We asked a Mexican: Gustavo Arellano

It started out as a joke: OC Weekly reporter Gustavo Arellano's editor thought it might be funny if he wrote a one-time satiric advice column, and ¡Ask a Mexican! was born. Readers loved the way he played with stereotypes, and Arellano's been doing the column ever since (lately, also on video). Last year saw the publication of the "¡Ask a Mexican!" book, which is now out in paperback. Arellano's second book, a personal history titled "Orange County," is due in September. We e-mailed the man who has all the answers for a few more.

Jacket Copy: You've been doing the "¡Ask a Mexican!" column for more than three years. Do people ask you questions all the time, even when you're not working? And what's the most common question you get (other than "what's the most common question you get?")?

Gustavo Arellano: When people find out I write the column, most of the time they just shower accolades on me rather than ask questions. I'm just grateful 80% of the people I meet whom a friend introduces me to them as "He writes '¡Ask a Mexican!' " knows about the column. As for the most-asked question besides yours: "Why do Mexicans like to swim in the ocean with their clothes on?" Whether the reader is from Hermosa Beach or Michigan, I always get this question — so strange. ...

JC: What was the biggest challenge in putting together the "¡Ask a Mexican!" book? Would you do it again?

GA: Making it work for a national audience. Since I'm based in Orange County, many of the punch lines in my column make reference to Orange County — the anti-immigrant idiots at the California Coalition for Immigration Reform, corrupt politicians and the like. People in Nebraska don't give a damn about such jokes or zings. So I needed to rework some of the questions I previously answered (the book is 50% old, 50% new) to make it work. Of course I would do it again — any author who doesn't jump at the chance to do a nationally published book deserves their PR day job.

JC: You often use Spanish words, sometimes to describe parts of female anatomy. Can you use dirtier words if you use Spanish? Do your editors have any idea what you're saying? (See answer after the jump.)

GA: Not just female anatomy, chula — also a male's privy parts, racial slurs and general curse words. When I signed with Scribner, I told them that I didn't want anything changed in my writing solely for prudish reasons. The column and the book use vulgarities only to make specific, satirical points about a subject. I told my editor the meanings behind all the Spanish words, and he's richer for knowing nearly every Spanish cuss word ever uttered.

JC: Have any of the answers in the book or in your column gotten you into trouble?

GA: Since we're doing a Web interview, click away, readers!

JC: When you were in school, were you the kid who always had the right answer? Would any of your teachers have predicted that you'd become a cultural expert? (Or a satiric cultural expert?)

GA: I talk about this in my upcoming book, "Orange County: A Personal History," which is half history of Orange County, half tale of my family's four generations switching between Mexico and Anaheim. I was that kid, but I never got good grades — a classic underachiever. When I left my high school teachers, I was into films, so they probably thought I would be directing quinceañera videos or pornos.

JC: What resources do you use to help work out the answers to really tough questions?

GA: Same resources I use in my day job as an investigative reporter — make calls, go to libraries, search the Web. Usually, I can find the answer in my personal library of over 1,000 books — I'm a nerd.

JC: What's your favorite bookstore, and why?

GA: Libreria Martinez in Santa Ana. Run by Rueben Martinez, a barber-turned-bookie who won the Macarthur Genius award a couple of years back because he's a secular saint. The majority of the holdings are in Spanish, which means this is one of the few places on Earth where you can read Shakespeare in Spanish and Cervantes in English — how is that not the best place on Earth???

Carolyn Kellogg

Comments

[Bonnie Russell]

Yah yah, well he still *hasn't* answered my question of how rice wound up in my burrito. My theory being the great Mexican cooks stayed south because the restaurants they opened were loved by the Mexican population. But the bad cooks had to move north, to San Francisco where they hired Chinese busboys and BAM! The next thing you know inter-racial marriages and rice in my burrito.

[MB]

forget the clothes in the ocean guys....why do mexicans congregate on the beach and feast....on food out of plastic grocery store bags??!! the whole freekin family sitting there grubbing.....and about 25 plastic bags of food all around. it is sooooooooooooo freekin tacky. why not spring for a cooler or a pic-a-nic basket or something.

seriously. fat midwesterners are bad enough...now Gustavo and friends ruin the scenerey.

though.....the hot latinas strutting their stuff in the waves somewhat makes up for it.

[Joe Segura]

How does someone who can't speak English or Spanish properly get a job as a writer?

I get that his parents are farm workers from a small rural town in Mexico and thus speak poor Spanish, and he learned Spanish from them, but they came to the U.S. to give their children a better life.

This guy went to college for Christ's sake and speaks 4th grade level English.

If you are going to be a public speaker and represent the Mexican-American community, it'd be a good idea to speak at least one language correctly.

Take some language classes at Berlitz or something.

[AngelJ]

Orale carnal, we need you in San Diego. There are a lot of haters out here. The boorish ONE-minutemen are finally going to clean a stretch of highway. I am going oto enjoy watching them work The sign needs to go down as soon a s it goes up .

