The Rebirth of Our Nationality

Around the mountain a Spanish Conquistador dressed as a crusader reinforces the movement of the mural. He is the only white human figure depicted in the mural. He moves forward as he cleans his bloody sword. Tanguma vividly depicts allegorically the genocide of the ancient indigenous peoples of América during the early Colonial period. In his words: “the Spanish conqueror guiltily wipes off the blood of indigenous people from his sword. The mural displays the Spanish genocide of the indigenous people of the Americas during and after the conquest.”

Creator: Leo Tanguma and Gonzo247

Area: Houston / East End

Collection: Rebirth of Our Nationality

Contributor: Enrique Del Valle

Source: Center for Mexican American Studies

Uploaded by: Hector Garcia

Copyright status: In copyright

Center for Mexican American Studies

The Rebirth of Our Nationality

The artist with no face attempts to point out the loss of something, which has vanished forever due to subjugation, racism and oppression. The faceless artist wrote the book below him that has torn pages. This book represents the unwritten history of Chicanos in the United States. It is described as “Obra Creativa de La Raza en Los Estados Unidos 1848 – 1973 (Creative Works of the Chicano People in the United States 1848 – 1973).

Creator: Leo Tanguma and Gonzo247

Area: Houston / East End

Collection: Rebirth of Our Nationality

Contributor: Enrique Del Valle

Source: Center for Mexican American Studies

Uploaded by: Hector Garcia

Copyright status: In copyright

Center for Mexican American Studies

The Rebirth of Our Nationality Hotspot

The figure with her hands cut off refers to Mexican-American women, who are incapacitated, not only by white racism, but often by our own culture as well. The young daughter holds in her hands the broken sword, which had ravaged her mother and had prevented her from being free from male superiority, racism and oppression. The young daughter cries out, “I will not allow my mother’s oppressors to incapacitate me like they did my mother!”

Creator: Leo Tanguma and Gonzo247

Area: Houston / East End

Collection: Rebirth of Our Nationality

Contributor: Enrique Del Valle

Source: Center for Mexican American Studies

Uploaded by: Hector Garcia

Copyright status: In copyright

Center for Mexican American Studies

The Rebirth of Our Nationality

The Zapatistas, followers of Emiliano Zapata in Mexico, show the revolutionary past of our ancestors, who struggled for land and liberty. The Plan de Ayala (The Plan of Ayala) was Zapata’s plan for land reform.

Creator: Leo Tanguma and Gonzo247

Area: Houston / East End

Collection: Rebirth of Our Nationality

Contributor: Enrique Del Valle

Source: Center for Mexican American Studies

Uploaded by: Hector Garcia

Copyright status: In copyright

Center for Mexican American Studies

The Rebirth of Our Nationality

A figure representing the United Farmworkers and Cesar Chavez brings his banner to the couple in the flower to provide them with the experience of the union organizing of agricultural workers.

Creator: Leo Tanguma and Gonzo247

Area: Houston / East End

Collection: Rebirth of Our Nationality

Contributor: Enrique Del Valle

Source: Center for Mexican American Studies

Uploaded by: Hector Garcia

Copyright status: In copyright

Center for Mexican American Studies

The Rebirth of Our Nationality Hotspot

The pachuco (social rebel) with his fierce individuality points at the viewer saying that he is also a part of the historical experience. The pachuco is rebelling against racist insults to his culture and manhood. To the right of the pachuco, is a family that represents the importance of family in the Chicano culture.

Creator: Leo Tanguma and Gonzo247

Area: Houston / East End

Collection: Rebirth of Our Nationality

Contributor: Enrique Del Valle

Source: Center for Mexican American Studies

Uploaded by: Hector Garcia

Copyright status: In copyright

Center for Mexican American Studies

The Rebirth of Our Nationality

On the right side of the couple in the flower is a pinto (prisoner), who brings into focus the experience of imprisonment resulting from poverty and ignorance. This image condemns the conditions that produce the desperation conducive to crime. Next is the educator who brings a book of learning to emphasize the necessity of education for La Raza (Mexican-American people) as an evolving people.

Creator: Leo Tanguma and Gonzo247

Area: Houston / East End

Collection: Rebirth of Our Nationality

Contributor: Enrique Del Valle

Source: Center for Mexican American Studies

Uploaded by: Hector Garcia

Copyright status: In copyright

Center for Mexican American Studies

The Rebirth of Our Nationality

Our Lady of Guadalupe, the indigenous Virgen Mary of the Americas, who is a symbol of Mexican identity and faith. She is dressed in overalls and has left her usual ornamental frame to join with Chicanos in the struggle.

