Thoughts about Tribal Chant

Carol Lee Sanchez's poem "Tribal Chant" reminded myself a lot of my cultural identity. Insights into the poem suggests that Carol is of mixed heritage and struggles with her association with each nationality she belongs to. What sticks out to me is when she says "se llanto plays in my head" because to me it means that she is sad about her confusion. It could be that the situations and setting she was it at the time she wrote this poem were issues that made it a difficult time in finding herself. That insight is what I can relate to situations with my family. Sometimes I have felt l cannot understand what relatives of full blood are saying or meaning when they talk or do certain things, and it does create initial feelings of being stuck in between and dual identity. It doesnt sadden me, which is feel can be a tone of the Tribal chant, but it puts me in a place to decide whether I want to feel stuck in the middle or learn and put in the effort to be seen as apart of each cultural identity. I have felt I needed to work extra hard in knowing each traditional ways, not for acceptance, but for growing deeper, closer relationships. I think being of mixed heritage is interesting and adds character to a person that can associate much with different cultural ways. As Avila would advocate, it is important to associate with your roots.