I am Joaquín

            “I Am Joaquín” is a poem written in 1965 by Rodolfo Gonzales.  He was a Mexican American devoted to fighting for equal rights for Mexican Americans in the United States.  “I Am Joaquín” came out around the same time that the United States passed the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 and which suggests the feelings of hospitality towards Mexicans, even those that were Mexican Americans and legal citizens, were dwindling. 

The poem is entirely free verse containing very long lines, like the lines towards the first part of the second stanza, and very short lines consisting of singular words, like the lines towards the end of the final stanza.  The tone of the entire piece is defiant.  Joaquín is defiant against white America and its attempt to disrespect Mexican culture by evoking imagery of “proud and noble” (line 21) Mexican rulers that he identifies himself with.  He doesn’t let society make him forget his culture.  Joaquín is also defiant when he talks about how he “dissolves into the melting pot” (line 163).  He recognizes that he isn’t always able to stay true to himself or the culture that he comes from, but doesn’t let those moments where he falters overcome him.  Joaquín doesn’t give up and integrate himself in American society because he is a Mexican American that proclaims “I WILL ENDURE” for his final line.

The first two stanzas of “I Am Joaquín” evoke powerful imagery of great Mexican rulers and revolutionaries.  The lines are longer and use figurative language like “I am the sword and flame of Cortes the despot” (line 27).  References to swords, eagles, crowns, blood, as well as, the integrated knowledge of past rulers and historical events, immerse readers in Joaquín’s passion for his cultural history.  Even without the figurative language, the length of the lines in the first two stanzas suggests that Joaquín wanted to stress the importance that his heritage means to him.

The third stanza’s lines are much shorter in length in order to punctuate the contradictions that Joaquín sees in himself.  He is both “The victor.” (line 102) and “The vanquished.” (line 103). Joaquín faces an internal struggle because he knows his cultural history, but lives in a world that doesn’t respect that.  He is torn between trying to survive in society and being true to all the history that made up his heritage.  The shorter lines also speed up the rhythm of the stanza.  The speed is important because it suggests the whirlwind of emotions that Joaquín is facing.  He has this idealistic view of who he wants to be and is bummed out by the reality of what he faces.  He keeps arguing back and forth and the rhythm of the third stanza reflects that inner conflict.

In the final stanza Joaquín takes on an assertive, defiant, almost angry tone.  He is upset at America for breaking the Treaty of Hidalgo, for raping his culture.  Figurative language is used, but it’s fairly straightforward.  It reads almost like a rant and fully expresses the disdain Joaquín feels towards America for not acknowledging Mexican culture.  Joaquín is not only upset, but he speaks out against the unfair treatment.  He says that Mexican Americans need to fight back and show their culture with pride. 

Throughout the poem Joaquín struggles with grandiose dreams of old Mexican rulers and his place in American society.  The pacing of each stanza reflects the importance of the topic in the stanza and the tone of his voice.  By the end of the poem, Joaquín is encouraging Mexican Americans to take pride in their culture.