Latin-American Studies

The border, a space which designates the separation between two entities, also provides the space for the synthesis of two different entities. An example of this can be seen in the case of immigrants from other countries who choose to cross the border in search for a new mode of living. Cynthia Bejarano, in her book entitled Que Onda Urban Youth Culture and Border Identity provides an analysis of the events that take place in the process in which a group of people chose to transcend the divisions determined by borders. Bejaranos text presents an ethnographic study which depicts the identity formation of Mexican-American residents who reside near the border. In her book, she argues that the formation of ethnic identities is based on different practices that are determined by the geographical location of a people. Bejaranos text thereby places emphasis on the politics determined by geographical boundaries in the creation of a peoples identity.

Within this context, what follows is an extrapolation of Bejaranos arguments for linking geographical boundaries in the identity formation of a group of individuals. This extrapolation will focus on several aspects of Bejaranos argument, with a specific emphasis on the politics of identity along the Mexican Border, the aspects that influence the identity development of Latinos along the border region and the influence of identity construction on the lives of the Latino youth in contemporary American society. The focus on these aspects will show how Bejarano emphasizes the role of geo-politics in the creation of identity. Although such a role has already been theoretically recognized in other texts, the importance of Bejaranos argument lies in the statistical data she provides in order to support her claims. It is important to note that Bejaranos ethnographic study was initially aimed at understanding the youth disturbances in Altamira High School. Due to the school officials recognition of the link between the rise in the diversity of ethnic groups in the school and the occurrence of ethnic andD  or racial conflicts, they commissioned several scholars to perform a study that will quell and end the occurrence of these conflicts. One of the scholars commissioned for this study was Bejarano herself.

Bejarano s argument takes into account her four-year ethnographic study of Latino identity at Altamira High School. In her discussion, it is important to note that she refers to Latinos to further diversify themselves into Chicanos, Mexicanos, or both (Bejarano 6). This distinction is important since it shows how Latinos perceive the extent in which their relationship to their homeland affects the creation of their identities. Bejarano states,

(Y)outh identities are created and directly influenced by the complexities of the geopolitics and so-ciocultural implications (e.g. culture, language, social groups and social hierarchies, internal colonialism, racesD  ethnicities, and citizenship and residency issues) circumscribing their lives. (Bejarano 3)
In the case of Latino s, the influence of these factors can be seen in the largely unspoken and unexplored divisions among youths of Mexican descent whose border identities are located along a wide continuum of Mexicanness (Bejarano 4).

Bejarano captures this continuum by utilizing the framework of Border Theory. According to the Border Theory, the border functions both as a material and mental space (Bejarano 24). In its material form, the border serves to signify the space that separates two regions (i.e. two countries) (Bejarano 25). On the other hand, in its mental form, the border serves to signify two different perspectives of reality (Bejarano 25). It is important to note that there is a relationship between the material and mental form of the border. This relationship is apparent as both serve to represent one another. In the case of Bejaranos study, this is apparent as the material space that the border represents pertains to the separation between Mexico and the United States. As opposed to this, the mental space that the border represents pertains to the cultural beliefs and values of both countries. Within this context, Border Theory argues that as individuals transcend one space for another space, there occurs the transference of beliefs from one space to another space. This transference of beliefs leads to the synthesis of two different cultural beliefs and practices.

In the context of Bejaranos study, the occurrence of the union between two contrasting beliefs can be seen in the various ethnic identities that have resulted from the Mexicans passage to the United States. The politics behind the formation of Latino identity is thereby determined by the Latinos position in the border. An example of this can be seen as Bejarano points out the self-made distinctions followed by Chicanos and Mexicans. Chicanos are less connected to Mexico as they attempt to characterize their practices as a union between American and Mexican practices (Bejarano 33). As opposed to this, Mexicans refuse to follow American practices as they choose to adhere to the practices in their homeland (Bejarano 33). Other manifestations of this can be seen in the following

(1) (T)he creation of unique MexicanaD  o and Mexican-American D ChicanaD  o youth cultures through the use of customs and trends creating distinct styles that reinforce the borders between the two groups of young people (2) MexicanaD  o and Mexican-American D ChicanaD  o students  use of languages to define who they are and further distinguish themselves from one another (3) the social stratification of adolescents into an informal hierarchy at school  (4) the various ways citizenship is conceptualized by ChicanaD  os and MexicanaD  os and also what U.S. citizenship, Mexican citizenship, or permanent residence signifies to these adolescents . (Bejarano 6)

Cultural customs and trends influence the formation of identity as certain groups form their own practices. In the case of the Latinos in Bejaranos study, this can be seen as Chicanos deviate from the Mexicans by following the Hip-Hop style (Bejarano 38). This distinction shows the formers adherence to the American trend as a means of differentiating themselves from their fellow Latinos. In terms of linguistic practices, another example of this can be seen in the Chicanos creation of Spanglish. Spanglish, a combination of Spanish and English, is a factor in identity formation as an individuals fluency in English indirectly manifests the amount of time that he has stayed in the United States. In the text, Bejarano claims, Chicanaswill use more popular American youth sayingsTheir language selection serves a twofold purposeto communicate in their natural languagesand to speak exclusively within their group (Bejarano 50).