Amy Andrea Martinez
LSSPI, Post-doctoral Fellow
Marisela Jimenez-Huerta, Undergraduate Research Fellow
Santa Bruta—Home of El Indio Muerto: The Colonial-Carceral City and the Criminalization of Mexican/Chicano Boys and Men
Project Abstract
The book project titled "Santa Bruta—Home of El Indio Muerto" originated as a dissertation and represents a fourteen-year longitudinal ethnographic study conducted in Santa Barbara, California, commonly known as 'La Bruta' among the Mexican/Chicano/a community. This historically-anchored ethnography delves into the European and American colonial conquest of the First Peoples, particularly the Native Chumash and later Mexican communities. In contrast to gang studies predominantly focused on large cities like Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles, my project addresses the oversight in acknowledging the impact of colonialism on gang dynamics. By combining historical analysis with ethnography, I illuminate the intricate interplay between history and colonial logic, shaping relationships among law enforcement, city authorities, and gangs through cultural repression and expression. A key focus is on cultural resistance within gangs, specifically exploring the role of tattooing. Employing visual sociology, I document the narratives embedded in the tattoos of thirty self-identified gang members, highlighting tattooing as a powerful symbol of resistance and cultural reawakening. Through this research, I underscore the resilience and resistance of Mexican/Chicano communities against oppressive practices rooted in racialized and colonial legacies. In essence, "Santa Bruta—Home of El Indio Muerto" chronicles La Bruta's inability to contain, tame, or eliminate the 'Mexican Problem,' emphasizing these communities' enduring struggles and strength in the face of historical challenges.