Outline of I Am Joaquin
I. Present. Lines 1-37. Lament and retreat into the Raza.
II.
| 1. Past. | Lines 38-252. Development of Mexican mestizo culture, from pre-Columbian to twentieth century (subdivided into historical epochs). | |
| 2. Present. | Lines 253-287. Community split and branded inferior by Anglo Americans. | |
| 3. Past. | Lines 288-334. Chicano history as blood sacrifice. | |
| 4. Present. | Lines 335-359. Chicanos united to protest injustice. | |
| 5. Past. | Lines 360-406. Flashback to Anglo American invasion. | |
| 6. Present. | Lines 407-441. Joaquin's determination to resist assimilation. | |
| 7. Past. | Lines 442-462. Nine hundred years of mestizaje and survival. |
III. Present. Lines 463-502. Rise of people's revolution and future projection.