help, please!!!
beaujard
I am a french student in English and I am looking for information on
Chicanos for my thesis ( = master equivalent). My subject is about the
assimilation of Mexican-Americans in the U.S from 1970s to 1990s. I need
some advice and information, I would be very grateful to any person who
would be ready to answer my request. You can contact me at the following
e-mail : INES....@wanadoo.fr
Thanks a lot
do not hesitate to contact me, Please!
Valérie
David Glaser
contact Universities that have Ethnic Studies departments.
One good place to start would be University of Texas at Austin. Contact the
School of Humanities. Also, look up the University of Texas Press. They
have produced a lot of good books dealing with various aspects of history -
music, politics, ...
Some of the other members of this ng can direct you to sources in other
states.
For example, the University of New mexico Press has an interesting book
titled "Chicano Politis: Reality & Promise 1940-1990" by Juan Gomez
Quiñones.
Hope this helps.
-David
beaujard wrote in message <01be580b$cd38f860$dd3a8aa4@default>...
Ernesto Nevarez
"Autobiography of a Brown Buffalo" and
"Revolt of the Cacaroach People" both by
Oscar Zeta Acosta.
These books will give you a personal view of the innerlife of
being a Chicano activist. An extreme view but very common in
the community outside of "university" Chicano activist
circles.
Ernesto Nevarez
Have Mexican-Americans assimilated?
David Glaser
Ernesto Nevarez wrote in message <36C86F7C...@mail.thegrid.net>...
>But, you might want to consider your question,
>
>Have Mexican-Americans assimilated?
>
Ernesto, perhaps we should try to define "assimilation". The American
heritage Dictionary defines it as "to make similiar". So, is it only the
Mexican-American who has to become like the American - another ill defined
term - or do both groups meet someplace in between.
I'd say it depends on where you are. If you go to areas where the majority
of the population is Mexican-American such as the LRGV of Texas, you find
that the American has the burden of change. Whereas if the majority of the
population is American, then the Mexican-American has the burden of change.
-David
Patricia Zeitoun
"David Glaser" <gla...@ma.ultranet.com> wrote:
If you go to areas where the majority
> of the population is Mexican-American such as the LRGV of Texas, you find
> that the American has the burden of change. Whereas if the majority of the
> population is American, then the Mexican-American has the burden of change.
>
Interesting! I've been wanting to hear the opinion of the puro pinche
vallucos in this ng. regarding this issue. A recent book, American
Encounters:Greater Mexico, the United States, and the Erotics of Culture by
Jose E. Limon addresses this issue in a very interesting manner, through
film, music, literature and the popular culture. Limon, a Mexican "de este
lado" makes a strong case for the premise that here in Texas, from San
Antonio south, we accomodate the Anglo and Mexican culture quite well, far
better than California has ever done. What do you all think?
PatZ
c/s
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David Glaser
I find that the strength of the Tex-Mex culture is directly proportional to
the distance from the Rio Grande Valley. That is, it is unity in the
Valley.
So, what is the Tex-Mex culture. Well, it ain't american and it ain't
mexican it is
some mixture of the two. It can be very alien to anglos from the north but
is not so alien to mexicans.
What are the characteristics of the Tex-Mex culture? Well, it means that
factory managers have to somehow deal with mexican style paternalism and
american style individualism simultaneously.
The families of the anglos that are sent down to manage the factories have
to learn
how to appreciate Tejano music because that is all that one finds on the
radio. When they go to weddings, quince añeras, etc. they have to learn new
ways of dancing.
Or if they go to a funeral, there is a party afterwards.
It is a place where efficiency is not the watchword. Wages in the valley
are low but the pace of life is not intense and there is a lot emphasis on
socialization.
Some outsiders, people who move to the valley for some reason or another,
assimilate into this society but most of them do not and they leave the
valley after a few years.
-David
=============================================
Patricia Zeitoun wrote in message <7ad8fe$t8i$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...
shoot...@webtv.net
accommodate<<
PatZ,
I believe you are correct, however not as much in San Antonio as in
Corpus Christi. I have noticed that in S.A., even white business people
know they have to accommodate the latino in order to survive. Cisneros
was a big influence and had an almost "JFK" charm to him, until like
"JFK", he could not keep his zipper up when he left home.
