Somewhere along the road between eating your abuela’s homemade tortillas and ordering an extra-large combo meal, some of us got confused.
We started believing that becoming “more American” meant becoming less Mexican.
Who sold us that idea?
Because they owe us a refund.
In Avenal, the best-selling food isn’t a hamburger.
It’s tacos.
Always has been.
Probably always will be.
Our busiest restaurants aren’t competing to invent the next kale smoothie. They’re perfecting al pastor, carne asada, carnitas, chile verde, and menudo.
And somehow…
People will stand in line for tacos while complaining that there’s “too much Spanish music” at community events.
That’s like saying you love pizza but hate Italy.
The math doesn’t add up.
Then comes one of the stranger phenomena in town:
The Chicano who suddenly develops selective hearing whenever Spanish is spoken.
Someone speaks with an accent…
Cue the eye roll.
Someone shows up wearing boots and a cowboy hat…
Apparently that’s embarrassing now.
Someone plays banda or norteño…
“Can’t they play something American?”
Friend…
Have you looked around lately?
You’re in Avenal.
Half the parking lot owns cowboy boots.
The other half owns cowboy boots they swear they’ll wear again someday.
Let’s stop pretending the soundtrack of our community is supposed to be elevator music.
Being bilingual isn’t something to hide.
Having grandparents who spoke only Spanish isn’t something to apologize for.
Neither is dancing to cumbia at one party and country music at the next.
That’s not an identity crisis.
That’s California.
Somewhere along the way, a few people decided the fastest path to acceptance was to become critics of the very culture that raised them.
Mock the accent.
Laugh at the Spanish.
Complain about Mexican events.
Distance yourself from “those people.”
Congratulations.
You’ve managed to become offended by your own family reunion.
Here’s the irony.
The people most comfortable with who they are don’t spend much time proving they’re “American enough.”
They simply are.
They wave an American flag on the Fourth of July.
They celebrate Día de los Muertos with their family.
They eat burgers on Monday.
Tacos on Tuesday.
Pozole on Christmas.
And somehow…
The Constitution survives.
Avenal doesn’t become stronger by pretending it has only one culture.
It becomes stronger because it has many.
That richness is exactly what makes this little town different from thousands of others.
So instead of teaching our kids that speaking Spanish is embarrassing…
Teach them another language is a superpower.
Instead of making fun of someone’s accent…
Remember that every accent tells the story of someone brave enough to build a life somewhere new.
Instead of acting like heritage is something to outgrow…
Show them it’s something to carry proudly.
You don’t have to choose between being American and honoring your Mexican roots.
In Avenal, chances are your grandparents helped build this community, your parents kept it going, and your kids will decide what comes next.
That’s something worth celebrating—in English, en español, or both.
Because around here…
There’s always room at the table for another taco.
And maybe another song in Spanish.
— The Editorial Board, AvenalPress.com
“All the news fit to rePress.”
“Todas las noticias… bien refritas.” 🌮🇺🇸🇲🇽