Frazer Avenue by Guy Garcia
"Frazer Avenue" by Guy Garcia is a poignant narrative centered on a Mexican American college student who reflects on his past in a lower-class barrio of East Los Angeles, known as Frazer Street. The story unfolds through the narrator's memories of his childhood environment, marked by both community gatherings and the struggles of neighborhood decline, including the influence of friends who engage in delinquent behavior. As he returns to visit his grandmother for her birthday after years of distancing himself from his roots, he grapples with feelings of alienation and superiority over those he once shared a life with.
The contrast between his current life and his past becomes evident as he observes the deterioration of the community and interacts with his family, feeling disconnected despite their shared heritage. The narrative examines themes of identity, belonging, and the impact of socio-economic challenges on personal relationships. A significant turning point occurs during the birthday celebration when he experiences a mix of nostalgia and loss, culminating in the unexpected death of his grandmother. This moment deepens his internal conflict as he contemplates his identity and future, ultimately leading him to declare his intent to leave again, symbolically moving "South." The story captures complex emotions surrounding family, heritage, and the struggle for personal identity within the context of cultural expectations and experiences.
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Frazer Avenue by Guy Garcia
First published: 1992
Type of plot: Social realism
Time of work: The 1960's
Locale: East Los Angeles, California
Principal Characters:
The narrator , a Mexican American college studentAl , his childhood friendJohn Velasco , his high school friendGrandma , his grandmotherTío , his uncleThe girlfriend , a college student and Chicana activist
The Story
The narrator, a Mexican American college student, recalls his life ten years earlier on Frazer Street—a lower-class barrio of East Los Angeles, where on Sunday mornings one could see drunks leaving Millie's bar after all-night revelries. He remembers one particular Sunday, when the neighborhood's most responsible citizens gathered on the lawn of his parents' house to discuss the neighborhood's deterioration. On that day, his parents announced their intention to move away out of concern for his future. He had recently befriended youths who passed their evenings shooting out streetlights. Their leader was a boy named Al, a cynical and bitter orphan whose mother died from illness and whose father was a victim of violence. Although the narrator refused to participate in the group's vandalism, he realized with regret that the barrio would always remain a part of his life as his family was moving away.
The protagonist returns to his old barrio—a place now inundated by police cars, broken glass, boarded-up buildings, and burned-out storefronts. He recalls having once been a part of this neighborhood—a fact that he denies in his new neighborhood. He expresses his loathing for the "typical Mexican" and regards himself as vastly superior.
The protagonist next recalls a college demonstration in which he participated in which the police clashed with Chicano activists marching in a civil rights protest. Although he was involved in the movement, he was skeptical of it and considered himself an outsider.
Going even further back in his memory, the narrator remembers an incident involving himself and his friend, John Velasco. One day, after their school won an athletic event, he and John were walking home when they noticed an automobile stalking them. After the car's unknown passengers followed them, a chase on foot began. The narrator jumped to safety over a wire fence, but his friend was caught and beaten by their pursuers. Seeing his friend savagely beaten and not being able to do anything greatly affected the narrator, who had to flee for his own safety.
The protagonist now finds himself in front of his grandmother's residence. Nothing has visibly changed in the ten years since he left the neighborhood. He feels uneasy being around these people; although they share his heritage and bloodlines, he does not consider himself like them. He has returned for his grandmother's birthday, and she is overjoyed to see him—especially as he is the last person whom she expected to come. When his uncle greets him, he confesses to himself that he dislikes the man because he is so typically Latino: loud and boorish. His college education allows him to feel superior to everyone present at the party.
The protagonist then recalls breaking up with the girlfriend who had drawn him into Chicano activism. Eventually he realized that his reasons for supporting the cause were as contrived as his love for the girlfriend. His rejection of her has left him feeling alone and numb to all passions in the world.
Meanwhile, the birthday party is filled with music, singing, dancing, eating, and drinking. The narrator remains distant from the other guests and is embarrassed by his grandmother's strained singing and her drunkenness. When he approaches her to say good-bye, she asks him to sit next to her and he notices that she is in some kind of physical discomfort. Unexpectedly, however, she suddenly forces him onto the floor to dance. As they stumble about awkwardly, the narrator begins imagining his grandmother as a beautiful young girl whom he loves deeply, when she suddenly collapses into his arms. Shortly afterward she dies, stunning the people attending her party.
The narrator remains at his grandmother's house for some time afterward. Suddenly, and with great determination, he rises to leave. When his uncle calls out, "Where are you going?" he simply replies, "South."