MariaCorona-Smith

My family moved here in ’69 from California. My father was in the theatre business, we had the first Mexican theatre, and that’s what we did for a long time. There are eight kids in my family. And my parents, in order to control everybody, because there was so many of us, (my parents) purchased the ranch, which at that time was a burnt down lot. So he purchased that and slowly started building it, and we would come out and ride. And that was our entertainment. That’s how my folks kept track of us, and they knew where we were.

Interviewer: What has it meant for you growing up within this tradition and now, how do you continue, you say you don’t ride anymore, but how do you still feel connected?

MariaCorona-Smith: Gosh, it’s like when you leave home, and you come back… and you walk in and you know it’s your home. You feel… that feeling of tradition and orgullo (pride), and felicidad (happiness). You feel really wonderful because you know it is part of Mexico, and part of your roots, but at the same time you are in the United States. And even though you are here, the tradition continues even if you are a Mexican-American or an American born in the U.S. you can still feel part of your roots.