Los Jetsons
Experts predict the U.S. population will become increasingly diverse, with the greatest gains among Latinos. The Chicano cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz, creator of the syndicated "La Cucaracha" comic strip and illustrator of the book Latino USA, reinterprets a now-classic vision of mid-21st-century life
Smithsonian magazine, August 2010
Comments (11)
THIS is GREAT!!!!!!! Lalo Alcaraz is one talented fellow. Thanks for featuring him Smithsonian!
Posted by d.w. on April 15,2012 | 09:43 PM
All Americans ARE immigrants. From the Native Americans who trekked here across the Bering Strait millennia ago, to the Asians, Europeans and African Americans who sailed here or were brought here in chains, to the Latinos now flowing over our southern border, we ALL have immigrant roots, either recently or some generations back. Ultimately, we all came here from some mother country—and ultimately, all of us who came voluntarily came for the same reason: to try and make a better life with more freedom and opportunity for ourselves and our descendants. The Hispanics Lalo Alcaraz portrays are no different in this respect from the WASPs who predominate in our nation today--only the Hispanics’ time is coming, rather than fading out. This is a demographic inevitability. So there is a kernel of truth, and no small amount of irony, to the term "reconquista." But this will only be a "disintegration" for those who refuse to evolve in beliefs and behavior, and integrate themselves with changing reality. When you’re standing in the surf and the tide is slowly rising, you can run to higher ground, you can teach yourself how to float or swim, or you can drown. But you can’t stop the tide, and complaining bitterly about it will do you no good.
Posted by Chris Anderson on November 1,2010 | 11:26 AM
A changing culture is not a disintegrating one. What does modern American society have in common with the America of the pilgrims? The America of the Native Americans?
Remember that almost all Americans are immigrants, and that no culture remains stagnant for long.
Posted by Simone Wilcock on October 28,2010 | 02:43 PM
"La reconquista" does seem to be inevitable. It is very sad to have to watch the end of this country and the disintegration of our culture. I already feel like a foreigner here. I have been pushed out.
Posted by Jerry Jester on October 16,2010 | 09:51 PM
Que maravilla!
Far more impressive to me than the projected population statistics [which I've seen elsewhere] is the presence of Lalo's work on the Smithsonian's website. Thank you for this forum for prime pocho artwork!
P.S. To posters positing "reconquista": think of it as "Manifest Destiny 2.0"...
Posted by Richard Brooks Alba on September 13,2010 | 11:15 AM
Increasingly diverse? I'm not convinced of that based on the cartoon, which is as racist as anything from the 1940s.
Posted by Denver on September 7,2010 | 01:03 PM
Its a sad fact that the agenda of " reconquista ' is very real and the intent is to carve away the southwestern states from the US and rename the area Aztlan!
Posted by Douglas Gardner on August 20,2010 | 10:53 PM
So I would surmise from your refusal to post my comment that you only want to show the prettiest picture of immigration. It's too bad that this attitude will only encourage a whole generation to pursue criminal acts, because, after all, their parents got away with it.
Posted by Dan Wilson on August 3,2010 | 12:15 PM
This piece of art work that Mr. Alcaraz illustrates, really tells the whole story. America is changing, and there is nothing that anyone can do about it. Yes, there are those that resist change and others that accept it. Yes, change can be scarry, but once the fear is go we can see the truth.
The fact of the matter is that this change in America is inevitable. We, as Americans need to embrace change, just like a mother brings new life into the world. We have to love the change, live with the change and then nature the change because as we do this, America will grow in richness as a nation.
Posted by Rubin Rios on July 28,2010 | 03:27 AM
interesting piece!
Posted by Tiq on July 18,2010 | 04:17 PM
Lolo’s work is a visually informative and engaging way to speak to the subject of American sociology. It illustrates the fact that indigenous segments of the American population will have a say in how the social contract of their time will be crafted. Lolo’s work suggests that any notion of a utopist non indigenous USA is factually and legislatively impossible.
Thank you for featuring this artist
Fernando Vega
Lemon Grove, Ca
Posted by Fernando Vega on July 6,2010 | 05:34 PM