After reading La Guera, Cherrie Moraga, record your voice ( just audio) speaking for 1 or 2 minutes about how this reading relates to you.

Create a playlist on Spotify that matches the short story “Kimberle”, by Achy Obejas. Explain the connection of the songs to parts of the reading and specific quotes.

First song on my “Kimberle” playlist is “Warrior” by Demi Lovato. This song connects to the reading because Demi is saying that she was ashamed and confused because of all the pain and truth that has caused her to feel broken and bruised. In the reading it says “Her girlfriend had caught her in flagrante delicto and walked out; depression had swallowed her in the aftermath. She couldn’t concentrate at her restaurant job, mixing up simple orders,barking at the customers.”(page 16) Kimberle used to be homeless living in her car all alone. Next the song says that now she’s a warrior with thick skin and nobody can hurt her again. In the reading Kimberle moved in with her friend who had trust in her even though she knew that Kimberle was suicidal. Once Kimberle moved in she was bettering herself. 

Second song on my “Kimberle” playlist is “Nobody’s Perfect” by Hannah montana. This song connects to the reading because in the reading it says “I was still catching my breath when I turned around and saw Kimberle. The santoku had left her right hand, embedding its bladeupright on the knuckles of her left. Blood seeped sparingly from between her fingers but collected quickly around the octopus pile, which now looked wounded and alive.”(page 18) Kimberle is a girl who suffers from suicidal thoughts and she’s trying to better herself. In the sound Hannah Montana is going that nobody is perfect and basically that you can’t stop now you have to get up and still fight. Kimberle is going to make mistakes but that’s the process of it. You learn from your mistakes.

Third song on my “Kimberle” playlist is “I kissed a girl” by Katy Perry. In the reading it says “I don’t know how or why but my mouth opened to the stranger’s breast, tasting her and the vague tobacco of Kimberle’s spit.” (page 20). This reading connects to the song because in the song Katy is saying how she didn’t plan on kissing a girl she just wanted to try it and ended up liking it. The narrator did the same with Kimberle and the bookstore girl. At the end of the story the narrator ended up having feelings for Kimberle. 

Find a newspaper article online that relates to Pandora’s Box, by Arturo Arias. Explain the connection.

https://www.timesunion.com/local/article/The-long-difficult-journey-of-how-a-man-became-a-2341891.php

The article that I have chosen is called “The long, difficult journey of how a man became a woman” by Paul Grondahl connects to the reading “Pandora’s box” by Arturo Arias in many ways. First connection is that Drew ( from the article) and Juan both feared what people might think or act after them turning into a woman now . According to the article it says “Many trans people are familiar with the pain and suffering of being transgender: estranged from family members, verbally harassed and sometimes assaulted by strangers, discriminated against in the workplace; ostracized and isolated by mainstream society after coming out and beginning to transition publicly from one gender to the other.” In the reading it states “The door closed in my nose, nearly knocking the cup of sugar from my hands. “Asshole!” I muttered, biting my tongue at the same time, and then giggling a little. Men were unbelievably selfish.” The guy only asked for sugar and he was being rude because he noticed that he’s a trans. There will always be hate on trans people because some people are against it or some people are just being jerks and trying to make you feel bad about yourself. Another connection is how the hate makes them feel. In the article it says “Drew’s confused adolescence, deep depression in the teen years, being shunned by former friends and made into an outcast, with suicidal thoughts as a young adult.” In the reading it says “when I had put on my red dress and black shoes just to get this particular cup of sugar, that left me absolutely furious, depressed, insecure. From that point on I decided, in a stubborn fit of anger that thinly disguised my dejection, that I would be woman enough to make any man do whatever I wanted to. I went back downstairs and switched to my tennis shoes.” This is disgusting and sad, when someone doesn’t feel comfortable in their sexuality they have the right to change it to make themselves feel comfortable and instead of people saying nice things they bring you down. 

Choose an image from “selected photography of Dulce Pinzón(link)” and another from “selected photography of Graciela Iturbide(Link)” and write a paragraph or record voice/video analysing a comparison.

I am comparing these two images because they both remind me of dark moods. In the funeral picture it’s not a jolly happy mood, everyone is feeling down because someone who they loved has passed away. Everyone wearing black in a funeral is in a sad dark mood. In the other picture I see all dead droopy flowers. The picture is black which also makes it seem depressing which the flowers reminded me of the funeral because they both are not in a great mood. 

Include the poem by José Olivarez: “Mexican Heaven” ; Poems. Why would you include this poem on your blog;  in relation to what?. Post it next to a movie clip that relates to it. Quote pertinent verses.

A MEXICAN DREAMS OF HEAVEN BY JOSÉ OLIVAREZ

all of the Mexicans sneak into heaven. St. Peter has

their name on the list, but none of the Mexicans have

trusted a list since Ronald Reagan was President.

St. Peter is a Mexican named Pedro, but he’s not

a saint. Pedro waits at the gate with a shot of tequila

to welcome all the Mexicans to heaven, but he gets drunk

& forgets about the list. all the Mexicans walk

into heaven, even our no good cousins who only

go to church for baptisms & funerals.

it turns out God is one of those religious Mexicans

who doesn’t drink or smoke weed, so all the Mexicans

in heaven party in the basement while God reads

the bible & thumbs a rosary. God threatens to kick

all the Mexicans out of heaven if they don’t stop

con las pendejadas, so the Mexicans drink more

discreetly. they smoke outside where God won’t

smell the weed. God pretends the Mexicans are reformed.

hallelujah. this cycle repeats once a month. amen.

Jesus has a tattoo of La Virgen De Guadalupe

covering his back. turns out he’s your cousin

Jesus from the block. turns out he gets reincarnated

every day & no one on Earth cares all that much.

all the Mexican women refuse to cook or clean

or raise the kids or pay bills or make the bed or

drive your bum ass to work or do anything except

watch their novelas, so heaven is gross. the rats

are fat as roosters & the men die of starvation.

there are white people in heaven, too. they build

condos across the street & ask the Mexicans to

speak English. i’m just kidding. there are no

white people in heaven.

tamales. tacos. tostadas. tortas.

pozole. sopes. huaraches. menudo.

horchata. jamaica. limonada. agua.

St. Peter lets Mexicans into heaven

but only to work in the kitchens.

A Mexican dishwasher polishes the crystal,

smells the meals, & hears the music

through the swinging doors. they dream

of another heaven, one they might be allowed in

if only they work hard enough.

I’m including this poem to my blog because this is telling us how mexican latinos are. People normalized mexicans women to always stay in the kitchen to cook and stay with the kids and the guys have to work their ass off. This compares to the clip that I inserted because the woman who asked to stay in the United states denied her. She is a mexican immigrant who’s been in the United States for a long time with her kids, she’s never done anything wrong. All she does is supports her kids and she works. 

After reading Porcupine Love, short story by Tatiana de la Tierra (Colombia), write an alternative ending for it. No less than two paragraphs. 

“I’m just going to go for it, dammit I have to. I have already quit my job and I need to go.” I say to myself. I bought my plane ticket to New Zealand for tonight. I have so many thoughts in my head. Im scared that I will regret my decision. “What if she’s playing me? Or what if once I see her all im going to want to do is fuck her and leave her?” I say. Hours pass and I’m at the airport walking next in line to go inside the plane. While i’m sitting on the plane looking at the clouds outside of the window I am just imagining all the things that we are going to do together. All the adventures we are going to do. I start to get tired from all the overthinking so I slowly start closing my eyes.

Im finally in New Zealand on my way to Antenna house. I’m feeling so many different emotions right now, I’m anxious and excited at the same time. I arrive and run up to her house. I bang on the door. Antenna opened the door and her eyes lid up. I fell even more in love with her once she opened that door. We gave each other the longest hug, kissing and laughing she still couldn’t believe I came. “Of course I would come for you, I told you I really want to work this out because I want you in my life forever Antenna.” I tell her. She cheeses so hard and carries me into the room. 

La Guera

• La Guera, Cherrie Moraga

  Growing up as a Latina you bound to face stereotypes and oppression. When Moraga states “I am the very well-educated daughter of a woman who, by the standards in this country, would be considered largely illiterate.”(page 27) I related to the fact that in this country they will judge my parents based on their skin color and language. Where if they don’t speak English then you are illiterate. It’s hard enough having to deal with racists remarks and trying to deal with them but it’s even harder as a woman. When Moraga stated “You’re not a woman. Be a woman for a day. Imagine being a woman.”(page 29) As a woman you’re gonna have to deal with gender discrimination and stereotypes etc. I relate to this because I have to work twice as hard as a white man in order to be successful and respected.

