I noticed a news item on the internet last week announcing “Latin business owners, entrepreneurs are on the rise, dominating tech, construction, finance fields.”
This served to confirm something I have been noticing for some time. A tipping point has been reached by Hispanics in American culture.
What was once considered the silent minority has become a force. It’s often said that the largest truth can be seen in the smallest detail. Just a stroll down Hillside Avenue will reveal it all. Here is what I see within one hundred yards of my office at 2 Hillside Ave.:
14 Hillside Ave., Village Florist Shoppe now owned by Marie Cruz and Wayne Toolsie
38 Hillside Ave.. Xarello Restaurant, described as Mediterranean in cuisine and borrowing its name from the Spanish grape xarello used to make sparking white wine.
42 Hillside Ave., EmbroidMe now owned by Roberto Costilla
71 Hillside Ave., Sangria 71 owned by Jose and Rosendo Fernandez
These are all newcomers to our town and good examples of the Latin Wave that has arrived.
In fact I would say this is the second Latin Wave.
The real Hispanic pioneers have been here for many years. We have in our midst Heymi Zelaya the gracious beauty that has worked I the Fresco Creperie for so long and someone I featured in my series of the women of Williston Park. Or how about Eli Gueierrez the intrepid counter man that was at Hildebrandt’s forever. I miss him.
And let’s not overlook Jamy Alvarado the sweet young lady who has been with Sharon and David Kim at Pembroke Cleaners for the last nine years.
It is revealing to listen to Mr. Kim describe Jamy. “She is very smart, honest, focused and reliable. And virtually all my customers like her.”
These characteristics of hard work, reliability and friendliness are the foundation of the Latin wave and its source of power.
I have written about sports for many years now and have had the chance to meet some of the world’s greatest athletes. And not once have I met what I would call a narcissistic Hispanic athlete.
Angel Cordero, Jose Santos and Mike Smith are jockeys who I know and all are kind, generous and unassuming.
In the world of golf we have Lee Trevino and Chi Chi Rodriguez both of who were quick witted and funny.
In the world of entertainment the Latin influence is profound. John Leguizamo, Selma Hayek, Penelope Cruz in acting. Jennifer Lopez and Joan Baez in music. Alfonso Cuaron and Alejandro Inarritu in film directing. Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera in art and Sammy Sosa and Mariano Rivera in baseball.
There are over 16 percent Latino or Hispanic now in America.
And this is a growing talking point in Presidential elections.
Hispanics are increasingly a core ingredient of the America’ s melting pot.
As a friend from El Salvador said to me yesterday “Our presence is now felt based upon sheer numbers.”
What is of interest to me is as follows. Firstly what are the essential character traits of the Hispanic?
The literature will tell us they consist of a good work ethic, family values, religion and the ability to enjoy the day.
I recall a dream I had last year where I was attending a backyard party of a group of Hispanics that I did not recognize. What I remember most about the dream was how much fun the people were having as they sang and danced and listened to the music.
This is of greatest value and something that all us overworked and compulsive Americans could learn from.
The second thing that I believe to be of great value and that is still found in Hispanic culture is the imagination.
Hispanic literature has single handedly kept ‘magical realism’ alive. Magical realism is the acceptance of magic in the real world and borrows from the idea of myth, fairy tale or allegory. It is the effort to reacquire mystery and fantasy into our lives and a good example of the use of magical realism was seen in the Oscar winning film Birdman.
And do not forget that the most important artist of the last century and the founder of cubism was Spain’s very own Pablo Picasso.
I hope and I pray that the Hispanic wave continues and that it brings to this town a feeling not only of play and fun but of magic and fantasy as well.
So I suspect I will be seeing you soon at Sangria 71 or Xarello and perhaps there sparking white wine will help in the good cause of fun and of magic.
