2. briefly explain your selection. 

-Although we find that in Mexican Culture we are open and loving, as the passage says there is much to lose when it comes to coming out to Hispanic Families, there are a lot of stigmas when it comes to the gay community, the root of homophobia has always played a part in the population of Hispanics coming out and why its so small quantity. Then, this passage highlights the damage that some gay or lesbian people deal with and how they can feel unwanted and can lose their identity and family in the process. Also, as they lose their family some may feel like they are losing themselves, as they lose their culture, their race, their identity, and for some, it can affect the way they view themselves which is why some feel like they are faulty and damaged. 

A passage that spoke to me comes from Chapter 2, which states, "1,950 mile-long open wound dividing a pueblo, a culture, running down the length of my body, staking fence rods in my flesh, splits me splits me..." The following quote is powerful because it demonstrates how the border is harming communities because of the separation it creates. They refer to the border as fence rods going through them, meaning they feel trapped in a continuous cycle of pain because of the border. I get not everyone will win these battles, but there is nothing to gain from the border for those who reside in the pueblos. They are stuck suffering while the U.S. maintains control over everything, as they pick, choose, and enforce.

-Aaron Lopez

This passage stood out to me because of the harsh reality women faced, and might still face in some parts of the world today. They were locked into taking one of three paths. One of a nun, a prostitute, or mother. It's appalling to me how they can be failures and rejects if they choose a lifestyle other than one of those three. Looking in today's world, saying such a statement would bring about so much disdain. Adding on, they had to live by a moral code that revolved around renouncing herself to a man, if not she was selfish. 

-Joseline Hernandez

-Alexis Gaeta

"Culture forms our beliefs. We perceive the version of reality that it communicates. Dominant paradigms, predefined concepts that exist as unquestionable, unchallengeable, are transmitted to us through the culture. Culture is made by those in power--men. Males make the rules and laws; women transmit them. How many times have I heard mothers and mothers-in-law tell their sons to beat their wives for not obeying them, for being hociconas (big mouths), for being callajeras (going to visit and gossip with neighbors), for expecting their husbands to help with the rearing of children and the housework, for wanting to be something other than housewives?"

This part of the texts stood out to me because it mentions how our lifestyle, thoughts, opinions, decisions, experiences, etc. are shaped through culture, creating for those within a culture a sense of their own world/vision/reality. In our sense of this, it suggests a very great impact that can differ from what we commonly feel, since this reality has been present since our birth and/or common in our everyday lives, taking part in gender roles, beliefs, and differences for instance. The idea that culture, by those that create, practice, and spread beliefs onto other people is so complex, as it can feel commonplace, but can also feel at times restrictive and harmful, as it can suggest how men and women are subjected to the cultural enforcements that are deemed as essential and practical. In this case not so, as women are viewed through these harsh stereotypes for voicing their concerns and wishes, as they are not just their gender; they are human as their husbands and their mothers and mother-in-laws. Societal expectations based on the ways in which a women should behave and think of herself are seen as needing to be commonplace and practical for the other person, in position to her fellow man (husband, father, brother, etc.) and woman (mother, cousin, etc.) in her life, when she should be regarded in a way in which she is heard/respected by both a fellow man and another woman, as should a man to be heard/respected by both a fellow woman and another man in his life. - Andrea Valadez

• Michael Barrera

-Mathieu Chino

-Mayela Munoz

norms.

-Crystal Aguayo

- Guillermo Vazquez

religious, political and cultural image of the Chicano/mexicano.”

This passage stuck out to me because growing up in East LA, the Virgen was everywhere. You can rest assured that you will see her face highlighted with glowing light on the walls of the market down the street. She is a powerful symbol to our people as she represents resilience and ambition. The arrival of Christianity and Catholicism teachings implemented by the colonizers were used to justify their actions against the indigenous, yet they found hope through the Virgen Mary to fight back. She is a combination of new and old teachings, which really represents what the Chicano essentially is.

