Esther Morales

The poem "Two Mexicanos Lynched in Santa Cruz, California, May 3, 1877,"                 "Revolutionary Spanish Lesson," and "New Bathroom Policy at English High School" are by Latino poet Martin Espada. In the three poems, the reader understands that the discrimination and racism are the basis faced discrimination a long time also as well as in the present.

The poem "New Bathroom Policy at English High School"                                                                             This teaches the reader that it is not fair to take something away that you are born to do. If somebody had banned Spanish from me, I would feel discriminated.  The principal over hard two students in the bathroom talking in Spanish, and one word he could make out was his name. He assumed that they were talking badly about him so he banned Spanish in the bathroom.

 In Espada's poem "Revolutionary Spanish Lesson," the reader is asked to think about,         how people don't like to be disrespected. I think that the boy's name means something to him that he gets mad when someone mispronounced his name. In the text it say's "I want to buy a toy pistol,… put on dark sunglasses." He wants to make people pronouncing his name pay attention. This shows he doesn't like anybody disrespecting him.

Espada's poem "Two Mexicanos" makes the reader think about,                                                    how people still get treated different today even though this happened in 1877. We think about this because in the poem is say's that snapped the neck of two Mexicanos and then they crowded around the two bodies and took a photo. This teaches us that racism is a serious problem in this world.

In conclusion, the poem "Two Mexicanos Lynched in Santa Cruz, California, May 3,1877, Revolutionary Spanish Lesson, and New Bathroom Policy at     High School." All illustrate ignorance of the more fortunate poorly affecting another, less fortunate group (in this case Latinos.) Overall, exploring and analyzing these emotional poems made one better understand bigotry and racial hatred while these poems may seem mocking and irate, they help inspire the reader.