Official Review: Who Let the Mexicans Play in the Rose Bo...

DEEPA PUJARI · Post by **DEEPA PUJARI** » 02 Aug 2020, 07:45

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Who Let the Mexicans Play in the Rose Bowl?" by Hank Olguin.]

4 out of 4 stars

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WHO LET THE MEXICANS PLAY IN THE ROSE BOWL? Navigating the Racial Landscape of America is a memoir written by Hank Olguin. The author tells us about the racial discrimination he witnessed and experienced during his early life despite being an American by birth.

In this book, Olguin shares his life experiences, starting from his childhood to his years in college. He talks about his loving mother, father, sisters, and the bond they shared. He also tells us about his marriages and the reasons for their failure. The author narrates stories about the second world war and how Hispanics fought for America in the war. He concludes by elaborating on his football career and his journey to the Rose Bowl. Being a Mexican and making it to the Rose Bowl was a proud accomplishment for Olguin. Through his book, the author wants people to acknowledge and appreciate the positive things that Mexicans have contributed to America.

What I liked the most about the book is the way it explains how social discrimination can affect a young mind. The author reveals that as a child, he suppressed the fact that he was of Mexican origin because he was afraid of being mistreated and left out. The misconception that all Mexicans are either drug dealers, illegal immigrants or criminals, often made him ashamed to reveal his Mexican roots. He points out a few American movies where the bad guys are always Mexicans, which further supports this prejudice. The author has written poems related to each chapter that makes the book more artistic. He has also added many real-life pictures.

There is nothing that I disliked about this book. The book gives a clear picture of how racism is a much bigger issue than we understand. There is a whole generation of people who face an identity crisis because of racial discrimination. We often hear about a few people who are victims of racism, but in reality, there is an entire population that is indirectly affected by it. My heart went out for young Hank when he mentions that he did not take Spanish as his subject because he was afraid that his friends might know about his origin. Hank had witnessed many racist scenarios and was worried that one day he might be at the receiving end too. The book urges us to stop generalizing people based on their race, country, or religion, and treat everyone equal.

This book is well-written and professionally edited. The subject of the book is touching and thought-provoking. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars and recommend it to all adults above 18 years of age. Those who have experienced social discrimination might be able to relate to this book. The problem of racism is still prevalent, so I hope this book encourages people to embrace each other and make the world a better place.

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Who Let the Mexicans Play in the Rose Bowl?
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LuciusM · Post by **LuciusM** » 12 Aug 2020, 11:45

This is a great review. I enjoyed reading it.

Magnify3 · Post by **Magnify3** » 12 Aug 2020, 12:56

Poor Hank ... I do sympathize with him. It is sad what young people suppress out of fear of their own identity. Great review !

Dayodiola · Post by **Dayodiola** » 12 Aug 2020, 15:16

Prejudice murder victims but brave are those that rose above it.

Chiawa · Post by **Chiawa** » 12 Aug 2020, 19:23

Discrimination is one social vice that is under reported. I commend the author for contributing to this topic. Splendid review!

Rashida10 · Post by **Rashida10** » 13 Aug 2020, 13:03

I enjoyed the family-bonding side of this story. I also liked the writer's perspective about discrimination and life struggle. Thanks for this awesome review.