Focus

To help students express their pride in their Latin heritage

Vital Theme and Narrative

Part of ongoing learning in Latin American History to help students express themselves and their feelings.

Habit of Mind

Positive

Objectives

To have students express cultural pride.

Procedures or Activities

Students will read an excerpt from the poem Yo Soy Joaquin. Students will then write their own poem that helps to express their feelings about being Latino or Latina.

Source

http://www.pbs.org/chicano/woaguin.html

Ideas for Assessment of Student Learning

Grade for written poem. Have students present poems to class. Have class give opinions on the poems presented.

Primary Sources

An Excerpt From Yo Soy Joaquin (I Am Joaquin)

By Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales, 1967 (used with permission)

And now the trumpet sounds,
The music of the people stirs the Revolution,
Like a sleeping giant it slowly
Rears its head to the sound of

Tramping feet
Clamouring voices
Mariachi strains
Fiery tequila explosions
The smell of chile verde and
Soft brown eyes of expectation for a better life.

And in all the fertile farm lands,
the barren plains,
the mountain villages,
small smeared cities
We start to MOVE.
La Raza!
Mejicano!
Español!
Latino!
Hispano!
Chicano!
Or whatever I call myself.

I look the same
I feel the same
I cry and
Sing the same.

I am the masses of my people and
I refuse to be absorbed.

I am Joaquin
The odds are great
But my spirit is strong

My faith unbreakable
My blood is pure

I am Aztec Prince and Christian Christ

I SHALL ENDURE! I WILL ENDURE!

Excerpt from the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo