HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS, END OF THE YEAR REVIEW, BEST LATINOPIA VIDEOS AND MORE!

Hola my fearless, fascinating, ferocious, and fecund Latinopians! As the holidays are now upon us and there’s no getting out of them, Latinopia thought we’d try to minimize the damage by suggesting some thoughtful holiday gifts. I know you are all dying to stand in long lines at the local Target, Macy’s or Sears to buy overpriced and over-hyped goods produced at slave wages in China, Thailand and Mexico. But we’re here to offer an alternative– some suggestions of art and literature you can purchase which will not only enrich the minds and lives of your loved one, but also help out a local Latino/a artist. Check out our HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS!

Latinopia now has more than 280 videos on the website. But we know many of you have missed some along the way. So for the next few weeks, till the beginning of the year, we’ll be reposting the TOP LATINOPIA VIDEOS, two a week. We begin this week with one of our LIBROTRAFICANTE videos. As you know in 2012 Houston activist Tony Diaz undertook a three-state caravan to bring Latino books banned by the state of Arizona to the Latino children of Tucson.  Latinopia was onboard the bus caravan as it left Houston and stopped at Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Texas as well as Mesilla and Albuquerque New Mexico before finally arriving at Tucson. We reprise one of these special Librotraficante Videos as the group visits renowned author Rudy Anaya in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Our other video this week is an original drama, INUNDATION, written and directed by 18-year old Daniel Ríos from El Paso Texas. In a world of narcotraficantes and bloody cartel wars, this high school senior came up with a riveting drama that you must see!

Like palomas to their nido, our loyal Latinopia bloggers return as always. Don Felípe De Ortego y Gasca brings us another BRAVO ROAD WITH DON FELÍPE–this week he muses about the national American identity and whether or not we are indeed, as so many people claim, a “nation of immigrants.”  Luis Torres brings us a thoughtful end-of-the-year wrap up for 2013 in his monthly TALES OF TORRES blog. Was this a good or bad year for Latinos?

This week Sergio Hernández’s ARNIE AND PORFI cartoon comments on the recent passing of human liberator Nelson Mandela. Angela Ortiz brings us another one of her signature photos in ANGELA’S PHOTO OF THE WEEK. And Lazaro De La Tierra brings us yet another chapter in the ZOMBIE MEX DIARIES–things are getting heated up now so don’t miss this blog episode.

Lots of great stuff on Latinopia this week–so get to it!

Adelante,

Tia Tenopia

CAPIROTADA. TAMALES, ESOTERIC GRAFFITI AND MORE!

Hola mis queridos Latinopians. Your Tia Tenopia here and I can’t believe my eyes–December is already on us! I’m barely getting over Thanksgiving–hay como comi! Well, talking about food this is the month for great Mexican dishes like posole, tamales, champurrada and tamales. So this week, to give you all a headstart on your holiday comidas, in our videos this week we visit with Diana Velarde Hernández in her Cocina Hernández for recipes on  two classic Holiday dishes, tamales and capirotada. Check out these cool recipes and you can start planning for your holiday meals. After you watch the video on the tamalda you may be inspired to get your friends together and spend a day with your elbows deep in masa and chile colorado.

Also this week Harry Gamboa Jr. returns with his monthly blog, this one is all about literary graffiti–you didn’t know there was such a thing? Well check out what Harry does with his poetics of wall writing.

Sergio Hernández returns with two new Arnie and Porfi cartoons, both revolving around Thanksgiving and Black Friday. As always Sergio brings humor to our daily travails. And don’t miss Angela Ortiz’s Photo of the Week. This week she offers us a look at natural “Simplicity.”

Enjoy this week on Latinopia!

Tia Tenopia

JFK, DOÑA JULIA’S CHILDREN, RICKY LUV, CHICANO SCIENCE FICTION Y MÁS!

