Tejano Cultural and Social Groups

Poster for the 1987 Noche Tejano Music Festival presented by the Texas Union Chicano Culture Committee at UT Austin, in cooperation with the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, Mexican American Cultural Center Project, and the Texas Music Museum. Courtesy of the ATX Barrio Archive

By Tess Harmon and Eli Galli-Anderson

Austin’s tight-knit Tejano community, largely based in East Austin, has contributed to a rich, enduring history of groups dedicated to the celebration, practice, and exploration of Tejano cultures, traditions, and identity. Similarly to Tejano artistic organizations, social groups in Austin have actively engaged their communities to change systems and create spaces for cultural expression. 

The organizations in this section have all authentically practiced Tejano culture, but each in radically different ways: some have preserved, some have nurtured, and others have celebrated; some have jumped between moving horses, some have organized cross-border parties, and some have distributed gifts to underserved families during Christmas. The Comité Patriótico Mexicano of the early 20th century and the Syroco Club of the 1960s and 70s, for example, created physical spaces for socialization, bringing together families, their neighborhoods, and their leaders. Others, like the Austin Charro Association and Austin’s car clubs, have celebrated long-running traditions as part of Mexican American heritage even in the face of legal and social pressure. Lastly, groups like the Tejano Genealogy Society and ATX Barrio Archive have preserved cultural history for generations to come.

Also included is the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, both a venue for Mexican American cultural arts and heritage and a community resource providing programming and education, built after decades of social justice efforts and persistent community planning. 

The term “Comité Patriótico Mexicano” (Mexican Patriotic Committee) describes a type of decentralized, community-based organization principally engaged with sponsoring Mexican American social and cultural awareness, usually through celebrations of Mexican heritage. The earliest known comité patriótico existed in El Paso, Texas, as early as 1897; other organizations emerged in the 1930s and 40s in Houston, San Antonio, and Austin, and later on across the United States. The first comités patrióticos worked with local mutual-aid societies like La Liga Mexicana and Mexican consulates to organize fiestas patrias (celebrations of the homeland) at the time, some of the most popular events in the state, and, among other activities, pageants, banquets, parades, and dances. Many comités were notable for uniting local leaders: Houston’s Comité Patriótico Mexicano, for example, was founded by members of the city’s most important social organizations, including its local League of United Latin American Citizens. 

In Austin, Eustacio Cepeda, a prominent member of Austin’s Mexican American community and ultimately president of the Comité Patriótico and the Comisión Honorífica, led the establishment of Austin’s Mexican consulate. With the support of these groups, as well as San Antonio’s Mexican consulate, Austin workers, and 470 Mexican-owned businesses in Austin, ¹  Cepeda formally petitioned Mexico’s administration. The consulate finished construction in 1940. ² 

The Comités Patrióticos Mexicanos have been credited for aiding to preserve Mexican American culture in the face of pressures to assimilate, and “fostering mutual appreciation” for the cultures on either side of the border. ³ 

In the 1960s and 1970s, the exclusive Syroco Club hosted approximately one hundred Chicano couples. According to a La Fuerza article, membership was “restricted to married couples of good standing in the community,” with the objective to “promote social activities for the enjoyment of its members.” ⁴ 

The Syroco Club hosted numerous events throughout the year, including Halloween and holiday parties, and notably a debutante ball, which they hosted for Mexican American girls in the community.

Austin and Saltillo, though today separated by a border, were connected even before the Austin-Saltillo Sister Cities Association: the province of Coahuilo and Texas were part of the same territory as early as 1689, with Saltillo as its capital until 1836, when Texas became independent. Later, in the association’s 1968 founding, mayors of both cities met with the goal of establishing “friendship, respect, and mutually beneficial exchange”—which today reflects more than fifty years of projects, memories, and gifts, notably including yodel performances, firefighting equipment, and wine.

Shortly after the ASSCA’s establishment, John Treviño Jr. became the first Mexican American Austin Councilman, and the first liaison to Saltillo. During his 13 years in office, he organized annual visits to celebrate the founding of Saltillo, work sessions between the two cities, gift exchanges, and musical performances. A long chain of mayors, liaisons, and citizens — even American presidents — from both countries continued his initiatives, and introduced their own, including the Saltillo Day in Austin, the Austin Day in Saltillo, and the recent Gala de Oro. Official visits and events continue today. ⁵ 

The Mexican equestrian sport of charrería, comparable to the rodeo, was feared to be at risk after the Mexican Revolution led to the splitting of the country’s largest haciendas, where the tradition had taken root since the 1700s. Seeking to preserve the sport, the Federación Nacional de Charros established a chapter in San Antonio, and soon after chartered the Austin Charro Association, founded in 1975 by Eli Barrón and other University of Texas alumni. ⁶ 

The Austin Charro Association constructed a traditional arena and began to host, perform, and preserve relevant traditions, including parades, dances, queen coronations, and multi-event charreadas. ⁷  A 1986 Statesman article compares the charreada with the rodeo: “ [...] rodeo increasingly became a form of entertainment, likely as not to send the cowboy sprawling through the air [...] In contrast, charreada remains closer to its roots in ranching,” focusing on practical tasks, and “emphasizing grace of movements.” Additionally, movements are more controlled, less reckless; due to the charro’s reliance on his work to support his family, “he can’t afford to get hurt.”

