Fang culture, Tío Abeso emphasizes that though they do not read books to learn their culture, “[they] know [their] tradition because the eldest member passes it on to the young so that when he too is old, he will in turn impart the tradition to his young” (Ndongo 92). Ndongo demonstrates through this novel that education can take more than one form, and though it differs from Western ideals, it still serves as a uniting force amongst the tribe. Similarly, Pierre is guided by his grandmother throughout childhood. When speaking with the Colonel, Pierre hears his grandmother’s voice in his head speaking about shikwembu, and compares the description with the Colonel (Mudimbe 52).
In both of these novels, education is exemplified in ways other than ancestral teachings. In Between Tides, Pierre receives an education starting from elementary school. We learn that in addition to his schooling to become a priest, he studied canon law. In Shadows of Your Black Memory, the Spaniards used education as a tool to colonize the Fang people, teaching them to recognize they should be grateful that they had been saved and to glorify their Spanish ancestors:
“…when Don Ramón asked you what you were, your little voice stood out clearly: all of us together are Spaniards by the grace of God! And why are we Spanish? intoned Don Ramón, and your clear voice again stood out: we are Spaniards blessed for having been born in a country called Spain… Spaniards had come to save you from anarchy because
There is common history between Latin Americans and Anglo Americans, like the Arabs and Jews of the Middle East, cousins in constant conflict, often hearing but not understanding each other. In this chapter Gonzalez tells us about how both Latin American and Anglo-American cultures fabricated their colonial origin. The 1500’s through the early 1800s specially explains the foundation of what now makes up the US. Since early on in time Anglo colonist saw Mexicans as an obstacle to evolution. Unfortunately, because most did not know how to read or write they were easily fooled. Because of this so many were done wrong, at times had their lands taken away. Canelas family were some of the witnesses to the lynching’s which occurred as last as 1917. In 1859 Cortina; a Canelas ancestor, declared was against the Anglo settler minority. In 1929, an important year where we had the first organization intended to break down segregation. The name of that organization was League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). The main goal was to get the Anglo society to accept Mexicans as equal citizens. They could do this by teaching the chief goal to master his
“Victors and Vanquished,” through excerpts of Bernal Diaz del Castillo The True History of the Conquest of New Spain and indigenous testimonies from the Florentine Codex, represents the clash between European and indigenous cultures and how there was no simple “European” or “indigenous” view. Rather, there were a variety of European and indigenous opinions and interpretations that were influenced by personal interests, social hierarchy and classes, ethnic biases and political considerations.
In Santa Biblia: The Bible Through Hispanic Eyes, Justo L. González invites the reader to read the Bible in fresh ways, and gain insight from the perspective of “those who claim their Hispanic identity as part of their hermeneutical baggage, and who also read the Scripture within the context of a commitment to the Latino struggle to become all that God wants us and all of the world to be—in other words, the struggle for salvation/liberation.” (González 1996, 28-29) Published hot on the heels of the quincentennial of Columbus’ voyage to the new world, and abreast of discussions taking place in the larger Hispanic community, González’s book is both timely and well researched.
Anzaldúa wrote about the conflicting views that Chicanos face involving their own self-identity growing up in societies that tell them they do not belong. Chicanos are people that were born in the United States but have parents that were born in Mexico. They face constant criticism for the way they speak, by both American and Mexican people. Often times Chicanos are told that they’re cultural traitors and that they’re speaking the oppressors’ language and ruining the Spanish language when they are heard speaking English by Latinos (Anzaldúa, 17). They are made to feel as if they need to choose a sole identity to represent and anything other than that is going to be looked down on. Chicanos have felt as if they didn’t belong anywhere, so they created an identity to fit in and belong to “Chicano Spanish sprang out of the Chicanos’ need to identify ourselves as a distinct people” (Anzaldúa, 17). A feeling of
For decades, the history of Latin America has been shrouded in a cover of Spanish glory and myth that misleads and complicates the views of historians everywhere. Myths such as the relationship between natives and conquistadors, and the individuality of the conquistadors themselves stand as only a few examples of how this history may have become broken and distorted. However, in Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest Matthew Restall goes to great lengths to dispel these myths and provide a more accurate history of Latin American, in a readable and enjoyable book.
