Mexican Chicago

The story of Chicago's Mexican communities is an important part of the rich and diverse mosaic of Chicago history. Mexican Chicago presents an intriguing visual record of the earliest beginnings of Mexican communities in the city. It explores such vibrant and distinct neighborhoods as Pilsen, Little Village, South Deering, Back of the Yards, and other neighborhoods that reflect Mexican culture.

Many rarely-seen photographs help to break down stereotypical notions about members of these communities by documenting their urban experiences and illustrating the ways in which they maintain connections to their homeland and cultural traditions. The photographs, culled from family archives, museums, and university collections, tell the collective story of a cultural group that by the year 2010 will be the largest ethnic population in the state of Illinois. These stories are told in first voice-the voices of those who lived and are living the history shown here. They reflect historical, political, and economic events on both a personal and international scale, ranging from revolution and annexation of territory, to immigration and repatriation policies. Including a special insert on Mexican murals in the city, this book focuses on Mexican Chicagoans from the early 1900s to the present day.