Product Description

LALO ALCARAZ is a Los Angeles-based political cartoonist who has drawn editorial cartoons for the L.A. Weekly since 1992 and is the creator of the first nationally syndicated Latino-themed political daily comic strip, "La Cucaracha." Lalo illustrated Latino USA: A Cartoon History (HarperCollins, 2000, with text by Ilan Stavans) and produced the book La Cucaracha, La Cucaracha, the first collection from his daily comic strip. He has been the recipient of many awards and prizes, including the Southern California Journalism Award and the Rockefeller New Media Fellowship.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #102246 in Books
• Published on: 2004-07-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 125 pages

From the Publisher
AWARDS AND PRIZES won by nationally syndicated political cartoonist and "La Cucaracha" creator Lalo Alcaraz:
-May 3, 2004: Alcaraz presented the Latino Spirit Award by the Latino Caucus of the Calinfornia State Legislature
-First Place, 42nd So. California Journalism Awards, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999
-2000 Rockefeller New Media Fellow
-First Place for Best Experimental Film animation, 1997
-Winner, 1998 Hispanic Public Relations Association's 16th Annual Premio Award for Excellence in Communications

About the Author
Lalo Alcaraz is an L.A.-based political cartoonist who has drawn editorial cartoons for the L.A. Weekly since 1992 and is the creator of the first nationally syndicated Latino-themed political daily comic strip, "La Cucaracha." Lalo illustrated "Latino USA: A Cartoon History," published in 2000 by Harper Collins.

Lalo Alcaraz is an L.A.-based political cartoonist who has drawn editorial cartoons for the L.A. Weekly since 1992 and is the creator of the first nationally syndicated Latino-themed political daily comic strip, "La Cucaracha." Lalo illustrated "Latino USA: A Cartoon History," published in 2000 by Harper Collins.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Introduction

This collection of my immigration-related editorial cartoons features works drawn from 1993 to 2004. It is the first ever collection of my editorial cartoons, on any topic, in book form. Immigration is a hot-button political issue in this country and central to my life. I am the child of Mexican immigrants and lived firsthand the sometime unjust treatment my parents received in the U.S. I fully understand and sympathize with the immigrant experience, and I’d like others to understand why they should sympathize too.

It seems incredible when I am rebuked for promoting immigrants’ rights. Some folks have asked me if I wouldn’t be happier in my "home country." I usually reply, "Dear moron, the U.S. is my home country, and yes, I wish I could be happier here." To me the humane treatment of immigrants, regardless of their immigration status, is nonnegotiable. Immigrants are human beings, and deserve proper treatment in any society. Immigrants contribute to the economic prosperity of the U.S. and fuel its cultural diversity and creativity.

When times get tough, the tough bash immigrants. When full-blown anti-immigrant hysteria is in high gear, immigrants get blamed for everything under the sun: traffic, low wages, unemployment, the deteriorating environment, ATMs with Spanish-language options, bad schools, J.Lo movies, you name it.

Immigration is a powerful force which also brings much friction and conflict. I have tried to explore these contradictions in this cartoon collection through critical analysis and satire. I start the book with an autobiographical segment which will give the reader a quick overview of my life and how I came to be this pissed-off Chicano cartoonist. Then I follow with editorial cartoons divided by topic. I also provide a running commentary to supplement and explain further what issues some cartoons are based on, or what I was feeling at the time, or the reactions that the cartoon provoked. Of course, this means hate letters.

In presenting work spanning eleven years, I have to look back at some of the drawings and cringe at the quality. A few cartoons feel dated. Some still crack me up. Others remind me how angry I felt. A portion of the cartoons were made during the heated political battles over immigration in the early ’90s, and are pretty loud denunciations of anti-immigrant policies and the opportunistic politicians who pushed these divisive laws and opinions. I am still mad at these pendejos, and at any current or future pendejos who insist on victimizing our most vulnerable citizens for political gain. And for the record, may I say Pete Wilson is a dick.

I hope readers can take the cartoons in this collection and use them to educate themselves or others on the immigration issue. Bilingualism and biculturalism are elements in many of these cartoons, certainly topics worthy of study. Perhaps readers can explore the attitudes and emotions that many in the Latino community felt over the last decade, as expressed through my work. In the end it is only my point of view, but I hope readers feel it is an informed one.

Most of these cartoons first appeared in the L.A. Weekly. Some appeared in other publications nationwide, and others are from my syndicated editorial cartoon panel I draw for Universal Press Syndicate and appear courtesy of "us."

Oh yeah, I forgot to add that the proper job description for a political cartoonist is "an opinionated jerk with a pen."

Lalo Alcaraz
Los Angeles, June 2004

Customer Reviews

La Cucaracha!
I highly recommend that any person interested in politics and Latinos take a look at Migra Mouse, a collection of editorial cartoons by Lalo Alcaraz, the artist behind the daily comic strip La Cucaracha. The cartoons cover politics from the last decade with an emphasis on Latinos and immigration. Alcaraz has a simple but effective drawing style that says more with a few pen strokes than a political pundit with a book contract. Alcaraz is one of the sharpest political cartoonists around today. By the way, I'm Anglo and I don't always agree with Mr. Alcaraz's point of view, but I'm here to say that regardless of your skin tone, political bent, or favorite flavor of Christmas tamale, you shouldn't ignore this wonderful cartoonist.

Immigration times
Alcaraz provides his view of the Mexican immigration to the United States issue. This work will upset some readers for sure, but his view is worthy of some thought and consideration. I personally enjoyed the book, and I am neither Chicano nor Mexican. This is a must reading for those interested in immigration issues, Chicano and Mexican culture.