Students are not required to take ethnic studies classes (Mexican American studies, Asian-Pacific American studies, African American studies, Native American studies), they have the option to choose those classes instead of a mainstream US history class and still get credit that goes towards their graduation. Mexican American, Native American, African American, Asian-Pacific American history is US history. But who writes the “general” history? Unfortunately due to structural and historical racism, sexism, xenophobia, etc. certain aspects of history are left out in mainstream history by those in power who write it, which glorifies those who have forcefully taken control of the land and does not do justice to the marginalized groups that have been colonized and/or instrumental in the creation of the nation-state.
Prohibiting communities from learning their local history and culture and the contribution they have had in local, regional, and global history in their own schools, is enforcing an outsider perspective as the “correct” norm. When people say Mexican American studies is non-American, that it’s non-American to take a critical look at our country’s power structure, our government, and the oppressive aspects of our history…..what is the definition they are using for “American”?? How different is this struggle from when slaves were prohibited in practicing their own religion, language, and culture and forced to adapt the slave owners’ Western European culture, names, and language? Or from when Native American youth were forced into boarding schools, to cut their hair, to speak only English, and wear Western European-style clothes?
So what is this definition of “American” that we are imposing on our children here in the borderlands where there has been a much longer history of Mayo Yoeme, Tohono O’odham, Apache, other Native groups, and mestizo groups? Mexican-Americans along with other ethnicities have been a crucial part of US, especially Southwestern history; why are there so many people in the general public who do not recognize this or think it’s “American”? Well perhaps, like me, the Mexican-American story was not given full attention in their history and literature classes. Ethnic and gender studies promote recognition and appreciation of our nation’s diversity.
So remember ethnic studies is not teaching Mexican history, but Mexican-American history. Not to say that our educational system shouldn’t also have a more global view, but thats another discussion.
Finally, this debate has brought many to misrepresent solidarity (defined as: unity that produces or is based on community of interests, objectives, and standards) as something dangerous and anti-american. Well solidarity is necessary for a democracy to work. Democracy calls for equality and end to marginalization. Do not tell me that being politically active and community organizing is not democratic, how is a truly representational democracy supposed to work without a means for a community to strongly express its voice.
Why is solidarity important? Well maybe you’ll like this innovation to a quote that is said many times but in its original manner does not recognize historical and current realities:
“If you give me a fish you have fed me for a day. If you teach me to fish you have fed me until the river is contaminated or the shoreline seized for development. But if you teach me how to organize, then whatever the challenge I can join together with my peers and we will fashion our own solution.”
Is what I’ve written anti-American, “revolutionary”? Yes it does criticize our current power political and social structure. But is that un-American? And if so, why?
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Prohibiting communities from learning their local history and culture and the contribution they have had in local, regional, and global history in their own schools, is enforcing an outsider perspective as the “correct” norm. When people say Mexican American studies is non-American, that it’s non-American to take a critical look at our country’s power structure, our government, and the oppressive aspects of our history…..what is the definition they are using for “American”?? How different is this struggle from when slaves were prohibited in practicing their own religion, language, and culture and forced to adapt the slave owners’ Western European culture, names, and language? Or from when Native American youth were forced into boarding schools, to cut their hair, to speak only English, and wear Western European-style clothes?
So what is this definition of “American” that we are imposing on our children here in the borderlands where there has been a much longer history of Mayo Yoeme, Tohono O’odham, Apache, other Native groups, and mestizo groups? Mexican-Americans along with other ethnicities have been a crucial part of US, especially Southwestern history; why are there so many people in the general public who do not recognize this or think it’s “American”? Well perhaps, like me, the Mexican-American story was not given full attention in their history and literature classes. Ethnic and gender studies promote recognition and appreciation of our nation’s diversity.
So remember ethnic studies is not teaching Mexican history, but Mexican-American history. Not to say that our educational system shouldn’t also have a more global view, but thats another discussion.
Finally, this debate has brought many to misrepresent solidarity (defined as: unity that produces or is based on community of interests, objectives, and standards) as something dangerous and anti-american. Well solidarity is necessary for a democracy to work. Democracy calls for equality and end to marginalization. Do not tell me that being politically active and community organizing is not democratic, how is a truly representational democracy supposed to work without a means for a community to strongly express its voice.
Why is solidarity important? Well maybe you’ll like this innovation to a quote that is said many times but in its original manner does not recognize historical and current realities:
“If you give me a fish you have fed me for a day. If you teach me to fish you have fed me until the river is contaminated or the shoreline seized for development. But if you teach me how to organize, then whatever the challenge I can join together with my peers and we will fashion our own solution.”
Is what I’ve written anti-American, “revolutionary”? Yes it does criticize our current power political and social structure. But is that un-American? And if so, why?