La Plaza De Cultura Artes

La Plaza de Cultura Artes

The mission of LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes is a non-profit organization/museum founded to celebrate and cultivate an appreciation for the enduring and evolving influence of Mexican and Mexican-American culture, with a specific focus upon the unique Mexican-American experience in Los Angeles and Southern California. The museum itself is near where Los Angeles was founded in 1871 and includes a 2.2 anchor campus that includes two historic and renovated buildings (Vickrey Brunswig Building and Plaza House). All surrounded by beautiful public gardens. La Plaza is also located near the heart of Los Angeles surrounded by other ethnic sites like Little Tokyo. (However after visiting one can 't help to realize the homeless problem in the Los Angeles area, and realizing some are even Chicano.)

Through visiting La Plaza De Culturas Y Artes, I have learned a lot more interesting, yet, surprising new information about the Chicano history in California. For example, in the 1910’s and on the high immigration of Mexicans and other Chicanos, into coal mines and farms by major corporations, made California one of the richest states in the US. I also learned that most of California 's economy was heavily reliant on immigrants. Immigrants were the preferred worker for major corporations because they didn 't have American rights and were given the harder jobs for less pay.

However, in Los Angeles and throughout the southwest, the Mexican population had shifted from heavily immigrants into United States-born citizens. These new English speaking, young generation no longer thought of themselves as “Mexico de afuera” but, started to embrace the American clean-cut style at the time. Resulting in new Deal youth programs...

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...rises me that little to few people know the true past of California and I believe that it should be taught in high school. I also never knew about the unfortunate circumstances of all the Chicanos that were relocated and lied to in order to build the Dodgers Stadium. Being relocated by force essentially and promised a better living condition where they have priorities that was never built. I have been a Dodger fan my whole life and never thought about the location of the stadium and how they obtained it. The worst part is I see so many Chicanos at the games and are die hard Dodger fans that don 't know the complete story.

Overall, I feel enlightened by the new information and history I have learned in the past few months and at the museum. I can now embrace and express my Chicano background, knowing my history and make sure we don’t take anything for granted.