Rueben Martinez
Encyclopedia
Rueben Martinez is a Mexican-American activist
and businessman. Seeing no future for himself in the small mining town where he grew up, at the age of seventeen Martinez left Arizona for Southern California
. He found a job at the massive Bethlehem Steel plant in Maywood, East Los Angeles, attended night school at Santa Ana College, married and began raising a family. By the standards of his community he was a success, but as the years went by Martinez began to feel that he hadn't yet found an occupation which was 'the right fit.' He quit Bethlehem Steel to explore a series of other jobs in Southern California until finally in the late 1970s he used his savings to open a barbershop in downtown Santa Ana and proceeded to cut hair fulltime for over twenty years.
, California
was a gathering place for the movers and shakers in Orange County
. His interest in the community and in the needs of small businessmen led him to be active in California Democratic
politics, especially among Latinos. He has been a delegate
to several nominating conventions.
In 1993, Martinez got an idea that grew from a customer novelty to a full flown national business. Martinez realized that the Latino community in California did not have bookshops that focused on their culture. His small collection of books featuring imported books and Latino and Chicano
artists soon outgrew his barbershop. He moved his business around the corner to an empty storefront and turned his attention to the books.
Librería Martinez Books & Art Gallery and Libros Para Niños, a children’s bookstore, are recognized nationwide for showcasing Latino authors and artists. He has also had a passion for making Latino books available to children, and has promoted reading among children of all ages.
. The selection committee cited Martinez for "fusing the roles of marketplace and community center to inspire appreciation of literature and preserve Latino literary heritage."
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
and businessman. Seeing no future for himself in the small mining town where he grew up, at the age of seventeen Martinez left Arizona for Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. He found a job at the massive Bethlehem Steel plant in Maywood, East Los Angeles, attended night school at Santa Ana College, married and began raising a family. By the standards of his community he was a success, but as the years went by Martinez began to feel that he hadn't yet found an occupation which was 'the right fit.' He quit Bethlehem Steel to explore a series of other jobs in Southern California until finally in the late 1970s he used his savings to open a barbershop in downtown Santa Ana and proceeded to cut hair fulltime for over twenty years.
Professional life
His barber shop in downtown Santa AnaSanta Ana, California
Santa Ana is the county seat and second most populous city in Orange County, California, and with a population of 324,528 at the 2010 census, Santa Ana is the 57th-most populous city in the United States....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
was a gathering place for the movers and shakers in Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
. His interest in the community and in the needs of small businessmen led him to be active in California Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politics, especially among Latinos. He has been a delegate
Delegate
A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization at a meeting or conference between organizations of the same level A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization (e.g., a government, a charity, an NGO, or a trade union) at a meeting or conference...
to several nominating conventions.
In 1993, Martinez got an idea that grew from a customer novelty to a full flown national business. Martinez realized that the Latino community in California did not have bookshops that focused on their culture. His small collection of books featuring imported books and Latino and Chicano
Chicano
The terms "Chicano" and "Chicana" are used in reference to U.S. citizens of Mexican descent. However, those terms have a wide range of meanings in various parts of the world. The term began to be widely used during the Chicano Movement, mainly among Mexican Americans, especially in the movement's...
artists soon outgrew his barbershop. He moved his business around the corner to an empty storefront and turned his attention to the books.
Librería Martinez Books & Art Gallery and Libros Para Niños, a children’s bookstore, are recognized nationwide for showcasing Latino authors and artists. He has also had a passion for making Latino books available to children, and has promoted reading among children of all ages.
MacArthur Fellows Program
In 2004, Martinez was the recipient of a MacArthur FellowshipMacArthur Fellows Program
The MacArthur Fellows Program or MacArthur Fellowship is an award given by the John D. and Catherine T...
. The selection committee cited Martinez for "fusing the roles of marketplace and community center to inspire appreciation of literature and preserve Latino literary heritage."
External links
- Libreria Martinez Books and Art Gallery
- http://www.xispas.com/archives/libreria/libreria.htm
- http://www.whittier.edu/pr/rls.ENTREPRENEUR_MARTINEZ.html
- http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2004-10-10-barber-genius-grant_x.htm
- http://www.theconnection.org/shows/2004/10/20041005_b_main.asp
- http://www.inc.com/magazine/20050401/26-martinez.html