Guest Column

What are you?  Tejano, Mexican or Mexican-American?

By Rudy “Tejano” Pena

June 6, 2005

 

That is the question.  How many times have we identified our selves being Mexican only to turn around and explain we were not from México?  After graciously and politely explaining in perfect English, actually we are Mexican-American it’s very frustrating to hear, “when did you become a United States citizen?”  It is a good question that applies to Mexican citizens, who gained United States citizenship not United States born Tejanos. 

Tejas (Texas) was settled and ruled by the Spanish for more than three hundred years (1500-1821).  Settlements of Spanish speaking communities flourished during those early Tejas days along with the development of a very unique group of people called Los Tejanos.  Today in the United States Tejanos and Tejanas continue being part of the original Texas fabric.  The areas presently known as Texas and México were settled and ruled by the Spanish.  The colonization of these two areas in the North American continent led to the birth and evolution of two similar but distinct people.  The Spanish, who settled in Mexico City and the surrounding areas mixed with the local indigenous inhabitants, and gave birth to the first “mestizos”.  Today in México there are different varieties and levels of mestizos identified as Mexican.  Tejanos and Tejanas must learn to discontinue the affiliation of the following terms, Mexican, Mexican-American, Mexican Texan, Latino, Hispanic or Chicano because these do not apply.

Who Tejanos are…

The Spanish came and established La Provincia De Tejas.  Presently in Texas large numbers of Tejanos are descendants of the Spanish and local indigenous people, who settled the territory named Tejas.  (Texas)   Most Spanish speaking Tejanos, born in Texas are not aware of their Tejano ancestry.  It’s clear by the lack of usage of the Tejano or Tejana term.   The distinction is applicable to individuals of Spanish, Spanish/Indigene and other ancestry born in Texas.  Why?  Tejanos and Tejanas emerged, evolved and developed, during the original Tejas Spanish Province era.  Since the early 1600’s Tejanos actively contributed to the development of cities such as Goliad, Gonzales, Refugio, San Fernando (San Antonio) and others.   Many of the original inhabitants of The Republic of Texas were Tejanos.  They were Tejanos long before becoming Mexican citizens in 1824.

  Current government, educational and other United States institutions consider most individuals of Spanish and other ancestry, living in Texas and other southwestern states Mexican or Mexican American.  This is false, misleading and has cause grave identity consequences to United States born citizens with similar linage.   With the exception of sporadic minor mention of the word Tejano or Tejanos, duly referencing the early settlers of Tejas, the Tejano term is seldom if ever used today in our society.  Moreover the Tejano term is erroneously used and associated to mean Mexican and Tejano are one and the same.  Most individuals in the United States, especially in Texas, believe Tejanos and Tejanas are Mexican, came from México and are of Mexican decent.  This view is embarrassingly, terribly flawed.   

Why you should care…

I strongly support the view that Tejanos born in Texas, especially those who are descendants of the original Tejanos, deserve to be properly identified as Tejanos, not Mexican Texan, Mexican, Hispanic, Mexican-American, Latino or Chicano.  Tejanos did not come to Texas, they evolved here. Awareness and information of Tejano culture and history is of vital importance to United States born Tejanos and people in general. Most everyone knows who or what a Latino or Hispanic is.  It’s clear, or should be, these foreign Spanish speaking individuals are not representative of the basic Spanish speaking United States born citizens.  They have their own foreign agendas, which include the welfare and assistance of their newly formed communities.  They have introduced their foreign culture and established non-traditional United States communities. Unfortunately, the misguided consensus is they are part of the over all basic Spanish speaking United States born citizenry. Simply put this is not the case. Our language, customs, values and traditions are very different from these people.  Please understand Tejanos are a bicultural entity with Texas and United States values and traditions.  Most Tejanos strive for high goals.  My goal is the over due recognition, acknowledgement, acceptance and inclusion of the Tejano identity, culture and distinguished heritage.

May God bless Texas …. Vivan Los Tejanos    

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RUDY ‘TEJANO’PENA,     TEJANO HISTORIAN    www.TejanoPride.com

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