Get this video and more at MySpace.comInterests: Photography, hiking, biking, the beach any time of day or night or season, films and film noir, politics, interesting people, spirituality, fine art, community service, coffee, reading, traveling the world, poetry, indigenous cultures, readings, concerts, Brown men who smell good, smile with their eyes and have pretty teeth dimples optional, world music, some good ol' Chicano rock, anything cultural. I LOVE L.A.! If you constantly complain about living in LA, move back to where you came from (umm let me guess the midwest...) and make more room for us on the freeways!
I'd like to meet:
! WELCOME ! BIENVENIDOS !I always enjoy meeting artistic, friendly bohemians who enjoy life and have taken the time to do some self searching and develop their identity. I tend to hang out with low-drama people and those who enjoy active lifestyles. Just don't preach that right wing shit to me and we'll get along fine. Of course my favorite hang out is my place of business, ESPRESSO MI CULTURA, a bookstore, coffeehouse and community art gallery. I created this space to address the dearth of artistic and politically progressive spaces in our Native, Mexican and Latin American communities that interact with other people of color in solidarity. I come from a time way back when Latinos and Blacks got along and were in solidarity against oppression and white supremacy. What happened???? Espresso Mi Cultura is a place to be revolutionary whether its in your thoughts or actions through music, art, activism and education. This is a place where ideas are discussed and actions are strategized. If you enjoy a mind and spirit-stimulating space, come to Espresso Mi Cultura. Bring me flowers when you visit and you'll quickly become one of my favorite people, maybe even get a free latte. :)My philosophy: A BETTER WORLD IS POSSIBLE without racism, sexism, misogyny or homophobism. Rage that isn't channeled into positive action is just wasted energy. I try to contribute to this belief at least a little each day. Let's start with promoting peace! I choose Love. I choose Unity. All my relations.
Music:
Espresso Mi Cultura features live performances. For information on performing at Espresso Mi Cultura or for a calendar of upcoming events, visit our website at www.espressomicultura.com. It is under construction now, but please visit again.Check out Gun Metal Groove..that's my talented nephew Adrian on drums!
Movies:
Foreign and indie films, anything with Ed Norton, Al Pacino, Gregory Peck or Salma Hayek in it, anything directed by John Sayles, La Ciudad/The City, El Norte (if you don't cry at the end you just aren't human!), old black and white classics, Kung fu movies (old and new), Como Agua Para Chocolate, very few Hollywood movies, Enter the Dragon & all Bruce Lee movies, Smoke Signals, mysteries, drama with no violence, Alfred Hithcock films, Cinema Paradiso, Il Postino, documentaries, suspense films that don't have half-naked stupid blondes going out into the woods cuz they hear a noise (don't do it homes!) Join me in pretending that the Godfather III NEVER happened; I wish drive-in's would come back in style. I do not like racist and misogynistic or homophobic comedy..I know, that eliminates 98% of it!
Television:
Has no use except to view rented films (see above) Turn it off, listen instead to 90.7 KPFK. Most talk shows get on my nerves cuz they are just usually a forum for ignorant opinions about the world through the perspective of white males...By the way will someone please tell Dr. Phil to Shut the F up!
Books:
I own a bookstore so this is not nearly enough space to list, but ask me. Espresso Mi Cultura Bookstore features titles by or about the US Native and Latino communities and our brothers and sisters in Latin America. Books and authors that have changed my life: Democracy for the Few (Parenti), Noam Chomsky, In the Spirit of Crazy Horse, bell hooks, Occupied America, Strangers from a Different Shore, Ghandi's Truth, Russell Means, Dennis Banks, Latina's Bible (Guzman,) Angela Davis, Neruda.
Heroes:
In no particular order: My parents, Che Guevara, bell hooks, Gloria Anzaldua, My sister, Salma Hayek, My Xolas, Dolores Huerta, Cesar Chavez, Rigoberta Menchu, Ghandi, Jesus Christ (it's not his fault he has some messed up followers), John Trudell, Speedy Gonzalez, El Angel Justiciero, Malificent, Mighty Mouse, Russell Means, Zapata, Geronimo, Giaconda Belli, the Buddha, Pancho Villa, and Betty Boop (ok she's not hero material, but I think she's cool), anyone who follows his or her dream, and in general anyone who has had the courage to fight complicity and kicked the ass of the white supremist patriarchy!
