Actor Michael Peña and John Leguizamo explore Chicago’s Little Village

Chicago has the second largest Mexican population of any U.S. city. Chicago’s La Villita, or Little Village, contains one of the largest Mexican American populations in the midwest. “The Mexicans who settled here came looking for work and ended up creating the second biggest economy in Chicago,” Leguizamo says. Actor Michael Peña, a Chicago native, takes Leguizamo through the neighborhood and beloved family haunts.
» Subscribe to MSNBC: on.msnbc.com/Su...
Follow MSNBC Show Blogs
MaddowBlog: www.msnbc.com/...
ReidOut Blog: www.msnbc.com/...
MSNBC delivers breaking news, in-depth analysis of politics headlines, as well as commentary and informed perspectives. Find video clips and segments from The Rachel Maddow Show, Morning Joe, The Beat with Ari Melber, Deadline: White House, The ReidOut, All In, Last Word, 11th Hour, and Alex Wagner who brings her breadth of reporting experience to MSNBC primetime. Watch “Alex Wagner Tonight” Tuesday through Friday at 9pm Eastern.
Connect with MSNBC Online
Visit msnbc.com: on.msnbc.com/Re...
Subscribe to the MSNBC Daily Newsletter: MSNBC.com/NewslettersKZbin
Find MSNBC on Facebook: on.msnbc.com/Li...
Follow MSNBC on Twitter: on.msnbc.com/Fo...
Follow MSNBC on Instagram: on.msnbc.com/In...
Actor Michael Peña and John Leguizamo explore Chicago’s Little Village
#Chicago #LeguizamoDoesAmerica #JohnLeguizamo

[@Elheffe312]

So proud of Peña , never knew he was from little village so happy to see someone representing us in a positive way.

[@mickeynewlin]

Puerto Ricans & Mexicans united, I LOVE IT

[@derekkase7884]

John Languizamo is Puerto Rican and Colombian

[@LocoMenteClaraOne]

And Colombians Viva La Raza

[@akaiseigo]

But don't sit them close in a football match.

[@LocoMenteClaraOne]

@@akaiseigo Football meaning futbol? Not a real issue I'd day don't sit them close in a boxing match if and when the opponents are Mexican and Puerto Rican 😂

[@jesv4026]

​@@LocoMenteClaraOneMexican boxers own Puerto Rican boxers

[@cristianrivas3475]

Love this guy. Great representation of us first generation Mexicans. We have similar stories

[@OskieOmega]

Same here growing up here in the late 80s

[@hernandezgg8720]

First generation chicano, you probably meant to say

[@hernandezgg8720]

@Roxy_Penny8889 you're from the country you were born. If you was born into the US, you're not mexican

[@hernandezgg8720]

@Roxy_Penny8889 even if your parents are mexicans

[@chicanoinparadise]

@@hernandezgg8720lol, no he didn’t. He meant first Generation American.

[@martinez209]

Thank you Michael Peña for making us Chicanos proud and playing the guy's character I grew uo with in east stockton Jose Hernandez. You did his character justice. 🇲🇽🇺🇲

[@eg395]

I grew up in Little Village, Chicago and I appreciate you coming back to your roots. One thing I was proud of in the movie “Fury”, you asked the new kid where was he from. You asked him if he was from Chicago. Thanks for representing Chicago bro!

[@Danny-fs1hk]

Chicago’s own Michael Peña! Stand & Deliver was an excellent film too.

[@rosariogaytan5852]

I had no idea Michael Pena is from Chicago!!! Wow!!! I'm from Brighton Park and totally want to be a chicana in film , I loved you in a million miles away

[@ILWU4Ever2024]

I’m from Los Angeles and I have family that lives in Chicago. One of the best cities in America! 🤙🏼

[@ArcadiosMarino]

It was beautiful now is full of scams Venezuela's destroying Chicago 😢

[@eg395]

Im also from Chicago and when I visited LA and I felt so at home.

[@chicanoinparadise]

I’m also first Generation American. Straight up Chicano. Straight from the Pico Union Killings fields of the 90’s. Most my homies are dead, druggies or locked up. It’s good to see other Chicanos being a good example for our youth. Much love Michael and thanks MSNBC For the upload.

[@PraiseOnMyLips]

New sub

[@David-um4dy]

Puro Psycho Realm

[@dalzvert9206]

if you from Chicago and from other areas from the Midwest then you’re not Chicano. you’re just Hispanic-American of Mexican ancestry, Chicanos are from the Southwestern US.

[@JulioRodriguez-dn9kf]

@@dalzvert9206 I think they’re in denial cause they arent chicano not even in the slightest

[@6demon6gang63]

Was just in little village yesterday getting food and some alcohol and i gotta say as someone who speaks very little spanish but enough to kinda get by, everyone was very supportive and helped me out a lot and there was so much culture there and so many local entrepreneurs and its gotta be one of my favorite areas around chicago by far

[@MrDinglin2694]

Mexicans and Colombians always get along No doubt 🇲🇽 🇨🇴

[@raycontreras422]

Leguizamo is PUERTORICAN.

[@curtisbradley5171]

Leguizamo is Colombian, he was born in Bogota, grew up with Boricuas in Queens.​@raycontreras422

[@jessevalencia9689]

What a great episode! We need more of these two gentlemen. I’m originally from Joliet and we would go to taqueria Atotonilco on 26th street as a kid with my family.

[@Milofchg]

As a patron of Atotonilco's Chicago Little Village since it opened in 1977 (when I was 6 yrs old) I still go there. It's nice to see the family still kept everything as it should. Great to see some of the older family members (owners wife, sister) remember my family and I when we get a chance to go there. Very little has changed in 46 years in that establishment which is a good thing. This was one of the first Mexican restaurants in Little Village, maybe the first east of Central Park ave for sure back in the 70's. The best tacos Al Pastor in Chicago. The best Horchata's (rice water), and the best ham Tortas outside Mexico City. This place set the standard on how tacos are prepared in Chicago. Most taco establishments try to emulate Atotonilco's.

[@josemariabaquero8204]

Atotonilco taqueria is my favorite taquería in the world. I haven’t found better tasting tacos anywhere, not even in Mexico.

[@dustywagon298]

The Al pastor tacos are world class

[@josemariabaquero8204]

@@dustywagon298 Been to hundreds of taquerias throughout Mexico and I have not found better tasting pastor.

[@eg8580]

You should try the adobada/al pastor from TJ.

[@dustywagon298]

@@josemariabaquero8204 fr me too. I go to Mexico every other month for work. Nothing comes close

[@Robd07]

I love Michael Pena! Awesome actor whose done a lot of roles! 30 seconds or less was real funny!

[@demelom2596]

I’m just glad that I’m able to understand what they are saying without the subtitles.

[@DannyMartinezMusic]

Love these two guys together. So proud of our Latinidad! So much to be proud of! Felicidades!

[@user-xb2pk4lt9b]

Two of my favorite actors

[@trinicarillo4179]

It bothers me that they keep saying they went to terrible schools. They should rephrase this as they went to underfunded schools. Super Mexican is also something we need to move away from as well. Being Mexican isn’t levels, he was proud of his culture and exhibited. Much like the Irish and Italian do.

[@earthtoLuna33]

Something that bother me as well is that they keep saying Mexicans dress this way we in fact we all don’t..

[@NoeMedrano-p8o]

Cabron michael siente te orgulloso de ser mexicano brown pride vato

[@kevincreighton594]

Little village is literally one of most dangerous parts of Chicago for Michael Peña to get out of that neighborhood and make it to where he did is resilient and a miracle

[@brianh2176]

Wow, KZbin.....why isn't this more popular? Why are you hiding this?