-Ashley Ortiz

and commitment! to, the value system than men”. The culture and

the Church insist that women are  subservient to males. It a

woman rebels she is  a mujer mala .. If a woman doesn't renounce

herself in favor of the male, she is selfish. This stood out to me because these are culture assumptions of what some standards or norms people think in different cultures. We sometimes see this within our culture still how woman and men are treated different upon just because of their gender. Sometimes it’s hard for old school culture norms to differentiate from the status quo to believe in a norm such as gender equality in how we must treat all gender equally to fullest.

• Valentin

-Tiffany Gonzalez

• Haley H

• Michael Lieng

• Behira Tobes

"For many mexicanos del otro lado, the choice is to stay in Mexico and starve or move north and live."

This quote stood out to be because a lot of mexican families left their home behind so they could live a better life but also so their future or and present families could live a better life. They risked their life crossing the border to live a better life. It is an emotional topic to think about because most families only took whatever they could pack in a backpack while crossing the border. It is also sad because when Mexicans find work in the U.S., they also risk getting caught and or murdered or sent back. Most Mexicans did not give up a fight they would pray to the Virgencita to be blessed and be able to live a better life then what they were offered in Mexico. - Jazmin Aguilar

By highlighting their mestizo heritage a fusion of Indigenous and Spanish ancestry this paragraph illustrates the Chicano people's cultural identity. The speaker characterizes their race and a symbolic figure as a blend of the old and new worlds, where European influences and Indigenous pre-colonial civilizations coexist. According to the text, Chicano culture identifies an active bond with Native origins rather than the colonial past because it connects more with the "mother" (Indigenous ancestry) than with the "father" (Spanish lineage). This ultimately represents the historical and cultural struggle of Chicanos, who acknowledge the various influences that have created them while embracing their Indigenous identity.

~ Mallek Kherici

Like many Indians and Mexicans, I did not deem my psychic experiences real. I denied their occurrences and let my inner senses atrophy. I allowed white rationality to tell me that the existence of the "other world" was mere pagan superstition. I accepted their reality, the "official" reality of the rational, reasoning mode which is connected with external reality, the upper-world, and is considered the most developed consciousness-- the consciousness of duality (pg.59).

This passage is associated with the effects of assimilation of indigenous people of all backgrounds. Through a culture cleanse, that aimed to rid any remnants of the pre-colonial world, Indigenous people from this entire continent, and even the enslaved people from Africa, were forcibly converted to Christian religions. Anzaldua speaks of duality, which she later associates this with code switching. The artwork that I have included draws back to that duality, and because American society adheres to this "official reality", we have ignored our inner senses and our recognition of spirits that are found in our natural world, and are constantly destroying it.

--Sophia Arriola

This passage resonated with me because it reflects the struggle of navigating societal expectations while trying to maintain individuality. Many times, cultural traditions and societal norms are framed as protective measures, but they often serve as restrictions that limit freedom and personal growth. I have felt this in my own life, where certain expectations dictated how I should act, what I should believe, and what decisions were acceptable. Anzaldúa’s words highlight the importance of reclaiming our ability to make choices for ourselves rather than being confined by the limitations imposed by others. This passage is a reminder that true responsibility comes from the freedom to respond and take action on our own terms.

I think this passage symbolizes a journey into the depths of one’s self. The act of entering the serpent's belly represents facing one’s fears. The imagery of casting no shadow and being surrounded by light implies an awakening of some kind, where the individual transcends and discovers things about their true self. I like the emphasis that there is no return. Facing one's fears leads to an irreversible change for the better. Personal transformation and growth can be scary but worthwhile. There is a type of liberation felt, so the tone is very uplifting.

I chose this passage because it shows a personal moment from Anzaldua's life. It is a simple but powerful image of her childhood, standing between her parents. This moment represents her connection to her family and culture. Later in the chapter, she talks about leaving home and breaking away from tradition to find her own identity. This passage is important because it shows where she started before she made the difficult choice to leave.

