Maria Hinojosa podcast LATINO USA-PERSPECTIVES spoke with poet and writer, Juan Felipe. His technique was unique where he used a smashed up mix of Spanish and English in his poems. His work showed the political awareness and social oppression that he first hand experienced. Juan Felipe was the first Chicano appointed the poet laureate of the United States by the Library of Congress. During his inauguration, he expressed his ‘radical politics’ by writing a corrido about the death of Sandra Bland, a black woman who died in police custody. The irony of his interview is the use of his voice and activism was being recognized, yet as a child, he was “silenced” in school.
Growing up in a farmer household, they spoke Spanish and the first day of school his father dropped him off in front. Immediately as he entered the school he spoke, “I must have asked something in Spanish and I was late… I got spanked for being late and I got spanked for speaking Spanish.” His story reminded me of a couple news reports about a Chicago educator being terminated for punishing English learning students.
Chicago-area teacher who punished students for speaking Spanish resigns in disgrace
The teacher was punishing third-grade students by isolating them from the class. Even though the school is over eighty percent Latino the consequences for speaking Spanish were to sit away from the class on the floor. The teacher prejudice is exemplified in her treatment to the Spanish speaking students. When in reality, these students are able to fully express themselves speaking their native language versus a newer language. It’s unfortunate that decades after the Chicanos Movement,”There have been at least five cases in states like Texas, Arizona, Missouri, North Carolina and New Jersey where schools tried to ban Spanish,” there is still prejudice against Latinos. Felipe is the perfect example of perseverance and using his voice to let others understand the cultural oppressions of his community.
I completely breaks my heart when I hear how educators are excluding students from class for different types of reasons. In this case it is because they speak Spanish and it is even worse when that’s one of the reasons because it shows what they feel towards Chicanos. Students are already interest in school either because they want to be outside, playing video games, or plainly just not understanding what’s going on but to be shunned out because you’re being the person you are is 10x worse, I feel this tells the child that the person they are isn’t okay and they aren’t going to be accepted unless they change. I think it’s great that children who have and sadly will have to face this have someone to look up to, Juan Felipe. Having someone famous share stories that they went through this as well tells the child they’re going to come out on top. And I absolutely love that Juan Felipe gave a corrido about Sandra Bland, we stand together through these rough times and It’s extremely important that everybody of every race knows it.