BORDERLANDS
Borderlands
The Story of Hispanics in the American Southwest
By Angel Vigil
Borderlands tells the powerful history of the Hispanic Southwest, stretching from Spain’s earliest explorations of the Americas to Mexico’s settlement of the northern frontier that became today’s American Southwest. Through vivid storytelling, Borderlands traces the evolution of Hispanic life—from the Mexican Revolution through the Bracero labor program to the rise of the United Farm Workers and the Chicano movement. It celebrates the culture’s deep traditions in art, music, food, and language, and the unbreakable value placed on family. It honors the patriotism of Latinos who have served our nation in every war and contributed leadership across every field. Borderlands showcases the lives of Hispanic leaders who through perseverance, resilience, and faith have contributed to America’s success.
BORDERLANDS BOOK TALKS BY ANGEL VIGIL
Dancer, actor, director, author, storyteller and educator are just some of the many talents that have made Angel one of Colorado’s most versatile artists. He is a master teacher and I marvel at his skill and dedication, bringing out the best in all who work with him. Angel is a remarkable artist who has long been a leader in bringing Hispanic culture to our area.
—Henry Lowenstein, Legendary Colorado Theatre Producer
The Mexican American War of 1846-1848
This war is one of the foundational and defining events of American history. It created the Class of 1848, the states that became the American Southwest. It also completed the idea of Manifest Destiny, a country from sea to shining sea. The states of the Class of 1848 rival the original 13 colonies in telling the story of the creation of the United States. Interesting aspects of this war include why Abraham Lincoln opposed the war; why the United States didn’t annex all of Mexico, but only took the northern territory; and who were the war’s military leaders who later became America’s national leaders. This war is as important as any war in America’s history.
Whose Story Gets Told & Who Gets To Tell It
One of the wonderful developments in recent museum and educational practices is the recognition that there are many American stories that have never been heard. The challenge of course is to ask whose story gets told and who gets to tell it. In order to answer this question one must confront the truism that history is written by the victors. The difficulty of this situation is that history is complicated. It is dense with conflicting narratives. To only tell one side of historic events, while they shine a positive light on one aspect of the events, it is a great disservice to the truth of history. It also does not a allow for the complete understanding of past events that lead to greater outcomes in the future. Without learning there is no growth. This talk discusses the challenges of examining the vast narrative of American history to unearth its lost, erased and neglected stories in order to better to appreciate America’s greatness.
An Alternative Narrative: Not East to West, but South to North
In telling the story of America the dominant narrative is one of America’s western expansion and exploration. This narrative is complete with its dramatic tales and mythos building characters. The tales include the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock; the forging of the western frontiers; the building of the transcontinental railroad; the Gold Rush in the West; the Oregon Trail; the Lewis and Clark expeditions. There are many other examples but they are all summed up in the phrase often credited to newspaper editor Horace Greeley, attributed to Greeley in the New York Daily Tribune, July 13, 1865 issue, concerning America’s expansion westward: “Go West, young man, go West and grow up with the country.”
While Manifest Destiny’s East to West narrative offers one model for the story of America’s development over its 250 years, another equally compelling and dramatic narrative is one of its South to North development, specifically the story of the American Southwest. The story of America is incomplete without an exploration of this history.
It is the story of Spanish exploration, Spanish colonization and settlement, confrontations with the existing Native populations and cultures, Mexican immigration and the development of the Hispanic presence in the American Southwest. This South to North story is essential to America’s history.
While Manifest Destiny’s East to West narrative offers one model for the story of America’s development over its 250 years, another equally compelling and dramatic narrative is one of its South to North development, specifically the story of the American Southwest. The story of America is incomplete without an exploration of this history.
It is the story of Spanish exploration, Spanish colonization and settlement, confrontations with the existing Native populations and cultures, Mexican immigration and the development of the Hispanic presence in the American Southwest. This South to North story is essential to America’s history.
