Villanueva

ROW: Villanueva (169-176)

SUMMARY:

In his article “Memoria Is a Friend of Ours: On the Discourses of Color” Victor Villanueva attempts to discuss the discourses of color. He brings up stereotypes and racism. He adds in many poems or other writing excerpts into his article. He also talks about memoria. He says that memoria calls and pushes us forward and that she is a friend of ours and that we must invite her into our classrooms and into our scholarship.Villanueva talks about authors that have all written about the connections between narratives by people of color and the need to reclaim a memory. Villanueva states that he’s trying to figure out who he is. He is an uneasy mix of races that makes for no race at all, yet he finds himself a victim to racism.

CONVERSATION:

Villanueva’s article reminded me of Queer Texts, Queer Contexts’ by Harriet Malinowitz.  They both talk about a touchy subject. They both deal with discrimination. Racism is found everywhere and often groups are formed within a race. Same goes for the gay community. They often come together because they need support from each other. 

OPINIONS:

I thought that this article was somewhat hard to follow. I didn’t really like how he kept adding random poems and pieces of writing. I’m not really a fan of poems and trying to figure out what they mean. However the topic of color, which goes along with racism, was interesting. I personally can’t stand when people are racist so I felt bad for Villanueva especially in the last paragraph where he says how he is a victim of racism.