Nepantla facts for kids

Nepantla is a special idea used in studies about Chicano and Latino cultures, art, and writing. It means being "in-between" two things. The word "Nepantla" comes from the Nahuatl language, which was spoken by the Nahuas people. It means "in the middle of it" or simply "middle." Sometimes, it can even mean the space between two bodies of water.

History of Nepantla

The idea of Nepantla was first used by the Nahuas people in Central Mexico, especially those from the Triple Alliance. An old book called the Florentine Codex shares wisdom from "ilamatlācah," who were wise old women. They said:

"We travel along a mountain ridge while we live on earth, an abyss yawning on either side. If you stray too far one way or the other, you will fall away. Only by keeping to the middle way does one walk on and live."

This quote shows that Nepantla is about finding a balance and staying in the middle.

The term became even more important for Nahuatl-speaking people (like the Aztecs) in Mexico during the 1500s. This was when the Spanish arrived and took over. Being "in between" was a good way to describe how they felt. They were caught between their old ways and the new Spanish culture.

Some people think the idea came directly from the Aztecs who were conquered. Others say that an anthropologist named Miguel León-Portilla was the first to explain this idea. Leon-Portilla said that the native people, after being conquered, created their own "in-between" culture. They kept some parts of their old culture and mixed them with the new one.

How Nepantla Is Used Today

Nepantla in Politics

Nepantla can describe a "liminal" space. This is a special place where different ways of seeing the world exist at the same time. This idea is helpful when different groups of people need to find common ground. It helps people understand ideas that might seem to be opposites.

Nepantla can also describe people or groups who are dealing with a bigger, more global culture. It can be a tool for making political changes. People who live in two different "worlds" or "cultures" can act as a bridge. They can help bring about new ideas and changes.

Nepantla in Writing

Gloria E. Anzaldúa, a famous writer, talked about Nepantla in her book Borderlands/La Frontera. She used it to describe the writing process. She said it's like a messy stage where you have many ideas, images, and sentences. You try to put them all together into one story or piece of writing. In this way, Nepantla is the space where new things are created.

Nepantla in Art

In art, Nepantla can be an artist's imaginary world. This world includes historical moments, feelings, and spiritual ideas. It can also mean living in "borderlands" or being at a crossroads in life. It's about being in a place where different paths meet.

Nepantla and Emotions

Sometimes, Nepantla can be a difficult feeling. It can be like a person's sense of self has been "shattered." It can also mean feeling "invisible" or going through a big change. Gloria E. Anzaldúa said that during Nepantla, people might feel like they've lost control. They might feel worried or confused.

Important Quotes About Nepantla

• "The world is in a constant state of Nepantla."—Maria E. Fránquiz

• “Now I call [the concept of borders and borderlands] Nepantla, which is a Nahuatl word for the space between two bodies of water, the space between two worlds. It is a limited space, a space where you are not this or that but where you are changing” - Gloria E. Anzaldúa

• "Living between cultures results in 'seeing' double, first from the perspective of one culture, then from the perspective of another. Seeing from two or more perspectives simultaneously renders those cultures transparent. Removed from that culture's center you glimpse the sea in which you've been immersed but to which you were oblivious, no longer seeing the world the way you were enculturated to see it."—Gloria E. Anzaldúa

• "You're experiencing nepantla. We feel that in South Texas. We have these two cultures coalescing, and this third one emerges. We eat hot dogs and tacos. We drink hot chocolate and Lone Star Beer." -- Santa Barraza