The Profe Podcast Newsletter

 We have lots to talk & share.

History: Vaqueros

Economics: Generational Wealth

Education: Immigration policy v. Graduate School

Culture: Spanglish

History

The history of the Vaquero began with the arrival of the Spanish into the Western Hemisphere in 1519. Vaqueros were expert horsemen and cattle handlers, known for their skill in creating braided ropes and crafting saddles. The term "Vaquero" (/va-ke-ro/) originates from the Spanish word “vaca,” meaning “cow.”

Their proficiency in hunting and herding was essential for ranching development in North America. As European Americans moved westward after the U.S.-Mexico War in 1848, they adopted many elements of Vaquero culture, influencing the emergence of the American cowboy. It's important to acknowledge that many of the early skilled horsemen in the U.S. were African Americans, who significantly impacted ranching practices.

One significant example of the Vaquero's impact is seen in the story of Captain Richard King, who in 1854 recruited Vaquero families from Cruillas, Mexico, to work on his now-famous King’s Ranch in Texas. These families became known as “Los Kineños” or "King's People," underlining their valuable role in the history of ranching in the United States.*

Despite their contributions, Vaqueros were often vilified due to historical biases and negative Hollywood portrayals, which favored and then promoted the image of the European American cowboy as the quintessential figure of the West. Regardless, El Vaquero/a is an iconic image tattooed on our community’s soul.

*Rangel, Pablo A., "Racialized Nationality: Mexicans, Vaqueros, and U.S. Nationalism in Buffalo Bill's Wild West" (2013). Dissertations, Theses, & Student Research, Department of History. 62. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/historydiss/62

Generational wealth is vital for ensuring financial security for future generations. Historically, Mexicans and Mexican Americans have faced barriers to accessing these opportunities in the U.S. In the 1950s, European Americans controlled 90% of the nation's wealth, while African Americans and Mexican Americans had less than 2% combined.

However, thanks to the efforts of Mexican American baby boomers, later generations are achieving new heights. They fought for civil rights and legal protection to secure access to education and equal pay.

Today, their descendants are among the fastest-growing ethnic groups in the U.S. With a strong work ethic and better access to education and trade schools, generational wealth is becoming a reality for our community. For example, Latinos/as are the fastest-growing demographic of homebuyers. C/S!

Spanish is the second most spoken language in the United States. Over 43.4 million people aged five or older speak Spanish at home (13.7%). Most U.S. Latinos speak Spanish: 75% say they can converse in Spanish well or very well. And most Latinos (85%) say it is important for future generations of Latinos in the United States to speak Spanish.

Similarly, an impressive 74% of Latinos in the United States communicate in English, which continues to rise year after year. This trend highlights that Latinos are not abandoning one language in favor of another; our community skillfully navigates languages in innovative, inventive, and culturally rich ways.

Language is fluid and adapts to the needs of its users, becoming a tool that facilitates communication. For many, Spanglish is essential for expressing ideas and sharing cultures. While it functions as a communication tool, Spanglish also conveys familiarity, comfort, and a sense of acceptance.

Latinos do not perceive language merely as a geopolitical tool or alignment. Instead, language is a vital cultural element, intricately tied to our diaspora and the pursuit of self-determination. Scholar Amy Hernandez’s 2004 thesis noted that Spanglish speakers possess bilingual skills and a multicultural understanding of Spanish, English, and Spanglish cultures.*

 “Spanglish” refers to the interchangeable use of Spanish and English words. It gained recognition in the Royal Spanish Academy and Oxford English dictionaries. The term was first used in 1933, and Puerto Rican poet Salvador Tió introduced it in the late 1940s.

Check out Dr. Jose Medina on TikTok! A great resource about Spanglish.

*Amy Hernandez, MA (2004) titled Spanglish: A Study of The Features of Bilingual Speakers in Georgia

The Profe Podcast 

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