LITR 4332 American Minority Literature Model Assignments Final Exam Submissions 2013

Cohen P. Landry

“The Culture within a Culture”

            The African American, Native American, and Mexican American prose and poetry writings are all pieces of great quality literature. This particular literature is classified as Minority and Immigrant literature. Many theories and philosophies have been developed to describe and define the relationship between European-Western concepts, and other countries with different ethnicities and their concepts in respect to literature. This European ideology has been fashioned to attempt to classify, define, or psychologically subjugate people of a particular race, socio-economic status, ethnicity, nation origin, or in this case, writers of cultural literature. This American literature classification is based on western perspectives and literary concepts that do not entirely embrace other cultures or experiences. It also does not consider the nature and foundations of other ethnic backgrounds and history. Only when the minority or immigrant writers merge the European influences with his/her own, a mere diluted version of the natural element of expression from that writer is created, hence the creation and classification of Minority and Immigrant literature.

Although both forms of literature are distinctively different in culture, (alternative) narrative, and experiences, there are also strikingly similar in imagery and context. The most efficient way to differentiate between both aspects of literature varies according to the subject matter and content of the writings. The time, variances, and specific events may contrast between both literature classifications; however the symbols, and dual conflicts used are a shared characteristic among writers. Most minority or immigrant writers represent not only their individual point of view, but also the particular group in which the authors are associated with.  The influence of cultural experiences, along with personal circumstances, only solidifies the authors’ perspective and aim. Relatively speaking, this correlated with the literary influences has helped expand the intellect of minority and immigrant writers to produce many great quality literature works.

Their distinctive quality in writing only differs in narrative, culture, and experiences. Each plot or story created reflects specific events, whether personal or historical. Each story or plot is sometimes fictitious in characterization, and setting, but also describes real life circumstances and experiences, giving it its dynamic appeal. It resembles other dominant cultural characteristics, but involves its own identity and cultures as well .This form of narrative is described as an “Alternative Narrative.” African Americans alternative narrative is achieving “The Dream” which is similar but detached from the “American Dream”. The Native Americans alternative narrative is “Loss and Survival,” which describes their struggles with adjusting to European civilizations. The Mexican American’s alternative narrative is “Ambivalent Minority,” which describes the compassion for family and culture, but also involves the assimilation to new ways of life.

The African-American alternative narrative “The Dream” is unique for many reasons. The term minority can have a variety of definitions. In respect to literature, the minority concept is contrasted to the foundation of America being the land of opportunity and liberation for all citizens. Conversely, the African-American’s experience was extremely different.”The Dream” defines this experience of involuntary participation in western civilization, as well as being a non-participant in the advancement of the American culture. It represents a re-connection to past history, customs, beliefs, and focuses on the collective efficacy of all African decedents and their communities. This involves legal rights, opportunities for self employment, and freedom of expression. It also includes and emphasizes the collaboration between its own people and the conquest for the same ideals proposed in the Declaration of Independence. Langston Hughes spoke about “The Dream” by saying,” What happens to a Dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore And then run”  (Hughes).

The Native American alternative narrative is somewhat different. The idea of “Loss and Survival,” really epitomizes what the struggle has been for many Natives in America. It is difficult to classify which term is suitable to represent the Native Americans, (or even if the term Native American is an acceptable description, for intensive purposes they are Indigenous Westerners), but it is evident of their exponential losses that was suffered. They are neither immigrant, nor minorities but a mysterious, mythical people, who despise innovation and change, and who inevitably were conquered due to Europeans divine promises from god. The expansion to the western world has been a weighty loss for many Native tribes. This includes family, land, livestock, culture, history and present day relativity. After suffering such losses, the Indigenous Westerners understood that history repeats, therefore choosing to survive until the original state of North America returns to prominence. Any classification would be difficult to describe the Indigenous Westerners, due to the extreme losses and circumstances that they have faced. The poet Chrystos, refers to the Country of America and a proposed treaty telling them to, “Go so far we won’t remember you ever came here take these words back with you”  (Chrystos).