Powerful Women

Photo by Graciela Iturbide

Photo by Dulce Pinzón 

Both pictures depict strong independent women. The Lady with the Iguanas shows how the woman is still being able to stand tall with a whole bunch of iguanas on her head. While the other woman looks like she is doing laundry on a very late and dark night. Both photos depict that women need to have courage and heart in order to be strong. They will encounter so many obstacles in life but you just gotta keep your head high. Think of yourself as invincible like Wonder Woman or fearless because you have iguanas on your head that symbolize struggles.

Kimberle

Oh, won’t you stay with me?

‘Cause you’re all I need

This ain’t love, it’s clear to see

But, darling, stay with me

Why am I so emotional?

No, it’s not a good look, gain some self-control                                

And deep down I know this never works

But you can lay with me so it doesn’t hurt 

Oh, won’t you stay with me?

‘Cause you’re all I need

This ain’t love, it’s clear to see

But, darling, stay with me

Throughout the story by Achy Obejas the main protagonist feels as if it is her duty to make sure her suicidal friend Kimberle doesn’t kill or harm herself. In the song by Sam Smith you can see that the artist it struggling to let go of a person and wants them to stay. In the end of story it said “But it was too late: there, above her shoulder, was this year’s seasonal kill, waxy and white but for the purple areolas and the meat of her sex.She was ordinary, familiar, and the glass of her eyes captured a portrait of Kimberle and me.” Where it makes me believe that the main character ended up falling in love with Kimberle and didn’t want her to die and to stay with her. 

God, keep my head above water

Don’t let me drown, it gets harder

I’ll meet you there at the altar

As I fall down to my knees

Don’t let me drown, drown, drown

Don’t let me, don’t let me, don’t let me drown

In the song, the artist talks about how she is not emotionally and mentally okay. That she is willing to ask for help. She has regrets in life but she doesn’t want those regrets to define her. At the beginning of the story, it states “Her words slid one into the other, like buttery babies bumping, accumulating at the mouth of a slide in the playground. “Are you listening to me?”I was, I really was. She was asking me to keep her from killing herself.” The fact that Kimberle knew that she wasn’t okay and was seeking help and guidance relates to this song. She also states “I need to be stopped” showing how she might have some regrets like the song and doesn’t want to drown in those regrets like Kimberle.

That will hate the ladies, that make the babies

And since a man can’t make one

He has no right to tell a woman when and where to create one

So will the real men get up

I know you’re fed up ladies, but keep your head up

Keep ya head up, ooh, child, things are gonna get easier

Keep ya head up, ooh, child, things’ll get brighter

“It was all I could think to do, and it made sense for both of us. Kimberle had been homeless, living out of her car—an antique Toyota Corolla that had had its lights punched out on too many occasions and now traveled unsteadily with huge swatches of duct tape holding up its fender. In all honesty, I was a bit unsteady myself, afflicted with the kind of loneliness that’s felt in the gut like a chronic and never fully realized nausea.” 

In the story, both characters are struggling in life in some shape or form. They have to keep in mind that there is a serial killer on the loose that’s trying to kill young women. The song relates to the story in the sense that it talks about the struggles that women have to deal with and that they have to keep their heads up just like in the story. Where it makes remarks about lesbianism, rape, discrimination, racism, etc. 

Sometime the next day—after a restless night of weeping and pillow punching that I could hear from the bedroom, even with the door closed—Kimberle managed to shower and put on a fresh black tee, then lumbered into the kitchen. She barely nodded. It seemed that if she’d actually completed the gesture, her head might have been in danger of rolling off. -Obejas

Throughout the song the artists are in a box which makes me believe that they are either stuck in their head or some type of experience that they are trying to escape but can’t. Kimberle tries to deal with her depression but instead of actually confronting it she just stays in her own box. Even though she managed to do something that doesn’t mean that she is cured. She’s described as a reckless character that tries to stay alive but she can always be broken just like in the song. 

Alternate Ending

Porcupine Love -Tatiana De La Tierra

I stormed out of Don Juan’s I kept breathing heavily. It sounded like I was running out of breath. Everyone around me was staring at me like if I was some crazy chick you pick up at the bar. I didn’t know if he was helping me or just making me feel like some crazy ass lesbian. Every time the setting would change whether if I was in Cuba or Miami or wherever I couldn’t stop seeing Antenna.  I regret pushing her away. Gosh why couldn’t I just let her in ?! I’m so stupid I need to see her I can’t just email her expect for things to be okay. I have to get what I want and make up for my b*******.

   The next day I quit my job, grab the next flight to New Zealand to see the love of my life. I was nervous my anxiety was skyrocketing. What if I can’t confront her? What if my Porcupine Love occurs? What am I going to tell her? Do I hug her? Do I kiss her? Once I got off the plane I saw the mountains. I knew that my love for her was at its peak. I knocked on her door with my hands shaking and my head down. I saw her feet but there were two more feet next to her. She had company. I began to shed a tear but I heard a sound. BEEP BEEP BEEP !! When I opened my eyes I realize that it was all a dream and I need to let her go she deserves happiness. She doesn’t deserve more spines from my Porcupine Love. 

Pandora’s Box

In the show “I am Jazz” Jazz is a transgender female who would always question her identity. Soon she ended up transitioning and the show depicts the struggles that she goes through as a transwoman. Just like in the show the main character named Juan from the story  Pandora’s Box, by Arturo Arias struggled with his own identity where he never felt comfortable or confident in his own skin. He was very jealous of a woman named Alexandria or referred to as Pandora and it influenced his decision as to whether or not he wanted to transition. After some time Juan turned into Juanita and decided to transition. Once she transition she started to endure the struggles of what the life of a woman is. 

Mexican Heaven

 In the movie of Selena, she is Mexican- American woman who struggles to live and achieve the “American Dream.” She sings in both Spanish and English but she would have to go on to encounter misogyny, racism, discrimination, etc. Where if you are born in America you are a citizen unless your parents are immigrants then you’re illegal. As depicted by José Olivarez,  “If the boy(citizen)(illegal) grows up (illegal)and can only write (illegal) this story in English (citizen), does that make him more American (citizen) or Mexican illegal.” Mexican Heaven is a good example, of how powerful your writing can be as a way to show your voice. Throughout this whole blog most of the stories, writers struggle with identity. Whether it’s because of their skin color, sexual orientation, sexuality, or immigration status. The struggle is real but that doesn’t mean you have to stay silent you can choose to have your voice be heard whether through poems, songs, books, etc. Just be proud of who you are.

What did I learn?

Writing is a powerful tool that allowed us to be able to share our voice. From the Nuyorican Poets to being Latin artists like Selena Quintanilla to the new generation with Bad Bunny and Princess Nokia. Latin studies have allowed for students to realize the achievements that Latinos/Hispanics have endured.

● What have you learned in this course; in our classes, during an assignment, from a peer, in a conversation in / outside class? The answer to this question can be the screenshot of a conversation, a voice recording of a reflection, a video speaking, a piece of art, or a diagram. Express your answer in the manner you want.

I was surprised of how much history the Puerto Rican culture has. I grew up with a Puerto Rican aunt that I was closer with then my aunts from my father’s side or my mom’s side. I never knew that there was a woman like Selena that was so inspirational to Puerto Ricans, young kids, and even people from America. This class made me recognize that Puerto Rico and its people have a bigger impact on everyone then what I thought. I am usually closed off to the news and clueless about news in other countries, so I never knew the situations that Puerto Ricans were in. I thought that they were not discriminated against because they received citizenship from the US. This class opened my eyes to the discrimination towards Puerto Ricans like what we saw during class. The stories of those like Princess Nokia and Caria de la Luz, we can see that they were not born into a rich family or lived a rich life. This reminded me about something I learned in anthropology class. We looked at cultures and groups of people and it seemed as if immigrants were made to live a poor life and stay stuck in the lower class so that they do not increase in wealth because that would lead them to leaving discrimination and discrimination is needed to control those that are lower and different.

● After reading La Guera, Cherrie Moraga, record your voice ( just audio) speaking for 1 or 2 minutes about how this reading relates to you.

This article relates to me in two ways. I am a person of color, more light skin, and the other way is that I might be sexist in a way. I try to leave my views of the LGBTQ community to myself because I have no hate towards them. I just do not think they are correct, but they are doing what they think is right for them and they should live their life the way they want to. I know that I hold no authority over their body or mind and neither do they over my own. This also goes for racism. I have been unconsciously racist just like everyone else, for example saying the n-word. I was born and raised during tough times and I live across the street from the projects. I went to school with black people and have grown up with them. I know how to interact with them better than I do with my own kind of people. By being so close to them, I have seen all the discrimination they have received, and being an Arab Muslim male, I have also experienced racism. I usually do not have opinions on things in life because I will never know the whole story but for racist and sexist people, just leave them alone and go on with your own life. You were never racist as a child, so why are you starting now, and it is not like they are out here trying to control you or change your life so just let them live with one less worry in their life.

● Create a playlist on Spotify that matches the short story “Kimberle”, by Achy Obejas. Explain the connection of the songs to parts of the reading and specific quotes.

I chose Sucks to be You by SAInt JHN because I feel like it sucked to be the narrator. She started to like Kimberle after helping her and being lied to by her. Kimberle did not listen to her wishes but the narrator still felt a connection to her. When the song said, “I thought we would die growin’ old, holdin’ hands.” I felt like that might of been something the narrator wanted to have done with the Kimberle.

The second song is Same Guy by Jack Harlow and Adam Levine. This song related to the reading about the times Kimberle lying. The song said, “And when it comes to you and I, all that I ever did was tell lies. Am I gon’ keep this up ’til I die?” and it also said “All these white lies are growin’ to life-size. I don’t wanna split, but I know it’s the right time.” All Kimberle told the narrator was lies about stealing her belongings. When the song said white lies turn to life-size, it meant to me that all those white lies turned into life-size when they got into the car accident.

The third song is about an abusive relationship but they both care for each other. This reminds me of Kimberle and the narrator’s relationship. It seems negative and the narrator is on the wrong end of it but she still cares for her and loves her. “I heard her gasp and choke and then a rustling by my window.” (Pg 26) This quote shows that Kimberle still cares for her when she went around to help the narrator. Kimberle tried her best even though she was badly injured.

The fourth song relates more to the narrator. She wanted to love from Kimberle. She did not want a one night stand. The song said, “This ain’t love, it’s clear to see.” We can see that this relaitonship they both have is not love coming from both sides. Kimberle does not love her. Kimberle is like a parasite, just living off of the narrator but the narrator loves her and wants her to stay with her in a romantic relationship.

The fifth song relates to the reading because the song is about an individual that likes someone and compares it to an oasis. The narrator liked Kimberle but she does not really need her. An oasis is needed when someone is in the desert so the oasis metaphor is correlating to Kimberle more. Kimberle needs the narrator and the narrator loves Kimberle and seems like she needs Kimberle to satisfy this love.

● Find a newspaper article online that relates to Pandora’s Box, by Arturo Arias. Explain the connection.

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/joy-goh-mah/objectification-women-sexy-pictures_b_3403251.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmluZy5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAe2FfibSD40pD60tNLJiGQfxUw9ZDiHy-_xCf2yLlz86QFANn_xtc9HdI4E788Xr15wQ4G5xUprxA9xS6zPhRVYzTYH7CStW_NrYXTzm9aNmJ8v9aVwS17gBLQjnWNRmgllmt6jFm3V-KoI9kzXDXyy2BTvCrj0YBmlAHQpoyBf

This reading reminded me about something I was learning in anthropology class. I learned about how women were being objectified by men. Women were seen as objects to do as men said in many countries. The problem is how this objectification of women is kind of like the norm in many cultures and societies. We can see Juan objectifying Pandora in the story. When he saw her, he thought to himself, “She was naturally gorgeous, with dark hair flowing down to the middle of her back like silk, and a perfectly proportioned body, long legs, wasplike waist, the finest possible ankles, and smallish breasts just erotic enough to make me blink as if struck by the first, red rays of the sun after a total eclipse. I had never gone out with her.” (Pg. 29) We can see how he started to describe her physical appearance and rarely her personality. This seems to have been imbued in all of us since childhood because of what we see. We watch a lot of shows with men as the main character and the women always being the sexy attractive figure and this idea will get played over and over again until we do the same unconsciously. This same idea can be seen all throughout households and in many jobs. I feel like this has become the norm because of how we identify ourselves. This connection was also made in my anthropology class. Are we male and female at birth just because of our genitals? We should be identified by what we want to be. It seems like male and female has been the only standards and it seems like it is mind controlling. Juan started to think more instead of acting on what is normal, and he turned into Juanita. Pandora also wanted to become a male. Life is not so simple and should not be made simple because not everyone is the same.

● Choose an image from “selected photography of Dulce Pinzón (link)” and another from “selected photography of Graciela Iturbide (Link)” and write a paragraph or record voice/video analysing a comparison.

Both of these images show someone, or something being tied up. Many people see trees as being free and helping us stay alive even though they are tied up by a rope or what could be though of as the rules of nature. Trees have to constantly take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen so that they can stay alive. A similar case can be seen with the superhero. He looks tired and lonely. Superheroes are seen as having perfect lives and having their lives all under control. We can see that this superhero is tired and he also has a real job to worry about. He has to juggle more in life then a normal person would have to and he looks like he is having a hard time control his life. The superhero and the trees are like essentials in our world, but the common fact is that they did not choose to have these jobs. If a superhero stops doing what he does, then society will become more dangerous. If the tree stops doing photosynthesis, then we are both dying.

● Include the poem by José Olivarez: “Mexican Heaven” ; Poems. Why would you include this poem on your blog; in relation to what?. Post it next to a movie clip that relates to it. Quote pertinent verses.

I would include this poem in relation to the pictures done by Dulce Pinzon. As said in the poem, “Saint Peter lets Mexicans into heaven but only to work in the kitchens. a Mexican dishwasher polishes the crystal, smells the meals, & hears the music. they dream of another heaven, one they might be allowed in if they work hard enough.” We can see in the pictures of the superheroes, they are doing jobs like cutting fish, laundry, and construction work. They see the US as a heaven that can help them support their families. When they arrive here and do the jobs that no one would want to do, they are degraded and seen as less. They should be seen as heroes because they have come to a place that they see as special while others do not give the US any significance, and then do the jobs that are tiring and dangerous. We need them as if they are superheroes so we can live an easier life. The wort part is that they will never see the other heaven they deserve for working so hard because these dangerous jobs do not pay well and ultimately cost their life.

This is a great documentary to watch of crossing the border.

● After reading Porcupine Love, short story by Tatiana de la Tierra (Colombia), write an alternative ending for it. No less than two paragraphs.

She spoke with her therapist and her therapist told her that her porcupine love can be solved by committing to something she whole heartedly loved. She was set out for one person only. She never wanted to have sex and sneak out the next morning with anyone else again. She remembered all of the good times she had with Antenita and wanted to experience them again. Instead of translating for Don Juan del Corazón de Jesús, she set her eyes to find Antenita. She met Antenita in New Zealand and confessed her feelings. She fell on her knees and cried her heart out. She told Antenita her problem and how the therapist calls it porcupine love and that she wants to take care of it with Antenita by her side. Antenita sees and feels her determination and decides to stay by her side.

She solidifies the promise by first going to her family in Cuba and letting them know. They do not have a good reaction and do not like how they were lied to in the beginning, but they understood where she was coming from. Antenita sees how determined she was, and they decide to move in together. They have a good life together and she feels healthier around Antenita. The therapist calls her since she has not been called for a while and the therapist is informed that she is happy where she is at in life and that. The therapist is informed that it might be a while before she gets called again and if she does receive a call, it is mostly for good news. They adapt a child together and travel the world with the child.

Kimberle

Playlist Below: Art by me!

Here is the actual playlist I put together for the story Kimberle. I have to say that this story really did take me by surprise so I picked some songs that could match the theme of the story.

Help – The Beatles:

I picked this song since the beginning is basically like a call for help. Kimberle seeks help from her friend to stop her from committing suicide. Even if she starts to take her stuff the friend doesn’t kick her out knowing how much she needs shelter. To anybody else Kimberle probably looks like a normal teen but to us the viewers it is obvious she has some struggle going on in her life. This song at the time was seen as a relatable song but people didn’t know that one of the singers heavily related to this song.

Change -NF

This song related to the story since Kimberle went through a lot of change in her life. She had to go through the biggest change of her life which was becoming homeless. It becomes a struggle which leads to her becoming depressed for a bit. Another person who goes through change is her friend. She goes through the change of having her friend move in with her. It wasn’t something she had planned. She also started noticing changes with her things. They started to go missing.

Sofia – Clairo

This song talks about how it shouldn’t be considered wrong that two girls love each other. She wants the other female to feel reassured that it is okay for them to date and their feelings are normal. Further into the story Kimberle starts to get comfortable kissing her friend and touching her. This is when her friend starts to realize that she actually has some feelings for Kimberle. She doesn’t want to just do this for some nights. She wants to actually be in a relationship.

If you want love – NF

This song talks about how love can be painful. What that probably means is that people go through breakups, abuse, or even rejection often. A lot of people have this image of love as a very positive thing but most of the time it isn’t. The story ends with Kimberle rejecting her friend’s confession saying there is nothing romantic between them. They also get into a car crash so the pain could also be represented physically. The last thing that could be represented with pain would be finding out that Kimberle was lying about not stealing the her things.

Comparison

Down below are videos of me comparing the two pictures! Enjoy!

