3. Cultural Maintenance: A Pot of Beans on the Stove

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Date

2011

Authors

Vasquez-Tokos, Jessica

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

New York University Press

Abstract

When I arrived at the Benavidas home in the Oakland hills, my respondent’s wife, Melissa, gave me a tour of the front portion of the home, saying her husband would join us in a minute. The house was immaculately decorated, boasting art on the walls from Spain, Mexico, and Ecuador, as well as southwestern art hand crafted by Melissa’s father. As Melissa ushered me into the kitchen, she laughed, saying tongue in cheek, “Not to be a stereo-typical Mexican family or anything, but we’ve got to get the beans on!” We both laughed. She followed up with, “Well, really, we usually do have a pot of beans in the house.”

Description

27 pages. From the book "Mexican Americans Across Generations."

Keywords

Mexican family, cultural maintenance, Latino culture, US culture, assimilation

Citation