I was struck by several points that Ms. Rioja Velarde presented. Firstly, that Cultural Identity is Geographically Bound." I really like this quote, and feel that geography is one element that our young students often don't include or recognize when discussing what affects their culture. Geography drives necessities, luxuries, cuisine, language (30 words for snow in the Eskimo community for example) etc. Geography also dictates lifestyle- as Jacqueline noted the difficulties in Ohio of immigrants coming from massive urban environments to a smaller urban area (Cincinnati) without significant or wide spread public transportation. It is easy for our general 'anglo' population to say " get a job, find a way to make it work, etc..." but when those services and opportunities are not geographically/physically accessible it makes it ten times more difficult to find success.
The second "gem" that I really held on to was within her discussion of her own self, cultural, and intercultural identity maps. Within that discussion she made the point of choosing your own labels and identifiers. Taking ownership of one's personal and cultural identity, and becoming aware of the factors that made us who we have become is vital development for any person in any culture. I think this point that Ms. Rioja Velarde notes is also prevelant in House on Mango Street as Esmeralda comes to accept Mango Street as what has formed her, but has not defined her.
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