Alternative ending to Porcupine Love

After a while of being stuck in an endless loop of feeling empty I finally made my choice. I am going to go live with my one and only love Antenita. Who gives a damn about the lame job or the money? After all people do say love is all that matters. So here I go, risking everything to be with the girl I needed and continue to want. It wasn’t easy but I managed to buy a ticket to go to New Zealand. Deep breaths deep breaths. Don’t let anything fuck this new opportunity up. I sent her a quick email letting her know that soon we will be together again. Despite feeling excited I couldn’t help but to feel nervous. What if I turn cold on her again? If she leaves me again who knows if I will have another chance. Not only would I lose her but also a home and money. I would be left broke and alone. 

I’m excited to see you too. I can’t want to have our fun adventures together. Being in your arms is all that I want right now. Ugh why can’t time just go faster already. I love you and can’t wait to see you again. Oh and don’t be surprised that I look a little different <3

Eventually the special day came. After hours on the plane I finally arrived in New Zealand. To think that just a few more steps and I will see the love of my life. Why do airports have to be so confusing I just want to see Antenita already. Just stay calm and show her as much love as you can. After a while of calming myself down I was able to see her. Her hair had grown and she looked gorgeous. I didn’t know whether to run to her and kiss her or to walk and talk normally. Fuck it. I ran all the way to her and pulled her into a tight hug. God I missed her so much. The rest of the day was a blur. All I knew was that I was happy and very lucky to get her back in my life. No more laying in bed alone. Now I have her. My little Antenita. 

Mexican Heaven

I chose this piece since it relates to my family. I was born here but a lot of my family had to cross and there were many dangers along the way. They could’ve died from heat or any wild poisonous animals. They could’ve gotten returned back to their country but they made it. There are times when people sadly don’t make it since other people trying to get across could steal from others to help themselves. It is also something a lot of Hispanics relate to so I wanted to include it here.

This is a perfect example of the struggle of someone trying to cross. A lot of the times people will ask to get paid to cross. It is an uncomfortable way for the person crossing but they don’t have a choice. The little boy of the movie Under the same moon wants to find his mom so he travels illegally. When he actually is being taken across he is put in the back of the car which has a broken AC. The little boy has to go through an uncomfortable trip without any way to cool down or water to drink.

This one is more of a funny example but still shows that people can walk their way to their destination if possible. It sadly doesn’t make it to that part in the video but at one point they ask him if he has papers. When he says he doesn’t he is put in the back of the truck with other immigrants who are traveling illegally. I wanted to include a more funny version so I hope this made you laugh!

What have I learned in this course?

Below is a video of me explaining what I learned in class! Enjoy!

Pandora’s box

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2056305118786727

I chose this article since it describes how women are often sexualized and don’t get looked at for who they are on the inside. In the story Pandora is only seen for her body. It wasn’t until Juan became Juanita that he realized that Pandora had other things that were special about her other than her body. It is very sad that men don’t look at women for who they are. They just focus on how good their body looks and when they are going to bring them to bed. Throughout the story Juanita learns that being a woman isn’t all about being sexy and having sex whenever possible. It is about getting to know someone on the inside. Who knows? Maybe people have their own little secrets. At the end it is revealed that Pandora actually wanted to be a boy. If Juan never became Juanita there was no way he would’ve known. Nowadays nobody can tell who’s trans or not which is comforting to them. They want to pass as cis male or cis female.

La Guera

Down below is a video of me explaining how I relate to this text! Enjoy!

What I learned from this course…

“Pandora’s Box“

Regarding the topic of the objectification of women I included an article titles, “Five things about Women in the Press” relating to one of the main themes in the story.

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-20554942

One of the main themes of the story, “Pandora’s Box” by Arturo Arias is objectification of women. The narrator of the story Juan, is struck by the looks of his friend Walker’s girlfriend, Pandora. He sees Pandora not as a thinking individual but just as a pair of breasts and ass as he explains, “It had never actually occurred to me that she had a mind. She had always been just a body to me, and only now did it dawn on me that she fought the experience of being essentialized as a woman while paradoxically essentializing herself with her looks.”(12) The newspaper article included speaks on the issue of women being portrayed as sex objects in the media, not glorifying women because of their skills or intelligence but for the shape of their bodies. In the beginning of Pandora’s Box Juan describes himself as a ladies man and only going out with women to have sex. When Juan changes one morning into a female although unconsciously he is subjecting himself to the same views as he would any other girl. I find that he gains confidence with turning into a women and finds that there are more to women than just their bodies.

Relations to “La Guera”

“Kimberle”

In the story, “Kimberley”, the author Achy Obejas tells a story of two girls of the latinx and lgbtq community. She tells a story of depression, misplacement and finding ones true self.

The first song I chose was “The A Team” by Ed Sheeran because his song is inspired by a young girl on the edge of homelessness struggling to make ends meet like Kimberle before the narrator took her in. Kimberle is struck by grief and agony by her position. She turns to the narrator as a cry for help as she talks her out of suicide. “I have to be stopped,” Kimberle said.”(1)

Second on my playlist is “Two Queens in a King sized Bed” by Girl in Red. This song reflects the relationship of the narrator and Kimberle and their on going sexual relations with women that Kimberle brings home. While Kimberle sees it as a way of distracting herself and having fun the narrator relates to the song in a way that she starts to form small feelings towards Kimberly when they are together like the song says, “All my time is yours to spend, let me wrap you in with my skin” declaring her feelings.

I also included the song “Havana: by Camilla Cabello. This song speaks of the artists longing for Havana looking back from which her family came. Both girls in the story came together from Cuba and still think back from when they first arrived to America. The narrator states, “In all honesty, I don’t really know when I met Kimberle. It seemed she had always been there, from the very day we arrived from Cuba.”(8) Kimberle and the narrator are bonded from their origin; while they are not considered friends at first they are brought together from having known each other for such a long time.

Correlating with the end scene of the story the final song on my playlist is “Serial Killer” by Lana Del Re. Looming over the story from the very begging the narrator foreshadows the event of their deaths when she mentions, “Once the psycho got his girl, he seemed pacified, so we listened with a little less urgency to the footsteps behind us in the parking lot, worried less when running at damn.”(2) The song relates to the killer’s psychopathic tendencies and repeated murders defining him as a serial killer.

Comparison-

“Mexican Heaven”

In the book, “Citizen Illegal” this poem can be found on page 28. I chose poem because in this blog I am focusing on idea related to how people conventionalize another group of people whether it be another gender or race. An example portrayed in this poem is how people conceptualize Mexicans coming to America to make an honest living. The line that states, “But only to work in the kitchens” is a role that is cast upon many Mexicans from the lack of jobs presented to them but not all work in food establishments. The line, “They dream of another Heaven, one they might be allowed into if they work hard enough” really captures the thought that a great deal people say that immigrants steal jobs but in reality they take the jobs that no one is willing to take. They are more driven to help their family and be apart of a country that’s suppose to be for all people. This heaven spoken about is an America that accepts all races and cultures without stereotyping or discriminating. The movie clip below shows a scene from clueless where the main character calls her maid Mexican when she is actually from El Salvador. This scene relates to the conventionalization of Mexicans only holding labor positions.

Rewriting of “Porcupine Love”

The short, “Porcupine Love” by Tatiana de la Tierra is a about a women who is stuck in love with a women she had been with in the past but pushed away. One day her love moves away for good not being able to handle the back and forth of the narrators coldness towards her. Fourteen years later the narrator discovers her past love on a vacationing website and reaches out reconnecting the bond they once had. In doing so she faces her faults and anxieties that fuel the cycle of her “porcupine love”. In search of bettering herself for her lost love she joins a medium and finds herself spiritually. In the end her job does not grant her the time to go to New Zealand where her love is but prays to be united once again. Here is my ending:

I am in New Zealand, surrounded by a bustling crowd and sounds of rolling suitcases. Never would I have thought that life would take me back to her. I lived all these years in loneliness and regret for how I treated Antenna when I still had her in my reach. No amount of apologies can undo the damage that I had left her with but now I have a second chance to show her that I am here to try again. I will no longer mask my fear with quills but now allow her in my heart where she has stayed for the last fourteen years. She showed me how it felt to really live and now I will return that favor with every breath I have left.

I grab my suitcase and make my way down towards the escalator. My mind is ecstatic and dizzy with excitement. I reach for the pocket sized mirror I had stuffed in my purse back at home. I pat down my hair and reapply my lipstick. A wave of worry washes over me as I take notice of lines and wrinkles taking form on my face. Oh how I’ve aged since we had last been together. One by one people file off the steps and join the crowd of families and old friends happily reuniting. I look frantically for Antenna fearing that she wont recognize me in the chaos. Just then a hand taps lightly on my right shoulder. I swing around so fast that a lighting of pain shoots through my head. A pair of bright blue beautiful eyes joyfully lock into mine. “I’ve missed you”.

1. What have you learned in this course; in our classes, during an assignment, from a peer, in a conversation in / outside class? The answer to this question can be the screenshot of a conversation, a voice recording of a reflection, a video speaking, a piece of art, or a diagram. Express your answer in the manner you want.

