Cherry Moraga gives an account to the Latin Americans, sharing their experience while living in America. In the poem “The Welder”, the poet talks about how the American culture and ideology have been assimilated by Latinos living in America. The Latinos in America have faced different immigration issues, depending on whether they are assimilated, or not. Moraga says that she is interested in the issue of blending and trying to make it a common element that is acceptable for all Americans. What she actually talks about is the issue of assimilation in terms of blending. If we examine her words, she is talking on behalf of all Latinos who are living in America. In the third stanza, the poet talks about all Latinos coming from the same rock, whereas the rock is the symbol of cultural practices present in the Spanish land. Though this has blended in a different meaning, i.e., they are being assimilated according to the different interests.
“The Man on Jesus Street Dreaming” captures the main story, by addressing the death that will take place in the foreign land. At times, Latin Americans were facing natural calamities that led to death through bleeding. Leroy Quintana talks about things that occurred while he was in the Vietnam War. This has lead Martinez to witness his friend to almost bleed to death. In such a situation where you have no family member around and you are forced to depend on the help from friends that they can offer you. Martinez says he tried calling home in Peru to inform his parents about what he was experiencing in Cambodia, and that living in a foreign country has brought challenges for him. The author came out by writing down the issues that Latin soldiers were experiencing in the Vietnam War. The author talks about how a Latin soldier was left behind in the war because he missed a flight that he could fly in.
The poem “American” displays the fusion of a Puerto Rican who is living in America, and experiencing a mix culture, where the main thing addressed is Cablinasian. The poet talks about reaffirming with more than one culture and still he wishes to maintain the status quo of American. He mentioned that Pedro Flores a Puerto Rican was living in New York City. The author embraces the term American and recognizes the ancestries of the Puerto Rican. The poem reveals the impossible things that are attached in more than one way. Despite living in America for more than ten years, the culture of birth still influences the Puerto Rican in America. In his conclusion, Laviera says that Latin’s still drop all the foreign culture they have adopted and maintain their original cultural practices.
In somewhere outside doc pho, the issue the poet addresses is the presence of Latin’s in Vietnam, while the government of America has done little to provide safety to them. The poem talks about the spirit of Mexican pulled towards the Vietnam War, by defending on the United States, i.e., the American government has ignored their contribution in the Vietnam War. The author has addressed the important point of immigrants, such as Mexicans, living in Vietnam and what they have faced after the war. The poet perceived inequality by the government of America that has failed to provide a good life for Mexican soldiers who participated in the war. Adding to this, the author is keen to address the issue of patriotism of Mexican people that was showed during the war.
References
Latino Stories: Latino Literature, Latino Film, Latino Authors, and Hispanic Heritage Resources. (n.d.)
Quintana, Leroy. V. (n.d.) La Promesa and Other Stories. Free Online Library.
The Welder. (n.d.)
WordPress.com. (n.d.)
