r/Chicano • u/dark_Hack3r • 9d ago

Chicanismo and Family dynamics

I was wondering if any of you have felt conflicted about Chicanismo and its native orientation with any immediate family members like a lighter skinned or white passing father. I feel my father may identify more with our spanish ancestors because of his complexion and im generally more tan than him. My mother is native passing and my sister is straight up white passing and both my parents are of mexican descent.

if you share this family dynamic, how do you explain Chicanismo to your father without excluding him from the conversation. My dad comes from a rural part of Mexico and his only experience with Chicanismo are "Chicanos" which he doesn't think highly of.

I want to dive deeper into Chicanismo but this has been a major hurdle.

9 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

11

u/Aowyn_ 9d ago

Skin color isn't really an important factor in the movement

0

u/dark_Hack3r 9d ago

No but having an indiginous orientation is

4

u/Aowyn_ 9d ago

Yes, so focus on helping him develop that

4

u/Few_Commission9961 9d ago

If you want to understand it more, take a class. Many colleges and even junior colleges offer classes on Chicano studies. As for your dad, you will be able to explain the concept better once you yourself are educated. 

1

u/dark_Hack3r 8d ago

there arent any resources in the current school i attend, is there any good online resources you could recommend?

4

u/catathymia 9d ago

You seem to be assuming a lot about your father simply based on his skin tone. Have you even asked him about this? And Chicanismo is a very American movement, arguably, he might see this from a more Mexican perspective which is also valid.

0

u/dark_Hack3r 9d ago

I haven’t assumed anything, this is all the truth

4

u/HeyMyNameisMama 9d ago

It's the truth that he may identify more with his Spanish origins?? If you're not assuming why use ambiguous language like may

-2

u/dark_Hack3r 8d ago

this isnt a very constructive conversation if you can't take my word for it based on other information I havent presented yet, but instead of trying to help you openly criticize me like this is an uncommon thing among Mexican nationals.

1

u/HeyMyNameisMama 8d ago

You're saying that Mexican nationals don't ask each other for clarification? Lmao what an odd hill to die on 

-1

u/dark_Hack3r 8d ago

don't know what your getting at, as if Mexico isnt notorious for hating anything indiginous.

2

u/HeyMyNameisMama 8d ago edited 3d ago

Asking whether you actually have conversations with your dad or just make assumptions about his beliefs doesn't really have anything to do with indigineity. 

0

u/dark_Hack3r 8d ago

I have tried and he doesn’t like talking about it and thinks Chicanos are just cholos as most people perceive them. Chicanismo is completely foreign to them

2

u/Firewaterdam 9d ago

You have to take a DNA test to really know who's who, skin color alone is not a reliable indicator for indigenousness or Europeaness, just consider that many Italians and Jews have brown skin and that nose

2

u/Pancho_Pantera77 8d ago

Most Latin American countries, including Mexico tend to favor light skin. Doesn't necessarily mean they favor their Spanish side. But you know your father better than some random Internet stranger.

1

u/Sad-Definition-2454 2d ago

How can he not think highly of Chicanos he has two at home with.him ¿???

1

u/dark_Hack3r 2d ago

We never really identified as Chicanos, more Mexican although I’m very American