Chicano poetry is a branch of American literature, and specifically Mexican-American literature, written by and primarily about

Mexican Americans Mexican Americans ( es, mexicano-estadounidenses, , or ) are Americans of full or partial Mexican heritage. In 2019, Mexican Americans comprised 11.3% of the US population and 61.5% of all Hispanic and Latino Americans. In 2019, 71% of Mexic ...

and the many Mexican-American ways of life in U.S. society. The term "

Chicano Chicano or Chicana is a chosen identity for many Mexican Americans in the United States. The label ''Chicano'' is sometimes used interchangeably with ''Mexican American'', although the terms have different meanings. While Mexican-American ident ...

" is a political and cultural term of identity specifically identifying people of Mexican descent who are born in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

, but not all Mexican Americans identify with it. Chicano poetry and literature comprises the writing of the offspring of

Mexicans Mexicans ( es, mexicanos) are the citizens of the United Mexican States. The most spoken language by Mexicans is Spanish, but some may also speak languages from 68 different Indigenous linguistic groups and other languages brought to Mexi ...

who either emigrated to the United States or were involuntarily included in the country due to the

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War, also known in the United States as the Mexican War and in Mexico as the (''United States intervention in Mexico''), was an armed conflict between the United States and Second Federal Republic of Mexico, Mexico f ...

of 1848. Chicano poetry, and Mexican American literature in general, have long roots in the lands that would become the United States and their predecessors have written since the late-sixteenth century. Despite having cultivated all types of written and oral literature, many of their literary traditions persisted in order to preserve their cultural identity within an expanding and overwhelmingly aggressive "national" culture that once did not recognize Spanish speakers as part of an ever-evolving "America." Chicano poetry is different from other types of poetry in that there is a certain Chicano voice being told. This voice is the Chicano culture that is being highlighted throughout the poem. Chicano poetry is diverse, but roots back to the same element of culture. Chicano poetry becomes its own genre according to Pérez-Torres when a similar structure is represented throughout the poems. There is a similar terrain in the work, but each may offer different elements to the work like sexuality. Core values of the Chicano community includes culture and is often highlighted in Chicano poetry.

History

Origins

Chicanismo Chicanismo is the ideology behind the Chicano Movement. It is an ideology based on a number of important factors that helped shape a social uprising in order to fight for the liberties of Mexican Americans. Chicanismo was shaped by a number of i ...

is a cultural movement begun in the 1960’s in the

Southwestern United States The Southwestern United States, also known as the American Southwest or simply the Southwest, is a geographic and cultural region of the United States that generally includes Arizona, New Mexico, and adjacent portions of California, Colorado, N ...

with probable roots in the early 20th century Indigenismo movement. It was a way for some

Mexican American Mexican Americans ( es, mexicano-estadounidenses, , or ) are Americans of full or partial Mexican heritage. In 2019, Mexican Americans comprised 11.3% of the US population and 61.5% of all Hispanic and Latino Americans. In 2019, 71% of Mexic ...

s to recapture their Native Mexican culture. The four major themes of Chicanismo are generally considered to be: (1) the power of the creative earth and labor upon it; (2) political transformation through collective efforts; (3) strong familial ties extending back into

Mesoamerica Mesoamerica is a historical region and cultural area in southern North America and most of Central America. It extends from approximately central Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and northern Costa Rica. W ...

n pre-history; and (4) spiritually-influenced creative artistic imagination as reflected in the visual ARTS. There are several theories concerning the origin of the term Chicano. The most prominent is that it is derived from Mexicano, which comes from Mexica (pronounced "meshica"). Whatever its origin, the term was in widespread use by the 1950s and gained popularity in the 1960s. It is also during this time that the label Black gained popularity in place of the terms Negro and Colored People. It was the young Black community angry at the racism that was being perpetuated against them who burned and destroyed several cities. However, many older black people wanted to be called Negro or colored because they did not wish to be identified with the word black which for some represented the turmoil of the times. So too, many older Mexican-Americans refused to accept the term Chicano, instead proudly identifying themselves as Mexicano. Many Chicanos and Mexicanos born on the American side of the border, suffered an identity crisis, they did not want to throw away their proud Mexicaness instilled by their parents and yet they were not from Mexico. Building on that cultural pride many responded by identifying themselves as Chicano. From this cultural phenomenon stemmed what we now know as Chicano poetry. The literary movement was gained notoriety in spite all of the hostility of the early 1900s to give a voice to Chicanos.

