Adelante como Elefante...

2007 was a bitch for la Raza.
The ICE raids spilt familias and have gente living in fear.
Immigration is at the top of idiot politicos 'issues' and this of course affects us all.
The war, remember we are at war, is ignored in lieu of making sure people are guilted into paying a visit to the church of consumerism, the mall, and making large donations.

Despite all that, they can't stop us.
We can celebrate in the most humblest of situations.
We are healthier than everyone else, outliving others by at least 7-10yrs.
Our customs are changing the cultural landscape: The news on the 24th was about how for so many people, the 24th and NOT the 25th is Christmas.
Our magazines, TV channels, radio stations are blowing up as Madison Ave. scrambles to figure out how to market to us. What Spanish will be understood by most, Spanglish?
The other headline earlier in the month was about the massses recognizing La Virgen.

They can't stop us.

On New Year's Eve KCRW is having Pachucoville homeboy Raul Campos host "A Latin New Years Eve." Raul has myself, Little Louie Vega for an hour, DJs from the bands: Kinky, Pinker Tones, & Los Amigos Invisibles, DJ Santi and others lay down some serious mixing like only us mestizo mixers can from 9pm-1am. Tune in si puedes. KCRW.org will be archiving it as well. This Westside station recognizes! We are the future, despite all the hate and fear we create in small minds, we will run this place. Are you ready? Bring it!!!

Navid-istmas

My mom was born in Chavez Ravine, more specifically La Loma, even more specifically on the kitchen table. She was raised during the most racist era of U.S history, next to the colonial era, the 1950's. Her Mexican-ness was thus downplayed, so I grew up celebrating Christmas on the 25th while all my neighbors and friends celebrate on the 24th.

In my journey of de-colonization I have left Catholicism, western religions in whole and their adherent celebrations. Nonetheless I am surrounded by friends and neighbors celebrating these days. It is inescapable.

I could join in and have two days of this: party with friends and neighbors today the 24th and continue on into the 25th with my family, but I would feel like a hypocrite.

During my college years I would hermitized myself during these days, locking myself in my home, renting videos and chilling out in my head while everyone else did their traditions. See you on New Year's!

Now that I have my daughter, I participate in whatever she asks of me, either the 24th or the 25th. For a few years we would go to the Dorthy Chandler to see the Christmas Eve Holiday Show they put on every year. Last year we missed, so this year she doesn't want to go. I will honor my parents by taking my daughter to their dinner on the 25th.

I'm perplexed today. I can go to church with friends and see a real Mexican Navidad with a big Mexican family. I'm an only child, so more than three peeps is a bigger family to me. I can get with my pocho pals and go to DEEP's Pajama Party in Venice tonight. Or I can hunker down solo, go for I'm sure would be an amazing bike ride through empty streets and rent me some flicks.

I know I am blessed to have such great choices.

I hope you feel and appreciate your blessings not just at this time of year, its so cliche, but always.

Se me cuidan...

Channel Zero

From the minds of Esteban Zul, Lalo Alcaraz and bunch of other Aztlanese.

The Flour Wars

Can you spot me?