Shifra Goldman Post

 The short essay “Iconography of Chicano Self Determination: Race, Ethnicity , and Class”, illustrates the demographics of Chicana individuals, and the social issues they encountered.The essay describes the hardships artists faced when it comes to breaking away from their Indian culture. Race and ethnicity was a prominent issue that held back the chicana artists from being in the spotlight. Due to their low standing position, versus those with European backgrounds, on the social construction of race they faced a inferiority complex. This mixed media assemblage, created by artist David Avalos, titled San Diego Donkey Cart Maquette, is an example of how Chicano artists used art to fight back the racial and ethnic prejudices that created a class struggle for the Mexicans. The assemblage depicts the class struggle by showing an undocumented Mexican worker with his hands up being searched by a INS officer , hence portraying a crucifixion scene. This goes to show that Mexicans, unlike those with European backgrounds, are placed under strict scrutiny for the ethnicity and race.

According to Webster dictionary Self-determination is the process by which a country determines its own statehood and forms its own allegiances and government. The changes cannot be made until the country’s right to self determination is recognized. One image that comes to mind when I think of self-determination in regards to the Chicana art and culture is the image of Virgin of Guadalupe by Yolanda Lopez. The virgin is a pinnacle example of self determinations because of her universal perspective to race, ethnicity, and culture. For the virgin self determination is non-existent but at the same time the virgin echoes a culture freedom without bias or judgment. The virgin fosters sovereignty by supporting freedom to all cultures, races, and ethnics.