2. After reading La Guera, Cherrie Moraga, record your voice ( just audio) speaking for 1 or 2 minutes about how this reading relates to you.

Cherrie Moraga’s “La Guera” resonates with the realities for a lot of white passing Latinos in the United States, along with other children of immigrant parents. During the 90’s, my mother immigrated from Puebla, Mexico to the United States, alone and barely speaking English. She married my father, who migrated to the United States from Mexico before her and eventually married him, having three children. Growing up as a Latina in the United States, I have come to realize the privilege coming along with lighter skin. As mentioned in the reading by Moraga, for many immigrant Latinos and their children, the mentality of associating white/lighter skin with economic, educational and social success, is instilled in them as a method of avoiding “illiteracy and poverty”, which is to them, associated with being brown or black. The mother, in the reading, deals with the internalized racism and oppression that she has endured, without even realizing it, due to this ongoing negative connotation of being a brown Chicana woman. The author herself, being lighter skinned lesbian Latina, comes to realize later on in life that the attempts of her mother to anglicize her, by not teaching her spanish, referring to low income Mexicans as “wetbacks” and externalizing the internalized racism and classism, was a product of oppression and being silenced. Growing up in predominantly white schools, with very few Latino kids attending and being one of those few kids, it was very prevalent among kids who were from immigrant families, to be forced to abandon their language and culture, in order to assimilate within the US. One of my very own friends, a puertorriqueña, wasn’t taught Spanish at all, in order to increase her chances at succeeding in school and assimilating with the US predominant language. And that’s exactly what happened with Moraga; 

“ It was through my mother’s desire to protect her children from poverty and illiteracy that we became “anglocized”; the more effectively we could pass in the white world, the better guaranteed our future”

Despite the mother herself being from a family that isn’t financially secure and does farm labor as a living, the internalized classism, colorism and its ties to racism is portrayed accurately in Moraga’s piece. 

3. Create a playlist on Spotify that matches the short story “Kimberle”, by Achy Obejas. Explain the connection of the songs to parts of the reading and specific quotes.

a. Issues by Julia Michaels: 

In Achy Obejas’s “Kimberle”, a college student befriends a girl named Kimberle, who tends to have suicidal thoughts and disruptive tendencies. Despite Kimberle’s tendencies to be reckless and suicidal, the main character feels a sense of responsibility for her and essentially becomes part of a codependent relationship. The song “Issues” by Julia Michaels accurately depicts the nature of codependency and the relationship between the main character and Kimberle. Kimberle, throughout the story, is presented in a way where she has these urges to have multiple relationships with women, to drive as fast as she can and steal the main characters’ books. However, the main character in a way, ends up romanticizing and dismissing any concerns since she doesn’t realize that she’s falling in love with Kimberle. Despite the incident with the pregnant woman and Kimberle, the main character begins to realize her infatuation with Kimberle; 

“I steered out of town, past the strip malls, the corn fields, and the interstate where, years before, Kimberle had made me feel so fucking alive…Trembling there in the dark, I realized I wanted to kiss Kimberle—not for anyone else’s pleasure but for my own” (pg.81-82)

A section from the song “Issues” ; 

“Cause I got issues, But you got ’em too

So give ’em all to me

And I’ll give mine to you

Bask in the glory

Of all our problems

‘Cause we got the kind of love

It takes to solve ’em”

Just like both the main character and Kimberle, Julia Michaels describes the nature of what it is like being in a codependent relationship with someone who isn’t always good for you. The line “ Bask in the glory of all our problems’ ” is essentially what these two characters from Obejas’s story did by not addressing the issues they had and fixing them, but instead disregarding them. 

b. Stuck On You- Giveon:

Despite the very transparent feelings of the main character, regarding her friend, Kimberle doesn’t seem to acknowledge the relationship between her and the main character. In this scene, the two are about to get into a car crash but before they are discussing a threesome with a male, instead of a female. Kimberle, surprised and losing control of the car, shows uncertainty about this. It’s clear that Kimberle likes to have a sense of control of situations she is put in and the fact that the main character started to want to take control, angers Kimberle, goes onto show the volatile nature of codependent relationships. And this is when the main character asks Kimberle what was happening between them, essentially wanting to know if they were a thing. Kimberle responds with “Us? There is no us”. And it’s at this moment the car crash occurs and when the main character realizes that Kimberle wasn’t interested in being with her. “Stuck on You” by Giveon, portrays the feelings that the main character has for Kimberle. Giveon goes on to say “You do me wrong but it feels right” and it’s what the main character experiences with being around Kimberle. Kimberle, despite involving the main character in sexual relations with her, doesnt reciproacte the feelings the main character has and still the main character has love for her. Other lines that depict the feelings of the main character are like “Trust me I do understand this is bad for me I’m a fool but I cant end it”.The main character possibly acknowledges that she is in an unhealthy codependent relationship but it’s difficult to fully grasp the harm of it when being in love with that person.  

c. Sia- “Im in here”

Sia’s song, “I’m in here”, describes the feelings many people dealing with depression experience. Sia, herself suffers from long term depression and the song is her cry for help. The lyrics that appear frequently throughout the song are;

“Can’t you hear my call?

Are you coming to get me now?

I’ve been waiting for

You to come rescue me

I need you to hold

All of the sadness I can not

Live with inside of me

Kimberle, herself most likely suffers from depression, hence the desire  to end her life, as mentioned in the beginning of the short story. Kimberle, like Sia, asks the main character for help, to prevent her from committing suicide. Throughout the whole story, Kimberle deals with her depression and the main character attempts to help her to the best of her abilities, as well as dealing with her own issues. 

d. Sam Smith- “Not in that way”

“Not in that way” by Sam Smith tells the story of an unrequited love, which is what the main character experiences. Right before the accident, Kimberle tells the main character, “Us? There is no us?”, revealing to the character that Kimberle doesn’t feel or reciprocate the feelings the character has for her. The following lines from Smith’s songs depicts the exact thoughts and sentiments the main character had before and after, when she received her answer; 

“I’d never ask you ’cause deep down

I’m certain I know what you’d say

You’d say “I’m sorry, believe me, I love you

But not in that way

And I hate to say I need you

I’m so reliant, I’m so dependent, I’m such a fool

When you’re not there, I find myself singing the blues

Can’t bear, can’t face the truth”

It is unsure if the main character ends up staying with Kimberle, despite all that has happened, but it can be assumed she possibly did, since Kimberle is homeless and depends on the main character, and vice versa. Both characters depend on each other, but for very distinguished reasons. Kimberle depends on the main character financially, whilst the main character depends on her emotionally.

4. Find a newspaper article online that relates to Pandora’s Box, by Arturo Arias. Explain the connection.

Article Link: https://www.cpr.org/show-segment/paula-williams-has-lived-life-as-a-man-and-a-woman-now-she-fights-for-gender-equity/ 

In the article, “Paula Williams Has Lived Life As A Man And A Woman. Now She Fights For Gender Equity”, the writer tells the story of Reverend Paula Williams, who has lived as both man and woman in the world. Paula, coming out as transgender, believed that there was a “gender fairy” who would “come and change how the world saw her from boy, to girl”. Eventually becoming an advocate for gender equity and an LGBTQ church consultant, Paula’s unique experiences as both man and woman helped her come to an understanding of the disparities between the realities of living as either man or woman in this world. She comes to realize that “There’s no way a well-educated white male can understand how much the culture is tilted in his favor. There’s no way he can understand that because that’s all he’s ever known and all he ever will know”. This specific section of the article related to Arias’s “Pandora’s Box” because after becoming a woman, the main character, Juan, previously a man, comes to realize the difficulties of being a woman. The character goes onto say that before transitioning into a woman, he solely saw Pandora, as a body to penetrate, disregarding her as an actual person. However, after transitioning, the character comes to realize that Pandora, along with other women, feel as if men treat them as if they have no life of their own, no thoughts worth mentioning or no knowledge worth imparting on…treating them solely as a means worth of bringing them pleasure. The character, Walker, resembles the white heteroseuxal man’s privileges that Paula refers to in the article, bringing awareness to the difficult realities to those within the LGBTQ+ community. 

5. Choose an image from “selected photography of Dulce Pinzón(link)” and another from “selected photography of Graciela Iturbide (Link)” and write a paragraph or record voice/video analyzing a comparison.

Dulce Pinzón’s “Historias del Paraíso” piece and Graciela Iturbide’s “Asor” piece, both photographers choose to show the beauty in simplicity of nature, as well as the stages of life. In Pinzon’s picture, depicting both a black woman and man, sitting on what seems to be a statue of a prehistoric dinosaur, Pinzon combines both elements of life and death within this image. Both the people and nature surrounding them in the background, represent life at its peak, while the statue represents the stage of death, essentially, extinction. Similarly in Iturbide’s photograph, Iturbide brings the focus of this photo to the inevitable death or growth of the sunflowers depicted. Compared to Pinzón’s piece, Iturbide emphasizes the lingering death of these flowers by making it a black and white painting. The black and white creates this sense of dramatization and mysteriousness about the fate of these flowers, which represents the uncertainty of life. We, like these plants, are unaware of what could happen next in our lives, either being the end of it or the continuation of it.