Hola my gente! We got a great week of Latinopia coming at you! Our two videos involve our home grown Latinopia bloggers, Ricardo Acuña and Luis Torres. Ricardo brings us another of his Ricky Luv videos. As you know Ricardo Acuña is an accomplished writer but also, as you will see, quite a filmmaker as well. This month’s Ricky Luv video comments on the hard path of struggling screenwriters in Hollywood, or as he calls it “In The City.”

Your Tia is delighted to announce that Luis Torres has just published a biography of educational reformer Vahac Mardirosian. I didn’t know much about this guy Mardirosian so I asked my Tio Braulio–you know, he prides himself on being Mr. Movimiento. My Tio Braulio told me that back in 1968 when Chicano kids were walking out of the four East Los Angeles high schools to protest the inferior education they were receiving, it was Vahac Mardirosian who brought parents, teachers and students together to tackle educational reform. He led the Educational Issues Coordinating Committee  which brought about many changes for Mexican Americans in the Los Angeles school system. Luis Torres tells the story of how this Armenian Mexican came to the United States, got involved in the movimiento and did so much for American children. Check the video on Luis’s book, Doña Jullia’s Children,  and then go out and buy it!

Our monthly and weekly bloggers are also back. We start with Sergio Hernández’s and his remembrance of the assassination of President John F Kennedy. As you know this week marks the fiftieth anniversary of his death in Dallas, Texas. We also repost a classic and quite historic MOMENT IN TIME photo of President Kennedy meeting with Latino members of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) on the night before his death. Quite a telling photo and read the interview with a Latino who was there that night. His recollections are chilling.

Angela Ortiz’s Photo of the Week is titled “When Nature Takes Over.” Check out this humorous photo. And Lazaro De La Tierra brings us a NEW Zombie Mex Diaries blog…vegetarian zombies? Go figure.

Last but not least we have a book review by our Arizona Irish Chicano author Ernie Hogan. He reviews the speculative fiction novel Afro-6 written in 1969 by the late Chicano activist attorney Hank Lopez who, among other things is arguably the FIRST Chicano to attend Harvard University! Anyway, don’t miss Ernie’s review and be sure to tell your friends about his Chicanonautica blog at http://labloga.blogspot.com.

Lots to enjoy, so get with it!

Abrazos,

Tia Tenopia

JFK ASSASSINATION, PANCHO VILLA PRAYERS AND AN HOMAGE TO POETS RAÚL SALINAS AND JOSÉ MONTOYA!

Hola mis peripatetic, pensativos y muy precocious Latinopians! Hey, this is Levi Romero week on Latinopia! Y quien es este vato Levi? Pues, just the most firme vato poet from New Mexico, check this out: he was named centenntial poet for the state of New Mexico 2012! Well, Levi visits us this week in two renditions. A long-time friend of legendary Chicano poets Raúl Salinas (1934-2008) and José Montoya (1932 -2013), he pens a poem homage to his two friends, “High School English.” Check out the irony in this one.  And Latinopia caught up with Levi in 2012 when he read his poem “Pancho Villa’s Prayers” at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. You all remember this was the month when Tony Díaz led his Librotraficantes book caravan throughout the Southwest to bring banned books to the children of Tucson, Arizona. If you don’t know anything about this amazing campaign, check out the six Librotraficantes videos on the Latinopia Events page. Anyway, enjoy Levi’s cool poems.

And speaking of New Mexico, Don Felípe de Ortego y Gasca weighs in on his inimitable monthly blog, Bravo Road with Don Felípe. This month Don Felípe considers the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and its impact on the Latino Community. Of course, your Tia Tenopia wasn’t even born when this tragic even took place but Don Felípe’s words makes you think about this with a new perspective. Leélo!

And our returning weekly bloggers Doña Angela Ortíz, Sergio Hernández and Lazaro De La Tierra return with their blogs. Angela has a new weekly photo, “Driving Hollywood Blvd,” Sergio opines on up-coming Thanksgiving Day but from a corporate America perspective (este vato!) and Lazaro continues to discover the twists and turns of life as a Chicano Zombie in East Los Angeles.

Check it all out on Latinopia this week!

OOXX

Tia Tenopia

REBEL WOMEN, UNBANNING BOOKS AND GEORGIA LATINOS .

