Martin Espada writes about racist events and personal experiences with racism. In Martin Espada’s three poems, “The New Bathroom Policy at English High School,” “Revolutionary Spanish Lesson,” and “Two Mexicanos Lynched in Santa Cruz California, May 3, 1877,” there is a common theme of racism.
In the poem “The New Bathroom Policy at English High School,” there is an issue of racism. For example, the principle did not understand what the boys were saying so he banned Spanish. That is racist because those boys still have the right of free speech, even if it is in another language. But the principle banned a language which is part of a culture just because he did not understand. Another example is, “The only word he recognizes\ is his own name\ … So he decides\ to ban Spanish.”
In the poem “Revolutionary Spanish Lesson,” there is also an issue of racism. For example, “force them to chant\ anti- American slogans\ in Spanish.” These lines are showing two races against each other. Another example is, “and wait\ for the bilingual SWAT team,” and by Espada specifying the bilingual SWAT team, it represents that this issue involves racism.
In the poem “Two Mexicanos Lynched in Santa Cruz, California, May 3, 1877,” Espada writes about a racist event that took place on May 3, 1877. For example, “when forty gringo vigilantes\ cheered that rope\ that snapped two Mexicanos\ into the grimacing sleep of broken necks.” The first stanza gives a summary of the event and it represents that whites were cheering that Mexicans were getting lynched. Another example is, “trussed like cousins of the slaughterhouse.” This shows racism and discrimination because the Mexicanos were treated like animals rather than people.
Racism is a recurring theme in Martin Espada’s three poems. Espada uses real life events that occurred in the past and present, and also uses his personal experiences. However his opinions are clearly present through his use of strong language.
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