Latino arts, history and culture
In 1962, Sylvester Raymond Mireles, became the first Latino faculty member at East Los Angeles College (ELAC). Ray (as he chose to be called,) was a pioneer in the Chicano movement for proudly wearing … [Read more...]
In 1943, gangs of American servicemen attacked young Mexican American youth dressed in Zoot Suits, beat them and ripped off their clothes. This infamous incident, that lasted a week, became known as … [Read more...]
In the 1940s, in response to widespread discrimination by American society, Mexican American youth created their own counter-culture movement. They called themselves pachucos and they had their own … [Read more...]
Ernesto Galarza (August 15, 1905 – June 22, 1984) was a Chicano labor organizer, activist, professor, poet, writer, storyteller, and a key figure in the history of immigrant farm workers in … [Read more...]
Latinopia History Montoya on Pachucos from Latinopia.com on Vimeo. In this excerpt from the documentary Visions of Aztlán, acclaimed poet and artist José Montoya recalls the scapegoating of … [Read more...]
On January 7, 2026, Renee Good, a mother of three, was killed by an Immigration and Custom Enforcement agent. The killing was captured on videotape causing many to declare the event a brazen murder by … [Read more...]
Dr. Rudy Acuña was a renowned historian and founder of Chicano Studies at California State University at Northridge. He was author of the most influential book on Chicano history, Occupied America. He … [Read more...]
Latinopia has previously posted a profile of Dr. Ernesto Galarza and his life work. In this Epilog, Latinopia looks at the foundational period in Galarza's life when he was a young student at … [Read more...]
The Chicana and Chicano Studies department at California State University Northridge was created in the Spring of 1969 following turbulent protests by African American and Mexican American students … [Read more...]
Latinopia Event 1972 Occupied America Published from Latinopia.com on Vimeo. In 1972, Dr. Rodolfo Acuña published his landmark history book, Occupied America, A History of Chicanos. Within a short … [Read more...]
In this third episode of the Ernesto Galarza Story we learn about his efforts to form the first National Farm Labor Union in the United States and how that effort was undermined by the Bracero … [Read more...]
In this fourth episode of The Ernesto Galarza Story we learn of how Galarza efforts to end the bracero program created conditions for the successful launching of the United Farm Workers Union by Cesar … [Read more...]
In this first episode of the Ernesto Galarza Story we learn of Galarza's early childhood, his education at Occidental College and Stanford University and his vital role as an international ombudsman … [Read more...]
In this second episode of the Ernesto Galarza Story we learn of Galarza's work as a diplomat and ombudsman to Latin American countries during World War Two and how this led to his being investigated … [Read more...]
Latinopia is proud to recognize Dr. Ricardo Romo as a Latinopia Hero. Ricardo is a nationally respected urban historian, educator, and advocate for Latino culture and civil rights. From 1992 to 1999, … [Read more...]
In 1937 San Antonio, Texas was the center of pecan production in the United States. More than 12,000 people worked at shelling pecans for America's markets. When management decided to cut back on … [Read more...]
EMMA TENAYUCA, LABOR ORGANIZER Born on December 21, 1916, Emma Tenayuca was the eldest of eleven children who was raised by her maternal grandparents in San Antonio, Texas. Perhaps best known … [Read more...]
What do artists do when they want to talk about their craft to one another? They get together and share a meal and talk shop! Such an event took place on November 6, 2009 when a number of Chicano … [Read more...]
On October 18, 2025, seven million Americans rose up to march and protest President Donald Trump's draconian measures to destroy American democracy and the rule of law. One of the citie sin which the … [Read more...]
Mexican Independence Day “El Grito” Throughout Mexico and in Mexican and Chicano communities in the United States, the 16th of September is celebrated as Mexican Independence Day. It is the day … [Read more...]
Esta semana honramos la memoria de un artista y restaurador de arte Jaime Mejía Servín (8 de julio de 1940 - 22 de mayo de 2025), un visionario creativo cuyo impacto influyó profundamente en la … [Read more...]
