Originally aired on April 30, 2008
Tom Fudge: Mexican-Americans make the largest part of America's Latino population. They've been in California for quite a while. In fact, they used to own the place. But today Mexican migration to the rest of the country has made them a force to reckon with in places like Minnesota and North Carolina, as well.
Gustavo Arellano looks at that and he gets a strong feeling that he can make himself useful. He got this idea, after years of hearing white people say, “What's up with these Mexicans? Why do they put chili powder on their candy? Why do they go swimming in their street clothes and park in the front lawn?”
This is why Gustavo, who grew up in Anaheim, got together with the OC Weekly a few years back and started writing a column called Ask a Mexican . People would write in with their questions about Mexicans, and he'd answer them. Recently, he's turned the column into a book.
Guest
- Gustavo Arellano, columnist for OC Weekly , and author of the book Ask a Mexican . His syndicated column is published in 35 papers, including San Diego's La Prensa .
