?? THE POWER of ?RT?CULTURE: ??CITY Of ANGELS ?? Pt. 1 Brown Power

LA is Perceived as a SOULLESS CITY?

??Most only know LOS ANGELES, and/or SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (SOCAL) through the lens of Film and TV - this can be good as well as bad.

But the reality is Greater LA is a sprawling Metropolis engrained with great Diversity - 40% of the population was born outside The UNITED STATES.

Made up of Unique & Isolated Communities??- ”LA-LA LAND”??is more of a POTLUCK, than a Melting Pot.

As the Youngest Global City in The World at 240 Years Old, One must curb historical expectations set by other Worldly Havens - and appreciate its OG-Ness.

Greater LOS ANGELES could be considered a?Sub-Culture to The World but defiantly the Odd-Ball City of The USA.

LA should Not be Auditioned, but taken on as a Voyage into Fresh Culture.

So Don’t let the Celebrity Culture & Paparazzis get You twisted as WE Explore the numerous gems of culture the “CITY Of ANGELS BLESSES THE WORLD” with.

As a SOCAL Native, this Journey is Personal in Nature and Tone.

?? CHICANO CULTURE

“CINCO DE MAYO”

The CHICANO Community Represents The Heart of LA.

The Brown History + Lineage runs Deep in This Coastal Promise-Land but The City hasn’t always been an ANGEL.

The MEXICAN Community entered the country as the sidekick to the SPANIARDs as they Colonized the land away from The INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

They obtained control of the whole state of CALIFORNIA after Gaining Their Independence - then eventually Losing Control their Control from AMERICAN.

To now be treated as a Second-Class Citizens both as legal & illegal immigrants as well as those born & raised on land they once ruled.

Today, Greater LOS ANGELES’ population is approximately 49 % LATINO and the Largest BROWN Region in The U.S.

So let’s buckle up and experience the Taste, Sight & Style of Some of The Global Contributions of SOCAL’s Proud CHICANO Community.

?? MEXICAN CUISINE: Love

Authentic MEXICAN CUSINE is My Favorite Food but this wasn’t always the case.

An ex-girlfriend, the late VIDA OWENs changed My Life in introducing Me to the real deal at TAQUERIA DE ANDA in Fullerton - and I found a New Love.

Those Carne Asada laced TACOs & BURRITOs taught and inspired Me to overcome my dislike of extreme Spicy Food.

Unfortunately, I do not consume beef anymore but Pollo, All-Day!

Angelenos find it interesting how the rest of the Country & World has finally caught up to The Delight of Good MEXICAN Food vs The Commercialized Outlets like TACO BELL - the new synonym for McDonald's.

In My Eyes, TACOs are a First Ballet Inductee on The Mount Rushmore of Street CUISINE.

?? MEXICAN CUISINE: Pioneer

One of My Favorite destinations in LOS ANGELES is KING TACO - established 1974.

The owners the late DON RAUL MARTINEZ SR & DO?A LUPE introduced the first ever FOOD TRUCK via a TACO TRUCK - converting an old ice cream truck - and a year later opened their first brick & mortar in 1975 and the rest is Culinary History.

??MEXICAN CUSINE: Global

There is now a greater National & Global Recognition + Appreciation for the Festive MEXICAN Culture - with the annual May 5th Holiday, CINCO de MAYO being the upmost expression of this passion

One day devoted to great food and drinks, typically MARGARITAS.

LOS ANGELES Happens to Host The WORLD’s Largest CdM Celebration: The FESTIVAL de FIESTA BROADWAY

Did Someone Say Party?

It should be noted More GUACAMOLE is consumed Globally during SUPER BOWL than any other day of the year.

Today, MEXICAN CUSINE Has Conquered The Globe!

??CHICANO ART: Birth

LOS ANGELES once held the crown of MURAL CAPITAL of The WORLD.

At its Peak, Greater LA was Home to Over 3000 MURALS.

Dating back to the 1920’s the MURAL Tradition of SOCAL was in its early conception - brought to the new land by MEXICAN Immigrants.

