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    The Death of the Brown Americano
    The Death of the Brown Americano
    The Death of the Brown Americano
    Ebook157 pages1 hour

    The Death of the Brown Americano

    By José N. Uranga

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    The Death of theBrown Americano follows on The Buenavida Dilemma and examines the experiences of one Hispanic family living in the territory of New Mexico from 1850 through 1913. Th e author details the life and times of the Buenavida family as it struggles to survive and adapt to a new country while preserving its cultural values.

    PRAISE FOR THE BUENAVIDA DILEMMA

    The author has written a compact and poignant treatment of the subject (the experiences of the Hispanics who settled the Southwest) which not only informs us of the history of Hispanics in the Southwest, but also of the impact of that history on the social structure of southwest society and the success of Hispanic peoples.
    Barbara Couture, PhD, President, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico

    PRAISE FOR THE DEATH OF THE BROWN AMERICANO
    I could imagine my own ancestors in these situations (those of the Buenavidas)in fact much of what Jose Uranga recounts is probably very similar to what most early Hispanics experienced. Some had the foresight and courage to cope with the situations proactively as the Buenavida family did, but others obviously did not and many opportunities were lost or not fully exploited. Many, however, through the generations not only persevered but succeeded wildly.
    Manuel Pacheco, PhD, Phoenix, Arizona, President Emeritus, University of Missouri, University of Arizona

    A touching story of a traditional Hispanic family which brings to life key events in the history of New Mexico during the late 1800s by weaving them with family history. An excellent supplement for New Mexico history teachers.
    Cynthia Castaeda, PhD, Professor of Government, Eastfield College, Dallas, Texas

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisheriUniverse
    Release dateNov 24, 2010
    ISBN9781450266994
    The Death of the Brown Americano
    Author

    José N. Uranga

    Jose N. Uranga is a retired environmental attorney. He has a bachelor's degree in political science from New Mexico State U a Juris Doctorate degree from Georgetown University, and a masters degree from the University of Texas, San Antonio. He has previously published two other books, The Buenavida Dilemma and The Death of the Brown Americano. He and his wife Joan live in Sarasota, Florida.

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      Book preview

      The Death of the Brown Americano - José N. Uranga

      The Death

      of the

      Brown

      Americano

      José N. Uranga

      iUniverse, Inc.

      New York Bloomington

      The Death of the Brown Americano

      Copyright © 2010 by José N. Uranga

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

      This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

      iUniverse books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

      iUniverse

      1663 Liberty Drive

      Bloomington, IN 47403

      www.iuniverse.com

      1-800-Authors (1-800-288-4677)

      Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any Web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

      Front book cover photograph image is used by kind permission of

      the New Mexico State University Library, Archives and Special Collections.

      ISBN: 978-1-4502-6698-7(pbk)

      ISBN: 978-1-4502-6699-4(ebk)

      Printed in the United States of America

      iUniverse rev. date: 11/16/10

      PRAISE FOR THE DEATH OF THE BROWN AMERICANO

      This is a heartfelt account of the lives of the Buenavida family as they struggled to survive in New Mexico in the latter half of the 19th Century. The book’s characters are simple people whose lives illustrate the importance and strength of the family and the powerful value of education. As a descendant of earlier Spanish settlers in northern New Mexico, I highly recommend this book.

      Robert Vigil, Santa Fe, New Mexico

      Having been born and raised in New Mexico in an Anglo/Hispano environment, I found that the author José Uranga has provided us with an honest look at the history of New Mexico’s journey to statehood. It is seen through the eyes of an unique Hispanic family settling and living in an area we still refer to as ‘little Texas’. The issues the Buenavida family and their community dealt with are strikingly relevant to the immigration debate today.

      Nick Franklin, Esq., Newport Beach, California,

      President, The New Mexico State University Foundation

      For Joan

      Contents

      CHAPTER 1 THE FALL

      CHAPTER 2 THE COMA

      CHAPTER 3 THE RIO PECOS ALIANZA

      CHAPTER 4 THE WEDDING

      CHAPTER 5 PROTECTING LAND TITLE

      CHAPTER 6 SCHOOLING TO SUCCEED

      CHAPTER 7 EL AMOR BRUJO (THE BEWITCHED LOVE)

      CHAPTER 8 AMOS

      CHAPTER 9 RECOLLECTIONS OF A CHILDHOOD

      CHAPTER 10 TEXAN BOUNTY HUNTERS

      CHAPTER 11 MONTEZUMA’S REVENGE

      CHAPTER 12 SOME NEW MEXICO HISTORY

      CHAPTER 13 EL CAMPOSANTO

      CHAPTER 14 FOR WHOM DOES LA LLORONA CRY?

