Mexican or American or perhaps a mix of both..

I think it has always been said , usually in institutions such as schools or perhaps in the media, how in Brownsville:, perhaps because of our proximity to Mexico, or well not only that but most of Brownsvillians come from Mexican descent, :how influenced we are of the Mexican Culture. And that's great, but the well known flip to that is, we are also highly influence by the American Culture as well. A clear example of that can be seen in the obvious: the way people dress, choice of language or,beyond that, I would like to say our local Punk, Hardcore, Death Metal, Skateboard and Surf scene that has been around perhaps since before the mid 80's...not forgetting MTV Rap and the thug life out there. How American or Mexican is the direction of our infrastructure, given that this is the mid point of where two giant cultures meet ina physical proximity ? Cut out all the Stripes Gasoline Stations, all the big retail commerce around Sunrise Mall, blank out the WalMarts and what do we have left ?

Well the answer I am looking for is not poverty...

You may say to yourself, "well its a new wave thing ", or why is he talking about this, well I don't know yet, but I beg to differ. I think perhaps it may all date back to the Vietnam war, when a lot of local service men, Mexican-American, White, Blacks traveled together in a brotherhood around the world and brought back a piece of each other.( Just to throw this out there SUPPORT VETERANS HOSPITAL) I'm no historian, I am rolling the dice on this one, it must be a great thing to watch Mexican and American Television Networks, Mexican and American POP Culture and get it. To understand the movies of Pedro Infante and turn around at the same time and understand the lyrics and feel the music of Jim Morrison and The Doors. And don't get me started on Break dancing, I know there was a scene..I would go back to the Homer Hanna year book or our first Brownsville high school year books and check out what kids were like back then, that should give clues..
Who was the first person to get on a surfboard and surf the waves of South Padre Island and or Boca Chica Beach and when ? Who was the first person to skate down our historical downtown Elizabeth Street ? Who build the first half pipe or quarter pipe in Brownsville? What was the name of the first punk rock band formed in Brownsville and who were the members ?

By the way anyone know who was the first local painter to a exhibit a one man show in Brownsville, when and where was the exhibit ? Who was the first artist painter to make the cover of our local Brownsville Herald ?

GT