History Talk: Encountering Spanish Myths

Join us on Saturday, June 18, at 2:30pm for a presentation by Dr. John Macias, “Encountering Spanish Myths: The Hidden History of the Mexican Experience.”

At the turn of the twentieth century, Southern California was experiencing a historical revival that celebrated the region’s Spanish and Mexican colonial past. Anglo boosters were attempting to draw tourists to the region by touting its historic Spanish-era missions and Mexican-era adobe estates, which created a romantic historical imagery of Southern California. However, the image conflicted sharply with the racial reality of the region’s social settings. Moreover, the influx of Mexican immigrants was posing serious concerns among civic leaders who began to view them as a “problem.”

Professor Macias’s talk will explore how the romanticized images of the region’s Spanish and Mexican past shaped Anglo perceptions of Mexicans living in the Los Angeles region during the early 20th century.

The event is free to attend, thanks to the support of California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.