Many early corridos arose partially in response to the prejudice and discrimination that Mexican Americans faced from white Americans in the Southwest. Mexican American pride is particularly evidence in the “Corrido de Kiansis” (“Ballad of Kansas”) that was sung among Texans of Mexican descent, or Tejanos, beginning in the 1860s. The song tells of Mexican Americans leaving Texas and the discrimination they faced there to go to Kansas. It tells of the hardships along the trail. Corridos regularly praise the steer-lassoing skills of the caporal (steer manager). In this corrido, presented in English translation, the caporal’s abilities represent the abilities of Mexican and Texas-Mexican cowboys in general, so when the corridista (singer) praises the deeds of the caporal or his vaqueros (cowboys or cattle-drivers), he is actually praising the Mexicans.