It seems for too long we have been subject to the same stereotypes that have plagued Chicanx for over a century. We come over illegally. We are lazy. And those that do work? Well, they take jobs away from more hardworking and far more deserving “native born” Americans. We are seen as a problem, and this is a problem. This leads to an array of issues that plague the United States such as racism and xenophobia. In order to rectify the social conflicts that face us in this country, we need to be able to view the world and the world's problems through the lens of a Chicana. It is not until we are all able to view the world through the eyes of the most oppressed that we can begin to address these prevalent issues. I begin with a personal anecdote.
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I wonder if the older white woman would have treated Xitlali the same way if she knew all that Xitlali had to endure and sacrifice to get where she is now. Instead of viewing Chicanx as what the media portrays us to be, a discussion should be had on the traits such as resiliency that is possessed especially by Chicanas. This trait is highlighted in Ana Castillo’s A Countryless Woman wherein she details many of the struggles Chicanas face on a daily basis. Among the plethora of issues, Castillo points out, “[t]he cultural and religious beliefs that maintain that most Latinas on either side of the border are (and should be) dependent on their men for economic survival are not only unrealistic, evidence shows they no reflect reality” (37). In a country that views them “at best as a second class citizen, at worst, as a non-entity” (Castillo), Chicanas find ways to continue to provide for their families, even when public opinion and economics are pitted against them. Relating this to my anecdote, after the encounter, Xitlali teared up. But after a few minutes, she wiped her tears and proceeded to greet the incoming customers with a smile. When the public is able to see this cosmic race as a relient one, as Vasconcelos penned it, then we can work towards dismantling the racists attitudes that are very much alive
I wonder if the older white woman would have treated Xitlali the same way if she knew all that Xitlali had to endure and sacrifice to get where she is now. Instead of viewing Chicanx as what the media portrays us to be, a discussion should be had on the traits such as resiliency that is possessed especially by Chicanas. This trait is highlighted in Ana Castillo’s A Countryless Woman wherein she details many of the struggles Chicanas face on a daily basis. Among the plethora of issues, Castillo points out, “[t]he cultural and religious beliefs that maintain that most Latinas on either side of the border are (and should be) dependent on their men for economic survival are not only unrealistic, evidence shows they no reflect reality” (37). In a country that views them “at best as a second class citizen, at worst, as a non-entity” (Castillo), Chicanas find ways to continue to provide for their families, even when public opinion and economics are pitted against them. Relating this to my anecdote, after the encounter, Xitlali teared up. But after a few minutes, she wiped her tears and proceeded to greet the incoming customers with a smile. When the public is able to see this cosmic race as a relient one, as Vasconcelos penned it, then we can work towards dismantling the racists attitudes that are very much alive