Any Small Goodness

The term barrio is a Spanish word for either “quarter” or “neighborhood.” In a more practical understanding, it may signify an urban enclave, reflecting similarities in cultural and ethnic identity. In the United States, “barrio” refers to a Spanish-speaking neighborhood, often implying poor socioeconomic conditions. There are many barrios across the American urban landscape, formed alongside surges in immigration from Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries. For instance, East Harlem, a neighborhood in northeastern Manhattan, is typically nicknamed “El Barrio,” referencing its concentration of Latinx residents and cultural institutions.

One of the oldest barrios exists in East Los Angeles, California; this is the barrio in which the Rodriguez family lives in Any Small Goodness. In the 18th century, settlers from Spanish-ruled Mexico traveled north to California, seeking land grants and an opportunity for work in the Christian missions. Eventually, American pioneers and European settlers also arrived in the region, introducing competing nationalities and cultural identities. The communities co-existed relatively peacefully until the outbreak of the Mexican American War in 1846. Though the Mexican American population was distant from their native Mexico, they still rallied to its cause, clashing with American troops on the outskirts of Los Angeles. After US forces gained victory, anti-Mexican prejudice in Los Angeles skyrocketed, and many Mexican American residents were forced to the edges of the city (Benitez, Tomas.