Hola mis queridos! Great news this week, the Tucson Unified School District which had banned dozens of books written by Latinos and utilized in Mexican American Studies classes back in January of 2012, finally got some sense and “unbanned” the books in questions. Latinopia bloggger Sal Baldenegro and his wife Ceci were involved in helping bring this about.  But we’ll let Sal explain it all in his Political Salsa y Más with Sal Baldenegro. This is a historic win for our community so be sure to read the blog!

Our video this week are in cinema. We chat with María Agui Carter, a Latina filmmaker whose recent film REBEL was broadcast over PBS.  As my Tia Braulio often says, “This will blow your mind!”  Rebel is the story of a Cuban woman who disguised herself as  a man and fought as a soldier during the American Civil War (for three years y nadie supo!) . You won’t want to miss this fascinating story and María’s takeaway about what the life of this Cuban woman has to say to today’s Latinas. Check it out!

Eduardo Díaz returns wit his blog, Mirándolo Bien with Eduardo Día. This week Eduardo tells of the most surprising places where one will find Latinos in the United States and what that may mean for all of us.

Angela Ortiz’s photo this week is titled “Cycles” and makes you think about life’s ebb and flow.

Enjoy this week on Latinopia!

OOXX

Tia Tenopia

AZTLÁN ART SHOW, PLANE WRECK AT LOS GATOS & ARCHITECTURE.

Hay mis queridos, your Tia is working overtime! We finally got our computer problems solved. We got a cool art video this week, The Aztlán Art Show. Now this is an art show that has been running every year for the past ten years. The brainchild of arts activist Frank García, it brings together Chicano and Chicana artists from all generations to showcase their work. This year the tenth anniversary was dedicated to Con Safos magazoine, but we’ll let Frank explain all of that. Check it out! Oh, and for those of you who are wondering what Aztlán is, check out the Latinopia videos on Aztlan: http://latinopia.com/latino-history/latinopia-event-what-is-aztlan/

Blogger Luis Torres returns with a thoughtful blog about a very sad historic incident, the so-called “Plane Wreck at Los Gatos.” Legendary folksinger Woody Guthrie wrote a song about, “Deportee.” Check out Luis’s commentario.

And Angela Ortiz returns with her weekly Photo of the Week, this one is about “architecture,” but examine this photo closely. Really cool.

Abrazos,

Tia Tenopia

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES!

Hola mis queridos Latinopians. We’re running late on this week’s blogs and videos. And this really is really due to “technical difficulties.” Latinopia just got new computers installed and we’re still working on some of the ”glitches”–no not as bad as the Obamacare glitches but still something to slow us down. We hope to get this week’s videos and blogs up in the next day or so. Bear with.

Your patience is appreciated.

Tia Tenopia

QUETZAL, MEXICAN MASKED MEN, DOG WHISPERERS, AND MORE!

Tia Tenopia with a GREAT BIG SHOUT OUT to all of you loyal Latinopianos–no, not Wurlitzer or Steinway. Okay, your Tia working overtime here, anyone who got that joke, raise your hands, please.

Moving on…We’ll be brief this week–got two great videos for your optical and cerebral delectations. Didn’t know your Tia se avienta with these kind of fancy words, que no? Delectations? Look it up!

Okay, so in Musica, we got another great performance by that stellar East Los music group Quetzal. They’ve been criticized because so much of their toe-tapping, foot-stomping, hip-swinging music also has serious content. They explain why this is so with their song “Canto Liso,” based on a poem by that great Cuban poet, Nicolás Guillén. Como dice la Martha, beyond dancing, “la music tambien inspira y madura.” Quetzals’s music moves the body, soul AND mind!

In Cinema, we converse with an accomplished producer, director and Los Angeles based filmmaker Carlos Avila on his latest productions, the PBS documentary “Tales of Masked Men.”  The film is about “luchadores,” Mexican masked wrestlers. Carlos is already known for his awesome PBS drama series “Foto-Novelas” and for directing the feature film “Price of Glory” starring Jimmy Smits. Carlos told Latinopia that in making this documentary on Mexican Masked Men he discovered that the lives of “luchadores” is a metaphor for the struggle we all share to survive in life. Pues, watchalo!

