L.A. Salvadorans trying to claim independence from ECH bigotry
So the Educated Chicano needs someone shorter to pick on. We get that.
You’ve endured and you shall endure all the short jokes and short insecurities compared to others. When someone shorter than you walks in the room, come on, it feels good to be the oppressor for once. We get that, too.
Just use the proper, freakin’ term when talking about the people and don’t come across like an illiterate idiot despite your multiple degrees.
Ever since Salvadorans have migrated to the U.S., the ECHs have looked at the population with curiosity, wonderment, and confusion. Here are some tiny Mexicans who cook some thick ass corn tortillas (pupusas), live in places we’d never live (New Jersey), and still manage to survive and thrive. Some ECHs give out the respect since Salvadorans are to be admired after that Civil War (more on that in a minute). But ECHs managed to flush that respect down the Mayan toilet when they continue to call that grocery store owner around the corner “that El Salvadoran.”
“You know that Juanita in the science department isn’t Chicana,” the ECH English teacher will whisper. “She’s El Salvadorian.”
Eww….
The ECH lawyer: “Mira. Judge Sanchez in the 1st district. That vato is El Salvadoran, wey. I couldn’t even tell.”
Ahh…
“When are the El Salvadorans playing Team Mexico in soccer?” the ECH engineer asks.
Of course, the proper term is “Salvadoran,” but don’t tell that to the former MEChistas. They know all about identity and were down with that church that was supporting those poor El Salvadorans fleeing that brutal civil war. Yes, the war was brutal and filled with human rights violations. Great for novels and perfect environment to introduce a poor, Latina, traumatic, suffering character in a movie (see Mi Familia). But that was 30 years ago. Can a Salvadoran brother or sister get another story line? It’s not like every time a white person brings up ECHs in movies they mention Edward James Olmos. (oh wait…)
And let’s not forgot, when a group of ECHs get together and the subject of “El Salvadorans” come up, the issue of MS 13 (aka Mara Salvatrucha) can’t go without a mentioning. “That El Salvadoran gang is dangerous,” the ECH will say, almost suggesting that the Latin Kings or Bloods back in abuela’s neighborhood are such great community organizers. “They’re crazy. Gotta watch out for them.”
Right.
Why the ECH doesn’t use “Los” is a good point. Chalk it up to a lack of knowledge of the Spanish language. Then again, using “El” for these brothers and sister is just plain lack of knowledge.
How short-sighted of us.
The fact is that Chicanos in the late 80′s and early 90′s simply found another group lower on the socio-economic ladder; forgetting and perhaps finding that pity and disrespect come from the same root. Its in some ways the story of America and before that the story of Aztlan.
1) Chicas: Wearing ethnic jewelry or flowers in hair
2) salsa dancing (or at minimum merengue)
3) vintage Mexican collectibles
4) tamarindo con chile. Saladitos
5) expensive/rare tequila
6) making mole from a jar
7) BMWs
Thanks for the awesome blog – I’ve been reading it (without my glasses – ouch!) for the last 2 hours – it’s 1am! It’s incredible how you help us ECHs realize that we’re not alone: you’re crystallizing our border identities in a hilarious way!
You guys gotta write about decorating tables with rebozos as table cloths and the carne azada BBQ!
I have to disagree with this one. I won’t argue that lot of Mexican immigrants and Mexican Americans have not discriminated against their Central American counterparts, but I have never heard EDUCATED Chican@s refer to them as “EL Salvadoran.” I’ve definitely heard non-Latin@s use it, though. I think that the number of educated Chican@s that call or have called them that is a tiny fraction… This entry offended me a bit. Otherwise, I can say I can relate to most of it
El Salvadorans are Americans too. The country is named El Salvador so El is in order . This country is located in Central America . The US of America think that the term America only belongs to them very ethnocentric of the US .
___wat U xpect from an Aggie ???
___short people got no reason to . . . live?