DEAR MEXICAN: WHAT IS ASK A MEXICAN! ? Questions and answers about our spiciest Americans. I explore the cliches of lowriders, busboys, and housekeepers; drunks and scoundrels; heroes and celebrities; and most important, millions upon millions of law-abiding, patriotic American citizens and their illegal-immigrant cousins who represent some $600 billion in economic power. WHY SHOULD I READ ASK A MEXICAN! ? At 37 million strong (or 13 percent of the U.S. population), Latinos have become America's largest minority -- and beaners make up some two-thirds of that number. I confront the bogeymen of racism, xenophobia, and ignorance prompted by such demographic changes through answering questions put to me by readers of my Ask a Mexican! column in California's OC Weekly. I challenge you to find a more entertaining way to immerse yourself in Mexican culture that doesn't involve a taco-and-enchilada combo. OKAY, WHY DO MEXICANS PARK THEIR CARS ON THE FRONT LAWN? Where do you want us to park them? The garage we rent out to a family of five? The backyard where we put up our recently immigrated cousins in tool-shack-cum-homes? The street with the red curbs recently approved by city planners? The driveway covered with construction materials for the latest expansion of la casa? The nearby school parking lot frequented by cholos on the prowl for a new radio? The lawn is the only spot Mexicans can park their cars without fear of break-ins, drunken crashes, or an unfortunate keying. Besides, what do you think protects us from drive-bys? The cops? Description in Spanish: QUERIDO MEXICANO: QUE ES PREGUNTALE AL MEXICANO!? Son preguntas y respuestas sobre los americanos mas picosos. En ellas exploro los cliches de los autos achaparrados, los ayudantes de cocina y las amas de llave; borrachos y maleantes; heroes y celebridades; y, lo mas importante, millones de millones de ciudadanos americanos, patriotas y respetuosos de la ley, y sus primos inmigrantes ilegales, que representan unos $600 billones de potencial economico. HAY ALGUNA BUENA RAZON PARA LEER PREGUNTALE AL MEXICANO!? Contabilizados en 37 millones (o 13 por ciento de la poblacion de los Estados Unidos), los latinos se han convertido en la minoria mas grande del pais, y los frijoleros representan unos dos tercios de esa cifra. Aqui me enfrento con el coco del racismo, la xenofobia y la ignorancia que tales cambios demograficos han suscitado, a traves de las respuestas que doy a las preguntas de los lectores de Preguntale al mexicano!, columna del OC Weekly de California. Te reto a que encuentres una forma mas amena de sumergirte en la cultura mexicana, sin pasar por el combo taco-enchilada. ESTA BIEN. POR QUE LOS MEXICANOS ESTACIONAN SUS COCHES EN LOS PRADOS AL FRENTE DE LAS CASAS? Y donde quieres que lo hagamos? En el garage que rentamos para una familia de cinco? En el patio trasero, donde instalamos a nuestros primos recien llegados en casas-cobertizos de herramientas? En la calle, con sus banquetas pintadas de rojo recientemente aprobadas por los planificadores urbanos? En la entrada de coches, donde colocamos los materiales de construccion para la proxima ampliacion de la casa? En el estacionamiento de la escuela cercana que frecuentan los cholos al acecho de un nuevo radio? El prado es el unico sitio donde los mexicanos pueden estacionar sus coches sin temor a cristalazos, choques de borrachos o a desafortunadas raspaduras por llave. Ademas, quien supones que nos pueda proteger de los tiroteos? la policia?...

The story began in 1918, when Gustavo Arellano's great-grandfather and grandfather arrived in the United States, only to be met with flying potatoes. They ran, and hid, and then went to work in Orange County's citrus groves, where, eventually, thousands of fellow Mexican villagers joined them. Gustavo was born sixty years later, the son of a tomato canner who dropped out of school in the ninth grade and an illegal immigrant who snuck into this country in the trunk of a Chevy. Meanwhile, Orange County changed radically, from a bucolic paradise of orange groves to the land where good Republicans go to die, American Christianity blossoms, and way too many bad television shows are green-lit.

Part personal narrative, part cultural history, Orange County is the outrageous and true story of the man behind the wildly popular and controversial column ¡Ask a Mexican! and the locale that spawned him. It is a tale of growing up in an immigrant enclave in a crime-ridden neighborhood, but also in a promised land, a place that has nourished America's soul and Gustavo's family, both in this country and back in Mexico, for a century.

Nationally bestselling author, syndicated columnist, and the spiciest voice of the Mexican-American community, Gustavo Arellano delivers the hilarious and poignant follow-up to ¡Ask a Mexican!, his critically acclaimed debut. Orange County not only weaves Gustavo's family story with the history of Orange County and the modern Mexican-immigrant experience but also offers sharp, caliente insights into a wide range of political, cultural, and social issues....