I’m brown and proud
by Jose Ochoa
University of the Incarnate Word
Jose Ochoa is a senior at the University of Incarnate Word who is expected to graduate in the spring of 2026. He is majoring in art with a minor in creative writing In all of his poems he is representing his Mexican Heritage.
I never got a tattoo of a tear drop on the side of my eye or got mi vida loca tatted on my neck or
joined a gang cause to tell you the truth it’s all misunderstood it’s society just trying to put us in
a box you know another stereotype but that not all what it means to be Chicano to be Chicano is
to succeed and achieve all your dreams at the highest level to do everything con pasión y amor y
estar presente en todos los momentos que presente la vida to be chicano es tener amor por la
cultura Whether You're Fluent or speak Spanglish or a no sabo Somos Familia to be Chicano is to
have respecto but to also give respect back it’s the love for raza it motivates me because I know
we all got each other’s backs to be Chicano is to be humble, but know when to put your hands up
and fight this is what means to be Chicano it makes me and many others Chicano