Local Identities Global Challenges
THE ROLE OF THE MEXICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY 63 The Role of the Mexican American Community in the Production of Urban Space in Houston, Texas BARRY ESPINOSA-OROPEZA Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Houston is the fourth largest metropolitan area in our urban settlements are organized and built, in- the United States. It is also one of the most cultural- forming how different social groups (in terms of ly diverse cities in America. As such, Houston can be race, culture, ethnicity, gender, age, etc.) relate to presented as a paradigm of the twenty-first century space. Yet, among urban researchers there are dif- multicultural city in the United States. Yet Houston ferent views as to how this relation occurs. Some, remains largely understudied1, in particular, with re- for example, view it as a cause and effect situation, lation to the way ethnic and cultural minorities par- where social structure is the cause and spatial con- ticipate in the production of its urban space. This figuration is the effect. Others believe this spatial research is intended to help fill this gap, focusing configuration to be more the aggregate result of in- in one of the largest ethnic groups in Houston, the dividual decisions. Given the brevity of this paper, Mexican-American population. For this purpose, I and the extensive research already existing, I will conduct a socio-semiotic analysis of one of the old- not go into detail on these subjects.3 Yet, I would est Mexican neighborhoods in the city: ‘El Segundo like to comment, if only briefly, on a third viewpoint: Barrio’.
[Show full text]