Mexican American cultural resistance

Many working class and second generation Mexican Americans began to rebel from discrimination by wearing a zoot suit. This act was seen as unpatriotic during the 1940s as

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

demanded precious materials like fabric be used for the war and zoot suits used a substantial amount of cloth. This suit was popular among youth of various races and ethnicities in cities all over the

. According to Pérez- Torres, cultural resistance is represented by wearing a zoot suit. This wardrobe style was called a zoot suit and consisted of, for men, large hats, a draped coat and high waisted baggy bottoms; accessorized with a watch chain or pompadour (a specific hairstyle). The women's version of this suit consisted of a broad shouldered fingertip coat, a knee length skirts and large hair styles that helped hide small knives. The men and women who participated in this wardrobe statement were called Pachucos/as. Zoot suits signified rebellion, differences and even un-Americanism According to Pérez- Torres, cultural resistance is represented by wearing a zoot suit. due to the amount of fabric used while in a war. The young Mexican American community used this suit to identity show others they were fighting for equality for their community. The zoot suit functioned as a way of changing the social order. Young Mexican American women wore this suit to diverge from the barriers that encased them due to their ethnicity, gender, and class. The zoot suit symbolized meanings of youthfulness or uprising. According to Pérez-Torres, by wearing a zoot suit, there is a cultural division.

Chicana poetry and literature

The 1970s was a critical time period for ethnic minorities and women in the United States. An out pour of writing and creativity was the result of the intellectual and political climate of the time. For the first time in history, people of Mexican descent in the United States were able to produce a large body of emerging literature that offered a new way of seeing the world. Chicanas in the 70s faced a double set of social racism; Chicanas experienced racial discrimination like Chicanos, and also sexual discrimination, like white women experienced. Thus, this double identity supported the Chicano struggle for racial equality as well as supporting the women's movement. The support for the women's movement inspired Chicana's to search for new definitions of the feminine identity as well as bringing awareness to their own cultural heritage. Chicanas often used poetry in the 1970s to express their views of aggressive masculine pride. This is known as machismo which is used to portray male gender roles. In the poem "Machismo Is Part of Our Culture" by Marcela Christine Lucero-Trujillo, she emphasizes her viewpoint of machismo. Chicanas have played an active role in all aspects of political, economic and cultural life, yet their contributions have not been part of official history.

Pachucas in Poetry

Pachucas is a lifestyles that some Chicanos chose during the chicano movement. They were often young women who rebelled against Mexican and American norms. Pachucas were described wearing short, tight skirts with sheer tops and their hairdos high. Women who chose to take on this way of living were often faced with much criticism from inside and outside their community. Inside the community, the women were seen as traitors to the Mexican-American code of feminine conduct, or as ‘las malinches’, as described by ‘''La Opinion'', a Spanish-language newspaper based in Los Angeles, California, USA. The following days after the newspaper published, a group of East Los Angeles teens wrote a letter to ‘''Eastside Sun,'' Stating that the women who affirmed their virginity and patriotism. Females who dressed as pachucas were often looked down upon due to the nature that the Poetry was a prominent role in the Chicano movement. Poems relating to the pachuca lifestyle were mostly written by Pachucos or former Pachucos. Their poems contributed to an important part of movement-era cultural production. Pachuca poems often related to pachuquismo. During the 1960s language and the zoot suit became a big part of the chicano movement for a number of Chicana and Chicano writers. Dressing like a Pachuco signified a refusal to conform to the status quo and style of urban, working class youth. It meant resistance, showed style, and showcased resistance in style. An example of the poetry would be “La Nueva Chicana” by poet Viola Correa, :Hey :She that lady protesting injustice, :Es mi Mamà :The girl in the brown beret, :The one teaching the children, :She’s my hermana :Over there fasting with the migrants, :Es mi tía. :These are the women who worry, :Pray, iron :And cook chile y tortillas. :The lady with the forgiving eyes :And the gentle smile. :Listen to her shout. :She knows what hardship is all about :All about. :The Establishment calls her a radical militant. :The newspapers read she is :A dangerous subversive :They label her name to condemn her. :By the FBI she’s called :A big problem. :In Aztlàn we call her :La Nueva Chicana.

