Hey Vero,
how are we going to celebrate
Selena’s birthday?
I say we do something big!
Let’s bring out all objects
from all the Smithsonian museums
especially the ones at the National Museum of American History.
I don’t know about you,
but here in San Antonio,
we’re always celebrating Selena.
We are the Tejano music capital
of the world!
Some people may not know what tejano music is.
Let’s play them a little
and explain it to them.
Imagine,
1820 Tejas,
a borderlands,
a place of displacement and belonging.
Where multiple colonizations by Spain,
Mexico, and the United States,
led to racialized systems of abuse and injustice.
But also gave rise to new identities
and cultural expressions
that are unique and enduring to this day.
Like musica Tejana.
A genre of music rooted in the Tejano working class
experience during a time described by San Antonio columnist,
Carlos Guerra,
“...of little upward mobility
and even less mixing of its social classes.”
A situation that deteriorated for Tejanos,
Mexicanos, and Mexican Americans
after Texas independence in 1836
only to worsen after the Mexican American War.
One of the first super stars of Tejano
was Lydia Mendoza.
She is also known as
la alondra de la frontera,
la cancionera de los pobres,
and the first Queen of Tejano.
Wow! I can see how Selena took a page from Lydia’s playbook.
Yeah, Selena transformed the popular
wave of Tejano music in the 1980s and 1990s
Most of which was guys with big hear and great outfits.
I know you are going to say that San Antonio
is the place to learn about Selena,
but I’m going to tell you that the National Museum of American History
should be called the National Museum of Selena.
Let me show you some of the great things we have.
Well I just brought you to the Archives Center
and let me show you some of the things we have
in the Archives Center and in the Photography collection.
Here you can see her in an amazing gold outfit.
Selena was also known for her fierce sense of fashion.
She often designed the costumes for her entire band,
she designed the costumes she performed in.
We also have really amazing images of J.Lo
playing Selena in the Selena movie.
Are those the pictures?
Yeah, but we got more gems, you’re missing out girl!
Let me show you:
Boom!
More Selena,
more Selena, more Selena, more Selena.
Wow! Dang!
I love that purple outfit.
You know she also tried acting?
Yeah! I remember her on the telenovela,
Dos Mujeres Un Camino.
The National Museum of American History also discovered
long lost footage of Selena on an episode of Tejano USA
Selena, bienvenida a Tejano USA.
Thank you, good to be here.
Big year, Selena.
El Grammy una cosa debe ser like a dream come true, verdad?
Exactly.
When they first told us that we were nominated we all freaked out.
We couldn't believe it.
I just ran out here to the same spot!
I May just be standing exactly were Selena stood.
She was at the top of her game when she passed away.
And even after all these years, people still remember her
and they are still inspired by her legacy.
Let me show you a couple of things
that come from the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Here is a pañuelo made by Manuel Hernandez
and here is a print by Rodolfo Cuellar.
En San Antonio, Selena vive!
Check out these amazing murals that celebrate her life!
Hey! But, Selena is bigger than Texas,
don’t forget LA!
La Reina de la musica Tejana continues to inspire us.
Our Latina History, is American History.
Feliz birthday Selena!