Within Issue 72 of The Kudzu Review, Sophia Orozco’s nonfiction piece, Mexicana, focuses on the stereotypes that Hispanics experience when moving to America. Her story includes criticism from her own family as well as Americans. When stereotypes are involved, certain things are expected like what language is spoken, accents, appearances, and likes or dislikes. Orozco portrays how she is expected, by Americans, to have a darker complexion, speak Spanish, and have dark-colored eyes. On the other hand, her family expects her to also speak Spanish, have a Hispanic accent, like Tequila, and spend a summer in Mexico to engage with her culture and family. The narrator’s identity is constantly put into question by others and I get the feeling of her being overwhelmed. When I read this piece the first time, I thought the short and swift sentences made the story feel rushed and as if it resembled a basic journal entry spewing random thoughts or emotions. Reading it a second time around, I found it to fit the theme quite well. The narrator has all of these outside opinions circulating in her head and the short sentences give that sense of being overwhelmed by the outside world.
Mexicana is relatable to anyone who has been stereotyped or expected to be something they’re not. In the first few sentences, Orozco writes, “Family is more important, it’s rooted in your culture. But what is your “culture?” (Orozco, 2023, p. 21). I feel as if culture has been sculpted to be something simple and straightforward when it’s actually not. As a reader, I felt challenged to think about what being a part of a culture truly consists of. Individuals of the same background or ethnicity can come together to share experiences and similarities, but a person’s culture does not define every part of who they are. I enjoy stories that allow readers to relate and sympathize with the narrator, even if they haven’t experienced the exact same situation. Mexicana allows readers to feel validated in not going along with or meeting every expectation within their culture, because there is no set of rules for what someone is supposed to look or act like. In this sense, the story was relevant as it has become normal to categorize individuals into groups whether it has to do with race, religion, or culture.
Even though I did connect with the story and was able to dig into the underlying message and themes, I felt like something was missing towards the middle of the story. The only critique I thought of for this piece is that I would have loved some background information about the narrator’s life, like why she left Mexico, how old she was, or how these constant questions she was asked made her feel. On the surface, the narrator just seems to be simply telling how she is constantly nagged by peers and family about the person she should be to fit in with her culture, so understanding Orozco’s story requires putting deeper thought into it as you read. Although this is a short piece and there are some imperfections to it, I did enjoy reading and dissecting the themes of this story.
Sarina Francis is a senior at Florida State University majoring in English with a minor in Criminology. She was born in Florida and raised in New York until 2021 when she came to Florida State to pursue her English degree. Sarina has been a part of The Kudzu Review as an editorial assistant for two semesters now, with the hopes of gaining further experience in the editorial process while working among a talented team of writers. Her long-term career goals include working at the NY Times as an investigative journalist. In her free time, Sarina enjoys reading memoirs and spending time outdoors whether it’s going for a walk or simply laying out on campus!
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