Que Onda Urban Youth Culture and Border Identity by Cynthia L. Bejarano - Book Report/Review Example

Que Onda? Urban Youth Culture and Border Identity First published in 2005, Que Onda? Urban Youth Culture and Border Identity has been created by contemporary era Mexican professor and feminist writer Cynthia L. Bejarano. The book serves as a comparative analysis of the traits and customs observed by the people belonging to divergent ethnic and racial groups and communities residing in the USA. The author elucidates the Mexican culture by special focus on the urban youth in order to make a comparative analysis of that culture with the US and Chicano norms, values and traditions. Based on an in-depth investigation of the Mexican cultural traits, the work demonstrates the brilliance and command of the author over human thoughts and psychology on the one side, and activities and interests the individuals belonging to various ethno-racial groups observe on the other. Thus, Bejarano has skillfully elaborated the problems faced by various ethno-racial communities in respect of their identities and traditions while living in a multi-cultural country and interacting the people belonging to many cultural and social groups. The Mexican youth, according to Bejarano (2007 4), represents the distinguished historical heritage attributed to their traditional civilization. The author views schools and educational institutions to be one of the most astounding reflections of the culture as well as the developments being made within a social structure (4-5). It is particularly the case with the immigrant ethno-racial groups, which make an impressive presentation of the cultural background as well as the social positioning they belong to. The minority racial and ethnic groups, according to the author, adopt several things from the mainstream culture through assimilation and interaction with others. However, an imperative majority of them do not give up the customs and values have been attributed to their forefathers. It is equally the case with the Latinos, Mexicans, Indians, African Americans and Asians at large. It is therefore the age-old minority groups residing in the USA for the last many decades share various traits with the newly migrated minority groups belonging to their race and ethnicity (Wilson & Gutierrez 1995 2). It is partly because of the influx of immigrants to the USA by the last decade of twentieth century, where the US administrations supported and promoted immigration in order to invite the brilliant and educated individuals to their country from all corners of the globe at large (Bejarano 23). Modern US historian Marcus Hansen has articulated his principle of third generation interest, where he submits to state that the third generations of the immigrant communities develop in their eyes the dreams of returning to the indigenous land of their ancestors instead of living in the country they are born and are citizen of (Lyman 1995 129). The famous Harlem literary movement launched by the African Americans during nineteenth and twentieth centuries endorses the same view articulated by Hansen. Bejarano (11) has discussed social capital and the development of relationships between the immigrants and the indigenous people on the one hand, and between the immigrants belonging to two or more different regions and origins on the other. Since the individuals preceding the USA from two different nationalities appear to be sharing similar situation of acculturation and assimilations, the development of relationships between them is more likely than that of the same with the members of native populations. Somehow, the situation varies from one person to the other because of the other factors including race, ethnicity, religion, political positions and socioeconomic statuses of the individuals (13-14). For instance, the Arabs and Israelites seldom become close friends while interacting with one another in any area or land of the globe at large. Since some of the immigrants obtain warm reception in the USA, on the basis of their country and relations with the USA, their assimilation process maintains positive experiences. Somehow, citizens belonging to the countries had been political rival to the USA witness some cold welcome and reception at schools. It is particularly the case with the Vietnamese, Japanese and others on the one hand, and the poor developing countries of Asia and Africa on the other (12). The author (22) points out towards the identity problems faced by the Mexicans-Americans, Chicanos and Latin-Americans particularly by the authorities belonging to both the borders of the states. The inquiries made by the authorities are made because of the appearance, dresses, gestures and acts associated with the Latinos and Mexicans. Hence, US-Mexican border serves as the boundary line that separates the first world from the third world. The author has alluded to the border theory, which encompasses language, culture, values and mores as well as individual and collective border experiences observed by the people within its fast fold. It is equally applied to the Mexicans and Latinos predominantly in respect of their identity