Inside Chinese Chicano Subculture
The word “Chicano” meaning men of Mexican descent living in America has deep political, cultural, and ethnic connotations. Primarily used on the West Coast, the term has also been used as a badge of pride since the 60s.
从带有阶级压迫与种族歧视意味的称谓到被越来越多墨西哥裔美国人用来表达政治赋权、种族团结和对土著血统的自豪感，“Chicano”语义转换的背后暗含着来自社会底层的无数呐喊与抵抗。
Chicano is not only a synonym for a specific ethnic group but also a subversive subculture. With their indomitable spirit of resistance and amazing creativity, the Chicano community fought for the rights of Mexican-Americans and other Spanish speaking ethnic groups after undergoing centuries of oppression from the U.S government. At the same time, the Chicano movement also gave rise to diverse cultural phenomena and art forms that have since gained traction around the world namely, China.
Chicano不仅是特定族裔的代名词，更是一种自下而上的颠覆性的亚文化。Chicano群体凭借着不屈的反抗精神和惊人的创造力，为个体和族群争取权益，同时也衍生出了多元的文化现象以及艺术形式。
When Chicano culture came to China, its serious significance and heavy history were replaced by consumerism. Flannels, Dickies shorts, and Nike Cortez Shoes, staples of Chicano fashion, have become the whole understanding of Chicano culture among young Chinese people. The look of Chicano subculture spread, but not particularly the political awareness towards Mexican-American struggles. At the same time, some Chinese Chicano culture enthusiasts say they are inspired by the spirit of pride and rebellion that Chicano groups in the U.S embody.
当Chicano文化漂洋过海来到中国，严肃的意义与沉重的历史都被消费主义消解，穿着格子衬衫、Dickies短裤和阿甘鞋的年轻人正上演着一场流于表面的模仿秀。
Behind the hype, there are still some enthusiasts who devote themselves to learning and studying this foreign subculture, bringing Chicano culture into mainstream society, and integrating Chinese local elements with Chicano style into their creations.
在喧嚣的狂欢之下，仍旧有不少真正的爱好者潜心学习和钻研这一外来文化，致力于将Chicano文化带进主流的视野，并将中国本土的元素与Chicano风格融合到自己的创作里面。
Shuangzi and friends blend Chicano and Chinese culture in their personal style and art
Sabukaru contacted Shuangzi and Sun Ruotong from China, who are heavily inspired by Chicano culture. Through their stories, we can understand the development of Chicano culture in China and witness its extraordinary vitality transnationally despite its North American origins.
这次SABUKARU联系上了两位来自中国的Chicano资深爱好者——爽子和孙若桐，聊了聊他们所理解的Chicano文化。通过他们的讲述，我们可以拼凑出Chicano文化在中国的发展历程并目睹它在不同土壤所焕发的异样生机。
SABUKARU: CAN YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELves TO THE SABUKARU NETWORK?
SABUKARU：能向SABUKARU的读者们简单介绍一下自己吗？
SHUANGZI: I became a hip-hop musician in 2005. Because there were very few rappers at that time, so I soon gained some popularity in Beijing. After signing with a record company in 2009, I turned hip-hop music into my career and have persisted to this day.
爽子：我05年开始做的Hip Hop音乐，因为那会儿做的人很少，所以很快就在北京就有了一些知名度。09年我拿到一份唱片公司的签约，从那年开始，等于是把Hip Hop音乐变成了职业，一直做到了今天。
SUN RUOTONG: I am Sun Ruotong, one of the founders of the C.A.C Family, a member of the OG tattoo team, the director of the Beijing Wulai tattoo studio, and a dancer in the 36th Chamber.
孙若桐：我叫孙若桐，C.A.C Family的创始人之一，OG纹身战队的成员，北京无赖纹身工作室主理人，还有一个身份是舞蹈团队三十六房的舞者。
Sun Ruotong, a Chinese Chicano enthusiast, who is a tattoo artist and dancer
SABUKARU: WHEN AND WHERE DID YOU LEARN ABOUT CHICANO CULTURE?
