Is America Really A Melting Pot?
A weekly newsletter dedicated to Mexican American news, politics, and commentary.
DAILY CHELA LINKS
Opinion: The Melting Pot Has Long Been Stewing
For generations, Americans have been told that our country is a “melting pot”—a place where cultures dissolve into one homogenous whole.
But that metaphor was never quite right. The American experience has always been more like a stew than a puree: the ingredients soften, blend, and influence one another, but they remain distinct. The carrots don’t become the potatoes, and the potatoes don’t become the broth. Instead, they simmer together, each contributing its flavor to the whole.
This isn’t just a historical observation. Today, as political forces openly attack diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts and seek to scapegoat immigrants—especially the undocumented—we risk forgetting the real arc of immigration and assimilation in this country.
The push toward cultural uniformity, often wrapped in fundamentalist rhetoric, is a dangerous misreading of what America has always been: a messy, lumpy, ever-evolving stew.
WILL YOU HELP SUPPORT CHICANO MEDIA?
At The Daily Chela, we believe that every story matters and that diverse perspectives are crucial in shaping a more informed community. Our mission is to provide a platform for Chicano and Latino voices, share vital stories from our community, and cover news with the depth and context it deserves.
But we can’t do this without you. Independent media relies on the support of people like you to continue our work. Your subscription is not just a donation—it’s an investment in the future of informed, diverse, and truthful journalism.
Here’s how you can help:
Make a Monthly Contribution of only $5.99: Your financial support will help us cover operational costs, pay our dedicated team, and expand our reach to more readers.
To subscribe or donate, simply click on the “upgrade to paid” button. If you have any questions or need more information, feel free to contact us.
Thank you for your support and for believing in the power of independent media. We have come a long ways this past year. Together, we can make sure that every voice is heard and every story is told.
IMMIGRATION AND THE BATTLE OF LOS ANGELES
Tensions in Southern California erupted into a national flashpoint this weekend after President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of at least 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles County—without the consent of California’s governor—marking a rare and controversial escalation in the federal immigration crackdown.
The surprise move followed a wave of protests and confrontations between Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and demonstrators in the cities of Paramount and Compton. In one incident, a vehicle was set ablaze, underscoring the unrest brewing across the region in response to aggressive federal enforcement actions.
The Radical, Democratic Force Of Street Food
My ancestors crossed freely from Mexico to the United States as food vendors and agricultural workers. My ancestors were also fishers from Japan. My ancestry was born from the indigenous borderlands of Mexico, the United States and the island of Japan. My life began on Tongva land that is now called Boyle Heights. I always consider myself a privileged guest and unapologetic outsider on California lands.
Regardless of economic class, we all have privileges and bias that needs to be kept in check. Those with the most privilege wax poetic about how the United States government does not do enough for its citizens. This is exclaimed across social media. But the vast majority who ask these questions seem to forget that the United States was born and bred of settler colonialism.
LINKS FROM THE WEB
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE U.S/MEXICAN BORDER
In the beginning, it was a vague idea, the approximate and inhospitable edge of the Spanish Empire and the beginning of no man’s land.
At the end of the 18th century, the primitive United States of America was far from the nation that would soon become Mexico. Even more “recently,” in the middle of the 19th century, the border between Mexico and the States was only a line drawn on a piece of paper, a porous boundary with no man-made barriers.
Mexico was officially born at the end of 1821. So for two centuries now, along two thousand miles, Mexicans and Americans have had a bittersweet neighborhood.
The line from San Diego/Tijuana to Brownsville/Matamoros is as large as Western Europe. It measures just about 2 thousand miles from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, a distance equivalent from Madrid to Warsaw. It passes through fertile valleys, white deserts resembling the Sahara, mountainous areas and wetlands. It has a culture of its own and even, in the opinion of some linguists, an incipient language, Spanglish.
TIJUANA CHURCHES STAND FIRM IN HELPING ASYLUM SEEKERS
Tijuana, Mexico has a long history of being a middle point for migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. In 2018, more than 4,700 migrants from Central America arrived at the Tijuana border. At the time, Tijuana mayor, Juan Manuel Gastelum, called it a humanitarian crisis.
The city has long been an ideal place for migrants from Mexico and Central America. Although the route to Tijuana from Central America is longer than other major ports of entries such as the Rio Grande along the Texas border, migrants often choose the 2,5000-mile journey for safety.
The Pacific coast of Mexico is considered the less dangerous path. Cartels are less likely to kidnap and kill migrants along this passage. In contrast, the eastern side of Mexico, along the Gulf of Mexico, has seen a significant uptick in murders of migrants by cartels.
Migrants also take the longer route to Tijuana because its border crosses into California, a liberal state with sanctuary laws that appeal to migrants hoping to be let into the U.S.
WATCH: THE DAILY CHELA YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Looking for bold, unapologetic commentary that actually represents Chicano voices? Then The Daily Chela YouTube channel is exactly what you’ve been missing. We cut through the noise with real talk on politics, culture, and identity—no filters, no mainstream spin. Subscribe now and be part of a movement that informs, empowers, and keeps it 100.
PLEASE CONSIDER BECOMING A SUBSCRIBER TODAY
The Daily Chela is the #1 source for Mexican American voices, news, and culture from around the country.
Strong Chicano voices
In-depth history essays
Trusted, independent news
Don’t wait—subscribe now and help keep independent, Chicano-centered journalism alive.
Click "Upgrade to Paid" to join the movement and show your support!