‘¡Ask a Mexican!’ columnist speaks

By Kyle Daly

Published April 25, 2008

If it’s a question about Mexicans, columnist Gustavo Arellano has the answer.

On Thursday evening, students and community members gathered to hear Arellano speak about his humorous yet informative column, “¡Ask a Mexican!” The Orange County, Calif., alternative weekly OC Weekly, publishes the nationally syndicated weekly column.

“¡Ask a Mexican!” features Arellano’s answers to questions sent by readers involving one topic — Mexicans.

Speaking to an audience of mostly journalism students, Arellano began his talk with how he became a journalist. Arellano said he never attended journalism school.

“I always loved reading newspapers, but I only read one section: the sports section,” Arellano said.

His career in journalism began at Chapman University when he was a student, Arellano said. One day, he picked up a copy of OC Weekly’s April Fools’ Day issue. Inside, he read a story that made fun of Hispanic people. Arellano said it was the funniest thing he ever read. But he knew others wouldn’t get the joke.

He decided to create his own humor by writing a sarcastic letter to the editor, which expressed how he was shocked and offended by the article. The letter was meant to make fun of those who didn’t understand the OC Weekly’s humor. The letter was published in a later issue.

The editor of the OC Weekly wrote Arellano back, saying he had a great voice and asking if he would be interested in writing for the publication, Arellano said.

Arellano initially declined the offer, but kept in contact with the editor.

When the editor came across a story that required a Spanish-speaking reporter to cover, Arellano got another call. This time, he accepted the offer.

“At first, my writing was horrible, because I was a film student,” Arellano said.

Arellano said he received harsh criticism from his editor.

“One time he told me, ‘I would rather lick a dog’s ass than publish this in my paper,’” Arellano said.

After graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles, Arellano became a full-time reporter at the OC Weekly.

In 2004, Arellano’s editor got the idea that he should write a fake column that answered questions about Mexican people. “¡Ask a Mexican!” was born.

At the bottom of the column, Arellano gave his e-mail address. Letters started pouring in, he said. The column offended half of those who responded, but the other half thought it was hilarious, Arellano said.

Arellano and his editor decided to make the column an official part of the OC Weekly.

The most popular questions relate to sex, immigration and food, Arellano said.

“Satire is a great vehicle to shed light on the harsh truth,” Arellano said.

The columnist described ethnic humor as a way for minorities to explain themselves to others.

MU professor and Society of Professional Journalists adviser Charles Davis said it was one of the best events ever held at the MU School of Journalism.

“To have that many people come is just exciting,” he said.

Arellano has recently published a book titled “¡Ask a Mexican!,” which compiles the best of his OC Weekly question-and-answer columns.

MU’s chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists sponsored the event.