SABUKARU：你们是什么时候从哪里接触到Chicano文化的？
SHUANGZI: It was about 2001 when I was in middle school. At that time, there were some music magazines in China, Popular Song and So Rock!, both of which were published in Shijiazhuang.
I often bought these magazines at the newsstand near my school. I learned about Chicanos through these magazines, which were not very comprehensive, but still introduced some Mexican musicians, such as Cypress Hill to me. With the development of the Internet, I found a documentary about Chicanos a few years later. Through this documentary, I learned about how this group lives, what kind of work they do, and how their culture and art are formed.
Shuangzi performing live
爽子：上中学的时候，差不多是2001年，那会儿国内有一些音乐杂志，《通俗歌曲》和《我爱摇滚乐》，这两本杂志都是石家庄出的。当时学校门口有一个报摊，那会儿就老买这杂志看，我就从这个杂志里见到了Chicano的介绍。当时介绍的不是很全面，只是介绍了一批墨西哥裔的说唱歌手，比如说柏树山，比如说Travis Barker，他们当时有一个叫Transplants的乐队，里边有好多墨西哥裔。然后我听了一些这方面的东西，比如说西语的 Rap什么的，那会儿不是特别了解，只是觉得跟美国主流的Hip Hop不一样，他们更接近于底层，更接近于监狱文化，更小众一些，就特吸引我。随着互联网的发展，几年后我在网上看到一个讲Chicano运动的纪录片，通过这个纪录片才了解这个群体他们是怎么生活，他们是做着什么样的工作，他们的文化和艺术是怎么形成的。
Sun Ruotong, in front of his artwork that is deeply inspired by Chicano culture
SUN RUOTONG: Because I started dancing when I was a child, I would often listen to hip-hop music, including a lot of West Coast hip hop like G-Funk. In addition, I am a tattoo artist, so I often go online to read some tattoo articles, and then gradually become infatuated with Chicano culture.
It is not that I suddenly learned about Chicano culture and began to love it, but I ended up doing a lot of similar things that are also present in Chicano culture, so it made sense to integrate it into my life.
孙若桐：因为我从小学的跳舞，听Hip Hop音乐会比较多，里面有很多像G-Funk之类的西海岸音乐。加上我是一名纹身师，会经常去上网去纹身的资料，慢慢地了解并爱上了Chicano文化。
不是说突然之间我看到Chicano就开始喜欢的，而是本身我是做这些东西的，无形当中我又看到了这么一种文化，才把它融合到我的生活里边。
Sun Ruotong’s tattoo designs
SABUKARU: WHAT attracts you to CHICANO CULTURE?
SABUKARU：你们觉得Chicano文化最吸引你的一点是什么？
SHUANGZI: I always think that Chicano culture has a lot in common with us Chinese people. In the Beijing dialect, a parallel subculture could be called “Qiong Ren Le”. That is to say, China’s poorer classes live a life of poverty, but still live with a positive attitude and are very fastidious about it. I think the word " fastidious " here is commendatory, representing an attitude towards life. For example, we do not have the money to buy luxury brands, but we will iron our white T and Dickies shorts very neatly and dress decently. Whether we are Chinese or Mexican, we are all the same.
爽子：我老觉得Chicano文化跟我们中国老百姓有很大的共通处，用北京话说就是“穷人乐”。
什么叫穷人乐？就是说穷人过着贫困的日子，但是日子过得是有态度的，是非常讲究的。我觉得这里的“讲究”是一褒义词，代表着一种生活态度，譬如我们没有钱买大牌，但是我们会用熨斗把我们的大白T熨得非常平整，把Dickies短裤的裤线都给熨出来，要穿得体体面面干干净净。
其实无论是中国人还是墨西哥裔，大家都是一样的。
SUN RUOTONG: Chicano is an ethnic culture. They have their cultural confidence and are proud of their race. This is the spirit that I envy, and this kind of quality attracts me very much. Nowadays, Chinese young people may not be so enthusiastic about our country.This difference in attitude may also be because Chinese and Chicano were formed in very different ways. After all, the Chicano community was abandoned by its own country, and then settled in the United States and also suffered from racial discrimination, and low social status. So they want to find a kind of identity, which forms a sense of pride.
