El Segundo Barrio, Cradle of the Chicano Movement
by Joe Olvera
Let’s preserve what should be preserved. For example, let’s preserve the housing units for which Carmen Felix and other activists fought such horrendous battles against powerhouses like Jonathan Rogers when he wanted to destroy El Segundo. … But, do we need to preserve everything?
Chicken Fat and Booze: Rest in Peace, Steve Crosno
by Joe Olvera
Steve Crosno was my favorite D.J. He had to be. There was nobody else. Not even Chicano DJs – of which there weren’t that many in 1950s-1960s El Paso -- brought tunes to our hearts that impacted on us as Chicanos. Nobody loved and cared for music produced by Chicanos more than Crosno.
Jack Kerouac as a Mexican
by Joe Olvera
Like everything that Kerouac wrote about Mexico, and Mexicans, the love and respect shows through. For he is much more than a mere writer, he sees beauty even when there’s no beauty, but only the lustful, bloody carcasses of life. He knows. He sees.
Commentary: Los Rinches de Tejas
by Joe Olvera
They just don’t get it, do they? Now comes another politician – an Anglo woman this time – to remind us Mexicans/Chicanos that the killer Texas Rangers are still alive and well. Known by Mexicans as Los Rinches de Tejas – these foul-mouthed lawmen too often took the law into their own hands and lynched Mexicans.
The Struggles of Our Ancestors
by Joe Olvera
All over the U.S. Latinos are unaware that it took gigantic battles before the Anglo majority was willing to concede. Too many Latinos today – who are now finding more doors open to them than ever before – just don’t have a clue as to how those doors were opened or the sacrifices, both of body and spirit, that were made.
Commentary: 'The European' is a Masterpiece
by Joe Olvera
That John Houser. He’s such a sly old fox, sculpting his own face on his magnificent statue of what is to be known as The Equestrian, which at one time was going to be called the Juan de Oñate, but which I recommend that we call, The European. But, putting politics aside, let’s look at the 36-foot-high, 20-ton monument for what it is – a truly amazing work of art.
L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa: A Chicano Lobster
by Joe Olvera
El Paso writer Joe Olvera chimes in with a column on how he thinks Antonio Villaraigosa, the mayor of Los Angeles who has recently been involved in extra-marital activities, is on of "those" people who continue to pull others back into the bucket of despair.
El Pachuco Rules: Simon que Yesca
by Joe Olvera
We knew we existed, and we knew who we were. We were pachucos, controlando los barrios de nuestra juventud. ... We were proud to be Chicanos, we were proud that our jefitos, abuelos, and, sometimes, las abuelas, had been involved in Pancho Villa’s ragtag troop of guerreros that dominated an entire nation.