[@treyoftriphorya]

Bc he didn’t go to Farragaut and bc he didn’t wanna take a pic a Chuy garcias B**** a**

[@orlandovega6958]

My parents were migrants. Grew up on southside chicago. Made it out 11 years ago and now in college and three beautiful kids. Stay strong brothers.

[@alejandrogarcia3694]

I love going to Little Village. I have family there and it's nice to be around the Raza. Reminds me of back home at el DF. Barrio Mexicano

[@samuelcorona9214]

I wana see them both in a movie now

[@MiguelBanda-y5g]

❤ una película juntos 😊

[@michaelking9963]

Little village is a dangerous place when your black…when I was a child living in the suburbs of Chicago…there was areas where it was only Mexican…I was told not to go there…But I did ..first food I ever had was a torta ..then the candy..and stuff from the bakery…it was different on that side …they had there own business and they was circulating there money…when I got older I went to that side and Latin Kings …hated me and I was lucky god was with me…My girlfriend is from Mexico City I met her in California…we moved back to the Midwest…The culture is a beautiful thing ..I wish we all could unite …But on this side or anywhere it will never happen

[@MrLeecho]

This was so wonderful to see, what a shame it was not displayed to a major audience.

[@angelgabriel4642]

I remember when the high school I attended in Massachusetts celebrated the one puertorrican that graduated with honors. I was so disgusted that the counselor was so proud of one! One puertorican where they were hundreds of them.

[@jessiechairez914]

Wow!!! I did not know Michael Pena was from Little Village. I love Michael even more now!!!

[@cassie1dueces]

Love this 2 one of my faves arriba nuestra gente

[@on1-4life]

2 of my favorite actors 😮

[@MariaHernandez-jd2bi]

I was raised in Little Village back in the late 60's and early 70's. Worked on 26th street.

[@Nunyabznis]

Had me at Peña then added a Leguizamo? Awesome.

[@eliassalcedo5229]

Excellent video, bring some more.

[@smjjm]

John Leguizamo looking like Chalino Sánchez

[@MariaHernandez-jd2bi]

Back then there was Goldblatt's and a Woolworth on Pulaski.

[@romeog5579]

It’s Benny from the Bronx

[@eddievenuto1862]

Those two guys great

[@eddieelprimoflores5620]

Much love to the both of them.there both really good actors and it's nice to see that they came to the barrrio.

[@breej69]

Love both of these actors!

[@lauragarza1432]

Love for you both from Pilsen 🧡 Part 2?!

[@casksj356]

They’re at Atotonilco! Best tacos Al Pastor in the city! My family’s been going there since the 90s. :D

[@2800sawyer]

That's the spot right there amo lil village

[@BaseballPlayer0]

atotonilco

[@talisha5863]

Absolutely love this duo💕

[@MrEarthquake213]

Yes very true about family. My friend is white. He trips out on how my Mexican family is close & that we are always together. He says he doesn’t have that in his family. Yet he loves hanging out with us.

[@JOMACO2008]

Next time they should do it in Spanish. A Mexican and a Colombian speaking in English, it seems a little strange. (Una proxima en español, por favor)

[@Rmn_ski]

@JOMACO2008 The segment is on MSNBC, an American, English speaking network but if it was on Univision or Telemundo then you’d have a valid point.

[@mikelopez9817]

Love these two talented gentlemen, would be great to see them in the same movie!

[@DaddyEl-sp1hc]

Viva Mexico Colombia piers Rico

[@miagy5088]

I did the same thing I moved 3 of my 4 sons to better schools out of the hood big difference.

