Overview and Brief History:
The U.S. Census estimates that there were 68,537 Mexicans living in the Albuquerque metro in 2000. The word estimate is used on purpose as this ethnic population is by far the most fluid of all those studied. The Mexican population was also the most difficult to survey during this project. The phrase that was most commonly used to describe their presence in the city was “invisible in your face.” There is no centralized cultural organization for this group such as there were for many of the other immigrant populations.

Historically Mexico was inhabited by many different groups. The Olmecs were the first significant civilization to develop in Mexico. They flourished between 1200 BC and about 300 AD and the remains of their cities and ceremonial centers can be found along the Gulf Coast in the Mexican states of Veracruz and Tabasco. The Olmecs were the first known Mesoamerican people to understand the concept of zero, develop a calendar, and create a hieroglyphic writing system. They were followed by the Mayan people of the Yucatan Peninsula who, although overlapping the Olmecs in chronological time, did not reach fluorescence until the fourth century AD, about the same time that the Olmec culture was declining.

Living concurrently with the Mayan culture, but developing further north in the highlands, was the Toltec culture. Their capital was Teotihuacan, which was located about 30 miles northeast of present-day Mexico City. At its height, Teotihuacan was a teeming metropolis of 100,000 or more inhabitants, with a well defined class structure. The culture produced a system writing and produced books. They also had a bar-and-dot number system for mathematical calculations and crafted a 260-day sacred calendar. The Toltec economy was based on agriculture, obsidian mining, and trade with outlying regions. Teotihuacan was conquered and destroyed in the 7th century by the more barbaric but militarily sophisticated Chichimec people who came from the northern Chihuahuan desert region.

Following the fall of Teotihuacan, Toltec culture continued to flourish in the more southerly highland city of Cholula. located near the twin volcanic peaks Iztaccihuatl and Popocatepetl. The Great Pyramid that was constructed there and dedicated to the god Quetzalcoatl is the largest remaining single prehistoric structure found in the New World. The Toltec civilization at Cholula finally declined at about 900 AD.

Concurrent with the Toltec civilization of Cholula were the Zapotec people whose capital was Monte Alban, located in the state of Oaxaca. The Zapotecs were highly influenced by both the Mayan and the Toltec people Zapotec culture also reached its zenith between 600 and 900 AD. Following this period, the Zapotecs lost their domain to the neighboring Mixtecs who, through warfare and marriage, established a federation of city-states in the region, and turned Monte Alban into a necropolis. Mixtec culture is noted for excellent craftsmanship in precious metals, turquoise mosaics, and ceramics.

By the thirteenth century the Valley of Mexico was occupied by many rival city-states whose populations were attracted by the climate agricultural riches. One of the last tribes to arrive in the Valley were the Aztecs, who ended a long migration from their northern homeland, Aztlan, by settling in the Valley marshlands. Aztec legend has it that they chose the site for their capital city of Tenochtitlan on an island in Lake Texcoco after coming upon an eagle perched on a cactus devouring a snake, a sign foretold in an ancient tribal prophecy. In a short time they had conquered most of the surrounding city-states and soon controlled the entire Valley of Mexico.

Tenochtitlan soon became the capital city of a vast Aztec empire, an architectural wonder graced by great canals, colorful markets places, and temples. It was inhabited by highly organized society, ruled by a king and dominated by a noble class of priests and tax collectors, a warrior elite and an active, vital merchant class. The Aztecs engaged in perpetual war with other states, such as Tlaxcala and Huejotzingo, for the express purposes of exacting tribute for maintaining the empire and capturing prisoners for sacrifice to the gods.

This is how Mexico appeared when the Spaniard Cortez arrived and conquered it in the early sixteenth century. Following the conquest by Spain, Mexico underwent a profound transition and emerged as a unique blending of the two cultures. The country was ruled by Spain until 1821 when it gained its independence. Mexico lost much of its land in what is now the U.S. southwest in a war with the U.S. in 1847.

Immigration to the United States and Albuquerque:
One could say that Mexican people have been residing in the Albuquerque area since 1540, when Coronado dropped by and wintered in Bernalillo. However, for the purposes of this survey these earlier immigrants are considered as Hispanics and Mexicans are identified as those who immigrated to Albuquerque during the last fifty years.

Most of the Mexicans who have recently arrived in Albuquerque came from northern Mexico and predominantly from the state of Chihuahua. The states of Sonora, Durango, and Zacatecas have also significantly contributed to Albuquerque’s Mexican population; but most new immigrants are Chihuahuensas. Before going further it should be pointed out that the word immigrant is not necessarily an apt descriptive term for many Mexicans who reside in Albuquerque. While a large number do plan to stay in the United States permanently, the vast majority consider themselves to be Mexican and are only here temporarily until they can earn enough to be able to return home. Many consider the border to be porous and readily travel back and forth Albuquerque and Mexico. The majority of these migrant immigrant workers are from the lower classes of Mexico’s population, and therefore not necessarily representative of all of the entire country.

