Garcia Gonzalez

Oscar Garcia Gonzalez

Professor Rebecca Lawson
English 115
12 December 2014
Essay One Final Draft
Word Count: 1241
Battle of Two Words
Identity: the basis of human understanding of whom we are. All humans share one value
in common: we all have an idea of who we are. We humans also share a common difference: not
a single one of us are identically the same. One particular culture that specifically fits the
statement, are the children of immigrants. As children of immigrants, we clash trying to adopt
American culture, but meanwhile acknowledging our different histories and backgrounds. One
specific subculture based off children of immigrants, and the one that I fall into, are Chicanos;
we Chicanos share similar traditions and morals, yet we recognize those traditions in different
perspectives that transform us into individuals, which at one point, separates us from our
subculture.
Being Chicano has plenty of benefits in the perspective of Anglo Americans. For
example, being Chicano comes with the benefit of being bilingual. We speak both Spanish and
English, and despite the casual lack of fluency, we are able to communicate efficiently from a
young age to our parents in their native language. I say native only because there are still a few
dialects that are not classified as popular Spanish. Then in about the time span of a year, we
are able to learn a second, complex and completely new language, English. English, eventually
becomes our native language, and unless we do not appreciate our history, it becomes our only

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language. Despite that, we are able to translate efficiently both languages as well, whether it be
English to our parents, or Spanish to our teachers in elementary school.
Anglo Americans point out another benefit of being Chicano, which is the fact that we
get the best of two cultures. We get to experience the traditions of our Mexican background,
while still taking part of American traditions. For example, the two-clich examples of traditions
are celebrating the Fourth of July, and el Cinco de Mayo. During el Cinco de Mayo, we Chicanos
benefit from celebrating in the stereotypical tradition of breaking piatas, while eating tamales
and enchiladas. After, on the Fourth of July, we Chicanos, with a little Hispanic twist, participate
in our American culture by watching a couple, or hundreds, of legal or illegal fireworks.
However, being Chicano has its drawbacks as well. To a certain degree, there are more
drawbacks than there are benefits, only because we struggle with the balance of fitting in. For
example, relating back the to benefit of being bilingual, harsh difficulties arise from being
bilingual that are not recognized, such as: lacking the ability to master one language, or having a
bothersome accent, or worse, preferring one language over the other. Having accents, or lacking
comprehension, creates troubles that later arise in our current society. Also, most Chicanos, are
born with the knowledge of speaking Spanish, but as time progresses, we begin to learn another
language, English; and eventually we either forget how to speak Spanish, or we adopt a Pocho
accent. Pocho refers to the Mexican point of view on speaking Spanish with an accent the way
Americans categorize an Indian immigrant speaking English.
Another disadvantage that comes along with being Chicano, relates back to benefiting
from two different cultures. It is understandable, we get the best of two worlds, but then again,
we Chicanos have to struggle with the balance of life at home and with friends. In other words,
we want to live the life of our Americanized friends, but still keep our old fashioned parents

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satisfied. That also brings along complications: our old fashioned parents. Our parents are
blinded by neglects of wanting to accustom to a different countrys way of living life in a way
society refers to as, lavishly, well at least in my household it seems that way.
Overall, even though my parents have neglected a few of my Americanized dreams of
having the latest video games and smartphones, it still has made me a better person in my
opinion. In other words, the way my mom brought me up opened my eyes to a different world.
Growing up with a single Mexican mother taught me how to be independent but still
acknowledge the world around me. My mom fits the stereotype of a typical Mexican immigrant:
she is a dedicated worker when she can, and she spends her money wisely on necessities rather
than the American way of spending unavailable money on technology and other lavish items.
In general, one categorizes Mexicans as being cheap and hard workers, and for the most
part the stereotype is true, and because I am Chicano, I tend to recognize that issue. I feel that
because Im different, I can see the brutality of stereotyping. In other words, I feel that the way
Mexicans are characterized is along with other stereotypes, idiotic. I personally recognize the
basis of stereotypes, but I dont express them, meaning that I dont treat them based on what the
stereotype states. Instead, I prefer to treat all ethnicities, whether itd be African-Americans,
Indian-Americans, Saudi-Arabians, the same regardless of the stereotype placed upon them. I
dont think it is fair that ethnicities be prejudiced against one another, I feel we should keep to
ourselves and focus on keeping our own traditions alive.
Throughout my short life, I have witnessed various accounts of stereotyping ranging from
a slight case of teasing, to the extreme where a simple argument ended in fists being flung. Being
Chicano has opened me up to a cruel world of which I am ashamed of being a part of; but seeing
the opportunities around me, has influenced me to want to help out the little I can. For example,

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in my senior year of high school, a group of friends and I noticed a big flaw that we lacked
throughout our high school careers. We noticed how adult figures never explained to us what
would happen if we lacked academic excellency, and from that we decided to reach out to the
rest of the school. My friends and I decided to speak to the entire ninth grade class in an effort to
emphasize the importance of grades and attendance, which later expanded to speaking to the rest
of the underclassmen. In general my point is that, I feel that if I were Anglo-American, or
white, I wouldnt care as much as I do; I would be more apathetic and let the rest of the
students go through the same troubles I did, but once again I secede back to stereotyping.
Overall, I classify identity as the action of falling into a certain stereotype. We either can
categorize ourselves by the types of foods we eat, or by the way we talk, but I feel that because I
am Chicano, and tend to be stereotyped, it is acceptable for me to characterize other individuals
identities. On the contrary, I prefer to characterize being Chicano, or any other subculture, like
the way my Speech Communications 151 Professor Jesse Valadez states, Defining what it
means to be Chicano is like defining the word love, we all know what is and can give
examples, but when asked to give a definition, we all have a different answer. In other words,
based on my professors quote, no individual has the right to declare his or her judgment true
when it comes to another individuals identity.