Sam Griffith 813
Martin Espada’s poems often tell examples of disrespect towards the latino culture. Espada’s Poem, “Revolutionary Spanish Lesson,” tells of everyday disregard to the integrity of latino culture. “The New Bathroom Policy at English High School,” paints a picture of a rather strange incident in where the principal of a public school had banned spanish. “Two Mexicanos Lynched in Santa Cruz, California, May 3, 1877,” gave light to the simply appalling story of two Mexicanos being lynched by a group of vigilante gringos for the sole reason of their race.
“Revolutionary spanish lesson,” shows a minor everyday level of disrespect. “Whenever my name is mispronounced…” Espada then goes on to tell a detailed description of torture he wishes he could practice on the americans that disrespect his background by mispronouncing his name. This poem is meant to make you, the reader, feel the everyday frustration of living in a country with people who do not have enough respect for your culture to even pronounce your name right.
“The New Bathroom Policy at English High School,” gives an example of a major disrespect instilled by a powerful authoritative figure. A principal of an american school has banned spanish while the kids are on the school premises. The poem has a theme of power shifts, In the introduction to the poem the kids have the power. The principal feels uncomfortable, constipated even, in the fact that he does not understand the student’s conversation. Afterwards, the principal has the power as he has banned spanish, “Now he can relax.”
“Two Mexicanos Lynched in Santa Cruz, California, May 3, 1877,” Portrays the story of the utmost disrespect. Two Mexicanos are Murdered at the amusement of a gang of vigilante gringos for only their amusement. “Remain the faces of the lynching party:/ faded as pennies from 1877,a few stunned/ in the blur of execution,/ a high-collar boy smirking, some peering/ from the shade of bowler hats, but all/ crowding into the photograph.” This poem is meant to make you feel disgusted, outraged, and possibly ashamed, it is meant to show you a depressing look into the past and give you advice into the near future.
Martin Espada’s poems have a general theme of disrespect towards latino culture. They reveal everyday struggles of an individual of a minority ethnic group, for example, “Revolutionary Spanish Lesson.” They convey tales of oppression from authoritative power, Shown in, “The New Bathroom Policy at English High School.” His poems can even demonstrate the extremes of murder towards certain ethnic groups for the sole purpose of entertaining bigots. As expressed in“Two Mexicanos Lynched in Santa Cruz, California, May 3, 1877.”
