Lowriders in Chicano Culture

Book excerpt: Much like rap music and ethnic foods, Chicano lowrider culture has become sufficiently widespread in recent decades to almost be considered "mainstream." Those outside of lowriding may not realize that this cultural phenomenon is not the result of a recent fad--it originated in the pre-World War II era and has continued to grow and evolve since then. This book shows readers how this expressive culture fits within the broader context of Chicano culture and how lowriding reflects the social, artistic, and political dimensions of America's fastest-growing ethnic group.