6. Include the poem by José Olivarez: “Mexican Heaven” ; Poems. Why would you include this poem on your blog; in relation to what?. Post it next to a movie clip that relates to it. Quote pertinent verses.

A MEXICAN DREAMS OF HEAVEN

BY JOSÉ OLIVAREZ

all of the Mexicans sneak into heaven. St. Peter has

their name on the list, but none of the Mexicans have

trusted a list since Ronald Reagan was President.

St. Peter is a Mexican named Pedro, but he’s not

a saint. Pedro waits at the gate with a shot of tequila

to welcome all the Mexicans to heaven, but he gets drunk

& forgets about the list. all the Mexicans walk

into heaven, even our no good cousins who only

go to church for baptisms & funerals.

it turns out God is one of those religious Mexicans

who doesn’t drink or smoke weed, so all the Mexicans

in heaven party in the basement while God reads

the bible & thumbs a rosary. God threatens to kick

all the Mexicans out of heaven if they don’t stop

con las pendejadas, so the Mexicans drink more

discreetly. they smoke outside where God won’t

smell the weed. God pretends the Mexicans are reformed.

hallelujah. this cycle repeats once a month. amen.

Jesus has a tattoo of La Virgen De Guadalupe

covering his back. turns out he’s your cousin

Jesus from the block. turns out he gets reincarnated

every day & no one on Earth cares all that much.

all the Mexican women refuse to cook or clean

or raise the kids or pay bills or make the bed or

drive your bum ass to work or do anything except

watch their novelas, so heaven is gross. the rats

are fat as roosters & the men die of starvation.

there are white people in heaven, too. they build

condos across the street & ask the Mexicans to

speak English. i’m just kidding. there are no

white people in heaven.

tamales. tacos. tostadas. tortas.

pozole. sopes. huaraches. menudo.

horchata. jamaica. limonada. agua.

St. Peter lets Mexicans into heaven

but only to work in the kitchens.

A Mexican dishwasher polishes the crystal,

smells the meals, & hears the music

through the swinging doors. they dream

of another heaven, one they might be allowed in

if only they work hard enough.

José Olivarez’s poem, “A MEXICAN DREAMS OF HEAVEN”, reflects the realities of many Mexican immigrants residing in the United States. Beginning his poem by comparing the United States to “heaven”,  the author introduces the common misconception in Mexico, of the United States being the “land of the free” and “land of opportunities”, referring to it as a place where “all of the Mexicans sneak into”. Saint Peter, the patron saint of locksmiths and holder of heavens keys, has a list of names granted permission to enter into heaven, but is impeded by the distrust that Mexicans have for “heavens” president at the time, Ronald Reagan. Escorted by a more welcoming Pedro, who “waits at the gate with a shot of tequila to welcome all the Mexicans to heaven”, they walk on in,  joining “ even our no good cousins who only go to church for baptisms & funerals.” The author goes on to describe the heavens as a place with a God that pretends  that “the Mexicans are reformed. hallelujah.” and where St. Peter grants permission to enter into heaven, to Mexicans “to work in the kitchens”.  This accurately represents the exploitation that many Mexican immigrant workers endure when coming to the United States for a better life. Immigrants are left to “dream of another heaven, one they might be allowed in if only they worked hard enough”, and are hence discouraged of finding their “heaven” in  the United States. By mentioning historical Mexican immigrant working experiences within the United States, the author’s poem serves as a commentary piece on the United States’ views on immigration from Mexico and its historical exploitation of migrant labor, despite being heavily against immigration. 

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMlTmOip3ig

QUOTES: 

“The only thing I said to the police is that everything we have, we got through our own hard work. We never did anything wrong”

“An estimated 11 million people live in the US illegally, at constant risk of deportation, even while large parts of the economy depend on their low paid labor”. 

7. After reading Porcupine Love, a short story by Tatiana de la Tierra (Colombia), write an alternative ending for it. No less than two paragraphs.

God I miss Anteneta. I miss her love and her laughter but I’m too afraid to end up losing that love soon. I  knew I would end up just loving her for one second and then the next, I wouldn’t speak to her. There it goes again. Why do I reject her love when it’s the one thing that makes me feel so alive? But I knew why I rejected her love. It wasn’t her, or maybe it was? If I could just see her again, just even for a bit, I know that it would be different. Fuck it. I’m booking my flight right now and quitting. My stomach is doing cartwheels at the thought of falling in again but I could already feel her and it’s all I want. It’s all I ever wanted to feel but wouldn’t allow myself to. Love. 

I can’t wait to see you, I’ve really really missed you. God I can’t believe you are coming to see me. I’ve waited for what seems like forever for you. 

It’s the day to leave for New Zealand and I feel as if I’m going to puke my insides out, exposing myself to the world. Letting them see that inside this body that yearned for Anteneta’s lips on mine and my hand intertwining in hers, that I was unable to love. Incapable of ever being loved because for me love would bring out the quills in me and spear my lover straight in the heart. I’m laying in the seats, squished but still squirming at the thought of her. Told her I would land soon. Am I really going through with this? 

It’s been almost a year now, since I visited her. And it ended up exactly how I imagined. Fucked. I should’ve known that it would have gone wrong and we wouldn’t have lasted. But this one hurt, like actually hurt. She wasn’t like the other of my quilled lovers.She was the one that got away. 

REWRITE THE ENDING

I left Don Juan with a new mindset of freedom, something I have been longing for. My job was materialistic and Love lasts forever. The final words that ran through my mind while on the phone – “ 2 continents, 3 oceans, 8,643 miles, and 31 airplane hours”- I quit my job. I decided to live like Antenna, most of all I realized love was worth fighting for. 

On the plane to New Zealand My stomach was turning. I did not tell Antenna I was coming, I wanted to make this big romantic gesture. 

I landed in New Zealand and I emailed Antenna right away. She gave me the directions to her tiny apartment and I set off on my voyage. 

When I reached her apartment, every bone in my body told me to run into her arms as if nothing happened. But I have grown as a person in the past 14 years, I needed her to see that. 

I knocked on the door and before I could blink I was embraced by her body heat. 

Antenna had always been different, I knew this since I saw her wearing the cunt-bead necklace all the way to the love she showed me.

14 years, 2 continents, 3 oceans, 8,643 miles and 31 airplane hours away. And we had been reunited. She still loved me and I was finally ready to love her and give her all of me. 

It was not too late. 

I will always love Antenna. 

CLASS ENLIGHTENMENT

Bad Bunny y Princess Nokia son artistas puertorriqueños. Princess Nokia es Afro-Latinx que hace música sobre feminismo y rompiendo los roles de género.En la imagen de la izquierda, Princess Nokia representa a una bruja.Cuando las mujeres muestran fuerza o son independientes, automáticamente se las etiqueta como brujas. El video de Princess Nokia recupera la etiqueta de bruja.

Bad Bunny hace música para varias emociones y también es conocido por romper los roles de género. En el video de Bad Bunny “Yo Perreo Sola” él trae conciencia sobre los roles de género mientras representa la independencia y no necesita a nadie que te haga feliz, cómo necesitas hacerte feliz.

Ambos artistas llaman la atención sobre problemas del mundo real a pesar de que lo hacen de diferentes maneras. Esta clase me llamó la atención sobre esto, ya que nunca me senté a pensar en ello.

SIGNIFICANCE OF MEXICAN HEAVEN

ACCEPTANCE,STRENGTH, FREEDOM. All things people strive for. LGBQT+ communities are a topic through this blog. Strength to survive, accepting what you cannot control and the freedom to live the life you’re proud of. The poem “Mexican Heaven” by Jose Olivarez he says “all of the Mexicans sneak into heaven. St. Peter has their names on the list, but the Mexicans haven’t trusted a list. since Ronald Reagan was president.”(stanza 1)this stanza depicts the cruelty Mexian American’s experience, the cruel reality is evident especially in the rise of the anti-immigrant environment. 

IN this movie trailer of “Under The Same Moon” it shows a son and a mom, the mom is working illegally in the US, both the mom and son try to reunite because they are separated. This relates to Jose Olivarez because immigartion issues are ripping families apart and ruining the lives of millions. In the US families have gone missing and children have been held in cages. Even the people whose names are on the visa list don’t listen because of fear. 

