Ivan Fernandez

A.k.a. Afroxander; Weekend Editor at L.A. Taco and a lecturer at San Diego State University. He has covered arts, culture, history, politics, and sports with an emphasis on Latin America and its U.S. diaspora for over two decades.
The Borderless Legend Before The WWE Mask
Rey Mysterio Sr. gave wrestlers a name, a style, and a future in both Californias. A new PBS documentary tells his story.
The Ultimate Guide to the IE: Inner Inland Empire
Home to nearly 5 million people, the Inland Empire is one of Southern California's most misunderstood communities. Written by actual Inland Empire natives, our official guide cuts through the stereotypes and takes you straight to the real spots, including dishes and vibes you just can't get in L.A.
All Elite Wrestling Lets Its Wrestlers Speak Freely – And The Fans (And Business) Are Responding
“Fuck ICE” chants, speaking up against the genocide in Gaza, a deathmatch with glass, barbed wire, and an exploding table. Welcome to the AEW.
Exploring Historic Palestine’s Buried Landmarks
How Raja Shehadeh’s and Penny Johnson’s travels through Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories revealed many forgotten histories of the region.
Iran Hasn’t Officially Dropped Out Of The FIFA World Cup. But Will They Still Compete?
The back-and-forth between FIFA, Donald Trump, Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali, and the Iranian National Team left plenty of doubt as to what will actually happen come June.
The World Cup is Still Happening This Summer, But It May Not Look As Planned
There’s a lot of confusion about what has and hasn’t happened with the World Cup in the past month. L.A. Taco separates the fact from fiction.
From Prison to Major Museums and His First Book, Mr. Wash Is Now Building a Community Art Center
Mr. Wash will celebrate the release of his book, “Artists In Space,” with a launch and artist conversation at his studio in Compton on March 7.
Who Had a Better Opening Weekend Tailgate: LAFC vs L.A. Galaxy? We Checked Out Both
Whether you root for Team Son, Team Reus, or Team Let’s-All-Have-A-Good-Time, last weekend’s back-to-back games and tailgates were bangers.
How Jim Henson’s Forgotten ’90s Puppet Entered Foo Culture and Is Feeding Our Endless Nostalgia Craving
Could the Sesame Street creator have ever imagined Baby Sinclair rocking a pair of Nike Cortez’?
Thousands March on City Hall in Support of Iranian Crown Prince’s Global Day of Action
Reza Pahlavi, son of the former Shah, has publicly supported and called for protests in Iran and abroad to support regime change against the Islamic Republic.