[@lucio.martinez]

Uff, qué padre! Yo soy mexicano, en el USA, desde guachito. Conozco estas dos culturas, el colombo-boricua y el chicano mexicano. Yo soy pocho, nacido mexicano, con cultura algo chicana, pero más mexicana. I remember el Leguizamo from, "Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar", y "Mambo Mouth". Saludos from Florida y'all! 🇲🇽🇺🇸

[@dalzvert9206]

Michael Peña isnt Chicano because he isnt from the Southwestern US, hes Hispanic-American of Mexican origins from the Midwest all the while John Leguizamo is Hispanic of Colombian origins from Latin America and he has no Puerto Rican origins

[@charlesxavier9485]

@@dalzvert9206 real 💯

[@highlymysteriousplayer9694]

LOL eres "Pocho" ? ahahahahah deberias aprender español bien antes de usarlo, pocho es un insulto

[@Quietbear7]

We need an action movie with Michael and John Stay tuned you'll never know 😮

[@Goldone99]

This Guy reminds you of one of your favorite Uncles

[@sirenloud]

The chemistry these two guys have I want to see a buddy cop movie comedy

[@eg395]

A funny cop movie would be awesome.

[@MegaLBreezy]

Pena already did Last of Watch, but put these 2 in something!

[@leticiavillafranco6347]

I grew up in Chicago had no idea Michael Pe ňa was from.there I just assumed he was a California cholo lol. Much love to you both!

[@desareereynoso1005]

These two make me proud!!

[@DCnativeArtist]

John Leguizamo had me dying laughing 😂

[@bryntookool]

My two favorite Latino actors

[@TheBigFeboski]

These two reminded me of how much I Love being Latino!!!!!

[@MannyKeys]

Awesome Atotos the best

[@carlosssandovallucas9326]

COMUNITY IS GREAT MEN

[@sirenloud]

Me hizo la boca esa torta

[@AbeVicious]

First place my father lived after coming here from Mexico was Chicago. I remember seeing his photos of him and friends in bell-bottoms and hippie hair, mustache. Kinda wish i was in chicago to experience it.

[@jblancodj]

Two icons!!! This is wild!!!

[@Chevy969]

Benny blanco knows how to dress up player. Why he actin.

[@maymoon8851]

Wait nooo I need more 😢😂😂😂

[@AndreaHernandez-nj8md]

Grandes Actores😊 Felicidades y que Dios los Bendiga🙏

[@ChilliChilo]

I did not know Michael pena was from Chicago wow😮

[@MsJanetWood]

1:18 John! John! My dear sweet John! You say you didn't learn anything in public school? Who taught you how to read and write? Who taught you how to add and subtract? Multiply and divide? Who taught you how to speak English? Please show more respect for inner city teachers! 🌸

[@jerryfaz1921]

Did he ask ( what is crema? ) WTJ JL!! 😂😂🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@davidfognini8526]

The TANNED is type (:the Spaniards) discovered America and the native Americans cross the Bering stretch!

[@chinto6389]

Animo Raza 🇺🇲🇲🇽

[@flyntvera]

grew up in the hood, went to a prep school and joined Scientology.

[@thomengel9720]

Two of my favorite actors.

[@jaymartinez8208]

(Stand And Deliver 1988) Was A Great Movie About The Raza That Inspired Our Youth The Previous Generation And You Could Tell That Michael Peña Inspired The Next Generation Of Raza With The Great Professor And Philosopher In The Film (Walkout 2006) And (Caesar Chavez 2014) Based On True Stories About Raza Overcoming The Struggle. I WILL FOREVER BE THANKFUL FOR FILMS LIKE THAT, THANK YOU! 💪🏽😎

[@NoshirtNickJohnson]

These two need to make a movie together...I love Them! 🎥💯

[@mponce661]

John LeguizaMo really asking, “what’s creama ?”, is comical

[@HopeOverComesFear369]

I appreciate seeing this video because i felt outcasted from little village because am Puerto Rican and felt unwelcome in little village because I learned that Puerto Ricans are not well received their but I hope everyone sees this video to see them 2 together makes a statement in many ways .

[@reneriley8132]

I feel you brother, being from Mexican heritage in Humboldt park was rough. I’ve Never felt welcomed. Never understood why the animosity between Mexican and Puerto Rican.

