African Roots in the African Roots in the U.S. Latino and U.S. Latino and

Latina TreeLatina Tree

Jan Rog / English 152Jan Rog / English 152

African Influences on U.S. Latino and African Influences on U.S. Latino and Latina LiteratureLatina Literature

per·spec·tiveper·spec·tive    noun    noun

– A view or vista. A view or vista.

– A mental view or outlook: “It is A mental view or outlook: “It is useful occasionally to look at the useful occasionally to look at the past to gain a perspective on the past to gain a perspective on the present” (Fabian Linden). present” (Fabian Linden).

The appearance of objects in depth as The appearance of objects in depth as perceived by normal binocular vision. perceived by normal binocular vision.

– The relationship of aspects of a subject to The relationship of aspects of a subject to each other and to a whole: a perspective of each other and to a whole: a perspective of history; a need to view the problem in the history; a need to view the problem in the proper perspective. proper perspective.

– Subjective evaluation of relative significance; a Subjective evaluation of relative significance; a point of view: the perspective of the displaced point of view: the perspective of the displaced homemaker. homemaker.

– The ability to perceive things in their actual The ability to perceive things in their actual interrelations or comparative importance: tried interrelations or comparative importance: tried to keep my perspective throughout the crisis. to keep my perspective throughout the crisis.

• Discuss in groups.

• What does it mean to be Latino or Latina?

• What cultures are the roots of Latinos and Latinas today?

• Why is it important to search for one’s roots?

Indigenous peoples of the AmericasIndigenous peoples of the Americas

Spanish and Portuguese explorers, priests, Spanish and Portuguese explorers, priests, soldiers, and colonists.soldiers, and colonists.

AfricansAfricans

• Slaves from the TransAtlantic Trade

• Africans from Spain (with influence on Spanish culture)

Lessons about life, family, and Lessons about life, family, and identity, passed down from identity, passed down from generation to generationgeneration to generation

Lessons about creation and the Lessons about creation and the workings of the cosmos passed down workings of the cosmos passed down through the generationsthrough the generations

Often becoming a reality to many Often becoming a reality to many

Oral traditionsOral traditions

– ““speakers” or speakers” or priestspriests

– historical lessons historical lessons

– prognosesprognoses

– oraclesoracles

– riddlesriddles

– cosmogonycosmogony

LegendsLegends– human narrativeshuman narratives– ties to natureties to nature– enduring truthsenduring truths– faith and actionsfaith and actions– qualities of the qualities of the

peoplepeople– all possibilities are all possibilities are

possiblepossible

Influences in MestizaInfluences in Mestiza CultureCulture Indigenous, Spanish, and African oral Indigenous, Spanish, and African oral

traditions occurred in the Mestiza traditions occurred in the Mestiza cultureculture

– Legends, psalms, biblical accounts, Legends, psalms, biblical accounts, troubadour ballads from Spaintroubadour ballads from Spain

– Poems, myths, historical narrative, Poems, myths, historical narrative, and cosmic revelations from and cosmic revelations from indigenous peoplesindigenous peoples

Magic in TalesMagic in Tales Shape ShiftingShape Shifting

Time TravelTime Travel

Mind over Matter / Mind with MatterMind over Matter / Mind with Matter

Communing with the DeadCommuning with the Dead

Creating a New RealityCreating a New Reality

Distinguishing EnemiesDistinguishing Enemies

Seeking Help Seeking Help

Rewarding FriendsRewarding Friends

Select one story and Select one story and read!read!

Quetzalcoatl

Aztlan

Our Lady of Guadalupe

La Llorona

Chac Mool

The Jaguar

• Select an African tale and read!

• Quarcoo Bah-Bohni (The Bad Boy)

• Anansi and the Blind Fisherman

• N’Gor Niebe

• Which did you choose? Read it and determine how it compares to your Mexican tale.

Song and DanceSong and Dance Song and Dance / Indigenous, Spanish, and Song and Dance / Indigenous, Spanish, and

African InfluencesAfrican Influences

– Symbolic RepresentationSymbolic Representation

– Relating History, Social Lessons, EventsRelating History, Social Lessons, Events

Often in the oral traditionOften in the oral tradition

– Ballads (Las Baladas)Ballads (Las Baladas)

– Couplets (Las Coplas)Couplets (Las Coplas)

– Legends (Los Cuentos, Las Leyendas )Legends (Los Cuentos, Las Leyendas )

Music Music

Addresses issues without requiring literacyAddresses issues without requiring literacy

Informs, educates, and inspires actionInforms, educates, and inspires action

Current as well as historicalCurrent as well as historical

Non-threatening, but is it?Non-threatening, but is it?

Presents the uncommon perspectivePresents the uncommon perspective

• Can we re-examine our histories to find there are more influences than we first thought?

• Can we take a traditional interpretation and begin to consider it in a new light?

• Can we be comfortable with a new understanding of the past?

MalincheMalinche

Traditionally, Malinche has Traditionally, Malinche has been seen as a traitor who been seen as a traitor who consorted with Hernan Cortez.consorted with Hernan Cortez.

Research has uncovered. . . . Research has uncovered. . . .

– Enabled Cortez to negotiate Enabled Cortez to negotiate rather than slaughterrather than slaughter

– Communicated and facilitated Communicated and facilitated peaceful/ less violent transitionpeaceful/ less violent transition

– Spoke out against cannibalism Spoke out against cannibalism and human sacrificeand human sacrifice

– Was the daughter of a noble Was the daughter of a noble Aztec family; passed over for a Aztec family; passed over for a male heir; ended up as a slavemale heir; ended up as a slave

La Llorona: Reflection with Water

Recast the story:

murderess - ->

sorrowful - ->

vain - ->

vengeful - ->

weak - ->

victim - ->

misunderstood - ->

abandoned - ->

What does it mean to recast our

stories?• Consider how Sandra Cisneros recast

La Llorona and created the strong women of Woman Hollering Creek.

• What does it mean if we recast our own stories? Can we allow new roots to be added to our current roots?

• What do you think?