her novel, Across a Hundred Mountains, Juana and Adelina went through a series of difficulties before finding themselves in a unexpected matter. Oppressed by poverty, Juana then leaves Mexico to find her father and later on meets with Adelina, whom left her family in California to chase after her lover. The two shared many similarities. her novel, Across a Hundred Mountains, Juana and Adelina went through a series of difficulties before finding themselves in a unexpected matter. Oppressed by poverty, Juana then leaves Mexico to find her father and later on meets with Adelina, whom left her family in California to chase after her lover. The two shared many similarities The two meets After a tragedy that separates her from her mother, Juana…
One of Miguel’s biggest rewards of immigrating to the U.S. is the opportunity for higher education, he said that if he was still back in Mexico attending college would not have happened. Being able to attend college has allowed Miguel to find a better paying job which is another reward of living in the U.S. because a good paying job is also hard to come by in Mexico. Another reward of living in the U.S. is being able live in a better and safer environment that has given Miguel’s parents the opportunity to own their own home and have good…
One artist that emphasizes the idea of community and bringing culture together is Ernesto de la Loza, Colorful Mountain 1975, a painted mural in Estrada Courts. This pastel hued landscape mural filled the concrete walls with this image that hoped to inspire unity, consciousness and hope. Ernesto de la Loza took this space and developed this mural that impacted the public, and developed a visual language that spoke about a culture and experience that was untapped and largely invisible. Estrada Courts were apartments that were intended to address the housing shortage that resulted from the rapid growth of wartime industries. In my eyes, this mural helps people in this community acknowledge their homeland and remember where they come from. By…
Jose is a type of person that anyone could look up to. He’s strong, smart and doesn’t let people walk all over him. Throughout the movie he becomes a stronger and stronger person. He goes through two deaths of two people who are very influential in his life, let alone the death of his mother. His grandmother, Ma Tine, raises him. She is a very influential person as well, because she has only the best in mind for her grandson. Although Sugar Cane Alley takes place in Martinique, well after slavery was abolished, the way Jose and Ma Tine live reflect many of the same ideologies of slavery from many years before. In Martinique almost everyone works, they cut sugar cane which is barely enough money to live off of. The only way to advance and make something of your self is to do well in school. This is exactly what Jose does; he studies hard and takes an exam granting him permission to attend a school in Fort-de-France. Unfortunately, Jose is only accepted a partial scholarship, forcing Ma Tine to be a laundress so Jose can go to school. I was very surprised as to what a hard worker Jose was. He’s a brilliant kid and many people around him know it. The effort he put in to his schoolwork says a lot about who he is and how he was raised. He sets a great example for his plantation.…
When Miguel gets home and eats what his mom has cooked which was chicken and rice, Miguel goes to the room and finishes his homework. He finished his work and gets ready for the next day, as he is laying down to go to sleep he hears his parents talking about “Moving to a better place”. He starts to worry because Miguel loves his…
Francisco was born to immigrant parents in 1985 in a rural part of Denton, Texas. They lived in a 2 bedroom, 1-bathroom house which held 8 people. Francisco’s parents always emphasized how important education was, even though none of them had gone to college. His parents had low-income jobs. Growing up in this type of environment taught him many things,…
“The Unexpected Lessons of Mexican Food.” This essay follows a Mexican-American boy, Armando Montano, on a journey to find himself. He starts off with telling you just a little bit about himself, like how he grew up, his nationality, and the food his father used to cook for him. Then it evolves into his journey to find himself. From when he went back to the place his dad was born, and he discovered just how rich his culture was and how much they use food to connect to it, to his time in Brazil and the way his friends seemed to except him as Mexican even when his own family did not. The whole essay he struggles to find his identity and just where he, a mix of cultures, belongs. There are two parts of himself that he struggles with which one…
The paper The Appalachian Mountains by Lance Carson is about the Appalachian Mountains hence the name so why would he have to include the sentence” the result is the impressive mountain ranges like the Appalachian.” From the previous paragraph, you would already know that it is about the Appalachian so this information would be completely useless. The sentence, “Plates make up earth’s lithosphere, or outer shell” would be more relevant if the paper went more in depth on how this effects the creation on mountain ranges leading this to be more helpful to the reader.…
Some stories tell you about someone’s life as a migrant worker. One story is “The Circuit”. In this story by Francisco Jimenez it about a young boy who lived in Mexico that works on farms with his brother and father to help support his family. Throughout his story, Francisco describes to the audience how his family moves around from farm to farm for work, how it is important about helping out your family and how he wants to go to school.…
“Javier para que rompes tus pantalones, ya no te voy a comprar nada para que se te quite!” yelled my mother as I strutted down the hall in my jeans that went through rough adjustments the night before. The translation: Javier why did you rip your pants; I’m not buying you anything so you won’t do that anymore. Growing up in a lower middle class Mexican household has its pros and cons, additionally being the first born of a second generation, but it has shaped me into the individual I am today.…
The film begins superficially and light but as the movie progresses, it’s meaning deepens and reveals the issues Ernesto wishes to combat – poverty, dispossession and homelessness. The narration of letters, postcards and diary entries reveals the inner thoughts of Ernesto and his transformation through his experiences as he ventures through the vastness of South…
An experience that gives Antonio a different outlook on life is being raised in Guadalupe. Growing up in this rural area has put him very close to nature and the land. This shapes his outlook on life because it connects him to his family, since his uncles are very close to the land. This also makes Antonio more mature because it develops a love and respect for the land. Being raised in Guadalupe also sets up a distinctive perception for Antonio because he lives in a middle class environment. For example, in Antonio’s household his father and mother both work hard and Antonio is given chores and discipline. This shapes his maturity because it does not make him spoiled or self-indulgent. It also builds his character because it makes him work hard to accomplish his goals.…
The movie depicts the maquiladora workers in Tijuana, Mexico to balance life working in these factories with their struggle for justice in the system that governs their place of work. This reiterates how machismo affected gender relations in Mexico and how woman are devalued.…
“The Closer” begins with Mariano’s childhood in Panama. Mariano discusses social class and what it is like to grow up in a poor fishing community. Mariano grew up with few material items like toys or books, but he saw the value of relationships with family and friends to be sufficient for him. He writes about how he developed his morals of hard work,…
Living only with his older brother Miguel, he seemed like the typical straight-A student. He participated in band, the debate team, spelling bees, sports, and theatrical plays; he received many academic awards, and he was the Valedictorian of his class. However, growing up without parents made him the subject of curiousity among his friends. “They would always ask me, ‘Hey, where are your parents at? Why are you not living with them?’ It would always be difficult telling them how my mom stayed in Mexico to care for my family and how my father lost his job in the U.S. and was forced to move back to Mexico. I just thought it was normal up until that point in time” (Castellanos). Despite not having parents around, Francisco still did well in school. He used these extra-curricular activities to occupy his time and stay off the streets. “I found my escape through academics and school activities,” he said. “It was great, but at the same time, it was tough because no one was there to watch me win all those awards. At these events, I was taking pictures with my friends and their families, instead of my own” (Castellanos). It would seem he would have promising future after…