      CHAPTER 15 A BRITISH BATH

      CHAPTER 16 THE CATTLE DRIVE

      CHAPTER 17 THE CONFEDERATE INVASION

      CHAPTER 18 THE SANTA FE TRIP

      CHAPTER 19 A NATIONAL PARK

      CHAPTER 20 A COUNTRY FOR EVERYONE?

      CHAPTER 21 THE RAFFAELLO

      CHAPTER 22 THE FAMILY PICNIC

      CHAPTER 23 AN ENGLISH LESSON

      CHAPTER 24 NEW MEXICO HISPANIC CHISTOS

      CHAPTER 25 INDIAN POLICY

      CHAPTER 26 DON PANCHITO

      CHAPTER 27 SPANISH- AMERICAN WAR

      CHAPTER 28 THE CATTLE BUSINESS

      CHAPTER 29 A LIFE CODE

      CHAPTER 30 THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION

      CHAPTER 31 THE NAVARRETTE MATTER

      CHAPTER 32 SUNDAY PASEOS

      CHAPTER 33 A SURPRISE

      CHAPTER 34 ASCENDING

      Untitled-1.jpg

      Map of Spanish Land in North America (pre-1848)

      missing image file

      Map Handdrawn By Juan Buenavida

      based On His Recollection of the Arredondo 1670 Map

      at the National University, Mexico City

      Map of the United States

      Following Mexican-American War (Post 1848)

      missing image file

      Map Handdrawn By Juan Buenavida

      based on Eastern Newspaper Maps

      Map of Territory of New Mexico

      missing image file

      Map Handrawn By Juan Buenavida

      based on Eastern Newspaper Maps

      WHAT’S PAST IS PROLOGUE —Shakespeare

      FORWARD

      The Death of the Brown Americano, although a work of fiction, is, on the whole, based on historical fact. It focuses on the fictional Buenavida family from its arrival in the southeastern part of the New Mexico territory in 1850 through the early 1900’s. The book explores the family’s struggle to survive despite the challenges of discrimination, an indifferent government, and harsh economic times. The book explores how the Buenavidas strive to hold on to their Hispanic culture and language while adapting to being Americanos in their new country. This work follows on the The Buenavida Dilemma (2003).

      BELIEVE EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON.

      —Unknown

      CHAPTER 1 THE FALL

      JUAN BUENAVIDA SENSED he was floating, but with no frame of reference. Everything around him was totally black. It reminded him of the several limestone caverns he had explored in the nearby Guadalupe Mountains as a young man. He had once intentionally extinguished his torch on those subterranean adventures and remembered that it was so dark he could not see his hands in front of his face.

      While he seemed to be floating, he also felt as if he was ascending in the dark and quiet. It was so quiet Juan could hear his heart beating- deep inside. Suddenly, Juan experienced (sensed?) a flash of light from somewhere above him- a brief illumination yet as bright as nearby lightning in a black, starless and moonless New Mexico night. Then, it was jet black again- but in that brief flash Juan had seen himself as a young boy. A young boy walking hand in hand with his father at the old Rancho Buenavida in what was then Mexico. Then, Juan was floating in the blackness as before, but his right hand felt as if his father had just squeezed it.

      Juan sensed he was again moving up in this unlimited blackness- what was happening to him he wondered? Before he could conjure up a thought, another bright flash of light suddenly surrounded him. This time Juan glimpsed himself as a young man at the National University in Mexico City- as a student in a classroom. He had been 17 or 18 then, he thought, as he was enveloped in the obsidian again. Yet, the musty smell of the adobe buildings of the university seemed to linger in his nostrils.

      Before Juan could begin to consider what he had just seen, another flash of light shot up around him. While Juan felt blinded by the light and the simultaneous return to blackness, his mind’s eye quickly saw Juan on his wedding day- he was holding Angelina’s hands as he looked into her eyes. In the darkness now, Juan could still see Angelina’s hazel- green eyes smiling back at him with their glints of honey flashing.

      NOBODY SAID LIFE WOULD BE EASY; THEY JUST PROMISED IT WOULD BE WORTH IT. —Unknown

      CHAPTER 2 THE COMA

      ANGELINA VIGIL de BUENAVIDA was frightened. A doctor had been summoned from the village of Loving and was expected shortly. Her Juan was in their bed after having been found unconscious on the ground near their rancho’s western perimeter, his horse nearby.

      Angelina feared for her husband. While he was 83 years old, he had been in good health. Even though Juan’s full head of hair was now salt and pepper and his face was tanned and lined, Angelina still saw the young, handsome man with the twinkling light brown eyes she fell in love with. Yet, he had not spoken or moved since he had been found, placed on a wagon and brought to the house. Angelina had cleaned the deep gash on Juan’s head and using

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