After reading the pages in Chicano and Chicana Art: A Critical Anthology , Rasquachismo to me is similar to the definition of grit. Having the ability within oneself to overcome any obstacle by doing whatever it takes. It is also an attitude, one that I aim to embody. An attitude in which the person can recognize any judgment they are receiving but doesn't allow it deter them from continuing to go about as they were. The term also makes me think of people who are able to make good lives for themselves even when they come from places where no one would expect that from them. While some may use the term as a slur or with a negative connotation, I think that makes it all the more empowering. People love to hate on the "under-dog" and I think that only makes me want to root for them more. From my personal life, I can attach this term to one of my high school experiences. In high school I played basketball at a tiny school with not so tall or athletic girls. Most of the girls were Hispanic as I am. The schools in our league constantly underestimated and joked about the school and its sports as it had been historically disappointing. Over the summer we developed our skills but it was not at all easy. At the end of league we ended up beating every school in our league, making us league champions. This experience I would say showed the Rasquache character within all of us.
I appreciate your analysis of rasquachismo as a sort of "grit" and a willingness to succeed. I think that it also highlights an ability to redefine success. An ability to accomplish the same gratification or outcome by using different means. This grit challenges dominant notions of success. For example, had your team not beat everyone in the league, but the relationships and work ethic you all developed as a team remained, would that also not be considered success?
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