The Promise of America: An Immigrant Nation
The famous quote written on the plaque on the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor is from Emma Lazarus’s poem The New Colossus: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. I lift my lamp besides the golden door.”
The “golden door” is the door of opportunity for all immigrants entering the United States. The poem’s themes of freedom, hope and opportunity gave a signal of welcome to immigrants entering the United States.
It is an undeniable truth that America is a nation of immigrants. Successive waves of immigrant populations have crossed oceans and borders to build their futures in America. These immigrant waves follow historical periods and world events causing people to leave their home country to seek the promise of a better life in America. This is the eternal promise of America as it gives people the hope of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit Happiness.
The “golden door” is the door of opportunity for all immigrants entering the United States. The poem’s themes of freedom, hope and opportunity gave a signal of welcome to immigrants entering the United States.
It is an undeniable truth that America is a nation of immigrants. Successive waves of immigrant populations have crossed oceans and borders to build their futures in America. These immigrant waves follow historical periods and world events causing people to leave their home country to seek the promise of a better life in America. This is the eternal promise of America as it gives people the hope of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit Happiness.
B o r d e r l a n d s
The twin anniversaries of America 250th and Colorado 150th provide the opportunity to examine the intense history of the borderland experience that exists in the American Southwest. Of particular interest is the origins of this borderland and the complex identities that formed inside these borderlands. A common refrain that is repeated throughout borderland history is, “I didn’t cross the border, the border crossed me.” This simple statement contains the history of a people.
Borderlands are not just geographic or political spaces but they can also be cultural, psychological or emotional borders. A borderland can be as intimate an individual’s “personal space” or as vast as the space where nations and cultures intersect.
The history of the borderland between America and Mexico encompassing the Southwestern United States is a prime example of the complexities of a borderland between two nations. It has been the site of both war and conflict. It has been the site of unequal power dynamics and inequality. It has been the site of a people losing one identity and gaining another without any choice.
The 250 years of American history in the Southwest is the history of a borderland experience. It is a fascinating history and it is the story of a fascinating people, the Southwestern Hispanics successfully living in two worlds.
Borderlands are not just geographic or political spaces but they can also be cultural, psychological or emotional borders. A borderland can be as intimate an individual’s “personal space” or as vast as the space where nations and cultures intersect.
The history of the borderland between America and Mexico encompassing the Southwestern United States is a prime example of the complexities of a borderland between two nations. It has been the site of both war and conflict. It has been the site of unequal power dynamics and inequality. It has been the site of a people losing one identity and gaining another without any choice.
The 250 years of American history in the Southwest is the history of a borderland experience. It is a fascinating history and it is the story of a fascinating people, the Southwestern Hispanics successfully living in two worlds.
stories from the homeland
Buenos Cuentos, Buenos Amigos: Good Stories, Good Friends
The Hispanic Southwest is home to many of the richest cultural traditions in America. These traditions have sustained generation of families and individuals as they search for meaning in a demanding and ever-changing America. For them folklore is a deeply personal experience. Their cultural activities keep alive the memory, heritage and values of their ancestors. At the same time these cultural traditions give a heart and soul to modern life that strives to find meaning in its daily lives. Hispanic culture is a profound living culture with traditions of folklore passed down by ancestors. It is a culture of rich traditions, vibrant celebrations and a deep sense of family and community heritage.
This talk examines one of the most powerful traditions of Hispanic culture: the traditional stories sent down from the heavens on the wings of angels from those who have passed before. The origins of the oral traditions of the Hispanic Southwest are found in history and cultural memory. Be enchanted and fascinated by the telling of these traditional tales.
This talk examines one of the most powerful traditions of Hispanic culture: the traditional stories sent down from the heavens on the wings of angels from those who have passed before. The origins of the oral traditions of the Hispanic Southwest are found in history and cultural memory. Be enchanted and fascinated by the telling of these traditional tales.