Texas Mexican culture continues to evolve over time, and for those of us that grew up in the midst of the fusion, it has always existed.
Raised on Texas Brisket
The smell of burning wood has always given me a comforting sense of nostalgia, a cozy, memory-inducing scent that somehow feels like home.
My father looks at me with kind eyes. We stand barefoot in the backyard and he offers me a juicy piece of perfect brisket burnt ends, and gleefully I accept, secretly hoping for more. Those hot, juicy initial cuts are the crème de la crème, and he and I both share an appreciation for the art of food.
The smell of wood, the taste of brisket, the kind warm brown eyes of my father, they all melt together into a memory of every laugh we’ve ever laughed, and of every dreamy story he told me of his days growing up in the country.
My Dad and his side of the family are a pure slice of Texas, and I always felt a deep connection to that, and still do even though I’ve since moved away.
Looking back, I realize I grew up immersed in Texas Mexican culture long before I understood what that meant.
A Dash of Tajin
Flash forward to Sunday morning. I stand with my siblings and mother, reading Spanish words off of a screen during worship. “Este es el dia” is the one I remember most; it just has a way of sticking in your head.
We were the only purely English-speaking family in the church my Dad was preaching at in the “little Mexico” section of Houston. Each week he led the church in English and a translator translated for the audience.
Sometimes during church we would eat tajin-coated watermelon lollipops and Lucas sour powder with friends. Sometimes afterwards we’d grab some elote from the local bike vendor—that was my favorite. Many days we went and grabbed unforgettable and deliciously authentic Mexican food from hole-in-the-wall restaurants nearby, which I consider to be hidden gems.
Texas and Mexico: Roots that Run Deep
Oftentimes, what we grow up around defines our perception of what is normal, and so, for me, Tex-Mex life was all there was. That is, until I left Texas. My first stop out of Texas was for college, and that was in Missouri.
I definitely made friends with some Mexican-American locals right away. After all, that vibe was homey and familiar to me, and I was always drawn to making friends with Hispanic people.
Despite going to some epic cookouts and finding some bomb authentic taco spots, the lack of great Mexican food and culture around was suddenly so obvious, and I missed it when it was gone. Since then I have lived in Spain and Florida, and have never experienced the same Mexican influence I grew up with.
What Texas and Mexico have is special, but the relationship undoubtedly has layers. To me, Texas Mexican culture is one of the most unique cultural blends in the United States.
Texas and Mexico History
Once upon a time, Texas was part of Mexico. The Spaniards colonized Central and South America, and then Mexico became its own country after gaining its independence.
Somewhere along the way, colonists from the British colonies of North America ended up in Texas, too, and they weren’t happy to be a part of Mexico. After a series of epic battles, Texas won its independence and became its own country. It remained so for 9 years before officially joining the U.S.
Many Texans grow up hearing that Texas is the only state that can fly its flag at the same height as the U.S. flag, and we pledge allegiance to Texas in school, too.
With a history so closely intertwined, the cultures marked one another, so much so that to this day we have quite a bit of crossover, from rodeo culture to the birth of one of America’s greatest food categories: Tex-Mex.
A Texan’s Perspective on Mexicans in Texas
1. Mexicans are Funny
It probably comes as no surprise, but Mexicans have a sense of humor that is contagious. Every individual is different, but as a whole, they are exaggeratedly expressive, especially compared to Americans. They make fun of others for their flaws, but in a way that feels low-key endearing.
Mexicans who speak English as a second language sometimes word things in a hilarious way, sometimes intentionally and sometimes on accident, and they typically can laugh at themselves and make it a fun moment when mistakes are made.
2. The Hot Cheetos Girls are Real Ones
Hot Cheetos girls are probably already sprinkled all over your social media feeds as the term stays viral. A Hot Cheetos girl is typically a Mexican girl with a hood attitude and a bag of Hot Cheetos in hand.