Creator: Leo Tanguma and Gonzo247

Area: Houston / East End

Collection: Rebirth of Our Nationality

Contributor: Enrique Del Valle

Source: Center for Mexican American Studies

Uploaded by: Hector Garcia

Copyright status: In copyright

Center for Mexican American Studies

The Rebirth of Our Nationality

The Chicano worker, a railroad worker, is depicted to show the contributions of Mexican-Americans to the construction of the intercontinental railroad in the United States. He represents all Chicano workers who have labored and helped build the United States and continue to do so.

Creator: Leo Tanguma and Gonzo247

Area: Houston / East End

Collection: Rebirth of Our Nationality

Contributor: Enrique Del Valle

Source: Center for Mexican American Studies

Uploaded by: Hector Garcia

Copyright status: In copyright

Center for Mexican American Studies

The Rebirth of Our Nationality

The fallen justice figure symbolizes justice that has not yet arrived at the couple emerging from the flower. Justice is depicted as blind and the scales of justice are uneven, indicating the lack of justice in the Mexican-American community.

Creator: Leo Tanguma and Gonzo247

Area: Houston / East End

Collection: Rebirth of Our Nationality

Contributor: Enrique Del Valle

Source: Center for Mexican American Studies

Uploaded by: Hector Garcia

Copyright status: In copyright

Center for Mexican American Studies

The Rebirth of Our Nationality

Above the fallen justice figure, are a man and a woman bringing the banner of their movement, La Raza Unida Party (The United Party of Mexican-Americans/Chicanos). The man carries a ballot box as part of his effort to obtain political power and justice through the vote.

Creator: Leo Tanguma and Gonzo247

Area: Houston / East End

Collection: Rebirth of Our Nationality

Contributor: Enrique Del Valle

Source: Center for Mexican American Studies

Uploaded by: Hector Garcia

Copyright status: In copyright

Center for Mexican American Studies

The Rebirth of Our Nationality

The artist with his palette and brushes hopes and strives for his art of social conscience to be respected as he rejects the traditional role of artist as merely producing decorative art.

Creator: Leo Tanguma and Gonzo247

Area: Houston / East End

Collection: Rebirth of Our Nationality

Contributor: Enrique Del Valle

Source: Center for Mexican American Studies

Uploaded by: Hector Garcia

Copyright status: In copyright

Center for Mexican American Studies

The Rebirth of Our Nationality

This is a scene from the Pre-Columbian past: The dead warrior; La Malinche, Cortez’ interpreter and mistress during the conquest of Mexico; the God Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent and God of the dawn, enlightenment and learning. Quetzalcoatl is coiling around a broken monument that symbolizes the Pre-Columbian past. These images advocate for Chicanos to recognize our ancestry from the indigenous Mexican people and also the native peoples of the American southwest.

Creator: Leo Tanguma and Gonzo247

Area: Houston / East End

Collection: Rebirth of Our Nationality

Contributor: Enrique Del Valle

Source: Center for Mexican American Studies

Uploaded by: Hector Garcia

Copyright status: In copyright

Center for Mexican American Studies

The Rebirth of Our Nationality Hotspot

The priest is shown with his contribution of a golden cross as he tramples over the indigenous and Mexican-American people. Three figures, the skeletal remains of Chicano soldiers, who have fought for the United States in all of the wars including World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, etc. Their contributions to the wars and bravery are symbolized by the many military medals displayed here.

Creator: Leo Tanguma and Gonzo247

Area: Houston / East End

Collection: Rebirth of Our Nationality

Contributor: Enrique Del Valle

Source: Center for Mexican American Studies

Uploaded by: Hector Garcia

Copyright status: In copyright

Center for Mexican American Studies

The Rebirth of Our Nationality

The poem is by Tezozomoc, an indigenous chronicler from Mexico. The poem was written after the Spanish Conquest and is from the Crónica Mexicayotl: Never will it be lost.

Creator: Leo Tanguma and Gonzo247

Area: Houston / East End

Collection: Rebirth of Our Nationality

Contributor: Enrique Del Valle

Source: Center for Mexican American Studies

Uploaded by: Hector Garcia

Copyright status: In copyright

Center for Mexican American Studies

Rebirth of Our Nationality

A mother clutches a photograph of her son as she receives a telegram that he has been killed in action after gallantly fighting in battle. At home, his family is reduced to poverty and the margins of society despite his bravery, service and having given his life for his country.

Creator: Leo Tanguma and Gonzo247

Area: Houston / East End

Collection: Rebirth of Our Nationality

Contributor: Hector Garcia

Source: Center for Mexican American Studies

Uploaded by: Hector Garcia

Copyright status: In copyright

Center for Mexican American Studies