There is often a misguided notion that the burgeoning numbers of Latinos and people of Mexican Ancestry in this nation represent only recent arrivals.
As Winter storms threaten the entire city and mainstream news coverage pauses to note little else but updates on local streets I think this is an appropriate place to critically examine the current deluge of Latinos in the United States and mythbust so many misconceptions about immigration on the local level.
It's a fact that Latinos have accounted for a significant number of Kansas City's population for more than a century. As the latest census nears our numbers will continue to swell and our community will become even more diverse. Recent arrivals, different political philosophies and even more varied populations among the broad racial spectrum of our ethnic group will arise.
As both major political parties desperately try to figure out how to appeal to Hispanics, I think the best way to start is by understanding a bit of our history.
Recently, I've been thinking about my own family's history in Kansas City.
My Father forwarded me the photo featured above which includes My Aunt Francis, Great Grandfather Marcos Botello and my namesake Tony Botello. All of them dressed in their Sunday best and well-established on Kansas City's Westside somewhere around the middle of last century. My great Grandfather smoking a cigarette after Church and not smiling for the camera reminds me that family traditions and temperaments run deep.
Most importantly, a look at this image reminds me that Kansas City's history is more sophisticated than most people will ever realize and the future of this city by the river facing a swell of even more Latinos in this town looks to be even more diverse, nuanced and complex.
Good stuff.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet you attack every Latino politican for a bunch of felons. Sellout.
ReplyDeleteObviously, according to reading Tony's comments earlier, the way to get Hispanic votes is the pass out public money to the spouses of hispanic elected officials. Nothing like a little stealing and money laundering to build loyalty with Latinos -- according to Tony.
ReplyDeleteChris Moreno please shut up and go back to Puerto Rico.
ReplyDeleteUnfair. Decent post. But the whole world is talking about Egypt and not KC.
ReplyDeleteSorry Tony.
Theresa and Genaro are crooks, send them both to jail.
ReplyDeleteYes and thanks for reacting, but you never answered the question. Are you an illegal or a legal citizen of the US?
ReplyDeleteYou certainly SOUND American. Your own status will, however denote a certain credibility, a certain point of view that many of your readers will find helpful as they read you and understand your point of view.
If you are unqualified as a CITIZEN of the USA, that will be somewhat important as I read your views about immigration. If you are NOT, well then I will view your posts differently and that's not bad either, just different!
Only one comment. TONIGHTS THE NIGHT to call your family people and assure that they're set up for a powered snowstorm. And if not powered, be prepared to deal with that for your families.
Look at the windows in the pic. They had to put stuff over the windows to keep the beaners from breaking in back then!
ReplyDeleteRadio man, Tony didn't react to you. He has been talking about this post for a couple of days.
ReplyDeleteI can NEVER rember a time in KC, and I'm an OLD man, when we didn't have a significant Mexican-American population. My experience has been, they're GOOD people. The new arrivals I've encountered in the last few years, aren't too good with english, but are nice folks.
ReplyDeleteRadioman, how do we know that YOU are an illegal or a legal citizen? You could have come across the Canadian border or maybe you overstayed your student visa from a foreign country. Maybe you too are one of those sinister anchor babies from French patriots who came here for the expressed purpose of taking advantage of us. If I were to stop you on the street because you appeared to me to be an illegal European, would you be able to prove your citizenship on the spot? I would not accept a driver's license or social security card from you because all the immigration haters in the US have made a strong case about how easy it is for illegals to obtain phony documents. So prove to me that you are an American Citizen pronto or you'll be deported back to wherever faster than you can say Yankee doodle dandee. I don't know your race, ethnicity, or national origin. But there is one thing that distinguishes you from all the rest....You are a complete asshole. We should deport all your type to make the US a better place.
ReplyDeleteBravo 10:38.
ReplyDeleteCome to think of it, Krazy Kris Kobach could be a long lost descendant of Hitler whose grandparents entered the country illegally after first settling in Argentina after the fall of the third riech. Show me your papers Kris.
ReplyDeletelolz.
ReplyDeleteTwo simple things:
ReplyDeleteLearn the language all you 'legal' newbies.
Learn that you need to look people in the eye in this country when it comes to communication.
That is all. At least when other immigrants that were legal intrinsically knew those things.
Two simple things:
ReplyDeleteAmericans embrace bi-lingualism, most civilized countrys do. It's a requirement for the future harmony of the world.
Americans learn that we can't reclaim leadership in this world unless we communicate honestly with the other countries on this planet.
That is all. At least other dominant world cultures throughout history intrinsically knew these things.
8:47 You are incorrect. This picture was taken along a schoolyard and the iron mesh over the windows were used to protect the windows. Back then, kids played baseball and kickball in the schoolyard. The picture was taken in 1950 and you're mindset is 2010 crime.
ReplyDelete12:27 Bullshit. Oh, and what do the kids play now??? Lead talks, bullshit flops.... Stupid fuck! We all have family pictures like that.
ReplyDeleteIf you still wear the same suit have your Mommy button it up correctly.
ReplyDelete12:27... Back then "we" kids played in the street and went home when the lights came on, or else... Now they "kids" come out and "play" when the lights go out..Stay off the streets or "else"
ReplyDeleteIf your not an American Indian you are here illegally.
ReplyDeleteAgreement With The Five Nations Of Indians, April 24, 1792.
I'm a natural born, American citizen with proven lineage dating back to immigration in 1665 to Maryland. So don't go there. Yes, things were different then. Let's move on. What shall we do TODAY related to immigration. THAT is the issue for discussion!
ReplyDeletestir up the pot shit head.
ReplyDeleteLook at these commenters who we call "democrats". Looks like Mike Sanders' office and Anne Mcgregors campaign team is filled with a bunch of Kobachs.
ReplyDeleteNot so fast Radioman. You can't dismiss the accusations you began so easily. What gives you the right to question Tony's legal status without having your own questioned? He's just as true an American as you and should not be treated any differently. Your clumsiness just pointed out the lopsided sense of justice behind the Kobach inflamed protagonists.
ReplyDeleteWhere'd those beaners steal them suits?
ReplyDeleteThrow another tamale on the fire.
ReplyDelete