孙若桐：你要说往大了说它是一个种族文化，他们种族有自己的文化自信，为自己种族感到自豪。这是让我比较羡慕的状态，就这种感觉特别吸引我。但现在咱们国家的年轻人可能不会对自己的民族这么的热情。
可能也是因为所处的背景不同，毕竟Chicano群体不被自己的国家接纳，然后在美国定居也遭受着种族歧视和种族压迫，社会地位也很低。所以说他们自己想找一种认同感，无形当中形成了一种自豪感。
SABUKARU: HOW DOES CHICANO CULTURE AFFECT YOUR LIFE?
SABUKARU：Chicano文化是怎么影响你们的生活的？
SHUANGZI: Take lowrider cars as an example. Mexicans from the underclass would pick up accessories from the junkyard, such as scrapped aircraft hydraulic rods, and then use their hands to refit a low rider. With boundless creativity, they have molded the industrial waste in the eyes of the middle class into works of art. These cars are even favored by celebrities who will spend millions of dollars on a Chicano-style low rider.
The spirit of Chicano has always influenced me. Your birth, poverty, and suffering all give you another kind of creativity, which allows you to use your imagination to create more value in a barren environment. What you get from it is not only income but also a kind of happiness and respect.
Examples of lowrider cars owned by Chinese Chicano enthusiasts
爽子：就拿Low Rider来说，处在社会底层的墨西哥裔，他们会从垃圾场捡一些配件，譬如报废的飞机液压杆，然后用手工去改装出一台Low Rider。中产阶级眼中的工业垃圾在他们的手下被弄成了艺术品，甚至得到一线大腕明星的青睐，他们会花上百万美金的天价去买一台Chicano风格的low rider。
Chicano的精神一直影响着我，你的出身、贫困和苦难都会给你另一种创造力，它让你在现有的环境下产生想象力，去创造更大的价值。从其中得到的不光是收入，更是一种快乐和被尊重。
SUN RUOTONG: Maybe it's the part of treating yourself with respect, even when larger society sees you differently. No matter what social class you belong to, everyone is valuable. The biggest impact on me is that no matter what I do, I just want to actualize my personal worth. My work is worth remembering and influencing others.
孙若桐：可能就是个人价值的层面吧。甭管是你的社会阶层在哪，每个人都是有价值的。给我最大的影响是不管我干什么事，我就是要充分体现我的个人价值的。我的作品值得留下来，值得去影响别人。
SABUKARU: THE CHICANO COMMUNITY HAs BEEN FIGHTING RACISM AND CLASS OPPRESSION in America. DO YOU THINK WE HAVE A SIMILAR SITUATION IN CHINA?
SABUKARU：Chicano群体一直在和种族主义、阶级压迫做斗争，你们觉得在中国的我们有类似的境遇吗？
SHUANGZI: Yes, there must be, because where there are people, there will be identity-based conflicts. This is human nature. Some people always say that we are equal, but no matter how loudly they shout this slogan, there must be something that thinks otherwise in their hearts. For example, outsiders in Beijing and those who come to work from rural areas will certainly be treated unfairly and unequally.
No matter what these rural migrants or factory workers do, decent or not, right or wrong, by just passing the “privileged classes” on the street, most people will despise them or won’t take them seriously.
爽子：有，一定会有，因为有人存在的地儿就会有，这就是人性。
总有人说我们是平等的，但无论你把这个口号喊得多响，但内心一定会有一个三六九等，比如说在北京的外地人，从农村进城来打工的人，一定会受到不公平和不平等的待遇。
无论他们做的事情体面与不体面，对与错，哪怕是他们从你身边经过大部分人都会蔑视他们，或者是不重视他们。
Tattoos can have a negative connotation in China, but Chinese Chicano enthusiasts embrace them as self expression
SABUKARU: HOW DOES CHICANO CULTURE AFFECT YOUR CREATive projects?
