3: structural assimilation with Chito

We wrap it all up.

What happens when your family assimilates into a culture before you take your first breath? How long is the road to rediscovery of your native identity? What are some of the hurdles we were never told about? Jackie is a professional fine art and journalism photographer originally from Orange County living in Mexico City. In our conversation we discuss the many intricate facets of chicanismo and what it feels like to be the “other” other.

Chicanismo thrives in many places along the southern border of the U.S. But it’s not often we hear the accounts of our brothers and sisters to the east in Florida. Professional photo journalist Alicia Vera transplanted to Mexico City from Miami nearly a decade ago. Alicia’s conversation paints a picture of what the broken promise of cultural pluralism in Anglo America could still look like and shares revelations about her own identity.

Documentary photographer Francisco “Chito” Banda tells about choosing to grow up on the Mexican side of the El Paso/Juarez border and recalls instances of confusion experiencing the divide between chicanos and Mexicans from Mexico.

A designer/curator/model originally from Veracruz, Mexico was uprooted to Chicago at age six. They share philosophies and insights from their life in a beautifully articulate conversation.

Lisa and Jay give an intro to the project and share a little bit about their experience embracing their Mexican roots.