Latino arts, history and culture
The story of Mamá’s repisa, or home altar, is a deeply personal and spiritual journey that spans decades, homes, and generations. In the 1940s and early 1950s, nestled in the heart of Barrio El … [Read more...]
During a recent thunderstorm, I was reminiscing about my days growing up in my beloved Barrio El Azteca in Laredo, Texas when my beloved Mamá had the habit of covering all the mirrors. Her custom … [Read more...]
Latinopia preamble. The battle of the Alamo is one of the iconic stories in American history and, over time, has grown in asserting the heroic valor of the Alamo defenders. Particularly significant … [Read more...]
Capirotada, the beloved Mexican bread pudding, carries centuries of history in every warm, cinnamon‑soaked bite. Its origins trace back to Spanish colonial times, when cooks blended Old World … [Read more...]
The Rio Grande has long been more than a river dividing nations; it has been a meeting place of cultures, faiths, and hidden legacies. Along its banks, towns in northern Mexico and South Texas became … [Read more...]
During the 1940s and 1950s, two of the well-known Mexican actors of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema that I would see on the big screen at the Cine Azteca in the Barrio El Azteca were Arturo de … [Read more...]
The other day while we were having lunch in our house in San Antonio and from the window, which is facing north, you can see people walking on the sidewalk in front of the house, and this man walked … [Read more...]
The tradition of eating buñuelos on New Year’s Day is woven deeply into Mexican history, stretching back to the blending of Spanish and Indigenous cultures. What began as a simple fried dough brought … [Read more...]
The Spanish language, like many tongues, is a tapestry woven from centuries of cultural encounters. One of the most profound influences came from the Arab world during the Middle Ages, when the Moors … [Read more...]
The story of Thanksgiving in the United States is often tied to the Pilgrims of Plymouth in 1621, but history reveals that a similar celebration occurred decades earlier. In 1598, Spanish explorer … [Read more...]
The cold winds sweeping through the streets today in San Antonio stir up cherished memories of my childhood in my beloved Barrio El Azteca during the 1940s and 1950s, where the comforting aroma of … [Read more...]
One morning when Jo Emma and I went on our regular walking around the walking track that is right across the street from our house, we started comparing notes when we first heard the term, "tatuaje," … [Read more...]
All Souls Day—El Día de los Muertos—is a sacred and joyful celebration deeply rooted in Mexican and Mexican American culture. Observed this coming Sunday on November 2nd, it is a time when families … [Read more...]
This is Part Two of Two Parts of six notable people from San Antonio, Texas, for a total of twelve outstanding individuals. Through the encouragement and persuasion of my good friend, brother … [Read more...]
This is Part One of Two Parts, each highlighting six distinguished individuals from San Antonio, Texas, for a total of twelve outstanding persons. I joined the Bexar County Historical Commission in … [Read more...]
Twenty-six years ago, April 1999, Texas A&M University Press published Border Boss: Manuel B. Bravo and Zapata County authored by this writer. It received the prestigious Texas Institute of … [Read more...]
In the heart of Mexican culture, certain phrases carry more than just meaning—they carry memory, warmth, and a sense of belonging. One such phrase is "Vete por la sombrita" or "Te vas por la … [Read more...]
One morning Jo Emma and I went to run some errands close to the house and one of them had to do with stopping at the Dollar Tree to buy some crossword puzzles. We found only two different types for a … [Read more...]
A very important historical event will occur on Monday, September 8, 2025, which marked the 125th anniversary of the birth of Adela Velarde Pérez, also known as La Adelita. When I was growing up in … [Read more...]
Curanderismo (folk healing) is an integral component of the fabric that is very much a part of the Mexican American cultural, social, and historical heritage. My paternal grandmother, Doña Emilia, or … [Read more...]
The phrase "Con Safo," often abbreviated as "C/S," carries profound significance within the Mexican American communities of San Antonio and South Texas. Growing up in the cherished Barrio El Azteca … [Read more...]
