The cultural climate of Texas in the 1800s contained a generalized distaste for diverse peoples, and racist attitudes and actions were exceedingly prevalent. In the novel, "They Called Them Greasers," Arnoldo De Leon forcefully illustrates the segregation and ferocious treatment of Mexican Americans by Anglo-Americans during the nineteenth century. This xenophobic treatment of Mexican Americans was not only violent in regard to the Anglos internal feelings, but also in their actions. De Leon examines the perspectives held by the whites, the roots of these insolences, and the expression, as well as the implications, of these prejudiced attitudes. .
De Leon establishes, primarily through the use of historical newspapers and magazines, the perspectives held by the whites in respect to Tejanos, during the nineteenth century. He suggests that although capitalist exploitation and colonial expansion were root causes of the prejudice towards Mexican Americans, their cultural background played a significant role. Upon their arrival to Texas, during their journey toward westward expansion, Anglo-Americans, as cultural heirs to Queen Elizabeth and the Puritans, "felt a compelling need to control all that was beastly- sexuality, vice, nature, and colored peoples (De Leon, 1). They ventured to affirm their superiority over not only the land they encountered, but the people as well. When the Anglos travelled into foreign land that was uncivilized, they came upon the unrefined Tejanos who inhabited it. Anglos made it their mission to "civilize" these subservient peoples, incapable of living up to their Christian standards. The initial impressions the whites established towards this coarse, "colored" culture began to perpetuate a widespread racist ideology and incite general Anglo claims of superiority.
In organizing his novel, De Leon utilizes specific chapter titles to portray examples of the whites' fixed attitudes towards Mexican Americans.
Juan Ponce de León was born in 1460 in Tierra de Campos Palencia, Spain. ... They did reach the coast of Puerto Rico which would give Ponce de Leon a peek of his future role. ... Ponce de Leon and his men were then attacked by a tribe of Native Americans called the Calusa. Ponce de Leon was hit by a arrow. They then set sail for Cuba where Juan Ponce de Leon died from his wound....
JUAN PONCE DE LEON Born: 1474 in San Servas, Spain Died: 1521 in Cuba (Although mention was found about his family, no specifics could be located; i.e. the names of his wife and children, when they were born and when they died) Juan Ponce de Leon was born in 1474 in San Servas, Spain. In his early years, De Leon fought with Spanish troops that drove the last Muslim stronghold out of Spain. ... De Leon and his men fought with the inhabitants there. ...
Å¡ Juan Ponce De Leon was born in Palencia in 1460. ... Å¡ Next he set out to try to find an island rumored to be north of Cuba called Bimini. ... Å¡ On later voyages Leon also explored the Florida keys. ... This fighting was very dangerous, and became fatal for Leon. ...
They justified their conquest through the ideology that those of mixed blood were impure or had no soul. ... With this notion of Manifest Destiny, the US was able to rationalize a sense of superiority and take it upon themselves to save "the poor, the uneducated, the mixed-bloods" as stated by Arnoldo De Leon (1983). Because they believed that they were the superior race, they felt inclined to help these unfortunates through their own charity. ... All products of Mexico were trafficked through Spain and the Spanish king received a one-fifth share of all the precious metals found called the ...
The first written record about life in Florida begins with the arrival of the Spanish explorer and adventurer Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513. ... Ponce de Leon stepped on shore sometime between April 2 and April 8, possibly somewhere near present-day St. ... They continued to build new colonies and forts all along the coast. ... However as the English colonies grew they pushed the Spanish all the way back to present-day Georgia. ... The Spanish evacuated, after accepting the deal, leaving the towns they established virtually empty. ...
Catholicism is not only a religion to Mexican Americans, but also a way of living, they are taught since they are children to worship God, the saints and the virgen de Guadalupe. Mexican American children are not asked whether they want or not go to church, or if they want to go trough certain religious rituals such as, first communion, and baptism. ... Arnoldo de Leon, "Approximately 20 percent of Mexican Americans in the United States belong to Protestant communions." ... Although Mexican Americans realize that part of their traditions are affecting them, they still continue to carry out th...
They band together for protection and view all outsiders as either below them, or a threat. ... Still, Greasers like Darry, Sodapop, and Steve do have contact with automobiles, as they repair them. ... Cultural values of the 1960s called for men to keep their hair short, and the greaser style is a clear rebellion of this social convention. ... The Socs feel since the Greasers are different from them they should be punished/beaten as they don't deserve to be a part of society. ... In the novel, Pony, Two-bit, Johnny and others are a part of a gang called the Greasers. ...
One group, known as The South-Side Socials (more casually called "socs"), is the more privileged group. ... They start to come to the realization that fighting is not going to solve anything; however, at the same time they realize that no matter what "a soc will still be a soc, and a greaser will still be a greaser." ... From the greasers point of view, styling their hair a certain way, and dressing as they do makes them feel like part of a whole. This conformity to a certain appearance helps them to feel as though they belong in a town that is constantly trying to make them feel that they...
They feel that they need a group of people to understand and support them through the rough stage of their life. ... Hinton Ponyboy is a fourteen-year-old boy who is a part of the gang called the greasers. ... After Johnny killed Bob, they went to their friend Dally to help them get out of their situation. ... They both went in to rescue them. ... After the greasers beat the socials, Dally and Ponyboy went to the hospital to tell Johnny that they had beaten the socials. ...
