Throughout the literature children are exposed to in this unit, a number of recurring themes present themselves. Recognition of these themes is an important step in achieving a clearer understanding and appreciation of Hispanic/Latino culture and history, this unit's goal. In order to help pupils focus on these themes, the teacher needs to be aware to their presence. I will list a four I believe to be important.
-
1.
A Connection to "Home"
: In varying degrees, most selections in this unit show the connection that characters feel to the area from which they or their ancestors emigrated. Not all feelings are positive, some are not; most are mixed.
In
When I Was Puerto Rican
, by Esmeralda Santiago, we see the negative side of a rather chaotic childhood mixed with the love and understanding Santiago found in rural Puerto Rico. In contrast, the parents in Eve Bunting's
Going Home
seem to have an almost mystical connection to their early life in Mexico. In both
That Bad Carlos
and
Santiago
, the central characters relinquish some of their ties to their homeland for the challenges and excitement of a new life. This quest for the "opportunities" that originally lured most Hispanics/Latinos to the United States occurs throughout most listed readings.
-
2.
Language
: Since all suggested stories are written in English, many pupils will not immediately realize that most characters are speaking, at least part of the time, in Spanish. This needs to be made clear to pupils so that they may appreciate the obstacles which this language barrier has presented to most Hispanics/Latinos. Hopefully they will also recognize the strengths which this initial barrier has helped to foster: a unity among Spanish-speaking people, a need and desire to learn, and the value of being able to use two languages.
Despite their daughter's attempts to teach them, the parents in Going Home speak only Spanish. Carlos in
That Bad Carlos
immediately sets out to master his English lessons. Illustrating a negative effect which the dominant culture can have upon Spanish speaking people, Lincoln and his mother, in Gary Soto's
Taking Sides
, find that their Spanish is getting worse and they are using English even at home since they have moved into a more affluent community.
Most authors have taken a somewhat bilingual approach to writing their works. Though the story is largely written in English, at appropriate times Spanish is inserted. Sometimes there is an explanation within the context, but sometimes there is not. Many books include a brief Spanish-English glossary.
In a related activity, the class will take time to examine some Spanish words and phrases which have entered the English language. Adios, amigo, casa, mosquito, sombrero, loco, junta, hacienda, and macho are but a few. A longer list of suggestions appears toward the end of the unit.
-
3.
Prejudice
: In many books for young children, the issue of prejudice against Hispanic/Latino people is not dealt with in a very direct manner, but it can be found. Though the events in
That Bad Carlos
and
Santiago
take place in what appear to be two isolated Spanish-speaking communities, no mention is made of the fact that these communities appear to have been isolated by the workings of prejudice. The works of Gary Soto geared toward slightly older children show both ethnic and social prejudice. In
The Pool Party
, Rudy's sister Estela is ashamed when she must accompany her family to the home of stuck-up Mindy to do some gardening work for Mindy's family. Mindy lives up to her reputation and then displays shock that Rudy has been invited to a pool party given by a well-to-do classmate. In
Taking Sides
, as Lincoln struggles with his loyalties to his new suburban, white friends and his Hispanic buddies back at Franklin, he encounters his coach's prejudice against Puerto Ricans.
More direct references to prejudice can be found in a number of the stories listed in the bibliography. In
When I Was Puerto Rican
, Esmeralda Santiago's account of United States efforts to feed and improve the hygiene of Puerto Rico around election time are both humorous and sad. The ignorance and disregard shown toward the people of Macun soon erases the humor.
Hispanic, Female, and Young: An Anthology
devotes a section to poems and short stories on prejudice. In
Juanita Fights the School Board
, the issue of prejudice is present throughout the book, ranging from the school faculty and school board to the people who stare when they see a group of Chicano and African American teens together at a mall. (More details and ideas for dealing with the issues presented in this book can be found in the Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute files under another unit I have written: 95.04.08)
-
4.
The Importance of Family, Church, and Community
: Since aspects of this theme are found in all selections listed with this unit, I will omit any specific references. However, the unifying and sustaining influence of these interrelated factors in Hispanic/Latino life needs to be stressed. An interesting investigation and discussion might compare and contrast these three areas of life with the same areas in African-American life, bringing out the similarities and uniqueness of each, for they have and continue to help sustain both groups through times of great stress.
