SPAN 308: Reflective Narrative
This was my first course online in CSUMB. The topic was really interesting because it suggested that we would explore the Southwest of the United States and identify the sub culture that has flourished there.
Aztlán was an imaginary city that, according to the Aztecs legends, was the home of the Mexicas before they traveled to Tenochtitlan, which was the land that the gods promised them. We discussed about this legend, and discovered that Aztlán was a city established at the north of Mexico, perhaps in states that are now part of the United States.
The course continued in a common root. History tells us that before the United States invasion of Mexico, many of the actual states of the modern US belonged to Mexico. Then our first works were to discover the first explorers and conquerors of the Southwest of the United States (that during that time was the Northwest of Mexico). This travel took us to explore the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Because these states were part of Mexico, we also talked about Mexican independence and how the government of Mexico was not much concerned about the peripheries, especially in the north.
Our course took us to explore the situation in Texas and how the United States, guided by the Manifest Destiny decided to take part of Mexico. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was the President of Mexico during that time, and we talked about the very well-known battle of El Alamo with David Crocket and James Bowie. Once we learned how the United States took many states of the north of Mexico, we discussed the situation of the Mexican residents and their options to stay or leave.
Then our course took another dimension. We started learning about the culture of the people who had Mexican heritage and decided to stay in the United States. We learned about some subcultures that appeared during the 20th century, such as the Zoot Suit (Pachucos), and the Chicano movement. We also learned about social movements to improve field workers’ conditions led by Cesar Chavez, and many other cultural movements that establish the Chicano culture in the United States. We learned that Chicanos are always in the middle of two countries; they never deny their Mexican heritage but are familiar with the United States culture. Also, we discovered that many of the traditions from Mexican culture are celebrated by Chicanos, especially “Cinco de Mayo,” which is a festivity that emphasizes the Mexican heritage.
This is a great course to be familiar with the life style of Mexican American people, who contribute to this country in many ways (cultural, economic, and traditional), and who are also proud of their Mexican roots.
Aztlán was an imaginary city that, according to the Aztecs legends, was the home of the Mexicas before they traveled to Tenochtitlan, which was the land that the gods promised them. We discussed about this legend, and discovered that Aztlán was a city established at the north of Mexico, perhaps in states that are now part of the United States.
The course continued in a common root. History tells us that before the United States invasion of Mexico, many of the actual states of the modern US belonged to Mexico. Then our first works were to discover the first explorers and conquerors of the Southwest of the United States (that during that time was the Northwest of Mexico). This travel took us to explore the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Because these states were part of Mexico, we also talked about Mexican independence and how the government of Mexico was not much concerned about the peripheries, especially in the north.
Our course took us to explore the situation in Texas and how the United States, guided by the Manifest Destiny decided to take part of Mexico. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was the President of Mexico during that time, and we talked about the very well-known battle of El Alamo with David Crocket and James Bowie. Once we learned how the United States took many states of the north of Mexico, we discussed the situation of the Mexican residents and their options to stay or leave.
Then our course took another dimension. We started learning about the culture of the people who had Mexican heritage and decided to stay in the United States. We learned about some subcultures that appeared during the 20th century, such as the Zoot Suit (Pachucos), and the Chicano movement. We also learned about social movements to improve field workers’ conditions led by Cesar Chavez, and many other cultural movements that establish the Chicano culture in the United States. We learned that Chicanos are always in the middle of two countries; they never deny their Mexican heritage but are familiar with the United States culture. Also, we discovered that many of the traditions from Mexican culture are celebrated by Chicanos, especially “Cinco de Mayo,” which is a festivity that emphasizes the Mexican heritage.
This is a great course to be familiar with the life style of Mexican American people, who contribute to this country in many ways (cultural, economic, and traditional), and who are also proud of their Mexican roots.
history_culture_aztlán.pdf | |
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