The Austin Charro Association also invited and supported talented rancheros from Mexico. ACA President Daniel Peña claimed “only the rich in Mexico can be charros,” requiring elaborate costumes, pageantry, and expensive starting equipment, “but in the United States, [...] when they come here they see an opportunity to do what was always denied there. They have the skills from working on the ranches even though they lack the finery.” ⁸  

Though only open to men for membership, the Austin Charro Association was a family-oriented group, and women performed in supporting roles in almost every event. ⁹  To Barrón, the group was not only intended to preserve the Mexican tradition of charrería but also to offer children pride and celebration of Mexican American culture, so that they could live in “the best of two worlds.” ¹⁰ 

 Listen to Eli Barrón discuss charreadas: 

The Tejano Genealogy Society of Austin (TGSA), first established in 1977 as the Sociedad Genealógica de Austin, “fosters excellence in genealogy through educational programs and projects that preserve, produce and disseminate knowledge of genealogical or historical value.” 

To this end, TGSA aids genealogy research efforts, meeting monthly to aid starting genealogists and hosting meetings at the Emma S. Barrientos-MACC on Tejano research and history. TGSA also promotes Tejano culture in the community and in schools, both by presenting awards for books on Tejano history—including the Clotilde P. Garcia Tejano Book Award and the Members’ Choice Award—and testifying at TEA board meetings regarding Hispanic history in textbooks. TGSA partners with numerous community programs. They are also collaborators with the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center and the Oakwood Cemetery Chapel.

In addition, TGSA has sponsored and hosted the Annual Hispanic Genealogical and Historical Conferences, gathering several Hispanic genealogy organizations from across Texas. TGSA members attend additional genealogy conferences in Waco, Goliad, Victoria, and San Antonio.

Lastly, the group was instrumental in the 2012 installation of the State Capitol’s Tejano Monument, a symbol of Hispanic contributions to the State of Texas, by hosting a banquet, a parade, and a speakers’ conference. TGSA continues to promote awareness of the monument today. ¹¹ 

According to the Handbook of Tejano History, lowriders are “motor vehicles that have been lowered to within a few inches of the road in the expressive style of la onda bajita, ‘the low trend,’” an ethos born in contrast to the comparatively dangerous and pollutant hot-rod cars of the 1940s. Lowriders, most closely tied to Chicano culture, represent cultural pride—decaled with intricate Catholic imagery and vibrant Mexican-mural-style patterns, which provided a “particular stylistic flair to the multivocalic discourse on Mexican-American identity”—but also delicate workmanship acquired from military work and community apprenticeships. ¹²  

Originating in Los Angeles, lowriding was brought to Texas by migrants in the postwar era. Most large Texan cities discouraged lowriding with criminalization and strict city ordnances, but Austin accrued a rich history of low-rider car clubs, including a group of which have met consistently at the Edward Rendon Sr. Park—locally known as Chicano Park—since the 80s, even despite recent conflicts tied to gentrification. ¹³  

 Austin Lowriding , a community organization that works to preserve lowrider culture in Austin, schedules lowriding events and gathers different car clubs together. According to its website, the group “gives lowriders a place to belong, a place where they can cruise together with family and friends, and have fun learning from each other, paying tribute to and understanding the origins of the lowrider culture.” ¹⁴  Car clubs in Austin, such as Brown Impressions, La Familia, Cruisin, and Hands Full of Cash offer a space to practice this art form and tradition within their communities. ¹⁵ 

Since its conception in the 1970s as the heart of Austin’s Mexican American arts, the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center—named after a deeply involved community activist—has represented a culmination of grassroots efforts from both the Chicano community and Austin at large to preserve the city’s rich Tejano heritage. After four decades of community persistence through economic and political setbacks, the MACC broke ground in 2005 and opened in 2007, from then on serving as an invaluable resource for visitors and the community alike, offering visual, culinary, literary, and performing arts displays, cultural programs and classes, and a rotating cultural palette that fosters meaningful appreciation for Mexican American, Native American, Chicano, and other related cultures. 

Despite the difficulties involved in its construction, the MACC was designed in dialogue with Austin’s Chicano artists, according to their needs. Unexpected popularity and a year-long artist backlog shortly after its construction resulted in a now-ongoing “Phase Two” renovation and expansion, partly focused on integrating it more with its natural surroundings, Lady Bird Lake, and the Trail of Tejano Legends. ¹⁶  Additionally, the Phase Two redesign, incorporating Mexican stucco and naturally weathering steel, has been described as Mesoamerican-inspired and future-inclined, aimed at providing for the needs of future generations. ¹⁷ 

Dr. Emilio Zamora, who was on the advisory board for the MACC, explained why such a community space for cultural appreciation and involvement is so significant:

“The MACC [is] a physical embodiment of the passion, the dreams, all the stuff that we say that we are [...] but the physical has to have something attached to it: the meaning. So the MACC has all this meaning [...] these memories of people going public and organizing these political projects,” Zamora said. “It's a survivor of the wars, a good survivor, a good product result of the wars of the ‘70s and the ‘80s.” 

