Episode 51: American Homeboy w/ Brandon Loran Maxwell

American Homeboy with Brandon Loran Maxwell

We are joined by filmmaker Brandon Loran Maxwell (the Daily Chela), to talk about his new documentary film "American Homeboy." American Homeboy is a  documentary film directed by Brandon Loran Maxwell that explores the  complex origins of pachuco and cholo culture which sprouted from  American soil more than 100 years ago in response to wartime sentiment,  social alienation, and government discrimination only to become a pop  culture phenomenon.

The film draws from rare interviews shot  on 5k with leading Mexican American historians, academics, artists,  activists, cholos, and former law enforcement officers against a  backdrop of 50 hours of restored archival footage.

Our Guest:

Brandon Loran Maxwell is a Mexican American writer, speaker, prize  winning essayist, film director, and entrepreneur. His writings and  commentary have appeared at The Hill, Salon, Townhall, The Washington  Examiner, The Oregonian, The Foundation For Economic Education, and  Latino Rebels Radio, among others. In 2022, his writings were cited at  the U.S. Supreme Court (United States Of America vs. Helaman Hansen).

In addition, Brandon regularly speaks on a variety of social topics,  and has been cited or profiled by outlets such as The Los Angeles Times,  Vox, The Washington Post, The Blaze, and The Oregonian. His personal  essay “Notes From An American Prisoner” was awarded a Writer’s Digest  prize in 2014, and his one-act play “Petal By Petal” about drug and  alcohol addiction was performed at The Little Theater in 2009. He holds a  B.S. in political science and resides on the West Coast.

Your hosts:

Kurly Tlapoyawa is an  archaeologist, ethnohistorian, and filmmaker. His  research covers  Mesoamerica, the American Southwest, and the  historical connections  between the two regions. He is the author of  numerous books and has  presented lectures at the University of New  Mexico, Harvard University,  Yale University, San Diego State  University, and numerous others. He  most recently released his  documentary short film "Guardians of the  Purple Kingdom," and is a  cultural consultant for Nickelodeon Animation  Studios.
@kurlytlapoyawa

Ruben  Arellano Tlakatekatl is a  scholar, activist, and professor of history.  His research explores  Chicana/Chicano indigeneity, Mexican indigenist  nationalism, and  Coahuiltecan identity resurgence. Other areas of  research include Aztlan  (US Southwest), Anawak (Mesoamerica), and  Native North America. He has  presented and published widely on these  topics and has taught courses at  various institutions. He currently  teaches history at Dallas College –  Mountain View Campus.