Following the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the annexation of Texas, the land claims of many Mexican families were not respected, either by the new English-speaking settlers or by the U.S. government. Dispossession from family- and community-owned lands dealt a severe economic blow to the livelihood of generations of Mexican Americans. The issue of land evokes especially bitter memories in New Mexico. In 1967, the year this poster was made with the slogan Tierra o Muerte, meaning Land or Death, a Hispanic land rights organization called La Alianza, led by Reies López Tijerina, raided the Rio Arriba County courthouse in Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico. In addition to reclaiming land from the government of New Mexico, the goals of the raid were to free imprisoned Alianza members and to arrest the district attorney who was prosecuting them as communists and outside agitators. The raid on the courthouse was ultimately unsuccessful and Tijerina served time in a federal prison. Although seen by some as a divisive figure, Reies López Tijerina was as recognizable as Cesar Chavez to many Chicano activists of the late 1960s. Mirroring similar political tensions in the African American community, Chicano civil rights activists were torn between leaders such as Chavez, who advocated nonviolence, and leaders like Tijerina, whose political strategy was decidedly more militant.
I have sympathy for any people who have lost their land. I will admit, though, that in NorthAmerica, my greatest sympathy is for American Indians, by far. Cdward, the record of European non-hispanics is ugly, absolutely. So is the record of Hispanics, especially in New Mexico. At the time of the Mexican War, the Hispanic population of New Mexico, I have read, was very happy to see the US cavalry arrive. They had butchered just a few too many indians, including Navajo, and the large and powerful Navajo nation had gone to war with them…and the Navajo were winning. The outlying farming communities were being destroyed, and the Navajo were moving closer and closer to the major centers (“major” by 1840’s standards). The point I want to make is that it isn’t just non-hispanic Europeans that have foul records when it comes to Indians, and if formerly hispanic land should be returned, how much of that land should be returned not to hispanics, but to the descendants of the native americans the ancestors of New Mexico’s hispanics massacred to get that land in the first place. Fine for the hispanics to get former lands returned, as long as native americans get more than a token amount of the land the hispanics murdered them for, returned to them.
And what did the Mexicans accomplish while they ran these areas? And while we’re at it lets talk about the violence perpetrated by Mexico against its own people. I don’t see millions of immigrants flooding Mexico. You should be grateful that Europeans made something out of your former territory, idiot(s)!!!
briangj2 almost 3 years ago
Artwork artist is referring to:
https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/tierra-o-muerte-35066
Following the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the annexation of Texas, the land claims of many Mexican families were not respected, either by the new English-speaking settlers or by the U.S. government. Dispossession from family- and community-owned lands dealt a severe economic blow to the livelihood of generations of Mexican Americans. The issue of land evokes especially bitter memories in New Mexico. In 1967, the year this poster was made with the slogan Tierra o Muerte, meaning Land or Death, a Hispanic land rights organization called La Alianza, led by Reies López Tijerina, raided the Rio Arriba County courthouse in Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico. In addition to reclaiming land from the government of New Mexico, the goals of the raid were to free imprisoned Alianza members and to arrest the district attorney who was prosecuting them as communists and outside agitators. The raid on the courthouse was ultimately unsuccessful and Tijerina served time in a federal prison. Although seen by some as a divisive figure, Reies López Tijerina was as recognizable as Cesar Chavez to many Chicano activists of the late 1960s. Mirroring similar political tensions in the African American community, Chicano civil rights activists were torn between leaders such as Chavez, who advocated nonviolence, and leaders like Tijerina, whose political strategy was decidedly more militant.
Concretionist almost 3 years ago
The last two words are “or death”.
Here’s a reference.
https://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/chicano-graphics/online/tierra-muerte
Durak Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Muy bueno, Señor. Respeto!
My old white, mid-western ass learns so much from art like this, gracias.
pamela welch Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Well done, Lalo ♥
Fuzzy Kombu almost 3 years ago
Zapata lives.
Nyckname almost 3 years ago
“trump gave us this miraculous vaccine, which I’m not going to get, for the fake virus.” ~ pretty much every MAGAt.
rlaker22j almost 3 years ago
truth is truth
tatra1233 almost 3 years ago
I have sympathy for any people who have lost their land. I will admit, though, that in NorthAmerica, my greatest sympathy is for American Indians, by far. Cdward, the record of European non-hispanics is ugly, absolutely. So is the record of Hispanics, especially in New Mexico. At the time of the Mexican War, the Hispanic population of New Mexico, I have read, was very happy to see the US cavalry arrive. They had butchered just a few too many indians, including Navajo, and the large and powerful Navajo nation had gone to war with them…and the Navajo were winning. The outlying farming communities were being destroyed, and the Navajo were moving closer and closer to the major centers (“major” by 1840’s standards). The point I want to make is that it isn’t just non-hispanic Europeans that have foul records when it comes to Indians, and if formerly hispanic land should be returned, how much of that land should be returned not to hispanics, but to the descendants of the native americans the ancestors of New Mexico’s hispanics massacred to get that land in the first place. Fine for the hispanics to get former lands returned, as long as native americans get more than a token amount of the land the hispanics murdered them for, returned to them.
jkavodgi almost 3 years ago
And what did the Mexicans accomplish while they ran these areas? And while we’re at it lets talk about the violence perpetrated by Mexico against its own people. I don’t see millions of immigrants flooding Mexico. You should be grateful that Europeans made something out of your former territory, idiot(s)!!!