Viva La Raza!!!

[Federico Grosso, DDS, PhD, MFT , BCFE]

I've read Mr. Arellano's column with relish. I hope his accomplishments launch him towards becoming a political columnist or commentator. His well placed cynicism and humor can open the door to success in that arena.

Kudos

[Ricardo Santa Cruz]

I think it's very unfair to ask Gustavo Arellano to give an answer and a Justification for sociological
behaviour such as why do mexicans bathe in the ocean and picnic the way they do. Gustavo probably knows as much as your average "Anglo" in Los Angeles. We in Western Europe always wonder why most Americans who visit here are so overweight, we find it odd that with such a wide culinary offer, most americans flock to the local McDonald's, etc. However, there's an answer to everyproblem. In El Salvador for example, it is illegal in some public beaches and swimming pools to swim with your clothes on, a practice which is excusive to the poor working class masses of Latin america.

[Irina]

You are rude, MB, who cares how they eat their food when they enjoy family outings so much? Everywhere I go, the Mexican families and sometimes black ones are really enjoying spending time together at picnics or barbecues. White people define fun as being semi-naked in a pool in Vegas drinking until they throw up or fall down. If that's not gross, I don't know what is.

[H. Cantu]

As a mexican I fail to understand why one has to continually have someone to defend the ethnicity from plain stupid stereotypes. It is probably something that has been learned after confronting day after day the condescending ways of the Californians.
Useless waste of your energy Mr Arellano. If they like stereotypes, let them have them, probabbly it is an important part of their own culture.

[Gustavo Arellano]

Folks: Gracias for all the comments!

Bonnie: Unless you're an illegal immigrant, you have to wait your turn for me to answer your question.

Joe: How is my inglés bad? No comprendo!

AngelJ: I do come out in San Diego, in a paper called La Prensa-San Diego!

[rod]

Why isn't the column entitled "Ask a Mexican-American"? I think I read that you were born in the US.

Also, is Santa Ana really as bad as you make it out to be?

[grandson of Russian immigrants]

I agree with previous poster - why isn't the column "ask a Mexican-American"? He's not Mexican any more than I'm Russian!

[Bad Planning]

Ask a mexican? i like the title but your a pocho..cabron.

[Alex from East L.A.]

I think by encouraging or supporting his views, you are contributing to spreading false stereotypes.
Stereotypes are not fact and he is not an expert. Mr.Arellano does not represent this demographic just because he writes for the OC weekly, a free publication like the pennysaver.

[El Guapo]

Do more radio spots, I think you're a fine comedian. And stereotypes are fun, harmless.

Mexicans in clothes in the water; so what.

Fat Americans in Europe; you've got to have a fat wallet to make it to Europe, hence more access to fine cheeses, dining out.

Hairy Europeans in the U.S., hey it's sexy and brings back the nostalgia of the 60s.

Chinese can't drive; well, this might be more than a stereotype.

Salvadoran's are midgets; better to see the soccer ball.

Russians and Armenians drive expensive cars they can't afford; but it's how you appear that gets you that shot of grey goose faster.

African American's narrarate loudly in movie theatre's; helps keep them in the moment living large.

Korean's smell like Kim Chi; better than BO.

White people are rich; which is why I'm chained to my desk at my well deserved PR job.

ETC.

Rubbish, a grain of salt.

[Mano Lopez]

So why do they still call us "wetbacks" when the Rio Grande is practicaly dried up from filling all the gabachos swimming pools and watering their suburban lawns?

[james in sb]

Hey Alex and a bunch of other people. Can't you lighten up? Mexican, Mexican-American; is that really the level of your concerns? He's taking on stereotypes and playing with them, shedding a different light on them, rather than allowing them to remain the exclusive domain of those who use them as racial slurs and ethnic putdowns. The more people read his stuff (at least if they have an iota of humor remaining in their junk-food-addled brains), the more they'll get how ludicrous they are. As to the person who made the "tacky" remark, get a life. Who are you to say how people should enjoy themselves on a beach? Examine your own habits and behaviors, private or public; are you so sure no one would possibly consider any of them "tacky"? How about missing the point that a family is TOGETHER, enjoying themselves, and instead dissing HOW they enjoy themselves? Now that's tacky! And if they want to wear their clothes in the water, who cares? Have you considered that some of the grandmas and moms you see in the water are 1) modest and/or 2) may not own a bathing suit because they a) don't go to the beach often or b) can't afford one? I like seeing a hot girl in a thong as much as the next guy, but if you want to talk about odd clothing, well, the thong qualifies. A string up your butt may even qualify as...tacky.

[keith]

Why does Cinco de Mayo not seem to be celebrated with the same fervor in Mexico as it is here in the US?

[Daniel Olivas]

Carolyn: Excellent interview with Gustavo Arellano. If folks want to read another interview, we did one over at La Bloga:

http://labloga.blogspot.com/2007/04/interview-with-gustavo-arellano.html

Can't wait to read his new book.