The Unity Between Two Different Poems
Despite living in a world full of hate, racism, violence, oppression, and enslavement people still manage to rise, unite, and persist every day. While some cultures, ethnicity, and groups of people may have had it easier growing up, others have not. In the poems “La Migra” and “23 Reasons Why Mexicanos Can Still Be Found In a Walmart”, both reflect, communicate and celebrate the experience of being Mexican-American despite experiencing some sort of push back from individual people, groups, or society as a whole. Therefore, there is a strong sense of pride and resilience being displayed by Mexicanos in both poems. Each poem uses setting, imagery, and symbolism to get their message across, however, they use these elements differently, but they both come to the conclusion that being Mexicano is something to be proud of no matter what.
Setting: The El Paso Border
Our environment is an external presence that tends to influence what we endure, witness, and experience throughout our days. Some people experience their environment positively while others experience it negatively. Therefore, no two individuals or groups experience their days the same, but that does not mean that each person’s routine of experience with their environment alters. In “La Migra”, you have a Border Patrol agent with a jeep who displays his authority and a Mexican Woman who is a maid that persists against his authority. They come face to face outdoors at the border while it is hot and sunny. Immediately, the cat and mouse game between the two becomes evident. For example, “You be the Border Patrol. I’ll be the Mexican woman. Your jeep has a flat, and you have been spotted by the sun/All you have is heavy: hat, glasses, badge, shoes, gun. I know this desert, where to rest, where to drink/Oh, I am not alone/You hear us singing and laughing with the wind” (Mora 20–32). What the setting exemplifies and symbolizes in this situation is the boundaries/borders, reminders of survival, the power dynamics between the border patrol agent and immigrants, and how the maids group knows the land better because they have been around longer.
“23 Reasons Why Mexicanos Can Still Be Found In a Walmart” also talks about the border, it also discusses Walmart and is narrated from a group of Mexicanos view. The setting in this poem demonstrates a sense of freedom, abundance, privilege and fluidity due the border and the ability to move between borders voluntarily in order to buy, eat, explore and do the things that Mexicanos want to do regardless of anything. For example, “Because we will still sweat into our shoes, jeans, eyes to climb the bridge and say ‘American’/Because we will still pack Sabritas, Bonafont, and bedpan in our cars to wait in line for hours to show our green card/Because we will still cross to Juárez to get tacos, tortas and steaks for the best taste and price/Because we will still lick our fingers before grabbing the wheel to drive back to El Paso” (Varela 5–8). The image above shows the relationship between both poems and its setting, visually demonstrating the experience of immigrants crossing over.
Imagery: “La Raza”
Everything we do and say in life has a vibe attached to it. Depending on the moment and experience will determine how someone or something is experienced by others. In “La Migra”, the language exchanged between the maid and the Border Patrol agent demonstrates the tension between the two. For instance, “All you have is heavy: hat, glasses, badge, shoes, gun/I know this desert, where to rest, where to drink” (Mora 22–29). In “23 Reasons Why Mexicanos Can Still Be Found In a Walmart”, the Mexicanos identify themselves as being the “frontera” when they identify as the border, illustrating a sense of pride in the Mexicano culture. For example, “Because we will still think we’re beating the Orange Man by knowing where to buy what/[Because we are beating him. We’re la frontera, the border, no one looks or does it like us!]” (Varela 14–15). In the music video “La Raza” by Kid Frost you can see and sense the pride being demonstrated by the Mexicanos. Therefore, connecting with both poems, the element imagery and most importantly the Mexican culture.
Symbolism: Unity, Representation, and Resilience
Whether something or someone is right or wrong, good or bad, all things are a reflection of established values/belief systems. Therefore, demonstrating the desires and outcomes of people and things. “La Migra” and “23 Reasons Why Mexicanos Can Still Be Found In a Walmart” are a good example of this. In “La Migra”, you see the Border Patrol agent as a symbol for U.S. Authority, the maid as a symbol for immigrants/low-paid workers, and in general her people as a whole. For example, “I’ll be the Border Patrol. You be the Mexican maid” (Mora 2–3). “23 Reasons Why Mexicanos Can Still Be found In a Walmart”, Going to the store is a symbol of pride as a Mexicano, and going out into public, especially after the 2019 El Paso Walmart shooting is a symbol of resilience and unity. For instance, “Because we will still walk while brown in a Walmart (or Target, Sam’s, or Ross) and walk tall/Because why not? Because heart/Because God/ Because Mighty Mexican Super Ratón. Because human” (Varela 21–22). The image above relates to both poems with the representation of the Mexican culture as well as demonstrating the meaning of resilience, unity, honor, and respect.
Conclusion
Despite the poems “La Migra” and “23 Reasons Why Mexicanos Can Still Be found In a Walmart” using different elements, they conclude that being Mexicano is something to be prideful, grateful, and honored about regardless of situations, experiences, or anything at all. In the music video “La Raza” by Kid Frost you can see the pride demonstrated, therefore, connecting with my essay.