But in 1932 a “Cultural Stake” was placed on the grounds by DAVID SIQUEIROS, a renowned MEXICO CITY ?rtist - as he blessed LOS ANGELES with The Largest MURAL in U.S. for the time - and an Art Movement was Born.

“AMERICA TROPICAL” measures 80 x 18 Feet and still lives on LA’s original block of OLVERA Street.

?? CHICANO ?RT: Movement

MURALs share The Stories, Issues and Views of The COMMUNITY!

Many felt threatened by these CHICANO MURALs.

Perceiving them as a form of propaganda - so The Majority limited the growth of this New ?rt form.

But during The Great CHICANO Movement aka El MOVIMIENTO of the 1960’s & 1970’s a focus was placed on advocating for Social & Political reform.

A CHICANO MURAL MOVEMENT proceeded across the Southwest & Western Regions of the U.S. - serving as the Visual Wings of the CHICANO Revolt with LOS ANGELES being at the Epicenter.

Some of The MURAL Mavens of this Era include:

Carlos Almaraz, John Valadez, Willie Herrón, David Botello, MAGU, Yreina Cervántez, Mario Torero, Harry Gamboa Jr.,?Glugio "Gronk" Nicandro &?Patssi Valdez

?? CHICANO ?RT: Movement

In 1976, prominent CHICANA MURALIST, JUDITH F. BACA directed the Creation of the GREAT WALL of LOS ANGELES, a half-mile long MURAL.

BACA as well as dozens of ?rtist and over 400 Community Kids built a multi-ethnic MURAL, highlighting the omitted U.S. History of People of Color, not being taught in schools at the time.

Covering Six City Blocks, this great work it is credited as one of the Longest MURALS in The World.

?? CHICANO ?RT: Influence

The MURAL Tradition Lives-On in SOCAL with groups like the 3B COLLECTIVE firmly taking The Torch.

This CHICANO MURAL Movement sparked an explosion of Public ?rt on Walls across The World - inclusive of All Races, Genres and Narratives.

MURALS are The Quintessential Public ?rt - Embodying The Spirt of The Community Who Create Them.

?? CHOLO LIFESTYLE ??

CHOLO is a sub-Culture of The CHICANO Culture and Birthed in The Streets of EAST LOS ANGELES.

This section seeks to Preserve The Culture, Not The Violence that can unfairly be associated with this whole Community.

A Rebellious Spirits runs through their blood - as in most sub-Cultures of The World.

Producing a unique Code, Style?& Design Ethos.

??CHOLO/A LIFESTYLE: Roots

PACHUCOS were the original Counter-Culture of the CHICANO YOUTH in SOCAL, - dating back to the early 1940’s.

Seeking to find their way in a Country were they were not truly welcomed - and not MEXICAN enough to gain expectance from the Homeland Natives, as most did not speak Spanish.

This created a very lost identity as well as a feeling of “You are not One of US”.

Borrowing from BLACK ANGELES Jazz scene, their signature attire became the over-sized ZOOT SUIT.

Deemed as excessive, flamboyant and very unPatriotic based on the WWll restrictions set on fabric outside of War needs - they were considered outcast.

So in June of 1943, thousands of racially motivated US Navy Servicemen took it upon themselves to catch cabs to the CHIANO neighborhoods of LOS ANGELES - and beat, strip and outright disrespect The PACHUCOS Youth.

The ZOOT SUIT Riot was a five-day affair ending with 500 PACHUCOS arrested and no Soldiers, go figure.

This would play into a future CHICANO Movement??and serve as the roots of the defiant CHOLO Culture of today.?

The ZOOT SUIT Conflict would be?adapted and become the first Latino Broadway Play.?

??CHOLO LIFESTYLE: Style

The CHOLO Culture is a sub-CULTURE of The CHIANO Ecosystem and emerged in the 1970’s during The Movement??- and is more than a look.

