Louie and Ida Rivera Life History and Perspectives

Louie and Ida Rivera Life History and Perspectives

Louie and Ida Rivera, a married couple living in Barrio Hollywood in Tucson, Arizona discuss their life histories and comment on aspects of pachuco culture and its language, Caló. Louie was born in 1927 in Jerome, Arizona and after some time in the Navy, he moved back and worked in the Jerome mines. He recounts his youth as a pachuco, but notes that the culture started earlier in the 1930s among braceros coming from Mexico to work in the United States. Louie goes into detail about some of the aspects of pachuco fashion and defines terminology. Louie also talks about caló, calling it a street language. He then breaks down some of the differences between pachucos and cholos and talks about treatment by police and media. Later in the interview, Ida tells of her experiences growing up working to help her parents pay for her brother’s medical bills. She discusses how she learned caló from her husband, and how women were involved in the culture as well.

Cummings, Laura (Laura Lee)

Dr. Laura Lee Cummings Pachuco/Caló Oral History Project Collection (MS 592). Special Collections, University of Arizona Libraries.

University of Arizona Libraries

1990-01-08

Rivera, Louie; Rivera, Ida

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Audio cassette

English
Spanish
Pachuco
Caló

Sound

MS592.14

Arizona--Tucson