Noah Sua-Godinet
Gloria Anzaldua’s poem, “To live in the Borderlands means you” Is compelling in the way that it expresses the struggle and constant perseverance to fit in. Anzaldua even states, “In the Borderlands…you are at home; a stranger…” (Anzaldua). Anzaldua is painting this picture of s groups of mixed people, “neither hispana india negra española ni gabacha, eres mestiza, mulata, half-breed caught in the crossfire between camps while carrying all five races on your back not knowing which side to turn to, run from” (Anzaldua). These mixed people are basically having nowhere to go and not sure who to turn to base on the fact that they are not accepted by any of their ethnic backgrounds. This poem is showing the struggle that comes with the acceptability of being made up of many different cultures. In all honestly, I was ignorant to the Borderlands and the situation of the people living there and I’m sure I am not the only one who has no knowledge of what seems to be an important part of history. The lack of urgency to acknowledge this piece of history provokes the thought that it isn’t important to society.
A self-defense group called “Home Alive”, another small but important part of history that you would think would be brought up often, was mentioned in Laina Dawes Interview is an, “organization that promotes alternative methods for women to protect themselves…”(Dawes). I agree with an interviewee, Leah Michaels, when she strikes the questions, “How is this not a huge thing? How do people not know about this at all?” (Dawes). Especially in today’s society with all of the issues of abuse, I don’t understand how this movement is haven’t surfaced once more. Again showing lack of importance to a movement in history such as this provokes the thought that women safety means little to society.
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