CRITICAL READING ASSIGNMENT#1

Oye Mi Canto/Hear My Song

In my critical reading assignment, I chose to write about two Chicana authors weve
studied throughout this semester to discuss their use of poetry and stories to combat negative
stereotypes. The two Chicana authors I chose to talk about in this paper are Lorna Dee Cervantes
and Pat Mora. First, I will talk about how negative stereotypes perpetuate cycles of racism,
sexism, violence against women, and oppression of the poor in society. Second, I will explain
how individual poems help break such cycles. Then I will go over how negative stereotypes
impact perceptions of self and self-esteem. Finally, I will talk about how poetry helps define and
assert new perceptions of identity.
Negative stereotypes have perpetuated cycles of racism, sexism, violence against women,
and oppression of the poor in society for many years. It has been perpetuated in not only the
Chicano culture but also in African American and Native American cultures just to name a few.
Because of these stereotypes many individuals have been victimized various ways. The Poem
For The Young White Man Who Asked Me How I, An Intelligent, Well-Read Person, Could
Believe In The War Between Races by Lorna Dee Cervantes gives a great example of how Lorna
was victimized through negative stereotypes, Im marked by the color of my skin. The bullets
are discreet and designed to kill slowly. This statement gives a clear sense of racism and
discrimination being experienced by Ms. Cervantes. Although there arent any details as to what
was done or said to her you can feel her hurt and anger in this poem. Racism unfortunately still is
present and is felt by many of us from the Chicano culture. This poem may have been directed to
the white man, however, the sad part is that discrimination is not only felt by the white men

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but also can be felt by our own Mexican race because we are not fully Mexican and not fully
American (Anglo).
These poems serve many purposes, however the most powerful is that it helps break
stereotype cycles. They serve as voices for many people that have been victimized and have
brought awareness and given light to what every day people deal with no matter what race. On a
positive note, it gives readers insight of our beautiful culture, hopefully breaking some
stereotypes. It also, encourages readers of all ages to speak up. They engage the reader so much
that it empowers the reader to take action. In Why I Write, Pat Mora states, I write because I
believe that Hispanics need to take their rightful place in American literature. We need to be
published and to be studied in schools and colleges so that the stories and ideas of our people
won't quietly disappear.
Barriers need to be broken because negative stereotypes have impacted perceptions of
self and self-esteem. The poem Fences from Pat Mora gives a good example, My mother roared
like the ocean, No. No. Its their beach. Its their beach. These lines demonstrate the
differentiation and divide between cultures. This poem shows how the speaker and his/her
mother has been impacted by the stereotypes. There is a feeling of inferiority and undeserving of
the good life because of oppression of the poor and possibly racism and or discrimination. I can
personally say that these negative stereotypes have an influence over how I think of myself,
being a Mexican American woman. I have had mental battles saying to myself; I deserve the best
things in life, I am a woman and I can do is as good as a male, I am Hispanic and I have the
ability to contribute great ideas as well as the majority of Anglo Americans.
The final thing I would like to talk about is how poetry helps define and assert new
perceptions of identity. Poetry gives a sense of empowerment. As stated before, it is a chance for

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people to be heard. The following is one of my favorite lines from Lorna Dee Cervantes
demonstrating her perception of self-identity , Growing up in this mestiza consciousness, I was
constantly told, implicitly and explicitly, all the things I could not do, because I was a girl,
because I was Mexican, because I was this, because I was that. So part of my survival has to do
with doing whatever the hell I want.... Many of the Chicana poetry authors were shy and used
poetry to be heard. Because of the life that was brought to their work and the impact that it had
for many people many of them became advocates and community leaders. In addition, many
received awards.
In summary, I used Pat Mora and Lorna Dee Cervantes work and information and I talked
about how negative stereotypes perpetuate cycles of racism, sexism, violence against women,
and oppression of the poor in society. Secondly, I explained how individual poems help break
such cycles. Then I went over how negative stereotypes impact perceptions of self and selfesteem. Finally, I talked about how poetry helps define and assert new perceptions of identity.

References
Mora, Pat. "Why I am a Writer." The Horn Book Magazine 66.4 (July-Aug. 1990): 436-437. Rpt.
in Children's Literature Review. Ed. Deborah J. Morad. Vol. 58. Detroit: Gale Group,
2000. Literature Resource Center. Web. 25 Feb. 2015.
Mora, Pat, Fences. 1991. Adobe Odes, University of Arizona Press, 2007. Poem reprinted
from Communion, Arte Publico Press, University of Houston, 1991

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