Main themes

Occupied America by Rodolfo Acuna Acuna has become an unofficial ambassador for Mexican Americans, who is a renowned historian and author of countless literatures that highlight even the minutest detail of their rich cultural history. In his book, Occupied America he has provided a comprehensive introduction to the Chicano History along with great insight into some of the most pivotal historical events. The substance of this prose will focus primarily on the themes presented in the first and second chapter of the book, which discusses the origins of the civilization and then its fall following an invasion from Spain, respectively.
The most important theme of Acuna’s book is to view the Mexican history in complete isolation and to understand their individuality that has been influenced by foreign elements but not completely dominated by them. The Spanish invasion expanded from Mexico to various parts of southwest America, including Texas. With their ever-increasing influence, the indigenous population was then relegated to the status of slaves and the changing roles women were also attributed to the reforms brought about by Spanish invaders, who slowly dominated almost every aspect of their life. The invaders exploited the resources that the region was abundantly endowed with. (Acuna, 2010)
The resistance from the Natives then provides an explanation for the friction between the communities that has been reported in the subsequent years. The Mexican population has suffered from great discrimination and was vastly marginalized in the society. This is the main purpose behind Acuna’s writings that aims to highlight the fact that Mexican population once reigned over the region where they are treated more or less like second rate citizens. Acuna has tried to breakdown the misconceptions that were exploited by the colonizers to brand their race as inferiors. The chapters provide a sound historical background, but on a personal level I feel intrigued by the evolution of Mexican culture that took place as a result of these events.
Work Cited
Acuna, Rodolfo. Occupied America: A History of Chicanos. Pearson Education. 2010.