[@donatello4041]

That drama is more prevelant in schools than the hood. From little village i went to Prosser and Sabin Magnet

[@HopeOverComesFear369]

just don't understand it h. park didn't show me to hate Mexicans if anything I saw and learned that Mexicans were happy to have friends of P.Rican I had friends growing up Mexican and once I moved their I learn how Mexicans in little village hate us for what . @@reneriley8132

[@HopeOverComesFear369]

the crazy thing is I never had a reason to hate Mex. my brother is Mex and he died at birth and my sisters are Mex I have family of many decent9if thats the right word to use) both I could believe what I had to intake from little village sideways hate I aint down with that. @@donatello4041

[@lotusgrl444]

Isnt he Colombian!? Nonetheless, when I was in 7th/8th grade, I had curly hair, this was back in the 90s and as a Mexican I hated when ppl would say I looked puerto rican bc of my curls..it was silly but there was real beef back then between Mexicans and Puerto Ricans..now I love me some jibaritos and even visited La Isla Del Encanto!!

[@logogonzalez6083]

Aqui te nemos 2 primeros actores Latinos DOS grandes' de Verdad

[@slappygilmore7653]

I love watching these two as actors but seeing them in this one on one interview and seeing them are normal human beings is amazing I'd love to just spend a day with the both of them just once and hear these stories in person

[@wendyalvarado8626]

I didn’t knew I needed this collaboration, but I need more! There so funny together 😂

[@charlie-zc6bj]

Mexican🇲🇽 owen little villages.

[@MichaelDavis-si9bv]

Pena's best line "I love to racism, bro!". Jk. Dude is a solid actor with a great personality. Love Latinos. Whites are dope as well. One love. \m/

[@Rmn_ski]

Eastbound & Down!

[@JulioRodriguez-dn9kf]

hmm 🤔 some Latinos are white so i dont know why know your comment implies that Latino is a race when its not because they’re factually an ethnicity 🤨 one love as well mane.

[@MichaelDavis-si9bv]

@@JulioRodriguez-dn9kf calm down Julio. I love u brother fr. \m/

[@Splatpope]

it's always nice seeing twin brothers spend a nice evening together

[@mstkblulady]

These two look like twins lol 😆

[@tonyledesma8724]

They sound the same,at one point i couldn't really tell who was who

[@SierenH]

Stand and Deliver is one of my favorite movies.

[@jpr2136]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@bobtorres7949]

Wait holdnon Michael John's been here for many films & shows

[@WeShallC]

One outfit change and he went from John to Jose. 😂

[@zackketz]

Pena is top tier and criminally under utilized.

[@ozziev3966]

Bro what!? John looked fkn dope haha been a big fan of his since i was a kid ❤ now he dressing like us thats crazy 🤣🤠

[@blackam41]

Such amazing and beautiful people

[@MariaHernandez-jd2bi]

Best food.

[@calligrapher2157]

He attended our High School in Chicago

[@jessesalazar9018]

With Latin ppl family is so important because we know what it’s like up rooted and separated

[@RogerLoera]

Pena, you blend perfect now,lol!!

[@thecaffeinefiend]

Latino representation! Love it 👏🏻

[@jrock8714]

John claims to be Hispanic yet doesn’t know what crema means ?lol poser

[@rauldiaz7309]

John is Colombian. Maybe they don't have crema or its not as common in Colombiano foods. I'm Mexican and don't like crema. Never really had it on our table growing up. Tacos de frijol con chile was more our survival food in the 70s and 80s 😋

[@jrock8714]

@@rauldiaz7309 come on bro.He has been in hollyweird for how long ?im pretty sure he ate Mexican food before,it’s not like he lived in Colombia his whole life.John acts like he’s in touch with the Hispanic community yet don’t know what crema is?!in my opinion he’s a phony and piggy backs off of us

[@1983jcheat]

I'm Puerto Rican and never heard of it.

[@elchicano1746]

He made him out to be a pasia

[@jaydaytoday3548]

Part 2???? Its started getting good and ended???

[@stlegion-kz1qj]

Not only do they look alike but they sound alike too, difference is that john looks and sounds like an older version of Michael