scholarly journals Just the Tip of the Iceberg: The Truncation of Mexican American Identity in My Family/Mi Familia

Mester ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Phillip Serrato
Keyword(s):  
Mexican American ◽  
American Identity ◽  
Mexican American Identity

Spanish Language

2019 ◽  
pp. 105-145
Author(s):  
Edward Telles ◽  
Christina A. Sue
Keyword(s):  
Mexican Americans ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
Ethnic Community ◽  
Spanish Language ◽  
American Identity ◽  
Primary Language ◽  
Language Competence ◽  
English Only ◽  
Central Characteristic ◽  
Mexican American Identity

This chapter explores Mexican American identity and ethnicity through the prism of the Spanish language, which is perhaps the central characteristic in ethnic culture and identity among Mexican Americans. However, whereas virtually all U.S.-born Mexican Americans speak English, not all speak Spanish. More precisely, Mexican Americans are distributed along a continuum of language competence that ranges from English only to complete fluency in both English and Spanish, with the majority of individuals falling somewhere in-between. For the respondents, English is their primary language, whereas the use of Spanish varies greatly, depending on the situation and each individual’s linguistic abilities. Thus, regardless of actual linguistic ability, language as a concept raises a number of issues regarding Mexican Americans’ own ethnic identities and their relationship to members of the ethnic community.

scholarly journals La Manda

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 156-159
Author(s):  
Angelique K. Dwyer
Keyword(s):  
Mexican American ◽  
American Identity ◽  
Narrative Voice ◽  
Religious Perspective ◽  
Non Fiction ◽  
Creative Non Fiction ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Mexican American Identity ◽  
Ritual Practices

This creative non-fiction piece written in Spanglish called “La Manda" reflects upon faith and ritual practices from a personal and transnational perspective. From dance, to fairs, to nun school, this story focuses on the difference in religious perspective held by two American siblings raised in Mexico. The narrative voice in this piece provides a unique perspective broadening dialogue(s) on Mexican American identity.

scholarly journals Sol, sombra, y media luz

Pragmatics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter C. Haney
Keyword(s):  
Working Class ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
American Identity ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Cancion Ranchera ◽  
Mexican American Identity

This paper analyzes a parody of the tango “A media luz” that was performed by Rodolfo Garcia, a Mexican American comedian who worked in his family’s tent show, the Carpa Garcia, in the early 1940s. I argue that by juxtaposing the generic conventions of the tango with those of the canción ranchera and by introducing carnivalesque humor, Mr. Garcia’s parody articulated a distinctly local Mexican American identity which was strongly linked to a sense of working-class masculinity. In this way, the parody highlights the class- and gender-based contradictions that were inherent in ongoing processes of Mexican American identity fonnation at mid-century.

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