Byline: Raul Reyes

Growing up, my cousin Becka used to tell me that I was a lousy Chicano. I didn't like rice and beans, which in my Mexican-American household we ate with nearly every meal. I couldn't wait to get away from East Los Angeles. And I wouldn't have been caught dead listening to Latin music; I couldn't understand all of the words anyway.

Once I left home, however, I became an unlikely convert to Selena fandom. Flipping around the late-night TV dial, I'd catch sight of the pop singer on the Spanish-language variety shows. With her full, red lips and cascading dark hair, Selena was charismatic, sexy and still a lot like the chica next door.

Her music reminded...