“Brown is Beautiful” is a mural at Backesto Park in San Jose.  Analyn Bones, John Garcia, Francisco Ramirez, Mauricio Magdaleno, and Alfonso Salazar are the artists that worked on the mural and was funded by Ramon Castillo. According to Alfonso, “The mural honors the past, present, and future of our Mexican and Chicano culture”. 

Among the Chicano individuals painted in the mural are: Luis Valdez of Zoot Suit and Teatro Campesino fame, Sofia Mendoza, a San Jose Chicana activist in the 70’s & 80’s and Rosanna Desoto, a San Jose High graduate and movie actress who appeared in La Bamba and Stand & Deliver. Also featured are Tiburcio Vasquez a legendary folk hero, and Cesar Chavez founder of the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) that was later changed to United Farm Workers (UFW). The mural also recognizes the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, the people indigenous to this area. 

The mural is near the corner of North 13th Street & Empire Street in San Jose and next to the handball courts.

Click below to access mural timeline