This quote stood out to me because a person who was born in Mexico and grew up their until I was 17 years old. The virgen was a staple in my household. Many Mexicans in Mexico and the United States who are catholic believe in her due to the miracles she has done. To this day I still do believe in her and the church. Personally I have gone to Mexico City and visited the church and where the original photo of her is located.

This passage stands out to me because it shows the connection between language and identity. The author argues that language is not just a way of communicating with others but also a fundamental part of pride. Many people who are bilingual struggle to accept their language, especially when it is treated as insignificant.

-Hyung Kim

that tile spirit is outside our bodies or above our heads somewhere up in the sky with God. We're supposed to forget that every cell in our bodies, every bone and bird and worm has spirit in it." This part of the passage that stood out to me was that society teaches us to disregard spiritual experiences and the presence of the soul, encouraging us to focus only on the physical and material aspects of life. It argues that we've been conditioned to believe that spirit exists outside of us, detached from our bodies and nature. The message is that the spirit is actually within all living things, including we, and should not be ignored or forgotten.

"If you get above yourself, you're an envidiosa. If you don't behave like everyone else, la gente will say that you think you're better 'than others, que te crees grande. With ambition (condemned in the Mexican culture and valued in the Anglo) comes envy. "

This passage stood out to me because this is the mentality that was instilled to me since a very young age. It was wrong to be proud and ambitious. But it is also wrong to not have goals. I had to be a role model but not make my cousins envious. In Mexican culture, especially as a female, you are expected to be almost perfect. Not prideful, jealous, loud, outspoken nor lazy. It is a constant struggle to be successful yet fit the standards of what society and our culture wants. I think rather than trying to make everyone fit the standards and put them in a box, our culture should shift away from this and rather encourage individualism and growth. We should teach our people to be happy for others and the opportunities presented to them, rather than frown upon such things. I chose the picture above because when we feel supported by our family and culture, we are able to achieve so much more.

-Candy Avila

This quote spoke to me because as mentioned in the text the Aztecs burned the documents that reminded the people that women were as important to their people. The burning of this documents is a way to control the people and erase their accessibility to knowledge. We have seen this happen before other times in history. We saw this with the Catholic Church (doctrine of discovery) and them burning everything that reminded the natives of their gods. We also saw this with the Nazi’s when they burned books that went against their ideologies. We are also starting to see this now with people in power who want to remove certain history books from schools because it does not align with their believes. Knowledge is power and books is where we can have access to knowledge.

-Kenia Delgado

_ Omar Tapia

I chose this passage from Entering into the Serpent by Gloria Anzaldúa as it highlights cultural expectations regarding humility, selflessness, and the consequences of deviating from communal norms, especially from a Latino cultural perspective. In our culture, maintaining a good reputation, "el qué dirán" is deeply valued, and unjustly more critical towards women, to the point where it becomes concerning when fear of judgment limits personal growth and self-expression. While I understand that respect and humility matter, I believe they shouldn't come at the cost of one's happiness and authenticity.

- Fabian Enriquez

This passage stood out to me because it shows how these immigrants would leave their own home and families behind and to find a better life in the U.S. and find their real identity in them.

-Kevin Wong

This passage stands out because it reflects Anzaldúa's internal rebellion against societal, cultural, and self-imposed expectations. The "Shadow-Beast" represents her refusal to conform, rejecting both external authority and internal constraints. This struggle with boundaries is central to identity and self-empowerment, resonating with anyone facing similar challenges.

Erik Eufragio

This passage stood out to me because of its accuracy. Each of us has a culture that we value and preserve. Each culture has a set of "rules" that we must follow, traditions we must continue, clothing we must wear, languages we speak, and social norms we must adapt to. Many begin to have trouble with their self-identity due to their culture which then makes them question and challenge it. In all honesty, culture is what brings communities together whether it be our commonalities or our differences. Throughout the years, culture has learned to adapt to the modern times of society without having to be dominated by men which Anzaldua later mentions in the paragraph.

-Karina Garcia