Americanos

Themes: immigration, identity, belonging

“Americanos” is the work of Pilsen muralist Pablo Serrano, whose work tends to center on immigration and community. Painted on the side of the now-shuttered Bony’s supermercado, the piece challenges the changing face of Pilsen, a message made manifest through its location. The piece implicitly suggests that even as small businesses fall to chain retailers and indie coffee shops, the Latinx residents of Pilsen will not disappear. In Serrano’s work, their faces and messages of hope literally line the streets, defiant in the face of gentrification. Further cementing the importance of location in this piece are the words “Pilsen Neighborhood” written across the bottom of the mural.

At the top of the mural are iconic American figures of color, including Malcom X, Ida B. Wells, and Cesar Chavez. In bold, graffiti-style lettering is the word “Americanos?,” or “Americans?” in English. Serrano seems to be asking, who is an American? These canonized figures of color have upheld American values and pushed for a brighter future, but everyday Americans of color continue to be the targets of racism, prejudice, and negative stereotypes. In the context of Pilsen, the “Latino heart of Chicago,” this question has a particular resonance. Despite their enduring presence in and positive impact on the United States of America, Latinx individuals are often on the receiving end of racial bias and hate, a problem that has only grown in recent years under former President Donald Trump. Racist demands to “speak English!” and “Go back to Mexico!” suggest that Latinx people are not Americans. In the face of hatred, Serrano seeks to empower his community by reminding them that they are Americans, despite what others may say or think.

The mix of the graffiti-style font and traditional muralism seeks to bridge the divide between the old-guard of Pilsen artists and the new generation. The older generation see their work as rooted in the Mexican mural tradition, while the younger sect borrow heavily from urban graffiti. Serrano fuses these opposing styles in his work, suggesting that all Pilsen artists ultimately share the same vision of community pride, national identity, and hope for the future.

The bottom half of the mural is composed of letters from community members, with messages like “DREAM BIG!!!,” “Nothing’s impossible,” and “Shoot hoops, not guns.” Other letters feature quotes from inspirational leaders like Ghandi (“Where there is love, there is life”) and Martin Luther King Jr., along with leading Latinx figures Che Guevara and artist Gabriel Orozco. These quotes, coupled with the mural’s bright, rainbow color palette and spirited linework communicates joy. Despite the challenges faced by the Latinx community, nationally and in Pilsen, they remain hopeful and resilient. The leaders of color, inspirational quotes, and vivid colors speak to Serrano’s mission to empower the community. Instead of letting outsiders define the Latinx community, Serrano gives them space to define themselves. The message is overwhelmingly one of hope, joy, pride, and love.

This description was written by Lily Strailey, Notre Dame Class of 2022.