SABUKARU： Chicano文化是怎么影响你们的创作的？
SHUANGZI: Although I came into contact with Chicano culture relatively early, I hadn’t yet made a Chicano Rap track, because I know its cultural heritage is very deep. When I was young, I thought I didn't know much about life, and I couldn't expose myself in detail or objectively, or expose the scars of society.Chicano Rap combined with their lives, their race, and even disagreements with the government, which are advanced and profoundly critical. Their songs are full of persistence and resistance, a bit like a news report.
It was only at this age that I had a feeling that I could express it in this musical style, and then I began to write the part that I could not reconcile with society, and I could not agree with some groups. So I made an album named "Shang An".
爽子：虽然我接触Chicano比较早，但是之前一直没有做这样的音乐，因为我非常了解Chicano音乐的根基是很深的。比较年轻的时候，我认为我还不太了解生活，我还不太能很详细很客观地揭露自己，或者是揭露社会的伤疤。Chicano风格的Hip Hop音乐会结合他们的生活，他们的种族，甚至是对政府的抨击，是很高级且有深刻批判性的。这里边还是带着一种底层和反抗，有点像新闻时事一样。到了这个年纪我才有一种感觉，认为可以用这种音乐风格来表达了，然后再开始写我不能与社会和解的那部分，我不能跟某些群体苟同的一些表达，所以就做了《上岸》这么一张专辑。
SUN RUOTONG: I studied what those patterns represent in Chicano culture and what they are trying to express. Then I found that it has artistic commonality with many things in China, and even with things from all over the world.
So I connect these things because each pattern is meaningful, I will follow its meaning and combine the elements of our country to create more diversified and more interesting works. For example, I will combine the image of the Chicano-style clown face with the cultural scene of our old Beijing.
孙若桐：我会去钻研Chicano里那些图案元素代表的是什么，想表达的是什么。然后我发现它跟咱们中国很多东西，甚至世界各地的东西都是有艺术层面的共通性的。所以我把这些东西给它串联起来，因为它每个图案都是有意义的，我会遵循它的意义并结合咱们国家的元素创作出更加多元化更有意思的作品。譬如我会把Chicano里b标志性的小丑形象和咱老北京的文化场景结合。
SABUKARU: MR.SUN, CAN YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE C.A.C FAMILY TO US?
SABUKARU：孙老师，您能简单介绍一下C.A.C Family吗？
SUN RUOTONG: At that time, many friends from different places liked Chicano culture and wanted to develop it.But everyone comes from all kinds of industries and is all on their own, although we are passionate about Chicano culture. So we thought, “why don't we get together to set up an organization?”, and then we can throw events in the future.
So the C.A.C Family was set up, and then slowly grew stronger and stronger, holding and participating in more and more activities, and then more and more people joined in.
孙若桐：当时在北京的甚至是一些不在北京的朋友都喜欢Chicano文化，也都想去发展这个文化。
但大家一个个的都是来自各行各业散兵，那不如咱们就凑到一起成立一个联盟性质的组织，以后有什么活动也好，有什么展会也好，咱们都能一块参与，也方便。
当初的初心就是这样，然后慢慢越滚越多，举办和参加的活动越来越多，稍微有点知名度之后，然后也越来越多人加进来。
SABUKARU: WHAT DO THE MEMBERS OF THE C.A.C FAMILY USUALLY DO WHEN YOU GET TOGETHER?
SABUKARU：C.A.C Family的成员平时聚在一起会干什么？
SUN RUOTONG: C.A.C There are designers, tattoos, dancers, photographers, and racers in C.A.C Family. We often do crossover creations together, for example I give painting advice and design to racers’ modified cars.
When we unite, we represent a cultural phenomenon, not just fighting alone, but getting together to do one thing.
孙若桐：组织里面的成员有设计师、纹身师、舞者、摄影师，还有玩改装车的。凑到一块后我们会进行一些跨界创作，就好像我会给玩改装车的成员给一涂装上的建议和设计。
我们团结在一起就代表一个文化现象了，不光是单打独斗，而是聚在一起做一样东西。
SABUKARU: AS SOMEONE FROM FOREIGN CULTURE BELONGING TO A DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUP, HOW DO YOU FIND YOUR IDENTITY IN THE CHICANO LIFESTYLE?