Originally started to host founder Alan García’s family photos, the Instagram account  ATX Barrio Archive  (@atx_barrio_archive)  is now dedicated to digitally preserving Austin’s Latino history, featuring photos of families, businesses, and archives from the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History and the LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies and Collections. As of 2023, the account has over 14,000 followers, many who comment on posts with their own memories and personal connections to the digital media.

Rolando Rodriguez describes the account and its significance in the  Austin American-Statesman : “On the Instagram page, you’ll find pictures of Lole Nuñez, Daniel Estrada and Chris Rangel inside Estrada’s Cleaners watching the space shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986. You’ll also find a 1981 news clipping celebrating a city-sanctioned lowrider car club cruise around the Capitol, despite concerns from some Austin City Council members and residents [...] ATX Barrio Archive serves as a digital rallying cry: The things that East Austin is suddenly celebrated for — food, entertainment, culture and art — existed and thrived for decades before it was gentrified.” 

García described his mission to the Statesman: “You have to be a famous politician, or a famous educator, or you have to be really wealthy just to be considered as historically significant [...] What I focus on with the page is the exact opposite. It’s not a top-down approach. It's an approach that starts from the bottom, from the roots of the body.” ¹⁸   

Listen to a lightning-talk on ATX Barrio Archive’s relevance to equity-based historical preservation  here . 

1. Arella, P. (2018, September 5). Celebrando el legado de Eustacio Cepeda en Austin. Austin American-Statesman.  https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2018/09/05/celebrando-el-legado-de-eustacio-cepeda-en-austin/9976770007/   
2. Historia. Consulmex.sre.gob.mx. (n.d.).  https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/austin/index.php/avisos/6-documentacion/59-historia   
3. María-Cristina García, “Comité Patriótico Mexicano,” Handbook of Texas Online, accessed November 21, 2023,  https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/comite-patriotico-mexicano 
4. “Presentation of Debutants,” La Fuerza article. Maria Garcia, 1967, June 15. Austin Files: Latinx M4300 (19). Austin History Center, Austin Public Library. 
5. Hodge, Alicia Perez, et al. “50 Years of Friendship & Memories: A Look Back at the Austin-Saltillo Sister Cities Association.” 2018.  https://www.austinsaltillo.com/55-years  
6. Contreras, Gloria. (1977, November 2). The Charro [Radio broadcast]. Onda Latina.  https://www.laits.utexas.edu/onda_latina/program?sernum=000511551&header=Culture   
7. “Charro group unites Mexican rodeo fans,” Austin American-Statesman article. Julie Fernandez, 1976, April 6. Austin Files: Latinx M4300 (14). Austin History Center, Austin Public Library. 
8. “Devotion to the charreada must come from the heart,” Austin American-Statesman article. Nelson England, 1986, September 16.
9. Contreras, Gloria. (1977, November 2). The Charro [Radio broadcast]. Onda Latina.  https://www.laits.utexas.edu/onda_latina/program?sernum=000511551&header=Culture   
10. “Charro Group Unites Mexican Rodeo Fans,” Austin American-Statesman article. Julie Fernandez, 1976, April 7. Austin Files: Latinx M4300 (14). Austin History Center, Austin Public Library. 
11. Oakwood Cemetery and Chapel. About the Tejano Genealogical Society of Austin. Austin Parks and Recreation Department, Museums and Cultural Programs Division.  https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/5d3a7e85639e4ea3a234095be33092a6  
12. Michael C. Stone, “Lowriders,” Handbook of Texas Online, accessed November 22, 2023,  https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/lowriders  . Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
13. Morales, L. (2021, March 28). Low-rider car clubs say East Austin events will not be stopped. Austin American-Statesman.  https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/03/28/low-rider-car-clubs-east-austin-traffic-noise-complaint/7041541002/  
14. Austin Lowriding. (n.d.) About Us.  https://www.austinlowriding.com/about.html   
15. Matias, D. (2017, July 6). Austin Car Clubs Give Community A Lift. KUT News.  https://www.kut.org/life-arts/2017-07-06/austin-car-clubs-give-community-a-lift  
16. Mexican American Cultural Center Prepares for Phase 2 of Its Long-Term Renovations. 5 Oct. 2022,  www.austinchronicle.com/daily/arts/2022-10-05/mexican-american-cultural-center-prepares-for-phase-2-of-its-long-term-renovations  .
17. Noma, Gabriella B. “Austin’s Mexican American Cultural Center Expands Into Phase 2 - Texas Architect Magazine.” Texas Architect Magazine, 8 Sept. 2022,  magazine.texasarchitects.org/2022/09/08/austins-mexican-american-cultural-center-expands-into-phase-2  
18. Rodriguez, R. (2021, June 13.) Meet the digital age trailblazers trying to preserve Austin’s Latino history. Austin American-Statesman.  https://www.statesman.com/story/lifestyle/2021/06/13/east-austin-history-latino-latinx-atx-barrio-archive-san-jose-cemetery/5255499001/