The number one reason that Mexicans come to the U.S. is jobs. The reasons most often cited for coming to Albuquerque in particular were its proximity to the border, its vibrant construction market, the existence of an already established underground Mexican community and social infrastructure, and the city’s tolerance for and support of Mexican culture. There are certain areas of the Albuquerque metro area that are quite Mexican in flavor, notably South San Jose, and the South Valley area around Five Points and Isleta and Bridge Boulevards. There is also a Mexican population centered in the Southeast Heights, but it is not as openly displayed.

Traditional Culture and Customs:
Maintenance of language is not a problem among this population. Mexican Spanish is commonly spoken in Albuquerque. Most businesses who cater to Mexican clientele employ fluent Spanish speakers. There are several Mexican newspapers in Spanish as well as several radio stations. In fact, many in this community do not try and learn English beyond what little is necessary to survive in the workplace.

Mexican cuisine is readily available, especially in the South Valley. There are lots of Mexican restaurants that serve the traditional foods of northern Mexico all over Albuquerque and it is common to find delicacies such as barbacoa (made from beef jowels) and búche (chicken gizzards) in tacos, burritos, and other dishes. One can order aguas frescas (fruit drinks) in flavors such as horchata, melón, sandia (watermelon), piña (pineapple), and plátano (banana). While such staples as caldo de pollo (chicken soup) and caldo de res (beef soup) are readily available, cabrito (young goat) can even be found served in a few restaurants. There are other restaurants in the city that serve a combination of New Mexican and Mexican cuisine, with carne adovada (New Mexican slow-cooked pork marinated in red chile), side-by-side on the menu with carne asada (Mexican spiced and grilled beef).

There are also many carnecerias (butcher shops) in the Valley that cater to Mexican tastes, stocking cabrito, menudo (beef tripe), and chicharrones (fried pork rinds) as well as a wide range of Mexican cheeses such as asadero. There are supermarkets in the Valley that cater almost exclusively to the Mexican population and carry many of the same products that one would find stocked in a grocery in Juarez. One can not only purchase Mexican produce and stocked edible goods, but also Mexican cookware and crafts at these markets. Mexican traditions are also well supported through clothing stores that stock apparel suitable for events such a quinceaños (a young girl’s age fifteen coming out party).

Artistic Cultural Traditions:
Many types of Mexican music are found in the Albuquerque area. Mexican mariachi bands now openly compete against New Mexican mariachi bands for jobs in restaurants and at parties and social events. Some local New Mexican bands decried that the Mexican groups played for much cheaper pay and were driving down wages. A former member of the very prestigious Mariachi Vargas from Mexico City now calls Albuquerque home. Norteño and conjunto music, common along the border, also thrive on the radio and in night clubs and social events. Radio stations such as KXKS-AM (La Super Equis) keep Albuquerque’s Mexican population up to date on the latest musical releases from home as well as announcing dances featuring Mexican bands.

The bars and nightclubs and halls where the dances are held provide a major social function for the Mexican population in Albuquerque. This is where a large segment of the population meets to fraternize and exchange information. Conversely, the other institution that serves to hold the community together and allows it to fraternize and exchange information is the Catholic Church.

Mexican dance in the form of Ballet Folklorico is also taught and kept alive among the Mexican population through organizations such as STEPS in Barelas. There are now several active Mexican Aztec dance groups that have sprung up around town. Previously there were a few Hispanic New Mexicans who had formed Aztec dance groups, but we are now seeing Mexican ones arriving. Aztec dancing and a form of Matachines dancing also known as Chichimecan dancing have become very popular in Mexico and are now beginning to migrate to the U.S.

There are several folk style Mexican musicians, such as the group Cuicani, and Jesus “Chuy” Martinez, who perform a musical style known as nuevo canción. Chuy has now partnered with a Veracruz harpist named Otílio Ruíz and the two of them perform traditional folk music from all over Latin America.

There are currently no prominent Mexican visual artists in this community, but there is visual art being produced. St. Francis Xavier Church on South Broadway displays some of the artwork produced by a few local artists.

Events and Festivals:
The most common events that Mexican immigrants participate in usually have to do with the Catholic Church. The biggest of these Church-sponsored events occurs on or around December 12th, the Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe. There are two celebrations to Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Valley. One is held at St. Francis Xavier on Broadway north of César Chavez and the other at San Jose, on Broadway south of Gibson. Both usually occur on the Sunday following December 12th.

Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) is largely just a day to party among most Mexicans and there is no organized celebration by the Mexican community. There is more celebration around September 16, or Dieciséis, as it is called in Spanish; but as with Cinco de Mayo, there is no large organized community celebration.

Conclusions:
There appears to be no formal entity that is attempting to organize this population into a community. Much of their cultural, social, and spiritual needs appear to be being met by the structures described above. The night club scene, the churches, radio stations, restaurants, shops, and markets allow Mexicans to practice their culture here in much the same they would in Mexico. The proximity to the border and their constant migration back and forth serves to ensure a cultural continuity with their homeland.

To learn more about this population, one might contact the Mexican Consulate located at 1610 4th Street NW, Albuquerque, 505-247-2139.