Puerto Rican Obituary OR I am Joaquin

2) Discuss how it frames the problem faced by that community, and the solution

3) Does it connect to some kind of nationalist or internationalist ideology? How is this connection a strength for the movement? What are the potential drawbacks/criticisms of this strategy?

4) How does it construct collective identity for the Puerto Rican (1^st Poem) or Chicano movement (2^nd poem)?

•Pick specific lines that speak to these questions in your response

This poem is closely related to the nationalist trend, especially cultural nationalism. It encourages Puerto Ricans to reject assimilation into the mainstream cultural norms of white Americans and instead cherish their own identity. The drawback is that it may isolate this group or neglect the establishment of broader alliances with other groups.

Through the repeated appearance of names such as "Juan / Miguel / Milagros / Olga / Manuel", this poem constructs a collective identity, transforming individual struggles into a shared experience. Through repetition and shared hardships, Pieri coalesces the community into a collective voice of resistance.

This way of building identity is heavily tied to Chicano Nationalism, which focuses on creating a united, culturally proud Chicano nation rather than fitting into a broader internationalist movement. The main strength of this strategy is its ability to promote solidarity, framing the marginalized community as a "sleeping giant" that is finally starting to "MOVE" against an unjust system. However, this nationalist ideology is very male-centric, relying on masculine figures like "fathers" and "princes," which pushes aside the important roles of Chicanas within the movement.

The poem connected with Chicano Nationalism. The poem repeated and emphasized their lands, their faith, honors in their history, cultures, and compared them with their inferiority in new society. For example, "Inferiority is the new load . . . . "The connection can strengthen the movement(i.e. Chicano movements) by evoking Chicano community's consciousness of their dignity in Chicano's culture and history, such as Aztec. The potential drawbacks is that this strategy may cause some irrational bloody strikes by triggering people emotionally.

The poem constructing collective identity Chicano movement by representing the collective history and experience of Chicano's community. For example, by saying "I am the masses of my people and 
I refuse to be absorbed. 
I am Joaquín. 
", the author let Joaquín becomes a symbolic of an entire community to emphasize their sharing history and identity. "I have been the bloody revolution,The victor, The vanquished." The author expressed determination of anti-oppression in their future.

had kept their eyes open

at the funeral of their fellow employees

who came to this country to make a fortune

and were buried without underwears" because it shows the lack of class consciousness and solidarity the author was trying to avoid.

The poem reflects a strong Chicano nationalist ideology, connecting Joaquín to other historical Chicano figures, and asserting "This land, this earth, is OURS." The shared history strengthens the movement by creating unity and pride, but it can also be limiting. Lines like "My blood is pure" can exclude those who are more assimilated or of mixed descent. At the same time, Gonzales constructs a collective identity through the repetition of the phrase "I am", turning Joaquín into a symbol of all Chicanos (Méjicano, Latino, Chicano, etc): "I am the masses of my people." Using these strategies, the poem builds a powerful sense of shared identity rooted in common history and struggle.

(Hannah Long)

This poem relates to cultural nationalism. The writer encourages readers to go against the discrimination and accept their culture, background, and heritage. At the end of the poem the text says, "Aqui / Se Habla Espanol / all the time/ Aqui you salute your flag first." By using Spanish in these phrases, it encourages readers to take control of their heritage. Though, this may face drawbacks through isolation and if they go against the many establishments of America, they may begin to struggle even more.

The poem constructs collective identity for Puerto Ricans by using phrases in Spanish, as well as the repetition of the names, which makes individual experiences into shared ones. It creates relatability for Puerto Ricans and their struggles.

This poem connects to a cultural nationalist ideology about Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans keeping up their culture even if they live in the U.S. This connection emphasizes that despite them moving to the U.S. they should always remember where they came from and not lose themselves to the ideals of this new society. The lines "Never knowing that they are beautiful people. Never knowing the geography of their complexion" add to this power within the movement of being proud of where you came from and not always assimilating to the "American dream" ideals. Some drawbacks could that because they are not subscribing to these ideals of the society they might not reap the benefits of working within the system. However, the system has been built to keep white people in power and keep marginalized groups out of it.

The collective identity is constructed through the repeated names throughout the poem "Juan, Miguel, Milagros, Olga, Manuel." They represent all the Puerto Ricans in the U.S. who are dealing with these issues of inequality everyday. The collective identity is sprinkled throughout the poem with Spanish phrases and shared experiences of Puerto Ricans in New York or across the U.S. "Is very expensive But they understood Is a long non-profit ride from Spanish Harlem to Long Island cemetery" This comes together as well at the end when the author talks about how Puerto Ricans should embrace their culture "PUERTO RICO IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE PUERTORRIQUENOS ARE A BEAUTIFUL RACE". Then at the end switching from the repeated English "Here" to the Spanish "Aqui" is meant to unite Puerto Ricans with their native language and their culture.

