The Mexican American Experience, a radio program produced by the Longhorn Radio Network, includes interviews, music, and informational programs related to the Mexican American community and their concerns. Program summary: Alicia Gonzalez, professor of folklore at the University of Texas at Austin, discusses the image of the Virgin de Guadalupe and her role in uniting and symbolizing the Mexican community, from her appearance in 1531 to the farm worker's movement. Gonzalez discusses the similarities between Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Aztec goddess Tonantzin or Coatlicue, whose temple was located in Tepeyec where the Virgin appeared. Our lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego in the 16th century, as a mestiza. Her appearance symbolized the religious syncretism that would come to mark Mexican Catholicism and facilitated the conversion of the Aztecs. Gonzalez also discusses allegations that the Spanish missionaries may have invented her to help facilitate conversion. The discussion explores Our Lady of Guadalupe's importance as a symbol of Mexican identity and unity and how she came to take on such significance during the War for Independence from Spain. She argues that the Virgin's appearance to the lowly Juan Diego foretold her later significance as a symbol of resistance and struggle against colonial Spain. Alicia Gonzalez discusses the image of the Virgin de Guadalupe and her role in uniting and symbolizing the Mexican community, from her appearance in 1531 to the farm worker's movement. Note: This is a repeat of program 1980-50. Keywords: Aztecs, Basilica de Guadalupe, Catholicism, Coatlicue, Colonialism, Conquest, Cultural Appropriation, Ethnic Identity, Farm Workers, Gender, Juan Diego, Marianismo, Mariolatry, Mestizo, Nahuatl, National Identity, Nationalism, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patriarchy, Pilgrimage, Pilgrimage, Religion, Religious Identity, Rosa Linda Fregoso, Spaniards, Syncretism, Tonantzin, United Farm Workers, Virgen de los Remedios, Virgin. Broadcast date: 1981-10-29.
Creator/Contributor:
Longhorn Radio Network (creator), Fregoso, Rosa Linda. (host), and González, Alicia M. (Alicia María), 1950- (interviewee)
Date Created/Date Issued:
1980-11
Owning Repository:
Benson Latin American Collection, LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies and Collections, The University of Texas at Austin