The Rebirth of Our Nationality @ Canal St.

Rebirth of Our Nationality depicts the rebirth of Chicano self-identity and cultural pride and the Chicano struggle for civil and human rights. This rebirth is necessitated due to the systemic racism and oppression suffered by Chicano people. In the center of this enormous mural (240 feet wide by 18 feet high), a young couple, representing a new generation, emerges from the petals of a brilliant red flower that has grown over a pile of skulls that symbolize their Mexican-American ancestors with all of their hardships and struggles. The couple reaches to each side of the mural towards numerous figures that are moving towards them, bringing their historical and cultural experiences to instill in the couple a sense of self-identity, cultural awareness and self-appreciation. These provide the soil from which our flower sprouts and blooms. Above the couple is a quotation from Octavio Paz, the Nobel Prize winning Mexican poet, “To become aware of our History is to become aware of our Singularity.”

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