KIMBERLE

The song “Hold on” by Chord Overstreet relates to the short story “Kimberle” by Achy Obejas because in the song he says “I’d be so lost if you left me alone.You locked yourself in the bathroom. Lying on the floor when I break through. I pull you in to feel your heartbeat. Can you hear me screaming? Please don’t leave me. Hold on, I still want you. Come back, I still need you. Let me take your hand, I’ll make it right” his song is about someone struggling with a hard time and he wants people to listen to it and feel like they are not alone. In the short story Kimberle struggles, challenges after challenges and it does not get better.” Kimberle you all right?[…] please let me in[…] Imagining her hanging from the light fixture, her veins cascading red in the tub…” ld give her hope but it also shows what pain a person goes through when they are suffering and when they see someone else they are close to suffering. 

Pain Room by Au/Ra she says “Welcome to the panic room. Where all your darkest fears are gonna come for you” these lyrics relate to Kimberle because in the short story they have the dialogue of

“I wanna do a threesome with a guy”….

 “Look, I’m not gonna . . . and he’d want us to”

“Well, exactly.”

“Exactly? But . . .”

“Kimberle, don’t you ever think about what we’re doing—about us?”

This conversation made me feel like the narrator was panicking from this response. Especially because Kimberle said “US? There is no us.” I think anyone would feel sad or panicked by this response.  

In the song “let you down” NF he says “Feels like we’re on the edge right now

I wish that I could say I’m proud

I’m sorry that I let you down

I let you down” this song relates to Kimberle because in the end she say “ But it was too late “implying Kimberle died. I feel this person has deep regret and takes responsibility for Kimberle. This whole story was as if the narrator had a saviour complex. 

PANDORA’S BOX

In the story “Pandora’s Box” by Arturo Arias a man named Juan was never comfortable in his own skin. He envied a woman Pandora. Through the story he goes through uncertainty whether he wants to get the surgery to transition into a female. In the end Juan was then Juanita and she was very happy in her body, exploring and learning new things. She learned to deal with all female struggles and found love with Pandora. In the article “NikkieTutorials Has Come Out as a Transgender Woman in a New YouTube Video” By Marci Robin a famous youtuber decided to finally come out as transgender. In a youtube video for 12 million fans she came out and began with “ when I was younger, I was born in the wrong body” Nikki began to take hormones and growth stoppers to fully transition into a female. Much like Juanita in Pandora’s box, Nikki decided to become her true self,both got gender confirmation surgery and they both get to live their best life.  

COMPARISONS 

Graciela Iturbide

Dulce Pinzon

Both Photographers have an eerie tone to their images. Graciela’s collection is in all black and white showing what seems to be abandoned places. Dulce’s collection is of a wide variety but particularly this section has animals and humans but the form and body parts of some of the animals are detached and disfigured. Both photographers seem to be digging deeper into a bigger picture of loving and caring for our planet. The teddy hanging shows that humans are killing wildlife by endangering their habitat. Whereas the train tracks are showing the impact we have with new inventions and the toll this takes on our planet. Environmental issues have been on a rise and sometimes taking a moment to create a better and sustainable future for everyone is what needs to happen. I feel their artwork speaks volumes.

LA GUERA

Out if the whole reading of La Guera by Cherrie Moraga paragraph 14 relates to me the most. “I didn’t trust him because he was a male” (Moraga). I think men are the coolest but I wouldn’t want to be alone with one. I speak to my male friends about consent and how to protect themselves when with a female and I too like Cherrie mentions, would  tell them to “imagine being a woman”.  And they have the same reaction as her friend. To my male friends they are afraid to be a woman because so many things could happen to us, I guess that’s why they try to protect us. Another part of the reading i relate to is “the feminost movement must be a movement of such survivors, a movement with a future.” In class we went over the 13 point, this passage was a beautiful example of feminism in my opinion. Feminism is not just for women, it is simply for equality for women, LGBTQ+ and men. The 13 points included everyone in it and hoped for a better future for their people.

Through out this project, I only had one question in mind, what have I learned?

Mexican Heaven By José Olivarez

Mexican Heaven by Jose Olivarez

all of the Mexicans sneak into heaven.
St. Peter has their names on the list,
but the Mexicans haven’t trusted a list
since Ronald Reagan was president.

St. Peter is a Mexican named Pedro, 
but he's not a saint. Pedro waits at the gate 
with a shot of tequila to welcome 
all the Mexicans to heaven,
but he gets drunk 
& forgets about the list. 
all the Mexicans walk into heaven, 
even our no-good cousins who only 
go to church for baptisms & funerals. 

all the Mexican women refuse to cook or clean
or raise the kids or pay bills or make the bed or
drive your bum ass to work or do anything except
watch their novelas, so heaven is gross, the rats
are fat as roosters & the men die of starvation.

Saint Peter lets Mexicans into heaven
but only to work in the kitchens.
a Mexican dishwasher polishes the crystal,
smells the meals, & hears the music.
they dream of another heaven,
one they might be allowed in
if they work hard enough.

there are white people in heaven, too.
they build condos across the street
& ask the Mexicans to speak English.
i'm just kidding.
there are no white people in heaven.

tamales, tacos, tostadas. tortas.
pozole. sopes. huaraches. menudo.
horchata. jamaica. limonada. agua.

Jesus has a tattoo of La Virgen De Guadalupe
covering his back. turns out he's your cousin
Jesús from the block. turns out he gets reincarnated
every day & no one on earth cares all that much.

It turns out god is one of those religious Mexicans
who doesn't drink or smoke weed, so all the Mexicans
in heaven party in the basement while god reads
the bible & thumbs a rosary. god threatens to kick
all the Mexicans out of heaven si no paran
con las pendejadas, so the Mexicans drink more
discreetly. they smoke outside where god won't
smell the weed. god pretends the Mexicans are reformed.
hallelujah. this cycle repeats once a month. amen.

Survival by Miguel Algarin

the struggle is really simple
i was born
i was taught how to behave
i was taught how to accommodate-
i resisted being humanized
into feelings not my own-
the struggle is really simple
i will be born
i will not be taught how to behave
i will not make my muscles vestigial
i will not digest myself

I am Including a three videos with descriptions that explain the way they are connected with the peom, Mexican Heaven by Jose Olivarez.

America is the “heaven” Mexican people go to when they go to “heaven.” José Olivarez’s poem, Mexican Heaven, states that “all Mexicans sneak into heaven.” “All Mexicans” are the generation of latino/a(s) who go into America searching for a better life. A better life usually means working in jobs that are professional to most upper class in our society. Those generations work hard to help their families. Those generations also produce Mexican Americans, the people who can change history and make a difference because just like the poem Survival by Miguel Algarin “[we] will be born” and “[we] will not be taught how to behave.” In other words, Mexican Americans will still grow with the Mexican culture they inherited from the past generations. All the “tamales,” the “tortas,” and “huaraches” that are passed on from generation to generation. Our culture will continue to live even after we go to “heaven.”

La Guera by Cherrie Moraga

I am including a voice audio below that explains the way I relate to the short story La Guera by Cherrie Moraga.

A Playlist for Kimberle by Achy Obejas

This is a spotify playlist that includes five songs that relate to the short story Kimberle by Achy Obejas. I include links to each song and explanations to the way they relate to Obejas’s story.

Melanie Martinez – Tag, You’re It/Milk and Cookies Double Feature 

At the end of the story, Kimberle and the main character find the “seasonal kill,” which was a dead girl. The girl was left to die alone and the only thing the main characters see is their reflection through the dead girl’s eye. I can not imagine the pain kidnapped women and girls experience. Melanie Martinez’s song, Tag You’re It, is about kidnapping. The words “tag, you’re it” is repeated throughout the song to emphasize a man picking out the girl they want next. The song then continues with the phrase, “can anybody hear me? Am I hidden underground?,” to signify that kidnapped women are alone when they are killed the same way the girl died in the story.

Baby don’t cut – Bmike [Official Music Video] – This song talks about suicde. If you are sensitive to these topics please do not watch. 

