Ethnicity in LA

Sunday (19 June) was spent touring the ethnic neighborhoods of greater LA.  We began by heading to East LA (Hispanic) and having discussions with Paul Botello, a college professor mastering in street art.  Our first viewing was a huge mural he had painted alongside a community gym.  We learned how intricate his painting became as it intertwined the many aspects (social, economic, religious, familial, historical) of life within that specific community.  The second viewing took us to his church where he was able to create a mural with a more religious lean to it. And his third showing was next door to a senior center which focused on social injustices.

Following our tours with Botello, we visited a traditional Hispanic market to taste their foods, see their styles and view their customs.

We then headed downtown for lunch at the Grand Central Market which has cuisines and cultures from every background of LA and gathers the cities many communities around a shared table.

And to complete the day of exploring, we visited the Japanese-American National Museum.  The museum had a beautiful display of origami along with a history of the Japanese in our county, including their internment during WWII.

We finished our day as we went to Union Station to further our journeys.  We embarked on AMTRACK's Southwest Chief and departed for Flagstaff, Arizona.