LACMA

1994 Stockholm, Sweden Swedish rappers the Latin Kings (aka Los Reyes Latinos) become the most popular rap band in Sweden. Inspired by Chicano rappers and dressing like cholos, they record in Rinkebysvenska, a mishmash of native Swedish with sprinklings of Turkish, Aramaic, Spanish, Persian, Arabic, and other languages commonly heard in their Stockholm immigrant neighborhood. Unlike the more popular Swed- ish groups of the day (such as Abba, who sing in English), these sons of Latin American political refugees out-Swede the Swedes in their Nordic-language authenticity. JANUARY 1, 1994 Chiapas, Mexico On the day the North American Free Trade Agreement goes into effect, the Zapatista Army of National Liberation emerges from the jungle to declare war on the government of Mexico. Two years later, the dashing, pipe-smoking Zapatista spokesperson Subcomandante Marcos appears in a photo spread in French Vogue. MARCH 31, 1995 Corpus Christi, Texas Tejana singer Selena is gunned down at a Days Inn motel. Mainstream media outlets from the BBC to the New York Times try to understand why sixty thousand mourners file past the casket in eleven hours. People magazine publishes a special issue devoted entirely to the life of the fallen singer. This had been done only twice before, after the deaths of Jackie Onassis and Audrey Hepburn. The Selena issue easily outsells them both combined. Soon after, the company launches People en Español. A market is noticed. 229

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