To the west of New Mexico is the state of Michoacan, known for the production of large amounts of avocados and delicious bread. Michoacan also holds a large population of an indigenous group: the Purépecha.
Like the Aztecs, the Purépechas had an empire. They had their first capital in Pátzcuaro, later relocating their capital to Tzintzutzan. They lived peacefully until the arrival of the Spaniards. After the death of King Zuangua, who died of smallpox, Tangoxoán II allowed the Spanish to enter Tzintzuntzan. The Spaniards were on the lookout for gold, and they found it. This brought foreigners to Michoacan, forcing the Purépecha to mine for gold. As the number of foreigners increased, they would molest indigenous women. The indigenous men would see these white men and call them “tarasque” or "son-in-law." Spaniards related the word “tarasque” to the Purépecha and began calling them that.
The Purepechas still exist today. They still live in Michoacan, working in the fields amongst the mestizos, but they aren’t called Purépecha; they’re called Tarascans. The name Tarasco is stuck to them, and it's probable that it won’t leave soon either. Over the years, they have assimilated into the mestizo lifestyle, and only a couple wear a more modern version of their traditional outfits.
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Like the Aztecs, the Purépechas had an empire. They had their first capital in Pátzcuaro, later relocating their capital to Tzintzutzan. They lived peacefully until the arrival of the Spaniards. After the death of King Zuangua, who died of smallpox, Tangoxoán II allowed the Spanish to enter Tzintzuntzan. The Spaniards were on the lookout for gold, and they found it. This brought foreigners to Michoacan, forcing the Purépecha to mine for gold. As the number of foreigners increased, they would molest indigenous women. The indigenous men would see these white men and call them “tarasque” or "son-in-law." Spaniards related the word “tarasque” to the Purépecha and began calling them that.
The Purepechas still exist today. They still live in Michoacan, working in the fields amongst the mestizos, but they aren’t called Purépecha; they’re called Tarascans. The name Tarasco is stuck to them, and it's probable that it won’t leave soon either. Over the years, they have assimilated into the mestizo lifestyle, and only a couple wear a more modern version of their traditional outfits.
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I have the privilege of knowing some who still wear these traditional clothes—for example, my cousin’s grandma. My cousin and many others wear them specifically on June 29 to celebrate a Catholic saint. (My mom included, but she has no indigenous relatives, bringing up the question of cultural appropriation or appreciation.)
Maybe we do have some sort of indigenous blood in us, like my violin teacher argued when I took my glasses off and some kid pointed out I looked Asian. I shook my head, disagreeing, and my teacher began a lecture on how some South Mexicans look Asian because of their indigenous blood.
But it’s only on June 29 when my family wants to be Purépecha; other than that, they don’t want to be. Mexicans will argue that they believe in equality for every Mexican, but they will always look at you, find your western or indigenous features, and judge you based on that. The whiter you are, the more people in society will like you. Mexicans will argue that that’s not true, but it’s a universal experience as a Latino to be told that you're too dark and that you should take care of yourself.
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Maybe we do have some sort of indigenous blood in us, like my violin teacher argued when I took my glasses off and some kid pointed out I looked Asian. I shook my head, disagreeing, and my teacher began a lecture on how some South Mexicans look Asian because of their indigenous blood.
But it’s only on June 29 when my family wants to be Purépecha; other than that, they don’t want to be. Mexicans will argue that they believe in equality for every Mexican, but they will always look at you, find your western or indigenous features, and judge you based on that. The whiter you are, the more people in society will like you. Mexicans will argue that that’s not true, but it’s a universal experience as a Latino to be told that you're too dark and that you should take care of yourself.
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When American products came to Latin America, they showed light-skinned women with straight hair, small straight noses, thin, tall bodies, and colored eyes. Many Latin American women want to look this way and praise anybody who fits the standards—like when me and my mom’s friend watched The Princess Bride, and all she could comment about was Robin Wright's straight nose, her light hair, her blue eyes, and her skinny figure. I couldn’t hear the end of it.
I don’t think any Latina can; it's all we ever hear. Criticism from family members saying “you're too fat” or “you're too dark." Whenever I take a picture with my cousins in Mexico, I think I look fine, but when I see the picture, all I see is a white ghost with orange lips and really bright red cheeks because my cousin decided that she needed a filter because she was too dark.
I don’t think any Latina can; it's all we ever hear. Criticism from family members saying “you're too fat” or “you're too dark." Whenever I take a picture with my cousins in Mexico, I think I look fine, but when I see the picture, all I see is a white ghost with orange lips and really bright red cheeks because my cousin decided that she needed a filter because she was too dark.
Elizabeth Acevedo comments on this in her poem “Hair”: “And by “fix,” she means straighten. She means whiten.” Latin America prefers to appear white above anything. Around 61% of people believe that beauty is important in their social lives in Brazil. In Mexico, around 70% of the population is dark-skinned, but millions look for ways to lighten their skin. In Uruguay and Argentina, 1/10 of teenagers suffer from an eating disorder. From a young age, they’ve been told time and time again that they need to work on themselves. Be someone who is realistically non-achievable. Anybody who doesn’t fit such standards is rejected from society, criticized, and told that they don’t care about themselves.
These standards have been so normalized that it’s okay to throw microaggressions at indigenous people who don’t fit the standards. When I bring the topic up to my mom, she never pays attention; as a matter of fact, she laughs and says, “That’s just the way it is." The subtle hints of racism in the way they talk about them, calling them “naco” or ignorant. Laughing at anybody who looks remotely indigenous. Mocking them and their actions. Giving backhanded compliments. Stereotyping their towns as dirty, when in reality it isn’t their fault that they aren’t given proper resources. Governments cry that Latin America accepts everybody, but they accept anybody who is white.
These standards have been so normalized that it’s okay to throw microaggressions at indigenous people who don’t fit the standards. When I bring the topic up to my mom, she never pays attention; as a matter of fact, she laughs and says, “That’s just the way it is." The subtle hints of racism in the way they talk about them, calling them “naco” or ignorant. Laughing at anybody who looks remotely indigenous. Mocking them and their actions. Giving backhanded compliments. Stereotyping their towns as dirty, when in reality it isn’t their fault that they aren’t given proper resources. Governments cry that Latin America accepts everybody, but they accept anybody who is white.
Before western standards hit Latin America, standards were more inclusive, influenced by indigenous cultures and traditions that celebrated diverse body types and features. The Purepecha no longer like being called tarascans, as it was a name given by someone else, but many people struggle to figure this out because they are ignorant. Which I think is hypocrisy at its finest. Much like Jane Austen's main characters in “Pride and Prejudice,” Mexicans have too much pride to realize their own prejudices.
The Purepecha have expanded far and become a staple in your local michoacana as the doll-like figure with the colorful dress and black hair that represent a guarecita or an indigenous woman. Or at least, a more whitewashed version; hispanics wouldn’t feel comfortable seeing a darker complexion as a logo.
The Purepecha have expanded far and become a staple in your local michoacana as the doll-like figure with the colorful dress and black hair that represent a guarecita or an indigenous woman. Or at least, a more whitewashed version; hispanics wouldn’t feel comfortable seeing a darker complexion as a logo.