Labels can easily determine how someone or something is viewed. Such example I think would be like a Pit Bull people have labeled them as a bad dog, due to their sometimes, violent nature. But in this case it is a label of race telling of how a race may be looked at and judged because of what others may do or say. Like my own race of African American we have a label as being loud obnoxious people, or start trouble or just get into trouble. In some ways this is true but the African American race can also be just like anybody else quiet,easy to get along with, outgoing, and eager to be successful in life. Such as someone may see me and think "oh great here comes the African American", that I fill is labeling without knowing who or what the person is about and making up your mind before you even know the person or what something is really about.
Rodriguez changes in the fact that he starts out viewing himself as a Mexican American otherwise known as a Chicano being close to family and friends. As he stared out in grade school one major thing took effect and that was his environment that he was in was different outside of his family's environment He chose to speak different as well. At this point he was viewed as a Chicano in the eyes of other classmates and employees at his school. He also states that he feels guilty to represent a non-academic cultural in another words he labels himself pretty much. His next change was that of language being of his descent he was comfortable speaking Spanish. This became a problem as he was around people who knew English. This caused some problems as he couldn't communicate as well with others so he had to take on more of the English language. So he takes on the name of the "gringo" as he was moving up from his current point among people. Later in the passage he was also called a "pocho" because his education level was higher, though pocho was seen as a Mexican with gringo habits. All three words have there meanings of what they are and throughout the passage he shows all of them whether being a Chicano with family and friends or being called a pocho, or gringo from others. In the end he was still a Chicano to family and good friends.
Hi Josh,
ReplyDeleteYou state,
"Like my own race of African American we have a label as being loud obnoxious people, or start trouble or just get into trouble. In some ways this is true but the African American race can also be just like anybody else quiet,easy to get along with, outgoing, and eager to be successful in life. Such as someone may see me and think "oh great here comes the African American", that I fill is labeling without knowing who or what the person is about and making up your mind before you even know the person or what something is really about."
I like the personal examples that you discuss in this journal entry. Sadly, we live in a culture where others might label someone solely on their race. For instance, person X (who may be a white person) is "acting black" or person Y (who may be African American) is "acting white." I wish I could say that this will change. However, we will in a culture where these stereotypes are reinscribed daily. I don't know if there will ever be an end to racism as sad as this is to admit. Perhaps, one day we can overlook these color boundaries that continue to separate us.