The Mexican American Cultural Capital

Bibliographic Data

ID4491520
AuthorsDaniel D Arreola (corresponding author)
Year1987
Volume77
Issue1
Pages17
Publication date1987-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGeographical Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0016-7428 • E-ISSN: 1931-0846
PublisherJSTOR (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/214674
OpenAlexW2325362285
LanguageEN
Citations received13
References cited1

Antonio, Texas, is historic hearth of Mexican American culture in United States. Cultural heritage, linkage to Mexico, and role as a stronghold of Mexican ways sustain continued recognition of city as cultural capital for this ethnic group in United States. SAN Antonio, Texas, is a special place. Early boosters bestowed on it a series of epithets like City of Missions, Metropolis of Texas, and City of Alamo. Currently it is touted as one of most charismatic cities in United States. In addition to a tourist image, Antonio has a unique cultural position in United States, because it is only major city that ethnically is predominantly Mexican. This quality was apparent to early visitors, one of whom declared in 1877 that San Antonio is, in fact, a Spanish town ... and only one where any considerable remnant of Spanish life exists in United States.' The Mexican cultural heritage has earned city a special identity in twentieth century as indicated in references to it as the old capital city of Mexican life and influence or the capital of Mexico that lies within United States.2 Los Angeles currently has largest concentration of ethnic Mexicans in United States. One writer dubbed it capital of an emerging MexAmerica.3 This shift illustrates one aspect of rapidly changing social geography of United States in late twentieth century, because pre- viously Antonio had been relatively unchallenged as focal point of Mexican culture in United States. In this essay I reexamine thesis that Antonio is primary focus of Mexican culture in United States. The investigation provides an unusual opportunity to assess role of historical patterns and their contemporary meaning as well as im- portance of population numbers in determining cultural identifications. BEGINNINGS

Archaeology · Capital (architecture · Cultural capital · Development economics · Economics · Ethnology · Geography · Political science · History · Latin American and Latino Studies · Law

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