Please also check out all our great blogs. Sal Baldenegro comments on the Democratic party and civil right issues in Political Salsa y Más with Sal Baldenegro. Harry Gamboa Jr. evaluates what its like to pass an age threshold in Word Vision with Harry Gamboa, Jr. Don Felipe De Ortego talks literary non-fiction in Bravo Road with Don Felípe. Sara Inés Calderón takes on Immigration Reform in Thinking Latina with Sara Inés Calderón and Eduardo Díaz reminds us to “Keep our eyes on the prize” in his Mireándolo Bien with Eduardo Díaz. Gosh, what a bunch of brainy people we have in our community!

And be sure to check out Angela Ortiz’s latest Photo of the Week, this week it’s “Bubbles in the Pond.” And Sergio Hernández returns this week with another Arnie and Porfi cartoon strip–this time the boys discover barrio dogs and dog placas. What? Dog Placas? Check it out, it’ll all make sense in a moment.

Enjoy this week on Latinopia!

Tia Tenopia

No, not Yamaha, Baldwin or Kawai either!

METRO MURALS, LOVE & MARRIAGE, TED CRUZ & THE TEA BAGGERS AND MORE!

Hey,hey Latinopians! Your Tia Tenopia with another week of cool videos and blogs.  Our videos this week are in ART and LITERATURE. In art we visit once again with artist Sonia Romero who is making quite a name for herself. In a previous video we watched her at work and learned about the themes of her printmaking. In this week’s video we turn to her public art side and explore her stunning mural work, including the awesome “Urban Oasis” mural at the MacArthur Park Metro Station.

Our other video this week features author and poet Thelma Reyna.  Thelma is the author of several poetry collections and the award-winning “The Heavens Weep For Us and Other Stories.” Check her out as she reads her poetry at the Altadena public library.

Of course our regular bloggers return. Angela Ortiz with another photo in her Photo of the Week blog, this one is “Water Lily.” And Sergio Hernandez brings u another commentary on the current Washington D.C. tonterias. Check his view on what needs to happen to Ted Cruz and the Tea Party zealots.

And if you haven’t read the other regular Latinopia bloggers, they are right there on the homepage mosaic. Political Salsa y Mas with Sal Baldenegro, Mirandolo Bien with Eduardo Diaz, Word Vision with Harry Gamboa, Jr., Bravo Road with Don Felipe De Ortego,  and Thinking Latina with Sara Ines Calderon.

Check it all out this week on Latinopia!

Tia Tenopia

OSCAR HIJUELOS, HOW TO WRITE, HOW TO RIDE, LATINO AMERICANS, AND MORE!

Hay mi gente, the Latinopia familia is grieved to hear of the loss of yet another luminary Latino author, Oscar Hijuelos.  The son of Cuban immigrnats, Hijuelos grew up in New York and is best known for his novel, “The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love,” which was made into a motion picture. Hijuelos passed at the age of 62 but his writings will last for a lifetime and more. In memory, Latinopia is reposting Dr. Thelma Reyna’s review of the Hijuelos novel,  “Beautiful María of my Soul.”

On a more positive note, we have so much for you this week! We start off with two thoughtful videos. The celebrated Chicano author Rudolfo Anaya expounds on the craft of writing. This is Anaya at his unguarded best, telling us about how he goes about writing. With more than a dozen novels to his name including the landmark Bless me, Ultima, you’ll really want to hear what Anaya has to say about writing and the advice he gives to emerging authors. Not to be missed!

And multi-talented poet, author and filmmaker Ricardo Lira Acuna returns with his monthly video blog. This week he takes us on a bus ride journey through Los Angeles. He reminds us that sometimes it IS about the end of the journey as much as the ride itself. Check out his video “Ride.”

