By Ally Hurt
When people think of “Chicano studies,” it often implies a collegiate level. Nothing could be further from the truth; the Chicana/o/x is an identity—a pride and passion—that people of all ages celebrate. So why isn’t Chicano studies being stressed more in our California classrooms—the middle and high schools, especially when people of that identity make up a significant portion of the student body?
Remedying this problem is Ralph Inzunza’s Border Citizen. Middle and high school teachers will delight in the way this book informs students of what it means to be a “border citizen”—where your existence blurs the line between two nationalities often at odds—in a genuine, personal way. This identity is the core of the entire novel and leaks into every facet of the problems the protagonist faces, whether it be in his town, at his school, or even in local politics.
This book is a great starting point for classroom discussion about the relationship and history between the United States and Mexico; one point of contention the protagonist, Carlos, faces is the odds between his American and Mexican identities. In Mexico, he is “too American” to fit in with his new classmates but in America, he is “too Mexican” to be accepted by the white people with power in his community. Navigating these racial differences is crucial to Carlos’ journey of fighting against injustice and making a change in the lives of the people around him and the town of Santa Ysabel. Relating this complicated relationship to real-life issues will help students understand the world—especially the United States—around them.
All students in the Southern California school district—whether that be Poway or San Diego Unified—should read Border Citizen by Ralph Inzunza. It will inform them of the history of the land they live on and of the real struggles many people in their community still face. Students will learn about the people they live with and why they fight against injustice today; it will teach them how to make a change in the world they live in.
USA Paperback: $19.95
ISBN: 978-1-938537-62-2
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