Living la Vida Latina

A Latin community can thrive anywhere and anyway. The language, the culture, and the heritage is passed on from generation to generation, constantly holding on to their roots. The Latin-American culture lives on in everyone's vida through the language, the religion, the music, and most especially, the dance.

Deep within el Barrio, or the hood; el Gringo wouldn't last long here.

Graffiti, as in every low-class areas, thrive through 'artists' (i.e.: rebels, gang members, etc.). Like with every culture, the Latin-American one has a large population of graffiti artists.



Supermercados (Supermarkets) and Carnicerias (Butchers) are common in Spanish communities. When I entered, everyone was speaking in Spanish and the majority of the products were from Mexico. I was entranced with the language for a while that I forgot that I was still in the United States.

Religión is a very important part to the Spanish community. Mostly everyone are Catolicos (Catholics) and often are included in religious practices including: bautizos (baptisms), comuniones (communions), and quincieneras (where a young woman celebrates her 15th birthday).

"Our Lady of Guadalupe Middle School": Guadalupe, or La Virgen de Guadalupe, is an important Mexican icon. She is constantly praised and and prayed to.

La Juventud, or the youth, is another important factor to Spanish families. Being a machismo culture, fathers would prefer to have sons rather than hembras, or a brute way of saying females.

Viva futbol! Soccer is the most popular sport in Spanish countries but is referred to as futbol, as opposed to soccer.

The nightlife for Latinos brings out music, rhythm, dance.

Baila!

Salsa, merengue, samba, and cumbia are a few of the leading dances that never dies in the Latin community. They all differ in styles but all make a room feel alive with energy and warmth as the warm-blooded people let the rhythm take control of their hands, hips, and feet.

Although the Latin community depicted here was mostly the Mexican culture (with easy access due to Mexicantown in Detroit), every culture differs in it's own ways. What keeps every sub-group tied together is the language (except for vernacular), the religion, the music, the dancing, and the warmth.