Texas Rangers

Reperformance of a postcard that was used in Texas to deter Mexicans from crossing the border and to encourage those living there to leave.  The original photograph was titled “Las Norias Bandit Raid” and those photographed were initially believed to be criminals killed by the Rangers during a raid of local bandit hang outs.  However historians have recently debated this assumption and primary source accounts tell the stories of Texas Rangers shooting and killing unarmed Mexican Americans citizens.

As a half white, half Xicanx woman I was disturbed by the original image.  This photo collage documents me performing the role of both the Rangers and the Mexicans. To create it I traveled to regions of Texas where the postcards were originally distributed and reenacted the poses of all 6 men.  The resulting photo collage was printed and redistributed as a postcard. (2013)