Gustavo Arellano is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times, covering Southern California everything and a bunch of the West and beyond. He previously worked at OC Weekly, where he was an investigative reporter for 15 years and editor for six, wrote a column called ¡Ask a Mexican! and is the author of “Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America.” He’s the child of two Mexican immigrants, one of whom came to this country in the trunk of a Chevy.
Latest From This Author
Gustavo Arellano takes a road trip to learn the stories of Latinos: resilient, independent and focused on fixing what’s in front of them instead of being too concerned with the White House rat race.
Oct. 21, 2024
Anyone who says the journey is the best part, not the destination, could have been talking about the American Southwest.
Oct. 16, 2024
Seven days. Seven states. Nearly 3,000 miles. Gustavo Arellano talks to Latinos across the Southwest about their hopes, fears and dreams in this election year.
Oct. 16, 2024
Visions of combo platters and glorious tacos filled my mind as I barreled down the 15. The only election reminder was a “Viva Trump” sign outside Victorville.
Oct. 16, 2024
Some of the most important names in L.A. Latino politics were born in Arizona mining towns or traced their lineage there. I share those roots.
Oct. 16, 2024
Paying homage to victims of anti-Latino hatred is important, given Trump’s anti-immigrant slurs. But in El Paso, some are weary of the migrants passing through.
Oct. 16, 2024
La Mutua, the nation’s oldest Latino civil rights group is down to about 200 members, some middle-aged, but a new generation is trying to revive the group.
Oct. 16, 2024
The people I spoke to know things aren’t easy and never will be — but they don’t sink into a doom spiral. They have faith in their communities and themselves.
Oct. 16, 2024
Jess and Rich Fierro might not like to be called heroes, but they gladly wear the label of leaders — and they want to inspire other Latinos to do the same.
Oct. 16, 2024
What’s better than a road trip to show what I’ve known forever but that many Americans won’t consider: Latinos are as American as anyone else, if not more so.
Oct. 16, 2024