This week we also have a guest book review this week by Dennis Bixler Marquez of the University of Texas at El Paso. Dennis reviews the companion book to the major PBS documentary series, LATINO AMERICANS. The book, written by veteran NPR journalist Ray Suarez, covers a lot of territory– you won’t want to miss Dennis’s review of the book.

Sal Baldanegro returns with his monthly blog, Political Salsa y Más. This month he takes on the Democratic party and its slighting of the Mexican Americans community. But he couches his critical comments in a historic framework, going back to the 1970s when Mexican Americans confronted the Democratic party head-on with their own political party, La Raza Unida. What’s old become s new again!

Angela Ortiz returns with her weekly Photo of the Week. This week it’s all about “Morning Clouds.” Sergio Hernández returns with his weekly cartoon–this week it looks like the Republicans need some serious medical assistance for their current constipation and Serg is there to provide some help!

Lots of fun this week,

Enjoy!

Tia Tenopia

THE CHICANO MOVEMENT, LITERARY NON-FICTION,TURNING POINTS IN LIFE Y MÁS!

Hola my rocking Latinopians! Tia Tenopia bringing you another week of Latinopia videos and blogs. We’re still getting over the shock of the passing of our dear friend José Montoya so we will continue to post the recuerdos and poems written about him–check out the poesia from Juan Felipe Herrera, Nephtalí De Leon and Francisco Alarcón.

By now I am sure you all have been watching the landmark PBS documentary series Latino Americans. This week we visit again with producer and director John Valadez who was responsible for two of the six hours in the series. Previously we heard him speak about the episodes on “War and Peace,” now he speaks about the making of the episode titled “Prejudice and Pride.” This episode is all about the Chicano Movement and by some accounts John was able to do in one hour what the CHICANO! PBS series back in the ‘90s did in four hours. Check out John talking about how he undertook such a massive project in a video which will be posted tomrrow.

Today, we have a new art video profiling the prolific Sonia Romero. As some of you may know, Sonia comes by her art honestly–she is the daughter of renowned Chicano art pioneer Frank Romero. Sonia is a gifted in draftsmanship and design and sure shows in her work,. Sonia’s body of work is so compelling that Latinopia decided to present two videos on Sonia and her work. Check this first one–you won’t be disappointed.

We have lots of bloggers this week.  Harry Gamboa Jr. takes on a major life change in his inventive piece “End of an Era.” Erudite Don Felípe Ortego y Gasca gives us a thoughtful blog on literary non-fiction narratives and how Latinos have taken control of their own destiny through a reshaping of this ancient form of storytelling. And in line with the notion of taking control of our own futures, Eduardo Díaz offers some suggestions as to how the Smithsonian Institute should be willing to accommodate self-expression efforts by Latinos and Asian American in the years to come. Check out Eduardo’s blog Mirándolo Bien with  Eduardo Díaz.  Sergio Hernández returns with some pointed views on the current debacle in Congress in his Arni and Porfi cartoon strip. And Angela Ortiz rewards us with new imagery in her Angela’s Photo of the Week blog.

Lots to see and enjoy on Latinopia this week, so get to it!

OOXX

Tia Tenopia

JOSÉ, JOSÉ, JOSÉ PRESENTE, SIEMPRE PRESENTE.

Hay mis queridos, your Tia Tenopia is very saddened by the passing of our friend and colleague, José Montoya. We send out our love and pensamientos to his familia, many of whom have contributed to Latinopia since we launched. We at Latinopia think of José as the CONCIENCIA of the Chicano movement. He was always there using his art and poetry o n behalf of the poor and disenfranchised, speaking out and demanding justice. This week’s Latinopia is devoted to José and his legacy.

We begin with a new video of José Montoya. In 2006 when he spoke to Jesús Treviño and Armando Acevedo about how the famous Chicano Royal Air Force came into being. This is a not to be missed interview clip. We’ll also keep the other Latyinopia videos on José front and center.

Also this week, we have remembrances of José from his many friends, colegas and estudiantes. This is a feature we will be updating regularly. So if you would like to send in a comment, please do so but also leave an email where we can contact you.

