The Legendary Art of Jesus Helguera

Growing up in East L.A. meant the New Year started with a calendar from the menudo stand in Grand Central Market or the panaderia on Brooklyn Avenue. On that calendar would be an image created by Jesus Helguera which would hold my attention for the whole year. The calendars were my first glimpses into the greatness of my Mexican culture. They portrayed beautiful men and women of ancient Mexico. With warriors, princesses, pyramids and temples, the calendar pictures took me to a time when we were not foreigners in our own land. They told me I was special.

Are you Afraid?

It has been extremely quiet on our website after Vivi’s article on “Uncovering the Truth about the Santa Rita Center” What’s up? What’s going on? Are people having shame? Are you afraid? Well I am angry. We are getting no response from Democratic leadership. No response from Chicanos por La Causa. Vivi and I are going to take our next moves from the Zapatista playbook. Be watching for two extremely attractive women wearing brown sequined bandanas covering their faces putting up signs in your neighborhood. God forbid that you are an elected official with a big picture of Cesar Chavez covering your office walls or an agency with a mural of Cesar smiling down on you. Please respond to our request to call your US Representatives and others to complain about this. Please let us know if you get a response!

We Want Your Stories, Music, Videos, Artwork and Face

This site is for you. It's a site that embraces all things Mexican so we want to highlight your work, your life and your passions. We are happy to offer a free directory for any businesses that want to be listed. We also would love to have a section that features all the people who contribute to the site and to our cause. True Mexican is about people from Mexican and people who are 3rd generation Mexicans here in the states. We are the people who have married into and embraced the culture. We are the people who are looking to promote our culture, this culture in a positive light.

Please, if you feel you have something you would like to contribute then email us and let us know.

Thanks so much for all your support and please continue to spread the message.

Your Stories: How Much of a Mexican Am I?

CC photo of traditional rakhi bracelet courtesy of Über Times on Flickr

How much of a Mexican am I? If you ask the people who look at me, or who see my name, my resume, or even those who knew me as a child, they would say I am not. If you ask those who truly know me, they would say I am a Mexican at heart.

I spent a huge part of my life feeling somewhat different from the groups to which I belonged. I was the Asian-Indian, English-speaking kid in a largely French- Canadian city. I was the only male in my grad school class with 56 women. I was the straight kid who cared more about fashion and arts than sports or machines. And all the while, although the people around me tried to make me feel like I fit, I never fully felt like I belonged.

And then I was adopted.

True Mexican is Taking Shape

We are so excited with the number of fans following us on Facebook. We are hoping this site will become a place to come to learn about all aspects of the Mexican culture including, history, politics, food, holidays, beauty, sports, the arts and so much more. It is going to be amazing to bring so many people together to support a culture that is often presented very poorly in the media.

One of the things we would like to do is make this a true community. We would like to know if you are a Mexican-run business or if you are a business standing against SB1070. We want your stories. Tell us about your experiences being Mexican, marrying a Mexican, becoming a part of some Mexican family or simply living here in the Southwest.

Again, thank you for your support and please be patient as we get our site set up and working. Big change is coming here in the Southwest and it is going bring brighter times for our people.

Blessings
-Vivi