By: Jackie Espinoza
No, that doesn’t mean que soy chola.
Or que me gusta la mala vida.
Being Chicana is much more.
It’s knowing who I am.
Using both my tongues to intimidate quienes nos oprimen.
For those who call me pocha.
Who yell- Go back to where you come from!
Those que me hacen querer jalarme los pelos.
I want to yell
“¡Soy Chicana!”
Do you know what that means?
It’s knowing that warm blood runs in our veins.
Questioning what we get told.
Being part of la revolución.
Embracing the guerreras who live within us.
Respecting our mother, “la chingada”.
Admiring my mother, Tonantzin.
Mother of serpents.
Who is not intimidated by her sexuality.
Who is now our Virgen de Guadalupe
Being a Chicana is so much more.
Es tener sabiduría,
Passing it onto the next generation,
Word for word,
Como unos de nuestros cuentos.
Leading them to success.
Sharing our dreams.
Porque ser Chicana
Es eso y mucho más.