  In the short story Kimberle by Achy Obejas, the author reveals to us a character, named Kimberle, who struggles with suicidal thoughts. In the beginning of the story Kimberle says “[she] has to be stopped” (14). Later, Kimberle had a knife embedded “upright on the knuckles of her left” hand (19). These are subtle signals that a person is going through hardships in their lives that can not be explained. In that moment the main character took Kimberle to the hospital to get stitches. This is very similar to the song Baby don’t cut by Bmike. Bmike’s song talks about a girl who has “scars buried deep within her skin” because that is the way she “controls” the pain she feels. Bmike’s song explain suicide in a rap song that emphasize the suicidal thoughts can affect a person’s life. Kimberle represents the girl in Bmike’s song because they both experience suicidal thoughts.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts know that you are loved and wanted.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 800-273-8255

Bad Bunny – Yo Perreo Sola 

Bad Bunny’s, Yo Perreo Sola, was a song that was needed in the Latino culture. Many Latino countries still experience machismo (masculine pride). In the video you can see the phrase “Ni Una Menos,” and this phrase is associated with the movement against gender violence. Bad Bunny’s song is also connected with the murder of a transgender woman in Puerto Rico. Bunny’s video also ends with the quote, “SI NO QUIERE BAILAR CONTIGO, RESPETA. ELLA PERREA SOLA,” and translated it means “if she does not want to dance with you, respect. She twerks alone.” This song reminds me of the moment the main protagonist calls herself and Kimberle “prey” (15). The word “prey” symbolizes the way women are sexualized and are put in awkward situations by mostly men. In the story, the main character talks about “two girls” who were “approached by a white man in his fifties” who “tried to grab one of them” (18). This is an example of the unsafe situations men can put women in. If a woman is uninterested in a man, then a man should “respect,” just as Bad Bunny states.

june – A Little Messed Up

The song, A Little Messed Up,  by June is intriguing because it talks about a person who claims they are a “little messed up” for being “selfish” and “obsessed.” In the story above, Kimberle seems to be a person with no fear as she “gunned the car” with the main character inside and for a moment “[they] were suspended in air and time” (21). Kimberle’s actions would be described as “a little messed” just like June’s song states. Kimberle was being selfish for speeding a car to make someone feel suspended in air can be dangerous and will increase adrenaline. The adrenaline of being alive is what made the main character respond with, “That was amazing … Just amazing” (22).

Kina – Get You The Moon (Official Video) ft. Snøw

The main character protagonist demonstrates to be the reason why “[Kimberle’s] head is still above water” (Kina). Kina’s song, Get You The Moon (featuring Snow), is an indie pop song that talks about how a person can make another person feel. The song reminds me that I have people who care for me and want me to live. I would also want to get the “moon” for someone who demonstrates they love me. In the case of the story, the main character brings Kimberle to live with her. Kimberle is supported and wanted by the main character because the main character brought Kimberle home and fed her (17). The main character is the reason why Kimberle’s head is “above water” (Kina). In other words, Kemberle is holding on to her life because the main character is always by her side. 

Dulce Pinzón and Graciela Iturbide

Children are usually naive and have little to no concern of what is going on the world around them. However, I was a little different according to my mom. My mother tells me that I was too curious as a child and that I always wanted to know more than what I could understand. I still remember all the stories she would tell me of when she was a child. Sometimes we still talk about them. 

My mother tries to be as descriptive as possible when she tells me what her home in Mexico was like because I was never able to visit it. According to her it was a field that had some aspects of a dessert and that she called a monte (sometimes a campo). The land naturally had trees with fruit. There were Cactus that produced pitayas, or dragon fruit. However, this environment was also a home to wild animals and reptiles, such as scorpions and snakes. My mothers description resembles the image of Gabriela Iturbide and the gray scaled image allows me to reminisce on the stories my mom would tell me of her home. Iturbide’s is the reality of what some people call a home in Mexico because poverty exists. On the other hand, the image can resemble la frontera (the border) that some people have to cross. Dulce Pinzón’s image makes me recall the story of Saint Juan Diego. I grew up with catholic moralities and I did learn many stories from the bible. In Dulce Pinzón’s we see Saint Juan Diego in a white cloth, with Virgin Mary designed on it, holding flowers. Pinzón’s image shows Saint Juan Diego and in the biblical story he meets Virgin Mary on the Tepeyac hill which was a monte that is similar to the environment shown in Iturbide’s image. Both images are connected to Mexico, a country of pride. Iturbide’s image reveals a home to many Mexicans, and the place that people will walk through for a better life. Pinzón’s image shows Saint Juan Diego, a saint that met Virgin Mary on the hill Tepeyac and now her image is on a cloak in the Basilica of the Lady of Guadalupe in the City of Mexico. 

Alternative ending for Porcupine Love by Tatiana de la Tierra

When I got home all I could think of was Antenita. The least thing I wanted was to hurt her. But what else can I do? What else can a person do when they are afraid of exposing every part of themselves. People are weak when they are vulnerable. It is difficult to love and reveal the most intimate sides of you. People can abuse your kindness and love. I was afraid that would happen to me. I shut myself inside when ever I tried to love. I was afraid of being hurt and as a result I isolated myself from Antenita years ago. She is not my biggest regret. She is my biggest enjoyment this life could have offered me. I was infatuated with every part of her: Her curves, her visage, her aroma, her personality, her everything. Every corner of her body drove me insane. Now I realize that I do miss her. Not only does my soul yern for her but my body as well. She makes me feel warm inside, wet, and I can’t help it anymore. I need her with me. And from the looks of it, she needs me too.

I can not wait any longer. I have to see her.

Wait. What am I saying? Am I not afraid any more? Of course I am. I am still frightened by the idea of being hurt. The moment I let people too close to and turn away. But, what about Antenita? Antenita makes me feel different. I feel safe with her. I feel that I can put trust on her, even if it’s hard. I now know that I love Antenita. That word, “love,” I never expected for that word to ever come out of me. To think that I can finally say that because that is how I truly feel, lets me know that Antenita is who I want to be with.

Fuck the spikes in my soul. I will pluck every single spike if I have to. I just want to love Antenita. I want to caress her. I want kiss her. I want to hear her melodic voice when I arouse with my fingers in her.

Later that night, I emailed her to tell her that I booked tickets to see her. Now I am sitting alone by the window fantasizing of all the ways I will pleasure her and of all the ways I will demonstrate to her that I love her. In a few minutes I received an email back from Antenita. All It stated was the simple phrase:

I love you.

At that very moment, EVERYTHING changed for me. I knew then and there that after all these years Antenita was meant to be with me.

An Article that realtes to the short story Pandora’s Box by Arturo Arias

Below is a link to a New York Times article and an explanation of the way the article relates to the short story Pandora’s Box by Arturo Arias.

Why Are Men Still Explaining Things to Women?

Throughout history women were always deemed fragile and emotionally unstable for society. Today women have proven, more than ever, that  they are strong and independent beings capable of accomplishing anything they set their minds to. The short story, Pandora’s Box by Arturo Arians, tells the story of a boy named Juan who becomes a woman and goes through many of the experiences women face. The moment Juan became a woman, his intial thoughts were of sex and this reminded me of the way women are constantly sexualized and judged in our society. The story is mainly through a boy in a woman body’s  point of view and I was intrigued by this because the only word I thought of was “mansplaining” (I am not stating that the story itself is mansplaining). On page 34, Juanita (Juan’s woman name) is confronted by a man who tells her “[B*tch]! If you were a man I’d punch you right in your face.” The man’s vulgar language reminds of the way men will mansplain to patronize women. Mansplaining is a common experience that women will face to feel patronized. In the article Why Are Men Still Explaining Things To Women by Mary Katharine Tramontana, Tramontana explains that mansplaining is connected to the “idea that women are incapable of being authority figures.” Many men have this audacity to explain and interrupt women with the assumption they have no idea about a topic or themselves. The assumption that women aren’t knowledgeable is connected to the short story when Juan/Juanita has no idea what “burning eyes on your skin” feels like (30). Women experience certain aspects in life that will probably not comprehend and men experience their own aspects in life that women won’t understand either. It is true that women and men will never relate to each other, but I hope one day both can reach an understanding.

What Have I learned

Melanie Martinez – Orange Juice [Official Music Video]

Through out this project, I have learned to embrace myself for being a woman and a Latina. I am a Mexican American female, a Chicana. At first I was ashamed of being Chicana because I felt that neither Mexico or America would accept me. I was always too American for Mexico and too Mexican for America. Now I came through an epiphany. Being a Chicana/o is a culture of its own that combines the customs of two cultures. My culture is unique in its own way and I should not belittle it. The quote “Your body is imperfectly perfect Everyone wants what the other one’s working” is from a song called Orange Juice by Melanie Martinez. Melanie her self is Dominican and Puerto Rican. Many of her songs illustrate many topics that society faces. This song talks the struggles of bulimia some women face. The quote presented above emphasizes that every body is perfect in its own way and there will be other women who will admire your body. This quote can also be used to symbolize that every culture is beautiful and there will be others who will admire your culture. I understand that every aspect of my culture is important. The music, the religion, the art, and the food play a role to build a unique culture. In every Latino culture, many families came from Latino countries to have a better life in America. This created many new cultures. Puerto Rican American, Mexican America, Ecuadorian American, and other forms of Latino/a American are cultures that allow a person to enjoy the best f two different worlds. All Latino/a Americans should stand proud that we can stand on two different lands. I have come to an acceptance with myself.

I learned that there is not other culture like mine, and that there is no other person like me. (This goes for all cultures/ people and does not invalidate others)

I AM PROUD TO BE A WOMEN. I AM PROUD TO BE MEXICAN. I AM PROUD TO BE AMERICAN. I AM PROUD TO BE A LATINA.

I AM PROUD TO BE CHICANA

Thank you for reading, Mariel Hernandez.