I thought that “We Call Them
Greasers” was one of the most powerful poems we read from Gloria Anzaldúa in
Dr. Rathbun’s FL 221 U.S.-Mexico Border Literature class.
The
perspective from which Anzaldúa chose to write allowed the reader to put
herself in the shoes of the oppressor. I felt a sense of coldness and
heartlessness after reading the poem because I became the white man.
The
imagery in this poem also had an effect on me as I pictured in my mind the
Mexican families gathering their things into “rickety wagons” and I heard the
“clanging” of all of their possessions. I also heard the white man’s laughter
after the Mexican tried appealing to the courts.
The
imagery only continues to become more powerful as the poetic voice describes a
rape scene. I could see the victim’s husband tied to the tree. This symbolizes
the Mexicans watching their land being stripped or “raped” from them and there
is nothing they can do about it.
The
sparing use of Spanish in this poem gives me a sense that the white man is
mocking the Mexicans and only throws in a couple of words in Spanish when he
talks about them leaving or when he makes fun of their farms and culture.
I
discovered repetition in the verses describing the rape scene. For example, the
poem reads “thrusting and thrusting” which I thought really told the reader
what was going on. The reader doesn’t want to believe the truth, but Anzaldúa
uses such strong imagery to officially unveil the sick power of the white man
raping Mexico of its land.
Kelly Krispinsky
AU Senior
Intervention Specialist Major
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