz. 1492 marked the beginning of a new world; the indigenous people struggled to maintain their identity in the midst of a cultural clash which promoted erasure of religious practices, cultural and agricultural achievements and land displacement. Following the next 500 years, the struggle to maintain a sense of cultural identity, remains. Chicanos have throughout history maintained close ties to their roots by using art as resistance. The central components that are most notable when studying art in the Chicano movement are “La Virgen Morena,” and Danzas Aztecas. These two are highly regarded in our communities and have been instrumental in the fight for
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Though the legitimacy of her apparition to San Juan Diego has been up for debate for centuries, La morenita’s role in our post-colonial, social history is one of identity, maternal love and social acceptance. Danzas Aztecas have also been an important factor in our history from early Mesoamerican times but especially with the emergence of the Chicano movement during the civil rights movement in the 60’s. These dances, although a simulacrum which some may argue have factual flaws, served its initial purpose of instilling a sense of pride in the roots of a group of people that for centuries had struggled to achieve a factual representation in the modern history of the United States. Some of the modern-day struggles that continue to affect our communities still include the fight against the erasure of our ancestors contributions to the Americas and saving our communities against gentrification. Though these struggles continue, the central figures we continue to see fighting with us are La Virgen Morena and danzantes …show more content…
When the Spanish arrived, they forced Catholicism on all the natives. The religion itself was hard for many of the indigenas to accept. Catholicism was nothing like what they believed; the new images of their “saviors” were not representative of them, they had white skin and European features. When La Virgen de Guadalupe appeared to San Juan Diego en el Cerro del Tepeyac, she gave an entirely new meaning to the religion for many new followers. As previously stated, La Virgen’s apparition was significant in that she shared their features and she chose San Juan Diego to carry her message. “First, she worked outside the hierarchy, outside the structures of power. Second, she identified herself not with the European/dominant, but with the Indigenous/subordinate. La Virgen spoke to the autochthonous people in their language and used their symbols and colors.” La Virgen de Guadalupe would become a symbol of protection during times of struggle for liberation. An artistic depiction of a resilient Creole Cura Don Miguel Hidalgo flying a banner with La Morenita’s image would become the most well-known image of the beginning of the war. The motives for pursuing liberation were mixed. Many creoles and Mestizos wanted to free themselves from the Casta system which deemed them lower than the Gachupin. Many
Though the legitimacy of her apparition to San Juan Diego has been up for debate for centuries, La morenita’s role in our post-colonial, social history is one of identity, maternal love and social acceptance. Danzas Aztecas have also been an important factor in our history from early Mesoamerican times but especially with the emergence of the Chicano movement during the civil rights movement in the 60’s. These dances, although a simulacrum which some may argue have factual flaws, served its initial purpose of instilling a sense of pride in the roots of a group of people that for centuries had struggled to achieve a factual representation in the modern history of the United States. Some of the modern-day struggles that continue to affect our communities still include the fight against the erasure of our ancestors contributions to the Americas and saving our communities against gentrification. Though these struggles continue, the central figures we continue to see fighting with us are La Virgen Morena and danzantes …show more content…
When the Spanish arrived, they forced Catholicism on all the natives. The religion itself was hard for many of the indigenas to accept. Catholicism was nothing like what they believed; the new images of their “saviors” were not representative of them, they had white skin and European features. When La Virgen de Guadalupe appeared to San Juan Diego en el Cerro del Tepeyac, she gave an entirely new meaning to the religion for many new followers. As previously stated, La Virgen’s apparition was significant in that she shared their features and she chose San Juan Diego to carry her message. “First, she worked outside the hierarchy, outside the structures of power. Second, she identified herself not with the European/dominant, but with the Indigenous/subordinate. La Virgen spoke to the autochthonous people in their language and used their symbols and colors.” La Virgen de Guadalupe would become a symbol of protection during times of struggle for liberation. An artistic depiction of a resilient Creole Cura Don Miguel Hidalgo flying a banner with La Morenita’s image would become the most well-known image of the beginning of the war. The motives for pursuing liberation were mixed. Many creoles and Mestizos wanted to free themselves from the Casta system which deemed them lower than the Gachupin. Many