Chicano as defined by the American Heritage Dictionary , is a Mexican-American. Nationalism, as defined by the same publication, is devotion to the interests or particular culture of a particular nation. So by definition, we can infer that Chicano Nationalism is an interest in either the Mexican or American culture by a Mexican American, which is not a very concise definition. Before we can begin to define Chicano Nationalism, we must first define what is it to be a Chicano. In its simplest form, the American Heritage Dictionarys definition of a Chicano is correct, but there is much more to it than being a Mexican-American. It is a realization of ones past, present and future; realizing how far the culture has come, and how far it has yet to go. It is not only living the duality of both being a Mexican and an American, but also the multiplicity of being a descendant from any number of tribes and nationalities of people that have peppered the landscape of North and Central America over hundreds of years. There is no one distinct definition of being a Chicano, but an ever-evolving sense of being that at once combines heritage, personal beliefs, culture, politics and nationality.Defining nationalism, although not as simple as American Heritage Dictionarys definition, is an easier definition to ascertain. As it refers to the Chicano, nationalism has to do with a strong belief in ones heritage, their homeland, the oppression felt be their people, the belief in the self as a nation, the sense of community, equal rights, and the right to exist and follow ones roots. The concept of Chicano nationalism is one that Chicano writers have expressed their views upon in many ways. With analysis of Lorna Dee Cervantes Poem For The Young White Man Who Asked Me How I, An Intelligent, Well-Read Person Could Believe In The War Between The Races and Corky Gonzales I Am Joaquin the reader will be exposed to two examples from each poem of the key elements ...
