More Barrio Services

The urban commercial landscape is ever changing. The video rental businesses of 15 years ago have been replaced by cell phone stores, the function halls of social clubs now host charter schools, the skateboard shops of the 1970's have been given over to...the skateboard shops of the present?!

Many insiders credit the marketing efforts of the late 1990's with this retail explosion, new skate idols like Tony Hawk and the X-games as well as a law that shielded cities from the liability issues present in skatepark operation. Whatever the case, Skateboards shops (and bike shops) have multiplied, particularly in neighborhoods of mixed color.

The outgrowth of that diversity is on display. A recent issue of Skateboarding magazine featured Asian, Latin, African-American, and Brazilian riders amongst others. Filmmaker Larry Clark's 2006 release Wassup Rockers, followed a group of Hispanic "grommets" or young skaters from South Los Angeles.

For some Hispanic youth, the skateboarding sub-culture has become an expression of rebellion, more American (and more alien to their parents) than beisbol, or rock-and-roll.