The Mexican American alternative narrative also has its own unique characteristics. They mostly represent an immigrant group but can be a minority group as well. Unlike the African American they have voluntary participation in trying to achieve the “American Dream.” They actively choose to assimilate to the dominant culture, for economic and educational purposes. Others travel to America in search for a better opportunity to raise their family and provide for them. The difference in Mexican American narrative is that the continued connection with history, culture and customs are prevalent in modern times due to the constant increase in contact with traditional lifestyles. This however is also a conflict of representation because of the history of Mexican-American conflicts of territory. So who is the Mexican American? The “Ambivalent Minority” narrative represents the conflict that arises from the Mexican-American when confronted with the choice to totally embrace the dominant culture. This is evident in The story of the Virgin of Guadalipe When Juan Diego is conflicted with decided which path to choose, either become a messenger or stay loyal to his dying uncle. He approaches this ultimatum and says, “If I proceed forward, the lady is bound to see me, and I may be detained… that our first affliction must let us go hurriedly to call a priest, as my poor uncle certainly awaits him”  (Diego).

Nevertheless, there are also strikingly similar characteristics between minority and immigrant literature writers. These similarities in imagery and context are used frequently throughout poetry and stories through symbols and dual conflicts. Many symbols are used for a variety of reasons in literature. Most symbols are used with images to convey certain meanings. Although these symbols may provoke positive meaning and feelings, they may be interpreted as offensive or destructive as well. A dual meaning in one particular symbol is one characteristic that is shared throughout all minority and immigrant literature.

In Rudolfo Anaya’s Bless Me Ultima, The sun and the moon are symbols that represent two different ways of life and also two different settings in the story. The llano was the life of an adventurer and developer, in which represented the Marez blood in Antonio’s father’s side. It also was located on the opposing side of the bridge. The farmers were represented by the moon, in which the farmers represent the Luna blood on his mother’s side. This was also on the opposing side of the llano. Antonio mentions the opposing lifestyles when he says, “The sun is good. The men of the llano were men of the sun. The men of the farms along the river were men of the moon”  (Anaya 27). In Lousie Edrich’s Love Medicine, the water is a representation and a connection to time: “I rolled with his current like a stone in the lake. He fell on me like a wave. But like a wave he washed away, leaving no sign he’d been there”  (Anaya 94).

Furthermore, the context used by writers is also similar. Each plot or story encompasses a certain conflict and resolution. More specifically, a dual conflict is common among some writers. In Lousie Edrich’s Love Medicine, June Kashpaw was torn between living life as a wife and mother, or living “like a no-good morissey”  (Anaya 9). While awaiting a train to travel home, she was also Influenced by a companion she thought “the bus ticket would stay good forever,” and chose to party instead  (Anaya 3).  Albertine Johnson also described her aunt’s struggles: “Sometimes she came back to gordie and they made the marriage work for a while longer. Then she would leave again”  (Anaya 9).

Another example of dual conflict is in the story Bless Me Ultima. The character Antonio is conflicted with deciding which side of the family he is most fitting, and also in which god should he obey and worship. When Antonio was born, a family member spoke of his destiny stating, “This one will be a Luna, [and] he will be a farmer and keep our customs and traditions”  (Anaya 5). However his father replied saying. “He is a Marez. His forefathers were conquistadores, men are restless as the seas they sailed and as free as the land they conquered”  (Anaya 6). In addition to conflicting family decisions, he is also debating on which god to believe in; “I could not have been more entranced if I had seen the virgin, or God himself,” he continued “I knew I had witnessed a miraculous thing, the appearance of a pagan god…This is what I expected God to do at my first holy communion”  (Anaya 114)!

Both forms of literature are distinctively different in culture, (alternative) narrative, and experiences; however the similarities in imagery and context and many other literary components shows how American Minority literature is attractive and entertaining. The classification of both minority and immigrant literature only justifies the topic or descriptive term; it does not resemble the fascinating content that each work of art possesses. Even though those terms are considered a negative connotation in the view from a dominant culture perspective, the beauty that each novel contains is expressed through every phrase and punctuation mark. The combination of artistic use of prose and articulate dual-representation of symbols, colors, images and characters, makes The Bluest Eye, Bless Me Ultima, and Love Medicine, great reads for a variety of purposes.