SABUKARU：对于这样一种属于特定族裔的外来文化，你们是如何从其中找到身份认同的？
SHUANGZI: I don't think we need to grow a beard or get a clown face tattoo like them. What we need to learn from is the spirit that these poor people can enjoy the hardships. Everyone can be an artist. When you implement this spirit, you can find identity in it.
爽子：我觉得不用像他们一样留两撇胡子，在脸上纹一个亡灵节的小丑脸，我们需要学习借鉴的是这些穷苦人民能在苦中作乐的精神，每个人都可以是艺术家，当你贯彻了这样的精神，你就能从其中找到身份认同。
SUN RUOTONG: To be honest, I haven't found it. Because the more you like it, the more you know, the less you have a sense of identity in it. You are not from the same country at all, and your social environment and lifestyle are different.
So I can only express and carry forward some of the qualities of Chicano culture through my works and then combine our things, this way is the most appropriate. I don't think I belong to the Chicano community in an ethnic sense. I'm just a fan of Chicano culture.
孙若桐：实话实说，我个人还真没有。因为你越喜欢看得越深，你越想去研究它，到最后你越没有一个认同感。因为你打根上就不是一个国家的人，社会环境、生活方式和国情都是不一样的。
所以说我只能通过我的作品来体现和发扬Chicano文化的一些品质，然后再结合我们自己本身的东西，这种方式反而是最合适的。我不觉得自己属于Chicano群体，我只是Chicano文化的爱好者。
Shuangzi mid performance
SABUKARU: CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHICANO CULTURE IN CHINA?
SABUKARU：能简单聊聊你们眼中Chicano文化在中国的发展历程吗？
SHUANGZI: I don't think it has a history of development. I even don't think it has developed.
There may be few Chicano enthusiasts like us in this country. We just combine some of the connotations of Chicano culture with our own culture to do something more, it hasn’t become a big trend yet.
Although many Chinese teenagers seem to know the word now, it is because some people pretend to understand the meaning of it, to sell their products, such as clothes. Anyway, they are speculators. They seemed to bring the word to public life, but if you ask them what is Chicano? 99% of people couldn’t properly answer that.
爽子：我觉得它没有发展历程，我甚至认为它就没有发展。
像我们这种Chicano爱好者，全国可能掰着手指头能数出来几个星星点点，然后咱再借用Chicano的一些内涵结合自己的东西再做点事而已，它并没有形成一定的文化现象。虽然说现在这个词好像很多人都知道，那是因为有一些不懂装懂的人为了卖自己的一些东西，比如说卖那些破衣服，反正就是一些投机者。他们似乎把这个词带到了老百姓的生活里，但是你问老百姓Chicano到底是什么？99%的人都是回答不出来的。
SUN RUOTONG: As far as I know, the development of Chicano culture in China is still in its infancy. More than a decade ago, there was no such concept in China, and we probably knew about the West Coast, gangs, and so on. Some people may have seen some related video clips and rap music videos, but they don't know what it is.
The first thing many people start to do is to buy some Chicano-style clothes from abroad, and then go to domestic shopping websites to sell them at high prices. The next step is to transition to plastic toys, such as Homies toys, and other Chicano art merch. A few years ago, Chicano inspired typography tattoos became popular in China, and then indirectly made Chicano culture popular.
孙若桐：我所了解的其实Chicano文化在中国的发展现在也是刚刚起步，十几年前那会儿国内基本上就没有这个概念，就知道西海岸、匪帮什么的。可能有的人见过一些相关的视频片段、说唱的MV，但是他们都不知道这是个什么东西。
最早很多人开始做的是Chicano风格的服饰，比如说去做一些代购，然后再国内的网络平台上炒高价去卖。接着慢慢又过渡到了手办玩具，像他们本土的Homies小人，和Chicano艺术家出的一些周边，等于后期又开始炒这些东西。这帮人用北京话来说就是二道贩子。然后前几年花体字纹身在中国火起来了，然后间接地把跟这个字体相关的Chicano文化也给带火了一下。
More of Sun Ruotong’s tattoo designs
SABUKARU: WHAT EFFORTS HAVE YOU MADE FOR THE PROMOTION OF CHICANO CULTURE IN CHINA?