They generally love big hoop earrings, dark drawn-on eyebrows, and they tell it like it is with no filter. They usually have that signature Hot Cheetos girl accent, which makes everything they say 100X funnier.
They are dramatic, loud, sometimes extremely rude, but usually very funny. They are either the bully or the one standing up to the bully, and if you have a Hot Cheetos girl as a friend, she’s got your back for life.
3. Mexican Rodeos Go Hard
My cousin works rodeos and has worked closely with Pepe Aguilar for years now. I went to a Mexican rodeo and loved it. Mexicans actually wrestle the bulls, and singers like Pepe Aguilar put on a full-on show complete with Mariachi-style music and horseback performances.
4. No Sabo Kids Are a Thing
Some American kids have parents or grandparents from Mexico, and although they are clearly Mexican, they actually don’t have a lot of direct connection to the culture and often understand but speak very little Spanish.
Some of my friends that grew up this way became very determined to learn Spanish fluently later in life, as they sought to reconnect with their heritage.
5. Tensions Do Exist
The truth is, although there is a lot of crossover between Texas and Mexican culture, tensions do exist, and I’ll share them through my limited childhood experience as an American growing up in this dynamic.
As a kid, it was shocking to see some kids sitting down during the Pledge of Allegiance, refusing to say it while also showing looks of defiance. As an adult, you can look at this with more empathy, realizing that maybe their lives were uprooted and this isn’t what they wanted, but as a very patriotic kid who was taught the importance of respect, it made me angry at the time.
In public bathrooms, I’d find people didn’t flush their toilet paper. Instead, they would throw used toilet paper into trash cans. This was shocking as a kid, and again, I didn’t understand why. Now I know plumbing is different in many parts of Mexico, and they were simply continuing the norms they had grown up with.
Some of the Mexicans I encountered had no intention of assimilating into American culture or learning English, and some Americans find this to be very disrespectful. While many Mexicans are very friendly, some come across as quite hostile. The same is true for Americans. Oftentimes, the loudest people become the ones we picture and use to represent an entire group.
There were entire sections of Houston where nearly every sign was in Spanish and most customer service interactions happened in Spanish. It didn’t feel like part of the United States.
In my case, I loved it because it gave me a strong taste of culture and adventure, and I think that was where my love of non-touristy travel was born, along with my curiosity for different ways of life across the world.
6. Tex-Mex Food Brings Cultures Together
At the end of the day, the cultures are deeply immersed in one another, and Tex-Mex culture is really the poster child for that. Any Tex-Mex restaurant worth its salt is playing Mexican music and has a pretty authentic menu with a few Texas specialties sprinkled in.
Food and margaritas breed a lot of good times and genuine love between the cultures.
7. Mexican-Americans Have Their Own Culture
Many Mexicans who moved to Texas, or who are children or grandchildren of Mexicans, completely embraced American culture and now, as Mexican-Americans, have created their own culture.
They speak English, they understand and relate to American culture, and they also bring Mexican warmth, humor, and culture to the table.
Texas Mexican Culture is Growing More Than Ever
Right now, Texas Mexican culture is growing more than ever, and part of that is emerging through the music scene.
Peso Pluma was, in a way, like a Mexican Bad Bunny. He brought really classic Mexican sounds into reggaeton, making Mexican heritage into something more modern and mainstream while still beautifully showcasing Mexican heritage and roots. He spread Mexican sounds all over Central and South America and Spain, and it also reached American audiences that dabble in reggaeton as the music category continues to grow.
At the same time, country music star Kacey Musgraves’ latest country music album is a testament to an American Texan latching onto and fully embracing Mexican culture. She’s serving as a major bridge between Mexico and the U.S., and her music is well received amongst both American and Mexican audiences.
As a barefoot BBQ-eating Texas girl who has a taste for tajin, I continue to be fascinated by Texas Mexican culture and the broader story of Mexican culture in Texas. Texas’s crossover with Mexico is something special. It’s a dance that continues on and on with time.