We also have three heartfelt poetry homages to José by Chicano poets Juan Felipe Herrera, Nephtalí De León and Francisco X. Alarcón.

In addition to his remembrance, Sergio Hernández’s cartoon this week is in memory of the Maestro José.

This week another two of the Latino Americans documentaries were broadcast nationally. Latinopia interviewed John Valadez., the producer and director of two of the six-hour episodes.  In the episode “War and Peace,” John’s task was to tell the story of Latinos in World War Two. We asked him how he set about to tackle such a complex story. Check out what he said.

Folks, check out all the homages to José and you will see that he is indeed PRESENTE.

Con tristeza,

Tia Tenopia

JOSÉ MONTOYA PRESENTE!

The Latinopia family is greatly saddened to learn of the passing of our long time friend and collaborator, the pioneering and legendary artist, poet and social activist José Montoya.  Don José passed away yesterday, September 25th, at the age of 81. We offer here José at his prime, reading his poems “El  Louie”  and “Pachuco Porfolio,” as well as a remembrance by his son, Richard Montoya, telling us about what happened when José and other Chicano poets traveled to New York to meet with Puerto Rican poets from the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.  Watching these videos will remind you of what a great loss our community has suffered.  Que en pas decanse. TT.

RICKY LUV, LATINO AMERICANS, NAVY YARD SHOOTER AND MORE!

Hola Latinopians! Our two videos are in CINEMA and MUSIC. Ricardo Lira Acuña returns another of his Ricky Luv videos. This month’s poetic cinematic journey takes us to downtown Los Angeles where people are falling from skyscrapers! Check out The Wheel Grinds On.

And as you know this week saw the launch of the LATINO AMERICANS, a six-part documentary series broadcast nationally in September and October. Our second video this week visits with acclaimed music composer Joseph Julian Gonzalez who wrote the music for the Latino Americans Series. Joseph Julian has also written music for the earlier PBS documentary series Chicano! History of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement and for the SHOWTIME drama series Resurrection Blvd. Check out Joseph Julian as he explains how his Latino heritage, combined with his extensive training in classical music, informs and shapes how he composes his music for films in HOW I COMPOSE MUSIC.

Also this week, our regular weekly bloggers return. Angela Ortiz has another Photo Of The Week, “On a Walk in Eagle Rock.” And Sergio Hernández weighs in on the tragedy of the Navy Yard Shooter.  And if you’ve missed them, be sure to check out the recent blogs on Latinopia: Thinking Latina with Sara Inés Calderón, Political Salsa y Más with Sal Baldenegro, Bravo Road with Don Felipe De Ortego and Tales of Torres with Luis Torres.

Enjoy!

Tia Tenopia

TOMÁS RIVERA, ROBERT KENNEDY, SYRIA, LITTLE LEAGUERS & MORE!

Hola my Leapin’ Latinopians! Tia Tenopia here with another week of videos and blogs. Our videos this are pensativos–something to think about.  In History we recall the 1968 Assassination of Robert Francis Kennedy. Now for most of you this ancient history. And what does “Bobby” Kennedy, as he was called, have to do with Latinos? Well, as you will hear from someone who was there when history was made, Dolores Huerta, Bobby Kennedy was a strong supporter of  people in struggle, not just African Americans but also Latinos and the farm workers. But I’ll let Dolores tell the cuento. Check it out and afterwards just think of what the world might have been like if Robert Kennedy had not been killed and had gone on to be President of the United States? No Nixon in the White House, no Watergate, and who knows were Latinos would today?

Our other video also reflects on someone who has passed: revered educator, author and activist, Dr. Tomás Rivera. Back in the sixties when the Chicano literary scene was in its infancy, Dr. Rivera wrote a very pivotal book, “Y No Se Lo Trago La Tierra,” generally translated in English as “And the Earth Did Not Devour Him.” Pat Mora who many of you know from her poetry here on Latinopia knew Tomás Rivera and even wrote a children’s book, “Tomás and the Library Lady” based on his chidlhood. Here Pat shares her memories of this pioneering author and scholar.

