I am writing to comment on two or three points remaining yet salient, discussed or not, as a result of the panel discussion which was conducted at Taller Boricua on Thursday, March 4th, entitled “(Dis)empowerment: Addressing Controversial Subjects in Contemporary Latino Art,†on the topic of the use of the racial epithet “spic†in “Round the Way Girl,†a sculpture piece by Melissa A. Calderon.
To be sure, the conversation was quite lively. Many people from the community came out for the event and a videotape was generated as documentation. In the end, as far as I am concerned, there was no agreement to agree to disagree. The other viewpoint – that allows for the use of the word in the 21st century – is just plain stupid. Yes, I said it – it’s stupid. What? – Aren’t there enough despicable epithets out there already? Do we really need another one, or to revive a dead one, in order to further marginalize our existence? It’s like gilding a piece of shit, and topping it with a Puerto Rican flag in order to claim it and embrace it as ours.
But what I see here is even more important than that, and needs mentioning and adding to end this insidious argument. Surely, I can’t stop people from doing or saying whatever the hell they desire, nor have I any need to do so. However, as a poet, I just want to point something out to those who would say that this issue is generational; that it is a difference of opinion between the “older†generation, and the new. Well, I feel that that’s not true. I believe that what insulted my father in the 1930’s insults my son in the year 2010. Some things in life are simply intolerable as a matter of self-respect, regardless of so-called artistic trends.
When Puerto Ricans, or “other†Latinos insist on using this vile term for whatever expression they claim, the very first people that they insult, disrespect and denigrate are the thousands of Puerto Rican soldiers who paid the ultimate price for freedom with their lives, while being called spics by their racist commanding officers in battles fought on foreign shores to preserve this democracy. I’m speaking of men like Sergeant Modesto Cartagena who recently passed away at age 87, and was awarded in 1951 the Distinguished Service Cross for “extraordinary heroism†in South Korea (See: New York Times, March 04, 2010). Can Puerto Ricans today imagine the insults that these men bore in order for you to presume the entitlement or right to dishonor them now, when even their former commanders are praising them?
Another point is this: Don’t you think that it is colonially hypocritical to use the 1st Amendment of the constitution of this country to claim a right to free speech? I mean, are you talking about the constitution that also allowed for our forced nationalization into this country through the Jones Act of 1917? Are we now following the tenets of a society that has found it within its belief system to allow for the forced citizenry of a colonized people of one nation, which was ceded to the second nation after a bogus war was waged to wrestle it from them in the first place? Are we forgetting or dismissing how this so-called democratic nation imposed military bases, forced sterilization on our women on the mainland; attempted to outlaw the native language of the people; bombed the islands of Culebra and Vieques ad infinitum, killed marine life along the circumference of the islands – including endangered species, such as the Loggerhead tortoise; displace indigenous and descendants of indigenous African-Puerto Ricans; has jailed freedom fighters, and is still in violation of the U.N. charter as it pertains to aggression, imperialism and colonization in Puerto Rico? If this be so, how well, then, have we assimilated into this society that values nothing, that holds nothing sacred for the sacrifice of what it calls progress.
You proponents of reviving dead racism may think that you are slick, or intelligent, or chick or even entitled – but I say that you are not. You are just sad opportunists who would do anything to become rich and famous for 15 minutes in a society that wants you lynched (See: “Puerto Rican Obituary†and “The Spanglish National Anthem†by El Reverendo Pedro Pietri) – whereas great patriots like Don Pedro Albizu Campos did not care about fame or fortune, but dignity and integrity and what is right! “La Patria es Valor y Sacrificio,†said Campos. I ask, do have the valor to sacrifice 15 minutes of shameless fame in order to preserve and protect our dignity?
What causes me to write and ask this is the following concern… The thing about all of this is that I believe that one of you wants to be the very first among us to represent us on national and international TV, wearing a goddamned fucking SPIC t-shirt – rhinestoned or not. Well, go ahead – and see if some self-respecting Puerto Rican, of one generation or another, doesn’t shove his or her patriotic foot up your ignorant, unimaginative and sellout ass!
Jesús Papoleto Meléndez,
Nuyorican Poet, El Barrio, NY
March 10, 2010.
Poet:
You speak well!
I could never understand how a black man could accept being called or call another black person “nigger”, because this word carries with it all the curses the white-black hating society could pack in a word. Well, that is the same feeling I get when I hear the word “spick”. I grew up in the island, coming to the states once in a while, but not to live until getting drafted in 1967. Ended up in Nam and fought more with white A holes who would call me “spick” than with Vietnamese.
Until I went to South East Asia, I never saw myself as a political person, but since then, I have understood that there is no way to be a person and not be political.
The problem is that this country has tried to kill the feeling of nationalism in Puerto Ricans, and, while it has not been able to actually kill it, it has confused the heck out of most of us. Then, it has used its educational technique of “dumbification” and has helped create a new Puerto Rican… the dumbest ever!
Its good to know that artistic respect only goes ONE WAY with your generation. Screw all those younger generations of Puerto Ricans who fall through the cracks while you preach about my ignorant, sellout ass. It went right over your head, and that my friend, was exactly the whole point.
I thank you. I respect you, but It will never be reciprocated. That’s fine. My generation understands me and, in the end, that’s all that matters to me.
Sincerely,
Melissa A. Calderon
I will be the first one to say that I do not care much for the so called art that is currently presented in our society, but I will always believe that an artist has a right to present their ideas as they see fit. This is one of the fundamental rights that all soldiers, Puerto Rican or not has fought for all of us. While I do not pretend to agree with or even like the sculpture in question, I being a Puerto Rican, did not take offense to it since I am also extremely open minded and am more concerned with people attacking and attempting to trample the rights of the artist to speak what is on their mind. Over the years we have seen many artists intrepretations that people have not agreed with but isnt that the idea of art?? To spark questions, discussions and the such. Not to just condem the artist for bringing their idea to life.
Well here is what my take on this is. First off last I checked this is an art piece am I wrong? You take the positive and negative in society and reflect on it which I believe the artist has done. Jesús Papoleto Meléndez
you sir are taking this way too far.For me, it’s about empowerment, look at everything Puerto Ricans have done and accomplished. It is also a play on the word. We are speaking out the truths and identities in very perfect English. The word spic or nigger is just a word it is society that makes it racial.The word really holds no definition society allows it to be defined in a deragatory way. You are basically calling our generation of Puerto Ricans a bunch of idiots. You are a pompass ass who should keep his thoughts to himself. You are the exact type that is wrong with this Country; in order to make your self feel important look refined and intellectual you bash a fellow Puerto Rican and the art they have displayed. The word “spic” is just a word your emphasis on it makes it racist. You should be ashamed of yourself, you cannot call yourself a poet when clearly you are a one sided, small minded individual.
Sincerely,
A fellow SPIC