Burro Genius

Villaseñor recalls being invited to the 1973 California Association of Teachers of English conference to attend a writing workshop. At the time, he was a newly published author, feeling nervous but excited about being among more experienced fellow writers. The keynote speaker at the convention was late; when the publicists asked for another writer to give a speech, Villaseñor volunteered. One of the publicists hesitated, criticizing his cowboy attire and doubting his skills in English. The other publicist was supportive, saying that Mexican American activists were often featured in the daily news.

Villaseñor was terrified, recalling his high school nervousness before a wrestling match. Despite his anxiety, he felt determined to speak. After the publicists introduced him to the predominantly white audience of teachers, Villaseñor considered what to say. At first, he debated talking about his book, but his rage suddenly exploded as he recalled his past negative experiences in the educational system as a Mexican American. He declared to the conference that he could not forgive the teachers who had behaved in an abusive manner toward him, making him feel “less than human” as a native Spanish speaker (14). The discrimination he had faced reinforced his determination to publish his writing. Villaseñor also noted that his greatest teacher was his Yaqui grandmother.

Some teachers tried to leave during Villaseñor’s speech, but afterward, many of the other teachers approached him. The publicists arranged a book signing. They informed him that his book would be reviewed and that two newspapers had asked for an interview. Villaseñor felt uplifted and satisfied with himself.

Villaseñor recalls a teacher approaching him after the convention and praising his perseverance as a speaker and writer. However, the teacher also advised him to talk about a positive educational experience and the teachers who had inspired him. That night, Villaseñor realized his trauma was still affecting him, and realized that he still had things to learn. Recalling his parents’ teachings, he reflected upon how he became resilient.

The night following the teacher’s conference, Villaseñor dreamed of a teacher who inspired his love of writing when Villaseñor was a seventh-grade student at the Army Navy Academy. Recalling this dream, Villaseñor visualizes a “bridge” that connects his diverse cultural traditions—the Yaqui, the Mexican, the American, and the Catholic.

While in military school, Villaseñor still struggled with reading and was intimidated by his fellow cadets. He remembers Mr. Swift, a substitute teacher who was filling in for the regular English teacher, Mr. Moses. Unlike many of the other teachers Villaseñor had known, Mr. Swift was funny and open toward the students, talking about his personal life and love of surfing. In a writing project, he asked the students to write about what they love to do, emphasizing the importance of enthusiasm rather than the technicalities of spelling and grammar.

Feeling encouraged, Villaseñor wrote a story about his brother Joseph’s dog, Shep, who disappeared the day Joseph died. Villaseñor pictured the dog guiding Joseph’s soul to heaven. Mr. Swift asked about Villaseñor’s Indigenous roots and granted him his first A grade. Villaseñor then realized that language can be exciting, learning from his teacher that “the whole world communicated through reading and writing” (34).

The next morning, Mr. Moses returned and downgraded Villaseñor’s grade to a D, calling him an “ignorant farm kid” who believed animals had human senses (35). Villaseñor’s fear transformed into rage, and he imagined killing Mr. Moses. The teacher told him to sit down, but Villaseñor ignored him.

After class, Villaseñor’s classmates attacked him. Villaseñor instigated a fight between two cadets, Igo and Wallrick. Igo won but started chasing Villaseñor, who injured Igo with a pencil. Villaseñor helped him go to the hospital and apologized for causing trouble, but he also asked Igo to never attack him again. Igo agreed. Villaseñor resented Mr. Swift for giving him false hope and his hatred for Mr. Moses intensified.

The teaching conference continued the next day, and Villaseñor received more requests for public speaking. He remembers meeting the Western writer Louis L’Amour, who was giving a speech at the luncheon. Villaseñor loved his book Hondo and asked L’Amour for writing advice. L’Amour told him that a writer’s job is to “uplift the human heart” (46), and he should keep writing without thinking about money and success. L’Amour had already read part of Villaseñor’s book Macho! and praised Villaseñor’s writing skills, saying Villaseñor could call him anytime.

Days later, the LA Times reviewed Villaseñor’s book, comparing it to John Steinbeck’s works. After his experience at the conference, Villaseñor felt like a new man ready to “fly.”