Pioneers and forerunners

Notable Chicano poets who were instrumental in creating a niche both in American and

Latin American literature Latin American literature consists of the oral and written literature of Latin America in several languages, particularly in Spanish, Portuguese, and the indigenous languages of the Americas. It rose to particular prominence globally during t ...

and developed an impetus were early writers such as Abelardo "Lalo" Delgado, Trinidad "Trino" Sánchez,

Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales (June 18, 1928 – April 12, 2005) was a Mexican-American boxer, poet, political organizer, and activist. He was one of many leaders for the Crusade for Justice in Denver, Colorado. The Crusade for Justice was an urban ...

. Delgado wrote "Stupid America", Sánchez wrote "Why Am I So Brown?" and Gonzales authored the epic "Yo Soy Joaquin." Gonzales' "Yo Soy Joaquin" has been acknowledged as ''the'' Chicano epic poem. Self-published in 1967, it reviewed the exploitation of the ''mestizos'' from colonial times to the present. : Yo soy Joaquín, : perdido en un mundo de confusión: : I am Joaquín, lost in a world of confusion, : caught up in the whirl of a gringo society, : confused by the rules, scorned by attitudes, : suppressed by manipulation, and destroyed by modern society. : My fathers have lost the economic battle : and won the struggle of cultural survival. Another early pioneer writer is the Poet/Painter

Nephtalí De León Nephtalí De León is a Chicano writer known primarily for his poetry, children's stories, and essays. He is also credited with illustrating most of his books. He was born in Laredo, Texas Laredo ( ; ) is a city in and the county seat of Webb C ...

, author of "Hey, Mr. President, Man!", "Coca Cola Dream," and "Chicano Popcorn." The latter part of the 20th century saw the emergence of Juan Felipe Herrera as a dominant force in the genre. In Herrera's works, cultural expression is shown from the 1960s to the present. His poetry is most known for being willful, expressing a unique voice. The early literature of the movement was characterized by indigenismo, or looking to the ancient past for the roots that would inform modern Chicano/Chicana identity. La Raza, as the central Chicano activist group of the time was called, sought to shape and solidify a national and cultural identity based on the history of the Azteca people and their legendary homeland, Aztlán. The surge of creative literary activity among Chicano authors in the 1960s and 1970s became known as the Florecimiento, or Renaissance."Contemporary Chicano/a Literature" Contemporary Literary Criticism Select. 2008 Detroit: Gale. Notable Chicana poet Lucha Corpi published a collection of poetry that emphasizes the theme of culture and authored "LLuvia/Rain." This work creates a framework on Mexican cultural remembrance with an emphasis on the sensuality of rain that offers a sense of Mexican arts culture using the Nahua god of rain. Major poets for Pachuca poetry are Alurista, José Montoya, and raúlrsalinas, who chose to share their poems at festivals, marches, rallies, and festivals. Poems such as “Los Corts (5 voices)” and “and when I dream dreams” by Carmen Tafolla, “Para Teresa,” by Inés Hernández and “Later, She Met Joyce” by Cherríe Moraga are one of the earlier known works to include the pachuca character.

Historic milestones

After winning the National Book Critics Circle award for poetry in 2008, Juan Felipe Herrera became the first Chicano to be appointed

United States Poet Laureate The Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress—commonly referred to as the United States Poet Laureate—serves as the official poet of the United States. During their term, the poet laureate seeks to raise the national cons ...

Important publishers

A handful of U.S. publishers specialize in Chicano poetry, including the following: * Arte Publico Press * Aztlan Libre Press * Bilingual Review Press * Chiricú *

Cinco Puntos Press Cinco Puntos Press is an imprint of publishing company Lee & Low Books. It is a general trade publisher that has received attention for its bilingual children's books and fiction and non-fiction focusing on the Mexico–United States border regi ...

University of Arizona Press The University of Arizona Press, a publishing house founded in 1959 as a department of the University of Arizona, is a nonprofit publisher of scholarly and regional books. As a delegate of the University of Arizona to the larger world, the Press p ...

