"Mexican-American": My Hyphenated Identity | The Odyssey Online
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Politics and Activism

"Mexican-American": My Hyphenated Identity

"Ni de Aqui, No de Alla" the discovery of my Chicana Identity

Noemi Guzman
Mar 06, 2017
St Olaf College
173
"Mexican-American": My Hyphenated Identity

"Ni de Aqui, Ni de Alla"

Not from here or there.

Stuck between 2 worlds,

2 worlds that don't accept me.

1 says that I am not "Mexican" enough,

The other says I'm not "American" enough.

You know what I say,

I don't need your hyphen to define me.

Because I define me,

I am a Chicana.

I am someone with a history,

A history that this country tries to hide from me.

I have a story with a beginning,

A story that shows my colors,

that breathes my air,

that plays my music,

that drowns my tears.

Just because neither country accepts me,

doesn't mean I don't exist.

My people have written their own story,

have created their own path.

I come from Tijerina,

who fought for our land.

I come from Corky,

who led the Chicano Movement.

I come from Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta,

who fought for our rights as humans.

I come from a long list of activists

that found to gain recognition,

to gain freedom,

to gain equality,

In a country that disregarded them.

So I don't need you to hyphenate me,

I know my identity.

I am a Chicana and proud.



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