Our Southwest bloggers return! From Arizona, Sal Baldenegro brings us an inspiring blog about familia and a solid group of young girl athletes who just won the 2013 Little League World Championship! You’ll love this story.

From New Mexico, Don Felípe De Ortego returns with Bravo Road. This week he takes on the current debate over whether or not the United States should bomb Syria because of that country’s use of poison gas on its citizens. A sobering and thoughtful pensamiento from our elder, Don Felípe.

And Don Felípe is not the only one ready to comment on the current Syria debate. Check out Sergio Hernández’s cartoon this week on his take of the situation.

While Syria may be in the forefront of national discussions,  Sara Inés Calderón reminds us that the national debate over Immigration Reform is still on the Congressional agenda. Check out Sara’s Thinking Latina blog on the eight things you were embarrassed to ask about Immigration Reform.

And don’t miss another of Angela Ortiz’s Photo of the Week, this week we look at “Colors”

Bueno, no sean huevones, get to those videos and blogs!

Tia Tenopia

FIRE BREATHERS, POET LAUREATES, FRANK MARTÍNEZ Y MÁS!

OMG! What a great week we have for you at Latinopia this week! We start with East L.A.’s great music group Queztal. Last week we posted a performance of their song “Migra.” The response was so great that we returning this week with yet another Quetzal performance. Have you ever seen those fire eaters that stand on a busy intersection and try to make a living by putting gasoline in their mouths and spurting it out in flames. Your Tia saw this in Mexico City and was sorry for the ends to which people have to go to make a living. Well, Quetzal did something about it! They wrote a powerful song about it. Please check out  “Tragafuegos,” (Fire Breathers) and please note the cool literary language. Se avientan these guys! And please note that Latinopia videos are now being filmed in High Definition!

Our other video, from the archives of our pre-High Def days, is a video poem by California’s own Poet Laureate, Juan Felípe Herrera. Last week we mentioned that Latinos now have four official Poets Laureate in the US (are there more?) : Carmen Tafolla, Poet Laureate of San Antonio, Alejandro Murguia, Poet Laureate of San Francisco, Alberto Rios, Poet Laureate of the state of Arizona and Juan Felípe Herrera, the official Poet Laureate of California. We showcased videos of the other three poets (isn’t Latinopia on top of the game?)  But we didn’t have a JFH video, Púes, aqui esta! Hope you enjoy this rollicking reading by Juan Felípe back in 2010 at the USC Flor y Canto Literary Festival. Once you see this video you’ll understand why Juan was named Poet Laureate of California!

And not to diminish the diamonds in our cupboard, we have Angela Ortiz and Sergio Hernández returning with their weekly blogs. Angela back with another terrific photo, this time of something that is at once very familiar and yet new because of her rendering. Sergio commenting on the sad passing of a pioneering Chicano artist, Frank Martinez, Our other bloggers are prepping for their regular monthly blogs. Stay tuned next week for more new blogs.

Enjoy this week’s videos!

Tia Tenopia

QUETZAL, POETS LAUREATE, MARCH ON WASHINGTON, BORDER AUTHOR BEN SÁENZ AND MORE!

Well Happy Labor Day to you all! Your Tia Tenopia here welcoming you to another week of Latinopia with new videos and new blogs. Our videos this week are musical and poetic.

Quetzal is a Grammy winning music group from East Los Angeles whose music is distinguished by thoughtful lyrics and driving rhythms.  Latinopia caught up with the group when they performed at the Levitt Pavilion in Pasadena’s Memorial Park. We present here one of their original songs, “Migra,” about the plight of immigrants crossing into the United States to seek a better life.

Author and filmmaker Ricardo Lira Acuña offers another of his filmic poems, this time the Ricky Luv Video is titled “Tiempo Para Amar,” (Time to Love).

