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Metates, the traditional stone tools used for grinding, have a long history in San Juan Teitipac, Oaxaca. While it’s unclear if San Juan or San Sebastián was the birthplace of metate production, evidence suggests that metates were being crafted in San Juan when the Spaniards arrived. In the early 1960s, Rosendo Carranza, a local metatero from San Juan, discovered ancient remains in his quarry, indicating that metate production in the region might have existed long before Spanish colonization.

The metateros of San Juan Teitipac faced instability in their industry due to local factionalism which caused them to migrate to other areas like Tlacolula. Entrepreneurs like Efrén Carranza and Inocencio Morales played key roles in shaping the industry over several decades.

My grandfather from my dads side was born in 1939 which would place him in his early twenties which was around the time when Rosendo Carranza made his important discovery. Both my parents were were born in the 1960s. It’s quite possible they may have known or at least heard of Carranza and other key figures in the metate industry like Efrén Carranza and Inocencio Morales, who were influential in shaping the trade during their lifetime. This connection gives my family a personal link to the rich cultural history of metate production in San Juan Teitipac.

My mother grew up using a metate in her home to mix spices as well as smooth dough for tortillas. She brought her culture with her when she immigrated to the U.S. She doesn't use it as much anymore but she still take it out once in a while to blend her spices.

https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.7560/754768-008/html?lang=en

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The Templo de San Juan Bautista in San Juan Teitipac, Oaxaca, is a historic church built in the late 15th century. It was an important Dominican mission in the Tlacolula Valley during the 1570s, with four friars living there. The church was built over an ancient Zapotec cemetery and is known for its large atrium and cruciform design

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One of the church’s most famous features is its 16th-century frescoes, found in the convento. These murals show scenes from Holy Week and were likely funded by a local religious group. Additionally, the murals also depict the Descent from the Cross, with Dominican friars lowering Christ’s body, and a funeral procession featuring friars, Mary Magdalene, Spanish dignitaries, and local women. Moreover, there are murals of the Virgin Mary, especially Our Lady of the Rosary, on the north wall. The church and its murals offer a peek into the religious and artistic history of colonial Oaxaca.

My father shared a story with me that my grandfather was put in charge of this specific church for around eight months many years ago. The townspeople take turns of selecting who is in charge of their church and many years ago they happened to elect my grandpa. This person in charge has the duty of opening/closing the church, being in charge of events happening there, and additionally being in charge of the money that is received. After his eight months were up he then had to elect a different townsperson to take over for him.

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The U.S. Deported a Million of Its Own Citizens to Mexico During the Great Depression

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Up to 1.8 million people of Mexican descent—most of them American-born—were rounded up in informal raids and deported in an effort to reserve jobs for white people.

https://www.history.com/news/great-depression-repatriation-drives-mexico-deportation