and status beyond the respective borders. Consequently, identity politics plays decisive role in respect of the reception obtained by the Mexican and Latino students (25-26). Bejarano laments on the pathetic and unfavorable state of affairs the Mexican and Latino immigrants have to face, where they have to make very hard efforts during the course of acculturation due to the very reality that they aptly undergo prejudice at the hands of the indigenous white population because of their ethnicity and skin color (29-31). Hence, the Spanish language, accent and dialects also turn out to be imperative hurdles for these immigrant races while seeking admission and obtaining education at schools predominantly occupied and administered by the white population. The hatred and bias demonstrated by the White Anglo Saxon Protestants (WASP) towards the Mexican and Latino youth appears to be deteriorating one in respect of increasing nationalism and collectivism within the US boundaries. Since the majority racial group looks down upon these minority races having dark skin and Spanish accent, the young second generation of the third world Latin Americans immigrants feel themselves to be aliens in their own country (35-38). Consequently, not only this that the confidence level of the Mexicans experiences a formidable setback, but also these minority races appear to be determined for returning to the lands of their ancestors eventually (40-42). The US authorities had introduced immigration scheme for the first and third world citizens during the second quarter of previous century along with devising national origins system, with the view of determining the immigration quota specified for the minority races. It not only allows the foreigners to enter in the USA through legal process, but also does not let any non-white community to exceed the limit specified for the white Americans (77-81). As a result, the Mexican, Chicano and Latino youth remains in minority forever, which certainly leaves a negative impact on the youth seeking education in schools as well as rendering their services at various professions and positions in general (62-63). Another formidable obstacle faced by the youth coming of the minority cultures includes the discriminatory behavior of the native white people of America in public places and social sectors because of their having majority in almost all parts of the country. The medium of coaching at school level is certainly English, which does not allow any other medium to the people belonging to other origins. Consequently, the foreigners appear to be lagging far behind from the American citizens in education and learning (97-99). The Mexican and Latino youth are not only ridiculed by the native students because of their language and communication deficiencies, but also are taunted and jeered for their complexion and poor origin (180-83). It not only turns out to be hurtful for the minority groups, but also feelings of insecurity and degradation haunt their minds to a great extent. It is therefore, they take the decisions made by their parents and/or ancestors in respect of migrating from their indigenous land to be incorrect one, which has not only disconnected them from their real culture and civilization, but also have dragged them far away from the people of their own origin and ethno-racial background (188-90). In addition, denial of obtaining opportunities on the foundations of justice and equality also appears to be unpleasant, spiteful and upsetting for the Latinos. It is particularly the case with the students of Mexican and Latino origins travelling through the public transports including buses and trains (202-03). The Mexicans, imitating the Chicano traditions they have learned at home look contradictory to the ones prevalent in the mainstream culture (152-55). Somehow, their participation in the dance, music and other recreational and fun-making activities make them forgetful of the cultural traits they belong to. The same is equally applied to the food and cuisine on the one side, and dresses and fashion on the other. Thus, they remain hanging between two cultures quite divergent to one another in nature and scope, resulting into creating the sense of alienation as well as shaking their confidence and growth level. Hence, the writer has successfully elucidated the challenges faced by the Mexican and Latino youth in the wake of the immigration observed by the elders to the USA by surrendering their indigenous nationality and culture in the pursuit of superior job, employment, business, health and education prospective, though the same experience has turned out to be unpleasant one for their next generation, who appear to be leading the life equivalent to the aliens in the multicultural country i.e. the USA. Works Cited Bejarano, Cynthia L. Que Onda? Urban Youth Culture and Border Identity University of Arizona Press 2007 Print Lyman, Stanford M. Color, Culture, Civilization: Race and Minority Issues in American Society University of Illinois Press, 1995 Print Wilson, Clint C., & Gutierrez, Felix Race, Multiculturalism and the Media: From Mass to Class Communication Sage Publications 1995 Print Read More