Share your colonization, immigration, or diaspora story, or your perception of what this story might have been.
- What was colonization, immigration, or diaspora like for you, or what do you think it was like for your ancestors?
- How were you received or how were your ancestors received?
- What perceptions did you develop about yourself and groups different from your own, or what perceptions did your ancestors possibly develop about themselves and groups different from them?
Respond to at least one other student’s stories.
- Where do you see similarities in their experiences and perceptions and where do you see differences?
- What have you learned from your peer(s)?
Initial postings are due on Thursday by midnight. Response postings should be completed no later than Sunday by midnight.
I am a native born from Mexico decent, but my grandfather’s last name is Calderon, which derives from Spain. According to colonization the Spaniards came to Mexican territory and not only colonized but also brought their religion customs practices. My ancestor inhabitants of Mexico were believed to be hunters who migrated from Asia approximately 18,000 years ago (Mexican Americans, n.d.). This means that organized mixed civilizations like Mayan, Toltecs, Aztec societies were amongst the first peoples residing in lands of Mexico. It was until Spain the political repressive regime was overthrown in the 1821 and in the 19th century Porfirio Diaz took ruled but the there was little economic improvement and social middle, and higher class clashed and northern states of the nation of Mexico began its rebellion groups, parties started to form and since the 1950’s Mexico started to improve, but not for all. The low job wages, scarce opportunities impoverished lifestyles and social class differences had forced my parents immigrate to the United States in the mid 1970’s. My perception on my personal diaspora story is that my ancestors were displaced from the lands and subjected to the oppressive government regime of Spain and other European conquistadores. It seems as if the same story of who has the power takes over the most vulnerable. Spain not only brought their religion but brought diseases and ransacked the valuable resources Mexico once had.
My personal perception is that not only did our ancestors were subjected to having power and authority, but also be displaced, my parents did not have privileges when they migrated from Mexico in search for a better opportunity of life, but at least they had the freedom to have their children an opportunity to be educated and enjoy other liberties. I believe that my ancestors had no perception on the kind of damage and impact Spain was going to make. Spain saw an opportunity to colonize and conquer and Mexico Native peoples saw lighter skin people differently physically than them, the clothing, weapons, religion, customs, and maybe thought of a higher civilization than them. Today, social group perception is no different than before because we think that people that are wealthy and privileged are better individuals, and this is not true.
1. Do you think that perception views on immigration, colonization and diaspora stories still resonate in current times? What does this change mean to you personally?
2. If colonization, immigration and diaspora story does not relate to you, what is your story?
References
Mexican Americans – History. (n.d.). https://www.everyculture.com/multi/Le-Pa/Mexican-Americans.html