Unifying concepts

These poems primarily deal with how Chicanos deal with existence in the United States and how Chicanos cope with

marginalization Social exclusion or social marginalisation is the social disadvantage and relegation to the fringe of society. It is a term that has been used widely in Europe and was first used in France in the late 20th century. It is used across disciplin ...

racism Racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to inherited attributes and can be divided based on the superiority of one race over another. It may also mean prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism ...

and vanquished dreams. Many Chicano writers allude to the past glory of the

n civilizations and how the

indigenous people Indigenous peoples are culturally distinct ethnic groups whose members are directly descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a particular geographic region and, to some extent, maintain the language and culture of those original people ...

of those civilizations continue to live through the Chicano people who are predominantly of

mestizo (; ; fem. ) is a term used for racial classification to refer to a person of mixed European and Indigenous American ancestry. In certain regions such as Latin America, it may also refer to people who are culturally European even though thei ...

(mixed) ancestry. Chicana (female) writers have drastically expanded on the theme of marginalization. They have added a feminist component to the overall Chicano poetry movement. Chicana poets have pursued such themes as sexual abuse, marginalization of women, and the creation of complex Chicana identity. Overall, this literary movement has seen great thematic diversity which can be accredited to different Chicano/a writers throughout American history.

Chaperoning

When it comes to young, unmarried Mexican American women wanting to attend the night out they are accompanied by a male, who watches over them throughout the night. Many young, unmarried, women felt confined in their own homes and unable to enjoy a night out due to familial oligarchy, a way families would structure power to the adults and maintain control over certain things, such as what their daughter would be allowed to do. A female's purity was linked to the family's reputation. Sending along a chaperone was a way for the family to keep an eye on their daughter's activities in an attempt to shape their daughters into ‘sheltered young matrons. Chaperonage often caused many women to question their own self-determination and autonomy. They sought freedom while still being able to be viewed as dutiful daughters to their families. Many daughters often challenged the views of their families by sneaking out to attend events. Older Mexican generations often assumed responsibilities for what their children/grandchildren would do. Mexican American coming of age during the interwar period sought to end the practice of chaperonage. In the 1950s chaperonage had become a generational marker as later generations started to not attack the familia oligarchy but the manifestations of it. Poem ‘“Pueblo, 1950” by Bernice Zamora, a Chicana poet who emerged during the Chicano Movement in the 1960s, showcases the consequences young, unmarried, Mexican-American women would face from a simple kiss: :I remember you, Fred Montoya :You were the first ''vato'' to ever kiss me :I was twelve years old. :my mother said shame on you, :my teacher said shame on you, and :I said shame on me, and nobody :said a word to you.

List of major Chicano poets

Lucha Corpi Lucha Corpi is a Chicana poet and mystery writer. She was born on April 13, 1945 in Jaltipan, Veracruz, Mexico. In 1975 she earned a B.A. in comparative literature from the University of California, Berkeley. In 1979 she earned a M.A. in comp ...

* Gloria E. Anzaldúa * Ana Castillo *

Lorna Dee Cervantes Lorna Dee Cervantes (born August 6, 1954) is an American poet and activist, who is considered one of the greatest figures in Chicano poetry. She has been described by Alurista, as "probably the best Chicana poet active today." Early life C ...

Sandra Cisneros Sandra Cisneros (born December 20, 1954) is an American writer. She is best known for her first novel, ''The House on Mango Street'' (1983), and her subsequent short story collection, '' Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories'' (1991). Her work e ...

Carlos Cumpian Carlos may refer to: Places ;Canada * Carlos, Alberta, a locality ;United States * Carlos, Indiana, an unincorporated community * Carlos, Maryland, a place in Allegany County * Carlos, Minnesota, a small city * Carlos, West Virginia ;Elsewhe ...

* Ray Gonzalez * Daniel Olivas *

* Juan Felipe Herrera *

Javier O. Huerta Javier O. Huerta is a Mexican American and Chicano poet. His first book ''Some Clarifications y otros poemas'' (Arte Publico 2007) was awarded the Chicano/Latino Literary Prize from the University of California at Irvine. Personal background H ...

* Tino Villanueva

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chicano Poetry American poetry Mexican-American literature Chicano literature