Serving as a way for Youths to assert their CHICANO Identity, and Refuse Assimilation with the price being stereotyped as Hyper-Criminalized & Gang affiliated.

Our intent in this section is to Recognize, Celebrate & Preserve The Stylistic & Artistic Cultural contribution of the CHOLO Community - but not promote the violence sometimes associated with this controversial sub-Culture.

Being Forced to the Edges of Society due to Racism, Classism &?Discrimination can Create a Love & Hate Mindset as well as a The Beautiful Ugly.

??CHOLO LIFESTYLE: Style

The CHOLO Style can best be described as a remix of Classic Workwear, Prison Basic with a Gangster Lean.

CRISP ONLY: Always Starched & Immaculately Pressed.

CHOLO STYLE has a Roll-Call of timeless Brands & Silhouettes adopted by this Crew of Homies including:

Dickie Khakis, Levi 501s, Pendleton Flannel Shirts, Joker Brand, Nike Cortez, White Tees & Tanks, Winos, Loc Sunglasses, Raider Gear, Ben Davis, CASCADE “Charlie Brown” Shirts,….

*Low-riders will be touched on in a future article

??CHOLO LIFESTYLE: Style

GREENSPAN DEPARTMENT STORE located in SOUTH GATE is considered The Holy Temple for CHOLO Gear.

The Influence of CHOLO aesthetic can’t be denied as it has influenced BLACK ANGELES, The Skate Community, Hip-Hop,?Fashion and as far away as JAPAN & BANKOK.

But it isn’t just a Man’s Thing!

??CHOLA LIFESTYLE: Style

Yes, there were PACHUCAS in the early days, rocking with The Homies.

Today, The CHOLA Chic?is perceived with less menace than CHOLO Style.

A radical feminine blend of Tom-Boy Fresh with a scoop of Glam.

The CHOLA Style is intertwined with the CHOLO Style, rocking the same brands as well as silhouettes but with a slightly different fit.

Make-Up āRTis another requirement with their style & techniques being shared across YouTube.

Immolated by the Elite including:?

Cher, Madonna, Christina Aguilera,?Gwen Stefani?Elliot,?Selena Gomez,?Missy, FKA Twigs, and?Rihanna & Kardashians

Imitation is the Sincerest form of Flattery.?

??CHOLO LIFESTYLE: Body ?rt

The ?rt of TATTOOING ties into CHICANO Culture byway of their AZTEC Ancestors.

The CHOLO TATTOO tone is an extension of the attitude of the GRAFFITI with The Godfather of CHOLO GRAFFITI, CHAZ BOJORQUEZ being the most iconic āRTIST.

SOCAL is a Top 10 TATTOO Region and the CHOLO Style pushing a disruptive aesthetic to the forefront of the Body ?RT Community.

LOS ANGELES ?RTIST are known for bringing The SOCAL Lifestyle to Life with Ink ?RT including:

Cholas, Payasas, Lowriders, Tear-Drops, Pit Bulls, Dice, Graffiti Lettering, Deck of Cards…….

Some of the Key SOCAL MASTER TATTOOIST at the Forefront of Contemporary CHICANO Style Include:

Freddy Negrete, Chuco Moreno, Chuey Quintanar & Tamara Santiba?ez

And Other ?RTIST posses a more personal styles including:

Mister Cartoon, El Whyner, Panchos Placas, Javier DeLuna, Jason Ochoa, & Jose Araujo Martinez

Street & Body ?RT are The?World's Most Globally Accessible Genre of Contemporary ?RT with The CHOLO ?RTIST diving a unique POV.

?? CLOSE

The Global Impact SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHICANO Culture has made is undeniable and I hope you share the insights gained on this trip.

This completes the first leg of Our SOCAL Journey - as I need to Fill The Tank Up, Replenish My Snacks and Stretch My Legs + Pen.

Hopefully, You find this initial leg Inspiring enough to Join Me when I Drop the Next Entry of Our Journey through the Global Blessings of The CITY of ANGELS - and I promise not to disappoint.

#ThePOWERof?C