Revolvers and Pistolas, Vaqueros and Caballeros: Debunking the Old West

by D. H. Figueredo

Overview

This riveting exposé reveals how a distorted belief in Anglo superiority necessitated the rewriting of American western history, replacing heroic images of Mexican and Spanish cowboys with negative stereotypes.

Early Anglo settlers in the Old West crafted negative images of Latinos in part to help justify the takeover of land occupied by Mexicans and Spaniards at the time. Unfortunately, these depictions were perpetuated throughout the 20th century in art, popular culture, and media … eventually reshaping the narrative of the American West to the exclusion of the non-Anglo people. This book contrasts dominant lore with historical reality to provide a broad overview of the history and contributions of Latinos in the Old West.

Author D. H. Figueredo sets out to debunk the myths and falsehoods of the American West by chronicling the cultural perceptions that led to such historical inaccuracies. Through spellbinding accounts, chapters address such topics as the legends behind the caballeros, Mexican culture in the Old West, and the search for cities of gold in the Southwest. Arranged chronologically and thematically, the book examines how popular culture diminished the role of the Mexican vaqueros and illustrates how the image of the Anglo cowboy became the iconic symbol of the Old West.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798216139386
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	12/09/2014
Series:	Intersections of Race, Ethnicity, and Culture
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	296
File size:	491 KB
Age Range:	7 - 17 Years

About the Author

D. H. Figueredo is director of library and media services at Bloomfield College in New Jersey and an independent researcher and consultant on Latino studies.
D.H. Figueredo is an award-winning writer who chronicles Latinos in the United States, adopting a pan-Latino perspective that embraces diversity within the Latino experience.

Table of Contents

Series Foreword ix

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction: The Culture of Negation 1

Chapter 1 Terms of Mythology 11

Chapter 2 Cibola: Seven Cities of Gold 25

Chapter 3 The Horse, the Native American, the Vaquero, and the Cowboy 39

Chapter 4 Greater Glory: For God, Church, and King 55

Chapter 5 The Long-gone Charm of the Dons 77

Chapter 6 The Not So Wild Frontier 93

Chapter 7 Guerra! War! 111

Chapter 8 Gold in Them Hills 129

Chapter 9 Song of the Banditos 143

Chapter 10 The Sins of Katy Jurado 163

Chapter 11 Western Icons 183

Chapter 12 The Vaquero Sunset 199

Notes 215

Bibliography 241

Index 255

What People are Saying About This

Alex Abella

"Like a history detective, Dan Figueredo finds the clues, identifies the culprits, and sets the story straight as to how the West was won. Move over John Wayne, the real lawman was Marshall Elfego Baca, who took on 80 gunslingers all by himself in a gunfight that lasted two days! The Old West will never look the same after you read Revolvers and Pistolas!"

Nicolás Kanellos

"Revolvers and Pistolas, Vaqueros and Caballeros: Debunking the Old West is a delightful and engaging review of Southwestern history aimed at revealing the origin and development of many of the myths held even today about Mexicans, Mexican Americans, and Latinos. Thoroughly researched and documented, the book will engage the general reader as well as the scholar as Figueredo explores how legends and stereotypes have colored our vision of Hispanics in the making of the American nation. Because the themes touched run the gamut from 'banditos' to the 'Yellow Rose of Texas,' readers will be able to regard today's images of Hispanics on screens and in print with a critical eye. Figueredo has provided an invaluable guide."

Editorial Reviews

Though written in accesible language and in a style that keeps the reader on the edge of the seat, Figueredo's book should please demanding academics.” —La Voz

“Author D.H. Figueredo compares historical facts with the Hollywood images of the 'Wild West' to explore the ways that Mexican vaqueros and their contributions were replaced with Anglo-centric narratives. The book address topics such as The Black Legend, banditos, greasers, Zorro, and 'loose women' both thematically and chronologically in order to document the role of Latinos, including Spanish-Mexican Jews, in the conquest of the territory west of the Mississippi.” —ProtoView

“In his richly researched book, Figueredo lays out how his lifelong interest in the subject [and] offers a scholarly approach and an entertaining read.” —The Star-Ledger

From the Publisher