By Gianna Campos
King and Story in San Jose, California. It is thought to be the most ghetto area of San Jose and is notorious for gang violence and lowriding. But behind this disguised facade is a home to many Chicanos who hold it dear to their hearts.
King and Story holds a lot of rich Chicano history in which a vast majority is represented through murals. Aside from that, it is home to the popular “La Placita Tropicana.”
Going down the King and Story intersection there are many people who are always in the area. Whether it be going to Target and, or, Smart and Final right across from La Placita or to La Placita itself, there are always people around.
But there is much more history here besides La Placita; back in the day there were always lowriders around. While talking with my mom about King and Story she mentioned how every year on Cinco de Mayo her friends and they would wake up early just to go cruising. The traffic would build up so far back because of all the cruising that was done in this area. This no longer takes place today, but this is one thing that a lot of people seem to remember about King and Story.
I wanted to get more of an inside perspective of this important area of San Jose so that is exactly what I did. While walking past Western Dental, I ran into a woman named Angelica. She told me that she has lived in this area her whole life and how much this area means to her: “How long have I lived here?.. Wow, well I’ve been living here my whole life and I’ve always loved it. I feel that I’m surrounded by my people here which is very comforting for me.” We then started to talk about this “disguised facade” King and Story has. She told me she doesn’t pay mind to it, there has never been a negative opinion that has affected how she sees her home.
After talking with Angelica, I then met a lady named Cindy. Cindy told me she has only been living in this area for a few years, so she doesn’t hold this place as highly as some others may. She did tell me though that once she first moved her she felt as maybe she shouldn’t have as this area didn’t seem the best after living her for a few months: “After living here for some time I’ve come to see it isn’t as bad as it once seemed.” She also told me that one thing she really loves about San Jose as a whole is the diversity: “I used to live more up NorCal and it wasn’t so diverse. But coming to San Jose I love that I can look around and see many different people.”
One of the last things I asked Cindy was about the forms of activism that have taken place in this monumental area. She told me although she has not had to opportunity to attend any of the events, she finds it inspiring that the other people who live in this area are not afraid to let their voices be heard.
One event that has taken place at Story and King would be this past summer, Summer 18’, a crowd of people stood at the intersection together as a form of activism against ICE. At the time ICE raids were happening very constantly in San Jose and there were many people who were in great fear for the lives of themselves and their families.
King and Story has been misrepresented by many people, even by others in San Jose who are not from the area. People who think since they live in the nicer areas of San Jose they are somehow higher than. But this area holds so much history and is just as important as say Evergreen despite their “differences.” King and Story may be seen as “ghetto” but all it is a misrepresented area that shows culture a little differently.
King and Story in San Jose, California. It is thought to be the most ghetto area of San Jose and is notorious for gang violence and lowriding. But behind this disguised facade is a home to many Chicanos who hold it dear to their hearts.
King and Story holds a lot of rich Chicano history in which a vast majority is represented through murals. Aside from that, it is home to the popular “La Placita Tropicana.”
Going down the King and Story intersection there are many people who are always in the area. Whether it be going to Target and, or, Smart and Final right across from La Placita or to La Placita itself, there are always people around.
But there is much more history here besides La Placita; back in the day there were always lowriders around. While talking with my mom about King and Story she mentioned how every year on Cinco de Mayo her friends and they would wake up early just to go cruising. The traffic would build up so far back because of all the cruising that was done in this area. This no longer takes place today, but this is one thing that a lot of people seem to remember about King and Story.
I wanted to get more of an inside perspective of this important area of San Jose so that is exactly what I did. While walking past Western Dental, I ran into a woman named Angelica. She told me that she has lived in this area her whole life and how much this area means to her: “How long have I lived here?.. Wow, well I’ve been living here my whole life and I’ve always loved it. I feel that I’m surrounded by my people here which is very comforting for me.” We then started to talk about this “disguised facade” King and Story has. She told me she doesn’t pay mind to it, there has never been a negative opinion that has affected how she sees her home.
After talking with Angelica, I then met a lady named Cindy. Cindy told me she has only been living in this area for a few years, so she doesn’t hold this place as highly as some others may. She did tell me though that once she first moved her she felt as maybe she shouldn’t have as this area didn’t seem the best after living her for a few months: “After living here for some time I’ve come to see it isn’t as bad as it once seemed.” She also told me that one thing she really loves about San Jose as a whole is the diversity: “I used to live more up NorCal and it wasn’t so diverse. But coming to San Jose I love that I can look around and see many different people.”
One of the last things I asked Cindy was about the forms of activism that have taken place in this monumental area. She told me although she has not had to opportunity to attend any of the events, she finds it inspiring that the other people who live in this area are not afraid to let their voices be heard.
One event that has taken place at Story and King would be this past summer, Summer 18’, a crowd of people stood at the intersection together as a form of activism against ICE. At the time ICE raids were happening very constantly in San Jose and there were many people who were in great fear for the lives of themselves and their families.
King and Story has been misrepresented by many people, even by others in San Jose who are not from the area. People who think since they live in the nicer areas of San Jose they are somehow higher than. But this area holds so much history and is just as important as say Evergreen despite their “differences.” King and Story may be seen as “ghetto” but all it is a misrepresented area that shows culture a little differently.