SABUKARU：你们为Chicano文化在中国的推广做出过哪些努力？
SHUANGZI: I made a series of films called "Chicano Story". The purpose is not to make more people accept the culture, but to let them know even some superficial knowledge. Young people should not be confused. When talking about Chicano and the West Coast every day, at least you should know what it is and don't trample on it.
So what I'm doing is to let young people in China know the part of Chicano culture that gives them strength and something that can make them progress. Because I love it, I want everyone to respect it.
爽子：我拍了一系列名为“Chicano Story”的影片，目的不是想让更多的人接受这文化，而是要让他们知道一些哪怕是很皮毛的知识。年轻人别糊涂着，每天都在把Chicano和西海岸挂在嘴边的时候，最起码要知道它的到底是什么，别践踏它。所以我在做这些事情就是想让中国的年轻人了解Chicano文化里真正能让他们获得力量的部分，能让自己进步的一些东西。因为我热爱它，我想让所有人都尊重它。
SUN RUOTONG: C.A.C Family held some tattoo exhibitions and Chicano culture exhibitions , so that people who are interested in Chicano can learn more and also get together. In terms of artistic creation, we can slightly promote the development of culture in the circle. Because no one would study these things at that time, they just copied the paintings from the United States. We combine Chicano with traditional Chinese elements to create updated works of art, which are then widely used by more people.
孙若桐：我们团队凑到一起之后做了一些纹身展会和Chicano文化展览，目的是想让喜欢Chicano的人能更了解这一文化，让同好们能聚在一块。然后我们一起去学习，一起去研究这个东西。我们在艺术创作上面在圈里边稍微能带动一下文化的发展。因为当时没有人会去研究这些东西，美国那边画他们就直接照搬，我们将Chicano和中国传统元素结合起来创造更新的艺术作品，然后被更多的人广泛地使用。
SABUKARU: HOW DO YOU THINK THE general PUBLIC SHOULD VIEW CHICANO CULTURE?
SABUKARU：你们觉得大众该如何正确地看待Chicano文化？
SHUANGZI: Most subcultures, whether in the eyes of society, parents, teachers, elders, and normal people, are abnormal and bad. They all have this prejudice. However, this culture has its positive influence and can be respected and developed well, and this is what we people who love Chicano culture want others to see.
爽子：这些所谓的青年文化无论是在社会眼里，还是在家长们的眼里，老师们的眼里、长辈们的眼里，所谓的正常人的眼里，这些文化都是不正常不好的，像洪水猛兽一样，像流氓一样，都是带有这种偏见的。但是这个东西是有它正面影响的，是可以得到尊重和良好发展的，这才是我们真正热爱文化的人想看见的。
SUN RUOTONG: Any culture, any race, has its pros and cons. Many young people in our country focus on the negative things such as gangs, guns, and drugs, but with further understanding, you will find that these are only the smallest parts of Chicano culture.
Our country develops quickly, and new things come and go quickly. Maybe Chicano culture has not yet developed in China, and then there will be a new culture immediately. These subcultures maybe will gradually be forgotten, and I am afraid that there will be such an end with Chicano subculture in China.
孙若桐：任何文化任何种族它都有正面跟负面的地方，咱们国家很多喜欢Chicano的年轻人关注的是帮派、枪支和毒品这些负面的东西，但深入了解后你会发现这些只是整个文化小得不能再小的片段了。除了固有的浅显的认知，你更要知道的是它背后的精神内核和其衍生的各种艺术形式。
咱们国家发展的快，新鲜事物来得快，去得也快。可能Chicano文化在中国还没扎稳脚跟，然后立马又有新的了，这些东西会慢慢被人遗忘，我就怕到最后又是这么一个结局。
Words by Buzz Lee: The editor-in-chief of 529D Lab based in China, Buzz Lee tries recording everything rejected by mainstream society. Most of his articles have been deleted by the Chinese government.
Edited by Ora Margolis