In C.C., radio talk shows openly speak of how "They are", and when
I try to speak out, I get no support from the Latinos. There is an issue
in C.C., at this very moment, where the G.I. Forum, founded in the 40's
to fight improper treatment of returning wounded and dead soldiers being
denied admittance to V.A. hospitals or even burial in local cemetaries,
are fighting a local cemetary president for errecting a fence in his
dividing the white and Mexican sections. This president claims he wants
to keep out vandals and trespassers, and the G.I. Forum, says fine,
surround the whole cemetary, or nothing. Talk shows openly talk about
how petty we are, and how we should all get along and not try to claim
discrimination at every turn, and for the most part, nothing is
happening, as usual.
I called this talk show and asked him if he was proud that 2 of
the 3 major founding organizations dealing with hispanic issues, LULAC
and the G.I. Forum were founded In Corpus Christi and La Raza Unida,
just up the road. These shows speak of these organizations as good ole
boy societies where we gather to speak spanish and segregate ourselves
from whites, not allowing the past to stay in the past.
It was recently revealed, but remained rather toned down, that it
festivities such as "Buccaneer Days" in Corpus Christi and "Fiesta" In
San Antonio were specifically designed to coincide with Local elections.
During this time, everything stops in these two cities and hundreds of
thousands of chicanos line the streets to catch the parades, while
elections were quitely going on.
cabezon <RAYO>
Your points are valid but I would disagree to some small extent with
your statement that outsider Hispanics do not have any trouble adapting
to the Frontera. Those from both sides of the border find the Valle
confusing and different. Their are just too many contradictory cues and
signals for most newcomers. Everyone, however, seems to settle in after
awhile.
David Gleason
David Glaser wrote in message <7au33j$m80$1...@ligarius.ultra.net>...
>The families of the anglos that are sent down to manage the factories have
>to learn
>how to appreciate Tejano music because that is all that one finds on the
>radio.
Actually, the leading radio station in the Valley is KGBT AM&FM, which are
not Tejano stations... they play Mexican music. The two Tejano stations of
significance, KIWW and KKPS together do not have the audience of KGBT. The
#2 station is KBFM, a Top 40 station in English, and #3 is KTEX, which is
country. Only about 11 % of listening is done to Tejano stations as the
music form is pretty much on the skids, sales and radio wise.
Patricia Zeitoun
"David Gleason" <davidg...@sprintmail.com> wrote:
>
Actually, the leading radio station in the Valley is KGBT AM&FM, which are
> not Tejano stations... they play Mexican music.
Are you saying this station plays only music from Mexico? Our local station
and those in Houston play some of each. Why is Tejano music a dead issue?
Did it go out of fashion with the Anglos? I see no evidence that it is out
of fashion with the Mexican-Americans here.
PatZ
David Glaser
I think that the term "Tejano Music" needs some definition. To me, Tejano
music is
what I hear when I go to bailes (Weddings, Quinceañeras, etc.) in the
valley. Stuff that you would see on the Johnny Canales show.
If I'm using the term "Tejano Music" incorrectly, then what is the
definition of the above music and how does it differ from David Gleason's
definition?
-David
=========================
Patricia Zeitoun wrote in message <7b1me4$73o$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...
David Gleason
Patricia Zeitoun wrote in message <7b1me4$73o$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...
>In article <4aLA2.545$PM2....@alfalfa.thegrid.net>,
> "David Gleason" <davidg...@sprintmail.com> wrote:
>>
>Actually, the leading radio station in the Valley is KGBT AM&FM, which are
>> not Tejano stations... they play Mexican music.
>
>
>
>Are you saying this station plays only music from Mexico? Our local
station
>and those in Houston play some of each. Why is Tejano music a dead issue?
>Did it go out of fashion with the Anglos? I see no evidence that it is out
>of fashion with the Mexican-Americans here.
>
KGBT plays a format called "Regional Mexican" and is very similar to Estereo
Latina in Houston. The name "regional Mexican" does not apply to where music
was recorded but the style. Vicente Fernandez, Alejandro Fdz, Limite, Los
Bukis, Tucanes de Tijuana, Invasores, Tigres del Norte, Mojado, Temerarios
are regional Mexican artists. Emilio, Little Joe, La Mafiia, Michael
salgado, Mazz, Jennifer & the Jetz, etc. are Tejano artists.
Like Michael Salgado, there are some artists or some songs by some artists
that work in both worlds. But, for the most part, the audience appeal is
different. The first Tejano station in the world, KXTN in San Antonio, does
all announcing in English....no Regional Mexican station would do that.
