To many people who don’t get out that way too often for whatever reason, the streets of Capitol Hill could probably use a little improvement. The walls could do with a little less gang graffiti and a whole lot more city-sanctioned “wall art.” The storefronts could use a few more places that offer free-trade organic cold-pressed coffee. And really, what’s the deal with all these minorities just walking around like they own the place?
But to the community who lives there, the rich, vibrant, mostly-Hispanic community that lives and breathes and works and strives there, those streets might as well be paved with gold. Latino-owned businesses that represent what we are told is the American dream proudly line themselves up Capitol Hill and down SW 29th. Generations of families who have fiercely stood together, doing everything in their power to stay together, in spite all adversity, regulated or otherwise. And, most beautiful of all, finding a way to keep and preserve a strong, proud culture and ethnic heritage that is either oftentimes misunderstood or roundly dismissed by threatened jingoists.