Latina Poetry as an Expression of Cultural Heritage

Read the passage from "Child of the Americas."I am not african. Africa is in me, but I cannot return. I am not taína. Taíno is in me, but there is no way back. I am not european. Europe lives in me, but I have no home there. How does the repetition of the phrase "I am not" help to establish the author's tone? It expresses anger over the treatment of her ancestors. It expresses sadness for not knowing who her ancestors were. It expresses a confidence in her identity of mixed heritage. It expresses a feeling of superiority based on cultural knowledge.

It expresses a confidence in her identity of mixed heritage.

Read the passage from "Child of the Americas."I am a child of the Americas,a light-skinned mestiza of the Caribbean, a child of many diaspora, born into this continent at a crossroads. How does the word "crossroads" help to develop the author's tone? It is imagery that describes the merging of different cultures. It is imagery that describes a cultural boundary that should not be crossed. It is an allusion to an actual boundary between continents. It is a strong word that expresses an attitude of resentment and bitterness.

It is imagery that describes the merging of different cultures.

Read the passage from "The Latin Deli: An Ars Poetica."she is the Patroness of Exiles...who spends her days selling canned memorieswhile listening to the Puerto Ricans complainthat it would be cheaper to fly to San Juanthan to buy a pound of Bustelo coffee here,and to Cubans perfecting their speechof a "glorious return" to Havana...to Mexicans who pass through, talking lyricallyof dólares to be made in El Norte—The Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Mexicans in the passage help to create the image that the woman who runs the deli speaks many languages. people often come to the deli to complain. people come to the deli to honor their mothers. Latin American culture is very diverse.

Latin American culture is very diverse.

Read the passage from "Child of the Americas."An immigrant and the daughter and granddaughter of immigrants.I speak English with passion: it's the tongue of my consciousness, a flashing knife blade of crystal, my tool, my craft.In this passage, what is the speaker's relationship with the English language? She prefers Spanish to English because her relatives spoke Spanish. She uses it naturally and with great skill because it is a part of her heritage. She feels that it represents a culture that has mistreated immigrants. She is not comfortable with it because it is not her first language.

She uses it naturally and with great skill because it is a part of her heritage.

Read the passage from "The Latin Deli: An Ars Poetica."all wanting the comfortof spoken Spanish, to gaze upon the family portraitof her plain wide face, her ample bosomresting on her plump arms, her look of maternal interestas they speak to her and each otherof their dreams and their disillusions—Which best describes the role of the speaker? The speaker is describing a scene in the third person as a sentimental observer. The speaker is describing a scene in the third person as a critical observer. The speaker is describing a past personal experience in the first person. The speaker is describing a present personal experience in the first person.

The speaker is describing a scene in third person as a sentimental observer.

Read the passage from the poem "Child of the Americas."I am new. History made me. My first language was spanglish. I was born at the crossroadsand I am whole. The author's word choice helps to reflect a tone of pride. anger. humor. confusion.

pride.

Read the passage from "Child of the Americas."I am Caribeña, island grown. Spanish is in my flesh, ripples from my tongue, lodges in my hips:the language of garlic and mangoes, the singing in my poetry, the flying gestures of my hands. Based on the imagery in the passage, how does the speaker feel when she is speaking Spanish? different from other Americans proud and expressive homesick for her home country displaced in America

proud and expressive

Read the passage from "Child of the Americas."I am Caribeña, island grown. Spanish is in my flesh, ripples from my tongue, lodges in my hips:the language of garlic and mangoes, the singing in my poetry, the flying gestures of my hands. The words "garlic and mangoes" in this passage are sensory images illustrating the speaker's island heritage. sensory images depicting a foreign and unknown culture. allusions to a well-known Spanish poem. allusions to common household items.

sensory images illustrating the speaker's island heritage.

Read the passage from "The Latin Deli: An Ars Poetica."all wanting the comfortof spoken Spanish, to gaze upon the family portraitof her plain wide face, her ample bosomresting on her plump arms, her look of maternal interestas they speak to her and each otherof their dreams and their disillusions—The word choice in this passage describes the commonality of shared feelings and experiences. the confusion over mixed cultures. the loneliness of people with no cultural identity. the hurt of discrimination.

the commonality of shared feelings and experiences.

In the poem "The Latin Deli: An Ars Poetica," which description suggests that the speaker is fond of the shopkeeper? the woman's plump arms resting upon the counter the woman's "plain wide face" and "ample bosom" the woman's look of maternal interest as others talk the woman's ageless appearance and lack of prettiness

the woman's look of maternal interest as others talk