This poem clearly embodies an ideology of cultural nationalism. By repeatedly using the "I am" sentence pattern, the poet connects himself to Mexican and Chicano history, extending his individual identity into the national narrative. At the same time, expressions such as "La raza!" and "Chicano!" reinforce a sense of ethnic community and emphasize Chicanos as a distinct group.

The poem constructs the collective identity of the Chicano community in multiple ways. First of all, the poet connects the individual with the entire national history by repeatedly using the "I am" sentence pattern, such as "I am the Maya prince", "I am Emiliano Zapata", and even "I have killed and been killed", integrating individual experience with historical events, making "I" a symbol of the entire nation. This way of writing makes readers realize that personal identity is not isolated, but a continuation of history and culture.

"Always broke

Always owing

Never knowing

that they are beautiful people

Never knowing

the geography of their complexion"

The poem connects to nationalist ideology because it's specifically about the Puerto Rican community as the focus, and this is a strength because when they bring up common struggles and narratives in their community it builds a collective identity among the in-group. Potential drawbacks or criticisms of this strategy could be that they're not the only group going through this problem and so they should look at it through an internationalist lens and have more intersectionality with other marginalized groups:

"PUERTO RICO IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE

PUERTORRIQUENOS ARE A BEAUTIFUL RACE"

It constructs collective identity through common narratives in Puerto Rican culture, and it makes people feel seen and understood in the fact that they're not alone.

"All died yesterday today

and will die again tomorrow"

and keep the morticians employed

as long as they pledge allegiance

to the flag that wants them destroyed." Puerto Ricans are given no way out from the hole they're born into by America, who expects them to simply be thankful as a citizen. This creates a nationalist identity among Puerto Ricans who must stick together to break the cycle and survive. The poem mentions experiences that make foster collective identity in the ways they've been disrespected: "for broken english lessons

to impress the mister goldsteins—

who keep them employed." Many Puerto Ricans have probably experienced difficulty with learning an entire new language, connecting them through hardships. Criticisms of this strategy may relate to US nationalists claiming that they simply "aren't working hard enough," especially in relation to the ideals of the American Dream. As shown in the poem, this can cause hatred between Puerto Ricans due to competition for miniscule resources and jobs. All of this collectively creates a collective identity through common experience and adversity. At the end of the poem especially, hope is created by calling for perseverance from Puerto Ricans and dreaming of a place where they all live in harmony again: "where beautiful people sing

and dance and work together... where you do not need a dictionary

to communicate with your people." These common realities create a core identity for the group.

3) This definitely is connecting to internationalist ideology. It rejects American immigration rhetoric: "[part of me] dissolves into the melting pot; [t]o disappear in shame". If the goal is to call for revolution, rejection of the U.S. ideologies are necessary. Although this radical call will not mesh well with the other, more reformist movements of the time.

4) The poem creates collective identity within the Chicano movement by creating enemyship against U.S. imperialism and by bringing in ancient Latin American and spiritual cultural ties. In multiple ways, his blood runs through the lands: both through the history of Latin America, and from U.S. imperialism abroad in places such as Vietnam.

The poem connects strongly to nationalist ideology, specifically Chicano cultural nationalism. Gonzales emphasizes the importance of cultural roots and rejects assimilation into U.S. society, which he describes as the “sterilization of the soul.” He writes, “I must choose between the paradox of victory of the spirit, despite physical hunger, or to exist in the grasp of American social neurosis,” framing assimilation as a loss of identity. At the same time, he emphasizes the importance of connecting historical moments in different cultures, “I am the Maya prince […] I am Nezahualcóyotl [… ] I am the eagle and serpent of the Aztec civilization.” This connection to a shared cultural and historical past strengthens the movement by creating pride and a sense of unified purpose in the Chicano movement. However, a drawback of this nationalist framing is its exclusion of women. Gonzales primarily references male figures and leadership, which marginalizes Chicana women and limits the inclusivity of the movement’s identity.

Finally, Gonzales constructs a collective identity through his repeated use of the first-person “I,” which functions as a representation of the entire Chicano community. Rather than referencing individuality, the “I” becomes a collective "We" and symbolic. He writes, “I am the masses of my people and I refuse to be absorbed,” emphasizing resistance to assimilation and unity across different cultural communities. Similarly, in the lines “Or whatever I call myself, I look the same, I feel the same, I cry and sing the same,” Gonzales highlights shared human experiences as the foundation of solidarity. With this, Gonzales actively resists the dehumanizing experiences endured by the Chicano movement, emphasizing not only economic injustice and inequality but also the broader dehumanization of Chicano people, reinforcing both belonging and resistance as central elements of Chicano collective identity.