As to popularity, it is widely reported how badly Tejano is doing. The
audience for Regional Mexican in Houston is about 8% of all listeners, while
the Tejano stations (KQQK and KRTX) have less than 2.5% between them. In the
valley, Tejano used to be 20% of all listeneing, and now it is about 10%. It
is off in Dallas by 75%, in San Antonio (one station even dropped the music
and went regional) and elsewhere. It is not played at all outside Texas.
Tejano sales are so bad that the labels are releasing artists from their
contracts... La Mafia broke up because they could not get a good new deal...
etc. etc.
David Gleason
Patricia Zeitoun wrote in message <7b2mb0$tp$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...
>Thanks for taking the time to explain this. I understood who the Tejano
>groups are, but had not given any thought to how few of them are around any
>more. In your opinion, what happened to the market? What music are
>Mexican-Americans listening to, the Regional Mexican?
In the cities where it can be determined, Tejano was a format that appealed
to those who usually listened to top 40 or dance or other English stations.
The audience figures of the Regional Mexican stations has not increased in
proportion with the decrease in Tejano stations.
>Come to think of it,
>that is what we are listening to here on our local station. What about the
>teen-agers? My students listen to Rap of course (God save us all!)but
still
>sing along with Ramon Ayala.
That's cool. I'm glad that the newest generation knows both cultures. Young
people generally listen to what is "in" to listen to as determined by their
peers at scool. But its great to see kids singing along with "Volver,
Volver" or any of the great Mariachi or Ranchera songs. I see this a lot at
5 de Mayo or 16 de Septiembre fiestas... the kids know the words to all the
sings!
> What do Mexican-Americans in Chicago listen to?
The only two FM stations in Chicago are both variants of Regional Mexican;
there is a salsa AM station that appeals to the Puerto Ricans that live
there and an all talk AM that is very much like KLAT "La Tremenda 10-10" in
Houston (same owner, same programmer).
> I find this very sad. It's like losing a part of the culture, an important
>part.
What I think happened to Tejano, and this is born out by a number of bigger
authorities than me, is that the big record labels bought the Tejano
independent labels and tried to make Tejano work outside Texas. It did not,
and the corruption of the music from its root values hurt the interest. So,
it ended up that the real fans did not like it as much, and the folks who
did not like it still don't.
At least the Super Seven won a Grammy... maybe that will show that the music
needs to get back to its roots.
Patricia Zeitoun
"David Gleason" <radio...@usa.net> wrote:
>
> >Actually, the leading radio station in the Valley is KGBT AM&FM, which are
> >> not Tejano stations... they play Mexican music.
>
> Latina in Houston. The name "regional Mexican" does not apply to where music
> was recorded but the style. Vicente Fernandez, Alejandro Fdz, Limite, Los
> Bukis, Tucanes de Tijuana, Invasores, Tigres del Norte, Mojado, Temerarios
> are regional Mexican artists. Emilio, Little Joe, La Mafiia, Michael
> salgado, Mazz, Jennifer & the Jetz, etc. are Tejano artists.
Thanks for taking the time to explain this. I understood who the Tejano
groups are, but had not given any thought to how few of them are around any
more. In your opinion, what happened to the market? What music are
Mexican-Americans listening to, the Regional Mexican? Come to think of it,
that is what we are listening to here on our local station. What about the
teen-agers? My students listen to Rap of course (God save us all!)but still
sing along with Ramon Ayala. What do Mexican-Americans in Chicago listen to?
I find this very sad. It's like losing a part of the culture, an important
part.
PatZ
c/s
Msedano
evidence therefore. I went into the Army and wound up in a missile outfit
trained in Texas. Blew my mind to meet meztizo looking GIs who spoke clear
clean Spanish, but when you chatted them up in English it blew my mind to hear
a solidly dense shitkicker accent! Kinda like when I was ordering in a chinese
restaurant in Durham NC and this chinese chick comes to the table and in a
sweet southerne belle accent asked "what'll y'all hay-ave?" We Californios are
so provincial, I discovered.
regards, mvs
In article <7ad8fe$t8i$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>, Patricia wrote:
>we accomodate the Anglo and Mexican culture quite well, far
>better than California has ever done. What do you all think?
>
>PatZ
>c/s
--
RAZA, Read!
Michael Sedano
Mse...@aol.com
c/s
cabezon <RAYO>
you observed was no fluke; we have Spanish/ East Texas combinations, and
more others then you can imagine. Of course we like our Califas
contemporaries but sometimes they do seem a bit provincial, as you
suggested. Mikal Fisher