A writer for the Orange County Weekly, Gustavo Arellano takes on questions from the racist to the inane or naïve in his nationally syndicated column, “Ask a Mexican!”

His column was published in a best seller book by the same title published in 2007 (Scribner Press).   His most recent book is a memoir, Orange County:  A Personal History.

The writer is also a contributing editor to the Los Angeles Times Op/Ed pages and a radio host on KPFK-FM 90.7.

Arellano’s column has a weekly circulation of over 2 million in 39 newspapers across the United States and won the 2006 and 2008 Association of Alternative Weeklies award for Best Column.

Arellano was a finalist for the 2005 Maggie Award's Best Public Service Series or Article category for his work on the Catholic Diocese of Orange sex-abuse scandal, a topic for which he was the recipient of the Lilly Scholarship in Religion from the Religion Newswriters Association.

In addition, he is the recipient of the Los Angeles Press Club's 2007 President's Award and an Impacto Award from the National Hispanic Media Coalition, and was recognized by the California Latino Legislative Caucus with a 2008 Spirit Award for his “exceptional vision, creativity, and work ethic.”

Arellano has been the subject of press coverage in the Los Angeles Times, Houston Chronicle, Reuters, Mexico City's El Universal newspaper, The Today Show, Hannity & Colmes, Nightline, The New York Times, Good Morning America, Utne, and The Colbert Report.

He lives in Orange County and is the proud son of Mexican immigrants.