While “Fbooking” a few days back, I came across a friend’s status that basically stated that one’s knowledge- or lack thereof – of Spanish did not represent his/her level of “Latino-ness.” While I understood exactly what he meant, my opinion, ultimately, differs from that sentiment. Despite the fact that I agree that it does Read More

  When I was a child, I would hear my father playing these songs that sounded like marching band music. Well, that’s the way it  sounded to me back then. My Dad told me the dance to this music was called El Paso Doble and it was the dance of los toreros (Bullfighters). He would grab my Read More

Everything and everyone dies, eventually. Our physical beings inhabit this plane of existence for only a short time, before our spirits move on to other worlds. Death is part of the circle of life, and every culture has different ways in which they deal with it. There are cultures who celebrate the passing of loved Read More

As with many of the world’s most creative minds, Julia de Burgos’ fame and honor has come posthumously, as she is honored during this 2010 Latino Heritage Month. With its addition of the 26th stamp in the Literary Arts series on September 14, the United States Post Office (USPS) honors the life and work of Read More

Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the contributions Hispanic Americans have made to society. It began in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson as Hispanic Heritage week. It was intended to be the week that included September 15th and 16th. These days were chosen because September 15th is the independence day of five Latin American countries and September Read More

After my first trip to Argentina, my camera was filled with photos of filetes – an Argentine decorative art form, not the meat. The Fileteado Porteño – Porteño means someone who is from or lives in a port city and is also what you call the people (and anything really) of Buenos Aires – can Read More

  The first time I had heard of the dance called “Cumbia” was over 20 years ago. My good friend and her brothers took me to a club in Astoria, Queens, called “Illusiones.”   My friend is Equadorian and she was showing me the dance steps to do the “Cumbia“  Unbeknown to me at the Read More

  As with many second generation immigrants, I’m often the one in the family handling the contacts with hospitals, schools, and authorities in general. Mi abuela only speaks Spanish and my dad, although his Swedish is very good after living here for over 30 years, still has an accent. Being born and raised in Sweden, Read More

  In 2007, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a study that surprised the breast cancer research community. The study looked for the presence of BRCA1, a genetic mutation known as the “breast cancer gene” in women of different ethnic backgrounds. Like other studies before it, this one found that the highest incidence Read More

    The Tango, the dance that everyone would love to learn to do with their significant other. When this dance is done correctly, it is smoldering to watch and it brings out that passion. Many people believe that the Tango is originally from Argentina but it’s origins go back to Spain. The Tango Andaluz, Read More