"If I were asked what education should give, I would say it should offer breadth of view, ease of understanding, tolerance for others, and a background from which the mind can explore in any direction… Education should provide the tools for a widening and deepening of life, for increased appreciation of all one sees and experiences. It should equip a person to live life well, to understand what is happening about him, for to live life well one must live with awareness." This quote is from Louis L'amour’s autobiography, The Education of a Wandering Man. Out of the pieces of literature read during the English I course, the war novel All Quiet on the Western Front best exemplifies this standard of education. There are various qualities that
A: “I do hope. I pray to the gods above and offer them some of my food each day. I foolishly hope, but I do not believe we will rise again to reclaim what is ours. The Spaniards out number us now that our own numbers have dwindled.”
Any student of history has come to recognize the fact that history is written by the victor and in lieu of this, research becomes essential to uncover where the truth lies. The True History of the Conquest of New Spain, so ironically named, is a personal account for historical events leading up to the conquest of New Spain, formerly known as the City of Mexico. The author, Bernal Diaz, was a soldier of the conquering army who composed the document well after the events took place sometime between 1552 and 1557. Though the document did provide insight in regards to the victor’s perspective, it also served as a tool to rewrite the account of the conquered people.
Education is very important to the blacks that were enslaved in the novel. The slaves valued education even more than the modern African Americans like Dana who had always thought they had very high standards on education. The slaves valued education so much because to them it was not only a tool to better themselves, but also a very powerful tool that could potentially lead them to freedom. With the ability
Spain) and criollos (Spanish people born in New Spain). Resentment was so great that indians,
Gonzalez also explains how he feels like there have been many ‘macroevents’ and ‘macroformations’ that are going on now in the 20th century, which can be tied back to the 16th century and the Protestant Reformation. He talks about how history has shaped where the Hispanic culture is today, and how that ties into how they view theology and the Word.
In the movie The Prince of Tides, the kind of Psychotherapy being portrayed is Psychodynamic. Psychodynamic therapy is a deriving from the psychoanalytic tradition, views individuals as responding to unconscious forces and childhood experiences and seek to enhance self-insight. The therapist in the movie uses the patients brother to find out the root of the patients disturbing Psychodynamic behavior. By doing so she discovers the darkness of the family’s history.
Summary- In her essay “Se Habla Español,” Tanya Maria Barrientos discusses her struggle of being an English speaker with Latino heritage, her story to search for a sense of belonging. In childhood, she tries to Americanize herself and stay away from any Latino features, including Spanish. Later in her life, as the society become more welcoming to different ethnic groups, it is natural for her to embrace her own group; but her limitation on Spanish causes Barrientos feeling distant. However, Barrientos believes that there are others in the same dilemma and she encourages those to take the pride to be who they are.
Richards essay describes how he has to “ trade” his Spanish language identity to find his “public” language identity . He remembers his parents trying their best to speak more English in their home to help their kids fit into society . He talks about how the fact that he lost one identity was worth the gain of the other identity he so longed for . “At last, seven years old, I came to believe what had been technically true since my birth: I was an American citizen” (454-455). It was at that moment that he knew for a fact that his whole life he was already an American citizen . To him beign an American citizen meant having an English language identity and being able to speak the public language. As a boy Rodriguez was able to only speak and understand the Spanish language . To him it was the only real identity he ever had growing up . He also discussed that because the Spanish language identity is developed among his family members. That the language is somehow responsible for how they were able to identify themselves
He refers to his father arriving home some nights sounding relieved and calling for his wife and then his children. At his joy hearing his father’s “light and free notes” when speaking Spanish, and that “he can never manage in English” Rodriquez was run and laugh with such pleasure because of the unity of their alienation in the outside society. Being spoken to in Spanish he feels “specially recognized.” Feeling as if he belongs, because the words that he is hearing and the words that are used to address him are spoken with ease and is not heard by the gringos.