Norma Cantú presentation A Chicana’s Life in Literature, she discusses the hybrid nation that people lived along the US/Mexico border. She grew up in a border town and shared her experiences of walking across the border back and forth in her early years. The uniqueness of the towns allowed people to actually adapt and use different Spanglish along the border. She came from a large family, I believe of 11 children, and she shared many experiences. She acknowledges that she is a “product of bilingual education” because her first caretaker taught her how to read and write in Spanish.
She acknowledges that she has experienced the “cultural conflict and confluence,” as an example she had a photo wearing a chiña poblano outfit yet at school she is wearing a cowgirl outfit, school assimilated her into “Texan” culture. The upbringing she considered was “ethnocentric” and felt a cultural clash between Chicana and Texan. Yet when she has questioned her allegiance to either flag was she feels equal to both countries. Would it be that maintaining her residence along the border she feels that connection or if she moved elsewhere she would still identify as with both strongly?
In Ana Castillo, So Far from God is about a Chicano family living in New Mexico and the four daughters Esperanza, Fe, Caridad, and Loca seems to foreshadow the books themes. The mother Sofi establishes a household that not only encourages but allows the women to become their true self, without any direction. Each daunter represents independent and strong women who overcome obstacle without the support of a male figure. Sofia created that space for the girls to grow and sometimes learn the hard way about not only people but life in general.The family endures hardships, especially with the death of their first daughter, Esperanza, her name, meant hope and she contributed her life to her community. What does their faith have to do with how they handle their situations? Why does the family continue to have negative events unfold?
Hello- In terms of Norma Cantu and the maintenance of her American and Mexican identities, I would have to say that geographical location has all to do with why she feels so connected-throughout her life has learned to strategically maneuver and negotiate the “in between spaces” that she has confronted all her life. This in between space that she constantly has to navigate has become central to who she is as she points out in the youtube video. She has learned to accept all parts of her identity. Similar to her, I have come to accept my American/European identity- I am Greek and Mexican, however definitely have stronger ties to my Mexicaness. For me, and maybe even Cantu, it has been easier to love all parts of me. The American me, the Greek me, the Mexican me, the Chicana me—I do not want the constant internal conflict, or to deny any aspect of the self- I am who I am-a Mestiza…..
In terms of Castillo’s book, I believe the faith keeps the family grounded and strong, and keeps the hope alive.
The negative events unfold because Castillo attempts to set the reader to understand women’s strength, and the notion that we women are survivors….
Hi,
Norma Cantu, maintains the connection to both countries despite where she lives at because she identifies with both culture. She maintains the connection with both cultures because she is highly influenced with both while living at the border and in between of both countries. Since she grew up with both culture she will maintain them in her life as equal. On the contrast, in So Far From God the women in the novel go through a number of events and obstacles that they have to overcome in their lives. The way they handle their faith because they are strong women mujers that overcome negatives. The family continues to have negative event happen to them because of the problem that arose in their lives unexpectedly. The mujeres use their strength to overcome the negativity.
Hello,
I like your analysis on both of Norma Cantu and So Far From God. We can see two different perspectives here. In Norma we see how she was able to accustom to both cultures with no problem. However, in many cases some people are not able to be accustomed and are always confused as to which one to prefer. In so Far From God, we see how the mother wants her daughter to become independent. This is something that is not seen in the Latina/o culture because we are so accustomed to the male dominance. Their independence is seen as a way to be resistant from the patriarchal structure.
Hi!
Thank you so much for your reflections on the material. Balancing cultures could be a very complicated process. You are constantly trying to represent each one equally because they make up who you are, and you might be scared of paying attention to one more than the other. My dad is Mexican and my mom is Salvadoran. For a long time, I used to say I was just Mexican because I thought there would be no Salvadoran folk around me. I used to feel guilty for neglecting my mother’s history but I just thought no one would understand or accept both of my cultures. Although I have began reclaiming both of my cultures without the fear of people’s judgment, Norma Cantu’s work helped me feel even more confident over having different layers within my identity and family history.
I think So Far From God was such an empowering reading (absolutely my favorite for the week). Being able to maintain cultural traditions was not emphasized so much because Sofi did not want to keep her daughters from living a life of independence and individuality. The Latina/o household is made up of patriarchal and masculinity dynamics often making women engage in submissive roles within the family. Although they experienced hardships, the fact that they did not need a man to support them or heal makes it known that women have the power to be resilient all on their own. Finding community amongst each other is also helpful because they are able to relate to one another through their successes and struggles.