JE #2

Our memory has been stolen from us. For years we have been taught an inaccurate story of the Anglo takeover of Texas and the U.S.-Mexico War. Learning the “truth” of the war from the Anglo perspective, the conqueror, causes the descendants of Guadalupe and Hidalgo to have a lost destiny. How are we supposed to know where we’re going when we don’t know where we are from?  Us not learning about our history from the perspective of our people causes a biased and inaccurate portrayal of history; a portrayal that causes historical amnesia to the descendants of Guadalupe and Hidalgo.

What I learned from De Leon’s book about the Battle of the Alamo and the U.S.-Mexico War and what I learned in school was so drastically different. In school, although the majority of students being of color, I learned the dominant culture’s perspective of the U.S.-Mexico War. Thus, I was taught the savage acts of Mexicans towards the heroic Americans. Learning this made me feel ashamed and angry of being Mexican. I knew I had strong ties to Mexico with family still there so I felt like they were referring to my family when talking about savages. Another example of historical amnesia enforced by mainstream U.S. culture and education is the history of slavery. There is curriculum on slavery and the inaccurate portrayal of “rebellious” slaves, thus causing historical amnesia for descendants of slaves.

Before entering UCLA and taking conscious raising courses, my historical amnesia was at about a 8, 10 being the most extreme. The only reason I was at a 8 and not a 10 is because at home I was surrounded by my culture. My parent would tell me stories about our family’s history. However, as soon as I went to school I was taught a portrayal of my history that was the exact opposite of what my parents told me. I was told my people were uncivilized murderers and hearing that everyday in class overpowered my parent’s stories. Which is why I'm grateful for courses such as these, which drop my historical amnesia from a 8 to a 0.