latino literature, language, and culture midterm

Intra-latino

refers to interactions, encounters, and relationships among Latinxs of different national origins within the U.S. It emphasizes the heterogeneity within Latinidad, foregrounding tensions, negotiations, conflicts, and transformations that happen inside the Latino community itself (for example, Chicanos and Puerto Ricans in Chicago). Frances Aparicio prefers "intra" (within) rather than "inter" because it highlights diversity and complexity inside the umbrella term Latino/a.

Chican@/Xican@/Chicanx/Xicanx

These are politically charged identity terms rooted in the Chicano Movement. Chicano: Reflects awareness of oppression, racism, and social inequality, signals resistance to assimilation into U.S. culture, privileges Indigenous Mexican roots over Spain's colonial roots, can resist the umbrella term "Latino" when it erases regionally specific struggles. Chican@ / Chicanx / Xicanx: developed to challenge gender binaries and androcentrism the "x" resists symbolic violence and oppression and draws from Chicana feminist thought, "Xicanx" also connects to Indigenous roots and decolonial thinking. these variations reflect evolving political, gender-inclusive, and decolonial identity practices.

1846-1848

This refers to the Mexican-American War, which ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (February 2, 1848). As a result: Mexico lost a vast portion of its northern territory to the United States, The U.S. paid $15 million in compensation, Mexicans living in the annexed territories became "foreigners in their own land". This moment is foundational to understanding Mexican American identity and Latinidad in the U.S.

Pan-ethnicity

refers to the construction of a broader collective identity that groups together diverse national origins under one ethnic category (e.g., Latino). It implies: Ethnic totality, solidarity based on shared experiences of marginalization, discrimination, and inequality and a strategic political tool. The idea of Latino dates back to the 19th century and was articulated by thinkers like José Martí

Tropicalization

refers to the way Latinidad is constructed—both from outside and sometimes from within—through stereotypes of: Sexuality, Passion, "Spice" or picardía. It portrays Latinos as exoticized and objectified "foreign others"

Transnationalism

refers to the experience of living across multiple nations and maintaining ties to one's country of origin while living in the United States. Suggests a hemispheric Latinidad that de-emphasizes national borders, recognizes ongoing connections through family, culture, economics, politics, and migration. However, it is shaped by limiting factors such as: Immigration status, Economic conditions, Ability (or inability) to return to the country of origin

Domestic transnationalism

When immigrants living in a new country maintain strong ties to their home country through things like sending money, voting abroad, or joining cultural organizations. Essentially, they reside in one country but maintain active connections to another.

Latinidad

The shared sense of identity, culture, and community among Latin American people, despite their many differences in nationality, race, and background. It's the idea that Latinos share a common bond, through language, history, and experience, even though a Mexican, a Cuban, and a Puerto Rican may have very little else in common.

Hispanic/Latino/LatinX/Latin

Hispanic = Spanish-speaking heritage (includes Spain, excludes Brazil); Latino/a = Latin American origin (includes Brazil, excludes Spain); Latinx = gender-neutral U.S. term, controversial; Latin = broadest, least precise, all are debated because they flatten the huge diversity of race, nationality, and colonial history across the diaspora.

Mariano Vallejo

was a California-born Mexican military leader and landowner who, after the U.S. takeover of California, chose to cooperate with American rule. Only to have his land and power stripped away anyway, making him a symbol of how Californios (Mexican Californians) were marginalized despite assimilation.

Decolonial thinking

A framework that challenges the lasting political, cultural, and intellectual legacies of colonialism, arguing that Western knowledge and power structures continue to oppress formerly colonized peoples even after independence.

Transculturation

It describes how colonized cultures don't just passively absorb the dominant culture but create something new by blending both. A two-way, creative cultural exchange rather than simple assimilation.

Hegemony

refers to the political, economic, or cultural dominance of one group over another.

"Spanglish National Anthem"

was written by Pedro Pietri in 1993 and serves as a literary element to demonstrate the in-betweenness that Puerto Ricans living in New York feel as they struggle with whether to assimilate, maintain their identity, or live in the gray area between the two cultures. In it, he establishes a relationship to space (Puerto Rico vs. el barrio), a relationship to his homeland (Viejo San Juan en Puerto Rico), chronicling the reality of this in-betweenness and his response. He expresses a determination to return to Puerto Rico while acknowledging the challenges and nuances of life in Puerto Rico and life in America.

"Graduation Speech"

was written by Tato Laviera is another literary expression of the in-between that many Latinos exist in, with specific attention to language barriers. When Laviera writes "i think in Spanish/i write in English", the reader understands the bicultural tensions that exist, especially in institutions, such as universities or schools that primarily function in English.

The Sleeping Giant

Cristina Beltràn introduces the idea of the blank" which refers to Latinos as being the largest minority group that has the potential to have incredible political, societal, and voting power but due to passivity is difficult to mobilize . This idea creates a political cliche that all Latinos vote in the same manner as a collective ethnic bloc and argues that there is greater empowerment if they function as a united community. Beltrán argues that there is no such sleeping giant, rather there are political subjects whose actions and perspectives are hindered by this limited vision of Latino empowerment.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

The Treaty ended the Mexican American War in 1848 and forced Mexico to cede 55% of its territory to the U.S. for $15 million. This would include parts of modern-day California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona.

Nuyorican Poets Café

Nuyorican is a term used to refer to Puerto Ricans in NY that was first used in 1964 by the poet Jamie Carrero as a symbol of cultural and national identity and pride. Originated with the movement and was founded by Miguel Algarin and Miguel Pinero in 1973 in the Lower East Side of NY as a place of shared community and identity amidst economic struggles of urban areas and changing demographics and negotiations of Nuyoricans.

Intersectionality

The combination of several factors that make up one's identity, including intersections of language (primarily English and Spanish), and intersections of sexuality in a traditional, patriarchal society

Latinx often suffer with negative effects of it since their intersecting identities (Latinx and American) often encourage contradictory ideals and practices

"The Case for Latinx. Why Intersectionality is Not a Choice"

Deconstruction of patriarchal and repressive attitudes, claims, and arguments against inclusion of minority groups and the basis for Latinx studies

Challenges people's own perceptions of their own privileges and encourages empathy for minority Latinx groups that face consistent political and societal oppression, especially when considering the concept of whiteness among Latinx people and the LGBTQ repression inherent in many Latinx communities

Chicano Movement

Civil rights movement to recogn\ize and bring social and political justice for Chicanos, specifically in California.

Was spearheaded by Cesar Chavez and his advocacy for farmers rights, but the movement went beyond just economic means.

"Colando-ing"

Process of code-switching, more specifically in the context of Latinx studies

Used as a survival mechanism in a hostile United States, usually adhering to hierarchical racism and national stereotypes to elevate or repress a part of one's identity to receive some social, economic, or political benefit

Heteronormativity

The process of enforcing the normalized sexual and gendered structures in society while repressing expressions of identities outside the norm

Often leads to repression of Latinx transgender individuals who have historically been repressed and discouraged by patriarchal Latinx (and general societal) structures

LGBTQ movements have attempted to challenge , but still looked down upon by conservative structures in Latinx society

"Metamorphosis"

Poem about the plantain ripening and becoming alone in new world.

Utilizes Spanglish as a way to reinforce message of Latinx experience in the United States, especially in an industrialized city.