Watching the Next Generation Carry the Music Forward
Some performances entertain us. Others remind us who we are. I've had the joy of watching Mariachi Lindas Mexicanas perform before, and every time I do, I find myself smiling a little wider. Not only because they are incredibly talented, but because I've had the privilege of watching their journey continue to grow.
To see a group that began in Boyle Heights go on to perform at the White House fills me with a quiet sense of pride. They represent not only musical excellence, but the strength of a community and a tradition that continues to flourish. They are a group we can all be proud of.
After their performance at the Los Angeles Public Library Centennial Celebration, I had the opportunity to speak with one of the members. She shared something that stayed with me long after the music ended.
She mentioned that there are very few books written about female mariachis. One story she shared was about a woman from the 1940s who carried a machete for protection while traveling to perform.
It wasn't the machete that stayed with me. It was the realization that someone remembered her. How fitting that this conversation happened during the Centennial Celebration of the Los Angeles Public Library.
Libraries exist to preserve knowledge, history, and stories for future generations. Yet so many important stories are never written down. They survive because someone tells them. A teacher. A parent. A musician. A grandparent. A conversation after a performance.
That brief exchange reminded me that history isn't only found in books. Sometimes it's carried in memories, passed from one generation to the next until someone decides it's worth preserving.
As I listened to the music that afternoon, I found myself thinking about something even bigger. It gives me hope that I can still share experiences like this with today's generation of Latinos. That they can see the beauty, discipline, and strength of our culture not simply remembered, but celebrated. Not simply preserved, but welcomed.
Culture isn't something that only belongs in museums or history books. It lives in public libraries. It lives in neighborhood performances. It lives in Boyle Heights. It lives in families who continue to show up. It lives every time someone chooses to stop and listen.
As I watched Mariachi Lindas Mexicanas perform, I wasn't just watching musicians. I was watching another generation carry something precious forward.
To Mariachi Lindas Mexicanas, thank you for representing our community with such excellence and grace. Thank you for carrying the music, the history, and the stories that continue to inspire others. I wish you continued growth, new opportunities, and many more stages to come.
If you'd like to experience a little of what made this afternoon so meaningful, I've embedded a video of their performance below. I hope you'll take a few minutes to listen.
And if you ever have the chance to attend a live mariachi performance, don't rush by.
Stay. Listen. Applaud. Support in any way you can. You never know what story you'll carry home with you.
More from FormaFit Active
El Diario Home: See El Diario’s home page explore more entries
FormaFire: Arrive. Guided Journaling SessionLooking to go deeper on your walks? The Walking Journal Reflection Pack is now available to download.
Journal With Me: The Sin Límites Journal is now available in print.
Follow us: