Stereotypes Against Mexicans and Muslims in the Poems of Jimmy Santiago Baca

The poems, “My Grandmother Washes Her Feet in the Sink of the Bathroom at Sears” by Mohja Kahf, and “So Mexicans Are Taking Jobs away from Americans” by Jimmy Santiago Baca are about minorities being criticized and stereotyped by Americans. Both poems are seen to be directly relating to the livelihoods of the people in American society. In as much as the poems reveal the feelings of the poets about stereotypes against minorities, they also tend to tackle some issues affecting minorities in the community. The perception of Americans that Mexicans are taking jobs away from them and cultural misunderstanding in contradicted by the speakers who seem to be passing a message that Americans have negative stereotypes of other cultures.

Throughout the poems, the ideas are similar since Muslims and Mexicans are targeted on American culture. Despite the idea of America displaying maturity in equality, the poets of both poems carefully detail their experiences in America, which showcase the challenges the minority groups go through in the United States. Poem by Baca, the speaker feels frustrated and tired of hearing all these stereotypes against minorities, particularly Mexicans. Similarly, Kahf’s poem the speaker discuses that American sees the manner of grandma washes her feet inappropriate. These two poems reveal prejudice against minorities which comes from American society’s discomfort with other cultures.

Baca is being sarcastic throughout the poem which helps him seen to be opposing the views of Americans regarding the Mexicans are taking jobs away from them. The poem touches on the relationship between Americans and Mexicans, whereby the Mexicans immigrants in the United States are stealing jobs from native born workers. Mexicans face the constant challenges in the United States. The claim that the Mexicans are out to take away the jobs from the Americans does not go down well with Baca because he is being sarcastic, Baca believes that Mexicans are actually looking for jobs to work not taking them away: 'O Yes? Do they come on horses with rifles and say, Ese Gringo, give me your job?' (Lines 1-3). Baca tries to imagine how possible it is for a foreigner to come in the United States to snatch a job opportunity from a local. From the way the author brings out his content in the poem, it is visible that he fails to understand the stereotypes the Americans have against the Mexicans. Maybe it is an inborn stereotype that makes them not to be in good terms with the Mexicans. Despite the author being an American, he finds it disturbing on the way Americans have not yet come to terms with the presence of foreigners in the country. They seem to be uncomfortable with the foreigners working in the country while still being ignorant of the statistics of the working population, which shows that the prevalence of the majority groups in the corporate world. The few Mexicans in the jobs are seen in the negative perception as if they prevent the other workers from getting a chance in the job market. As per the poem, the author seems to be challenging the American perception of the honoring of everyone's right to survival in the country by asking them to work hard indirectly instead of just sitting and hating on the works of the Mexican immigrants in the United States.

Baca is being sarcastic The poem touches on the relationship between Americans and Mexicans, whereas the Mexicans immigrants in the United States are considered to be illegally in the country and that them having jobs in America is perceived as illegal. As per the diversity of the American population, the Mexican immigrants can be classified under the minority groups; as a result, they face the constant challenges in the United States. The claim that the Mexicans are out to take away the jobs from the Americans does not go down well with the speaker who is being sarcastic and thinks the Americans are using the excuse to display laziness in looking for jobs. 'O Yes? Do they come on horses with rifles and say, Ese Gringo, gimme your job?' (Lines 1-3). Baca tries to imagine how possible it is for a foreigner to come in the United States to snatch a job opportunity from a local. From the way the poet brings out his content in the poem, it is visible that he fails to understand the stereotypes the Americans have against the Mexicans.

Maybe it is an inborn stereotype that makes them not to be in good terms with the Mexicans. People are striving to work and live so that they can provide food for their families. Mexicans are just looking for jobs and are willing to do any type of jobs that Americans will not do. Americans should know that Mexicans are creating jobs rather than taking them away. As a reader, this group of people are not committing crimes they are doing the things that everyone does to survive and keep their family happy. Americans should realize that Mexicans open up employment opportunities for those who already here, they also target low skilled jobs that have a low paying. Therefore, it should not an issue for Americans. People around the world have dreams to live in peace and just have something to survive than those who are rich and have everything but never attempt to help others:

...Below that cool green sea of money,

millions and millions of people fight to live,

search for pearls in the darkest depths

of their dreams, hold their breath for years

trying to cross poverty to just having something... (32-36)

In life, everyone wants to make a way to live and have good life no matter where life takes them, they would still get themselves together to survive, and even if the society does not accept them.

At time, individuals might not be satisfied with the new societal norms. There has always been tough for someone to adjust themselves into a new environment. In the poem, “My Grandmother Washes Her Feet in the Sink of the Bathroom at Sears” shows the real view of Americans on minorities, particularly Muslims. People who come from different nations are not familiar with the American culture and usually face difficulty:

...My grandmother, though she speaks no English,

'You can't do that,' one of the women protests, turning to me,

'Tell her she can't do that... (22...38-40)

Living in a free society where everyone is meant to have the freedom of practicing any religion should not really be issues for anyone. However, people are still disrespecting others and not accepting them as members of the society.

As a matter of facts prejudice in American against minorities have negative effects on individuals’ health and social life. Minorities have difficulty practicing their own culture and they always get criticized by Americans. The study focuses on “prejudice at the individual level prejudice exerts negative health effects among minorities groups”. The researchers have found that minorities get disrespected at workplace because the majority views them as inferior and have the stereotypes towards them. (Lee 2349) Moreover, the study shows the, “factors of stereotypes, social distance and prejudice against minorities in the United States.” They have used data that shows minorities are affected by the prejudice in terms of education, income and most importantly ethnicity. This will make the living hard for this group of people.