Have you ever been in a situation where you didn’t really know what language to speak? Whether in class, work or at home, people tend to see what the general census is saying. However, I also think sometimes people overlook being bilingual. Some people even find it strange when speaking another language. I Read More
What "In The Heights" Means To Us
05/04/2010 By Leave a Comment
Now that In the Heights has broken out on Broadway and is now Salsa dancing its way through a nation-wide tour (its swinging hips will land in Los Angeles in June) it’s time that Latinos take a breather and reflect on how the musical proves that there IS some positive progress happening for Read More
Fought and paid for democracy?
05/04/2010 By Leave a Comment
I grew up in a world where Civil Right was already fought and paid for by my Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Mother, Father, Tias, and Tios. They fought for the rights I was born with as a free-brown-skinned Chicana (American of Mexican ancestry). They walked out of schools and work places in protest for not Read More
Arizona takes the initiative
04/30/2010 By 5 Comments
The national firestorm over the new state law passed by the Arizona state legislature and signed by the republican governor, Jan Brewer, last week has reignited the heated debate on both sides of the political aisle that has laid dormant for the past two years, as to what to do with illegal immigrants in Read More
Standing tall in a pail full of crabs
04/30/2010 By Leave a Comment
Back in late January, a family friend and fellow Latino decided to run in a special election — an off-cycle election to fill a sudden vacant position in political office. Those who have experience working in the political realm know that this meant that a laundry list of things needed to be completed Read More
The problem with SB1070
04/29/2010 By Leave a Comment
The point that some people seem to be missing here, is that this bill essentially means that ANYONE that is brown skinned is potentially an illegal immigrant. Are you getting that? It’s not a question of whether someone is or isn’t an illegal alien. SB1070 makes it illegal to be Hispanic in the Read More
Raise your voz
04/29/2010 By Leave a Comment
I keep seeing disrespectful humility inducing events happening, that is directed at Latino/as, in public space. A friend in Chicago was belittled publicly for being brown-skinned and Spanish speaking, as she was buying certain foods for her baby with WIC (Women Infant Children) funds. Two grocery store cashiers ganged up on her and Read More
Resisting Deculturization – Why Latino Books Matter
04/25/2010 By 3 Comments
Deculturization: (as defined by the urban dictionary) The removing or abandoning of one’s own culture and replacing it with another (foreign culture). While reading the introduction to the groundbreaking volume Boricuas: Influential Puerto Rican Writings, my hair stood on end when editor Roberto Santiago told the heartbreaking story of how one of his Read More
Latinas: Beyond the stereotypical sexy Mama
04/23/2010 By 4 Comments
In the last decade or so the United States has seen an influx of Latin culture. The US has been quick to accept certain aspects of Latin culture like our food, music, and our women. Famous Latinas such as Salma Hayek, Jennifer Lopez, Eva Mendez, Shakira are now household names. Latinas are recognized Read More
Felíz Primavera: Be allergy free!
04/23/2010 By Leave a Comment
Some people have a love-hate relationship with the beautiful season we know as La Primavera (Spring). For those of us living in the temperate zone, the Spring Equinox offers longer days, with the promise of sun, grass, endless amounts of varied flower species, and quality time with family, significant others, and friends. It’s Read More