Citizen Illegal

An allusion is a brief mention or indirect reference to something that lies outside the poem, such as another poem or work of literature, music, or art, or a historical or mythological event, person, or place. The allusion may add depth and a new perspective to the poem. In these poems, there are many allusions to popular culture of the 1990s and 2000s, especially African American and Mexican music. The author does not explain the allusion and expects the reader to recognize it. 

The allusions help to ground the poems in the nonwhite cultures that the poet wishes to acknowledge and celebrate. “Love Poem Feat. Kanye West” alludes to well-known American rapper Kanye West’s album The College Dropout (2004). The reference to “Slow Jamz” (60) is to a song by American rapper Twista together with West and American singer Jamie Foxx. It was released in November 2003 as the lead single in Twista’s fourth album and became also the second single in The College Dropout. 

“Note: Rose That Grows from Concrete,” which refers to the title as “the inspirational slogan,” (18) is in fact an allusion to a poem by famed rapper Tupac Shakur titled “The Rose That Grew from Concrete.” It appeared as the title poem in the posthumous volume of Shakur’s poetry in 1999 and was included in the 2000 album of the same name released in 2000. Shakur is also mentioned as 2Pac—his stage name—in “River Oaks Mall (Reprise),” in which the poet and his friends, during a time when they wanted to be just like Americans, are referred to as “2Pac’s less militant children” (63). 



In that same poem the pawn shop is referred to as “a shrine to Selena” (63). This alludes to Selena Quintanilla, a renowned Mexican American singer from Texas who was known as the “Queen of Tejano Music.” She was murdered in 1994 at the age of 23 by the president of her fan club. Selena is mentioned also in “I Walk into Every Room & Yell Where the Mexicans At,” which includes a quotation from one of her songs recorded in 1992, and also in the poem “(Citizen) (Illegal).”

Another allusion is to the Backstreet Boys, a highly successful American vocal group that was formed in Florida in 1993 and remains in existence in the 2020s. The poet fondly recalls listening to their music playing in restaurants. Popular and influential Mexican singer José José (1948-2019) is mentioned in “Interview,” in which Olivarez says he heard José José‘s music on the radio on a visit to Mexico. He uses the reference to show how much he identified with Mexican culture: “[W]here you from, my cousins ask, / & i point at the radio” 46).