Brings back a lot of memories for me. Ramon was the first Cholo I met. He was a draftee from the barrios of Los Angeles, and I was a draftee from white, semi-rich suburbs of Chicago. Cholo 100%. Button upped shirt pants bulled high and the wide bandana covering the forehead down to the top of his framed sunglasses. For Ramon it was more than a costume or uniform. He was Cholo in spirit. Calm nature is the best I can describe. Reefer and music from Mexico of which I had never listened to. Lowrider. Did not even know what that was. Way more than the lowrider car we all know of now. He presented a slow, methodical walk and speech. We shared a hooch (bedroom?) for six months. My first Cholo.
I remember Octavio Paz on Pachucos. I vaguely recall a small book by Carlos Monsivais about subcultures in Mexico City that imitated counter-cultural American trends. It was not about low-riders, but was counter cultural. Maybe other readers can weigh in.
I'll have to look for that one. There is a fascinating history of rock and punk and stuff in Mexico as well, as I am sure you know well - including in Neza!
Certainly in the past, especially in the 70's and 80's, cholos in low riders meant drugs, especially PCP and guns, usually battling Crips or Bloods. Racial hatred was very real. My wife's family was in Logan Heights very near Barrio Logan, San Diego and being black always put a target on your back. My wife's nephew was shot and killed by a shotgun by a rival cholo gang mistaken for a black gangbanger. My wife and I worked in Logan Heights and Southeast San Diego in the 80's and the crew we worked with, we were always armed and all the hoods of our cars were chained to prevent the theft of car batteries which were needed to power the hydraulics of the low riders. Also we did not wear any blue, red or green clothing. Territory and race were the motivations for the violence. Cholos started dressing down to not become such obvious targets for the black gangs. The Mexican Mafia had a lot to do with that. Interracial relationships drove a large number of people out of that area to escape that nonsense. What is hilarious was back then cholos were criticized for being Mexican Americans by prominent Mexican politicos in Tijuana proclaiming that this behavior would never occur in Mexico.
Love that last line. The whole story of San Diego gangbangers being recruited into the Arellano Felix Cartel is a crazy one. In fact that deserves its own post.
Great pictures. I didn’t realize I pass by Gulfton in Houston on my daily drag to the office.
Thanks Steven. Is Gulfton like the Logan Heights of Houston? All best there friend.
We could strongly argue that Gulfton is Houston's Tepito. Pirated goods. Gangs. Everyday people shopping the streets.
Sounds like next time I am in Houston I need to check it out.
Brings back a lot of memories for me. Ramon was the first Cholo I met. He was a draftee from the barrios of Los Angeles, and I was a draftee from white, semi-rich suburbs of Chicago. Cholo 100%. Button upped shirt pants bulled high and the wide bandana covering the forehead down to the top of his framed sunglasses. For Ramon it was more than a costume or uniform. He was Cholo in spirit. Calm nature is the best I can describe. Reefer and music from Mexico of which I had never listened to. Lowrider. Did not even know what that was. Way more than the lowrider car we all know of now. He presented a slow, methodical walk and speech. We shared a hooch (bedroom?) for six months. My first Cholo.
Fine memories my friend - I can feel the young soldiers and the cholo character. Love hearing these stories.
Ramon's "street" name was Chato. First time I had ever heard the phrase "Viva la Raza".
Love this Ioan. Reminds me of old essays by Monsivais
Ah did Monsivais write on this? I think Octavio Paz gets into pachucos in his essays as well.
I am thinking of books for like “Los Rituales de Caos”.
I remember Octavio Paz on Pachucos. I vaguely recall a small book by Carlos Monsivais about subcultures in Mexico City that imitated counter-cultural American trends. It was not about low-riders, but was counter cultural. Maybe other readers can weigh in.
I'll have to look for that one. There is a fascinating history of rock and punk and stuff in Mexico as well, as I am sure you know well - including in Neza!
Gregorio reads. Words. All the words. I just watched the accompanying video. Art. Graf's y Grillo's art,
Boom. Great to have you on the journey my friend.
Certainly in the past, especially in the 70's and 80's, cholos in low riders meant drugs, especially PCP and guns, usually battling Crips or Bloods. Racial hatred was very real. My wife's family was in Logan Heights very near Barrio Logan, San Diego and being black always put a target on your back. My wife's nephew was shot and killed by a shotgun by a rival cholo gang mistaken for a black gangbanger. My wife and I worked in Logan Heights and Southeast San Diego in the 80's and the crew we worked with, we were always armed and all the hoods of our cars were chained to prevent the theft of car batteries which were needed to power the hydraulics of the low riders. Also we did not wear any blue, red or green clothing. Territory and race were the motivations for the violence. Cholos started dressing down to not become such obvious targets for the black gangs. The Mexican Mafia had a lot to do with that. Interracial relationships drove a large number of people out of that area to escape that nonsense. What is hilarious was back then cholos were criticized for being Mexican Americans by prominent Mexican politicos in Tijuana proclaiming that this behavior would never occur in Mexico.
Love that last line. The whole story of San Diego gangbangers being recruited into the Arellano Felix Cartel is a crazy one. In fact that deserves its own post.
Here is a long article written by a special agent of the DEA about that story
https://www.borderlandbeat.com/2018/01/it-took-family-to-raise-and-enable.html
The story is incredible and will make you angry about the prosecutors in the case.
Nice one. I'll give it a read.
Cholo means something completely different in Venezuelan Spanish
Great essay BTW
Thanks there Dindu. I have heard used by a Peruvian, does it mean more like how British say "mate" or what does it mean in Venezuela? Best there.
It has a negative connotation. It means a man who doesn’t work but drinks all the time and lives off his woman.
Lot of those in Vzla
Ha ha. I didn't know that. I'll remember that if I ever get back into Venezuela.
Good luck getting past the Cubans
It used to be a lot of fun
My ruca = my old lady, right? Nothing to do with the age of the lady, just the level of attachment to the lady.