Latinx Studies Discussion

               - NBC Latino/ IBOPE Zogby Survey               This week in class we wrote about the significance of Latinx Studies in Schools. It made me think about what exactly Latinx Studies means to me. Latinx Studies is something that I enjoy, it is relatable, the struggles Latinx people have faced in the U.S. and continue to, are the same struggles my family and I have faced. I grew up in a community which was heavily populated with Latinx individuals. I have seen the struggles of family friends needing a car to go to work but not being able to get a license because they are undocumented. I have witnessed from experience American citizens exploit undocumented workers. Just two months ago, while sitting in a worker’s compensation court, I witnessed something that baffled me. A man who had just arrived from Latin America, got referred to work for an American. He got picked up at the worker’s meeting po...

                              This week’s reading made me reflect on how divided we became because of these borders. In the story “Borderlands”, by Anzalduas, she metnions how the American basically took land from some of the Chicano indigenous tribes causing them to eventually live in fear of deportation to Mexico. Thus, resulting in these indigenous people having to live in cities they have never been to because their tribes had always been located in the north of Mexico. This part of their land was colonized By Americans, who were now deporting these indigenous people to places they have never been to. I keep repeating that part because it’s not resonating with me yet. This border that was created broke people and communities apart. This forced the indigenous people to have to identify as something they were not. I feel as though once their land was taken, they lost their nationality and home...

                            The story “Spit & Passion”, by Cristy Road both demonstrated and illustrated true emotions. I love that the story was uncensored because it allowed the readers to feel these emotions she was feeling. As humans we don’t always censor our emotions. Therefore, this story is the perfect and most accurate depiction of a teenagers’ true emotions, mentality, and suffering. It also gave us a better understanding of how she was feeling during her childhood, which allowed us to sympathize with her suffering. I could literally feel her anxiety, suffering, and loneliness as reading. Also, I love the art and illustrations in the book. In most books’ readers are left to picture their own scenarios, creating their own interpretations of what the author is trying to convey. However, in this book, the illustrations already do that for us. Questions for the author Cristy Road: Wha...

Out of the readings assigned this week, the essay about Aids and the article “ Young Lords Seize Lincoln Hospital Building”, stuck out to me the most. In the essay by Carlos Ulises Decena, he indicated that the HIV/AIDS epidemic has shifted drastically towards Latinx individuals and African Americans in the United States. It makes me feel like it’s unfair that individuals who are not part of the majority race in the United States don’t get equal treatment in the healthcare system. They are not provided with the same services. Hospitals in Latinx communities do not compare to hospitals and health clinics in suburban communities. Also, it is undeniable that patients who are Latinx get treated differently than those who are White. This statement is also based on personal experience. It’s almost as if there is a stereotype on Latinx individuals that prevent them from getting the proper care they need. For example, I know two people that went to the doctor for the same medical reason. T...