JE#2 Historical Amnesia

Where do I even begin to discuss how much my perspective on the history of America, Mexico, race, etc. has changed?  Coming into UCLA was a culture shock within itself because I went to a high school whose population was predominately Mexican (when I say this I'm talking like 99% Mexican).  Just off the top of my head, I could name the families within our school district who were not Mexican because they stood out like a sore thumb.  The reason I bring this up is because regardless of the fact that our school's population was almost entirely Mexican, our history classes were still taught from the perspectives of the Anglo-Saxons.  Even when we did discuss Mexico, it was never a topic of importance I never really learned anything about my own culture that stuck with me. 
Coming to UCLA has completely changed the game for me.  Although De Leon's first few chapters are focused more on the racial aspect of the US/Mexican history, it's still just as important because the racial tensions that the Anglo's had toward the Tejanos is was gave them a sort of justification to move in and take the land.  We learned about manifest destiny in high school, but I never realized there was so much negativity that came along with it.  In De Leon's book, she discusses how skin color made all the difference.  White was pure, innocent, clean, etc. while the brown/black skin on the other hand was dirty, rebellious, loud, and so forth.  These same stereotypes that existed over a century ago, carried on into how many see people of color today. 
In high school, I'd say the level of my historical amnesia was a 10.  I almost felt ashamed to be Mexican.  I didn't realize it then but looking back, we had our own separation in school by language.  Those who spoke English well were American while the Spanish speakers were "super Mexican" or "wetback."  It's embarrassing to think about it now but it's the reality of how mainstream teaching of history make many people of color ashamed to be who they really are.  Now that I have been exposed to different accounts of history on Mexico, I think my historical amnesia is down to a 6.  It's not perfect and I think there is still so much for me to learn but I have come a long way since my high school days.