In a moving tribute to the cultural bedrock of Los Angeles, singer and actress Becky G has shared a personal exploration of Olvera Street, a landmark she describes as the "heart of the city" and a vital anchor for her Chicana identity. The Inglewood native, who has recently championed the concept of being "200%"—100% proud of her American upbringing and 100% proud of her Mexican heritage—returned to the historic district to highlight the intersection of family, history, and community that defines the area. For Becky G, Olvera Street is a place of foundational memories, where childhood summers were spent listening to live music and enjoying raspados with her family. This sense of generational continuity is echoed by local merchants like Valerie Hanley, a third-generation business owner of Casa California. Hanley emphasized the street's role as a living museum of traditions, noting its status as the birthplace of the taquito and home to the Avila Adobe—the oldest standing residence in Los Angeles, built in 1818.
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The visit also delved into the street's history of political and social resistance. At the América Tropical Interpretive Center, Becky G examined David Alfaro Siqueiros’s controversial 1932 mural, América Tropical. The artwork, which depicts a crucified indigenous peasant under an American eagle, was famously whitewashed shortly after its unveiling due to its defiant message against imperialism. Its eventual restoration serves as a powerful symbol of the resilience of the Mexican-American narrative in Los Angeles. Embracing the "Spanglish" spoken throughout the marketplace, Becky G described the linguistic fluidity of the street as a beautiful representation of her own duality. By centering Olvera Street in her narrative, the artist aimed to show how the historic district continues to ground her, providing a space where the past and present of the Mexican diaspora coexist as a vibrant, essential part of the Los Angeles landscape.
Architectural Digest