"Juan died waiting for his number to hit

Miguel

died waiting for the welfare check

to come and go and come again

Milagros

died waiting for her ten children

to grow up and work

so she could quit working

Olga

died waiting for a five dollar raise

Manuel

died waiting for his supervisor to drop dead

so he could get a promotion."

This while this shows the results of their work, what is shown through the poem is the tireless labor done, which they do not get equal compensation for.

This poem takes a nationalist approach within the culture of Puerto Rico. It fosters unity within their struggle, and rejects traditional American norms, making reference to things such as the Bible - something used frequently in American nationalist rhetoric.

It fosters a collective identity by telling the stories of numerous people being exploited in the American labor system, all in different ways. Each story represents the flaws of the American labor system, and their collective struggle to achieve the American dream.

This poem connects a lot with a nationalist ideology for the people of Puerto Rican. For example, in the poem, there are lines like "Dead Puerto Ricans

Who never knew they were Puerto Ricans

Who never took a coffee break

from the Ten Commandments," to emphasize that it is the Puerto Ricans who are getting exploited. This could be a strength for the movement because it can unite the people of Puerto Rican backgrounds more easily. The drawbacks might be that, as the movement progresses, the inclusiveness of the movement might be hindered by this nationalist perspective, as it only mentions Puerto Ricans in the poem.

The poem built a collective identity for the Puerto Ricans by mentioning things that are common for the Puerto Ricans who are in the U.S. For example, lines like "These dreams/ These empty dreams

from the make-believe bedrooms/ their parents left them/ are the after-effects/ of television programs/ about the ideal/ white american family/ with black maids/ and/ latino janitors/ who are well train—/to make everyone/ and their bill collectors/ laugh at them/ and the people they represent." Express common thoughts and dreams of Puerto Ricans who come to the U.S. for the fake promises the TV was telling them. This creates a collective identity because it is a very relatable scenario for the Puerto Ricans and can quickly give them the sense that they are what the poem is describing.

The poem reflects Chicano nationalism by focusing on creating a united nation. It's a strength for the movement because it's connecting people by creating a shared identity. Some drawbacks could be that it created an argument that was us vs. them, so other groups began to mistrust them. Joaquin stands for everyone in the Chicano movement and turned people into a unified group with the same history.

The poem connects strongly to a nationalist ideology because it puts Puerto Rican identity and survival in the forefront. At the same time, it is also internationalist because it links Puerto Rican struggle to broader anti-imperialist struggles across the globe. This is a strength because it creates a sense of solidarity that goes beyond just one identity, especially since the oppressive forces of imperialism and capitalism are seen everywhere.

The poem also creates a collective identity by listing many Puerto Rican names and giving them a shared struggle, turning individual lives as a collective story. The repeated phrases about work, suffering, and broken dreams make the community seen as a group rather than isolated individuals.

The poem connects to a nationalist ideology by touching on many of the beautiful things about Puerto Rican culture and painting a picture of what our troubled workers could be doing if they weren't so dependent on a toxic labor system. One line that shows this is, "If only they had turned off the television and tune into their own imaginations". This approach makes the situation relatable in it's humanity, especially for Puerto Ricans.

The collective identity of Puerto Ricans is constructed in the poem by referencing experiences that are more likely to be common between members of the community, ways that they can enjoy each other's company free from the weight of corporations. In the last few lines, the author starts each one with "aqui" to call to mind one of the most personal things for a people - their language.

(Kashmala Yousafzai)

In response to this problem, the poem offers a solution rooted in reclaiming cultural identity and rejecting assimilation. Gonzales emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with Mexican and Indigenous heritage, encouraging pride in one’s history and community. By doing so, the poem promotes a nationalist ideology that centers on shared cultural roots and collective strength.

This nationalist approach is a powerful strategy because it builds unity and empowers marginalized communities. By presenting Joaquín as a symbolic figure, the poem constructs a collective identity that represents the struggles, history, and resilience of all Chicanos. The repeated references to historical figures and identities reinforce the idea that the Chicano experience is deeply rooted in a long and complex past.However, while this strategy is effective in creating solidarity, it may also have limitations. Focusing strongly on a single shared identity could exclude those who do not fully identify with that narrative or who have more diverse experiences within the community.

Overall, “I Am Joaquín” demonstrates how poetry can function as artivism by raising awareness, fostering pride, and inspiring resistance. Through its powerful language and symbolism, the poem not only critiques social injustice but also helps build a strong sense of collective identity within the Chicano movement