What We Talk About When We Talk About Nepantla: Gloria Anzaldúa and the Queer Fruit of Aztec Philosophy

ABSTRACT

A particular twenty-first-century understanding of the Aztec concept nepantla, one which has recently taken hold in critical education thanks to the writings of Gloria Anzaldúa, does not accurately reflect traditional Aztec history and philosophy. This essay reveals why this is the case, demonstrating in detail the meaning of nepantla within the broader Aztec ontology. It then asks education researchers and practitioners to instead use the theoretical framework of malinalli, the Aztec philosophical concept which best aligns with transformative social justice goals.

KEYWORDS:

• Aztec philosophy
• Gloria Anzaldúa
• historical accuracy
• malinalli
• nepantla
• queer theory

Notes

¹ As within Maffie (2014), the choice of “Aztec” over “Nahua” is primarily for purposes of general recognition. The use of “Aztec” has the added benefit, however, of reminding Mexican Americans of the longstanding positive symbolic power of the land of Aztlán.

² Although the comparison of Aztec philosophical concepts to Western philosophical concepts is, to some degree, an act of reductionist reframing, it also serves to approximate a common language for those who are only familiar with Western modes of thought. Perhaps only after the occasional commonality has been established can Aztec metaphysics and ontology finally be enjoyed for their own rich subtleties.