Latinos are making their mark throughout the world and this week we want to acknowledge and congratulate four Latino poets who have the distinction of being named “Poet Laureate.” Hey, what is a poet laureate anyway, you may ask? Pues, according our friends at Wikipedia,  a poet laureate “is a poet officially appointed by a government or conferring institution, who is often expected to compose poems for special events and occasions.  It is a very ancient tradition, dating back to the first days of classical civilization.”

You Tia is so excited, get this:  earlier this year Carmen Tafolla was named poet laureate of the city of San Antonio, Texas.  And last year Alejandro Murguía was named poet laureate of the city of San Francisco, California and Juan Felípe Herrera was named poet laureate of the state of California. And just  a few weeks ago,  Alberto “Tito” Ríos was named poet Laureate for the state of Arizona. Wow, four poets laureate (plural) presiding in the states of Texas, California and Arizona.  No más nos queda New Mexico and Colorado for an Aztlan five-pack.  Latinopia salutes and congratulates these inspiring and talented authors. And for those of you who don’t know who these folks are, we’re posting a video each of Alejandro, Alberto and Carmen on Latinopia this week–check them out! We’ll have a video of Juan Felípe Herrera in the next few weeks.  Adelante Raza!

We have a guest book review this week to celebrate yet another literary victory we can all be proud of.  El Paso author Benjamin Sáenz has won the prestigious PEN/Faulkner Literary prize. Check out our guest book review by Cecilia Ballí, The Passsion of Benjamin Sáenz  about this talented poet and author.

This week Luis Torres returned with Tales of Torres,. He gives some thoughtful reflections on why we celebrate and commemorate landmark events such as  Labor Day, the 1963 March on Washington D.C. and the 1970 Chicano Moratorium. Check it out!

Also returning with new blogs this week we have Angela’s Photo of the Week amd A new cartoon by Sergio Hernández.  great stuff this week on Latinopia.

Enjoy!

Tia Tenopia

CHICANO MORATORIUM, IMMIGRATION REFORM, AND LA SANTA CECILIA!

Hello my Latinopian cohorts, comrades, colleagues, compadres and comadres! Your Tia Tenopia is bubbling over with this week’s Latinopia videos and blogs. This week, of course, marks the 43rd anniversary of the 1970 Chicano Moratorium Against the war in Vietnam. As organizer Rosalio Muñoz has put it, “This was the biggest political rally of Mexican Americans in the 20th century.”

Latinopia commemorates the event with reprising three important videos. The first is Latinopia Event 1970 Chicano Moratorium, a video that explains the events of that day as narrated by Rosalio Muñoz with original footage by the late David Garcia from his film Requiem-29.

We also have a video of the 40th Moratorium Anniversary March. Latinopia was in East Los Angeles in 2010 to interview present day activist reflecting on the importance of the original march in 1970 and its legacy.

We also are reminding you of the Latinopia Event Profiles with the profile on the 1970 Chicano Moratorium that explains in much more detail the events of the day as well as the death of Ruben Salazar and the subsequent Inquest into his death. In other words, all you ever wanted to now about the Moratorium showcased this week on Latinopia!

We have a new video as current as a couple of weeks ago when Chicano poet Jorge Guillen read poetry at the rally for comprehensive immigration reform in Bakersfield, California. Meanwhile, some legislators in Congress argue we need legislation that has been described by critics as “piece meal” rather than comprehensive. Poet Guillen reframes the debate in his poem, “Peace Meal.” Check it out!

Y hablando de Immigration, what does our President Obama have to say about all of this? Well, we are publishing the speech that President Obama delivered on immigration reform earlier this year. This lays out a lot of themes that La Raza is concerned with, including a path to citizenship for Americans more than 11 million undocumented Latinos. This document will be archived along with the many other documents of importance to Latinos such as the Plan de Aztlan, the Plan de Delano and another documents. Check the entire collection at Latinopia Documents on the History menu.

And, of course, our regular bloggers return. Eduardo Díaz, Director of the Smithsonian Latino Center in Washington, D.C. brings us another of his monthly Mirándolo Bien with Eduardo Díaz blogs, this one on a popular Westcoast music group, la Santa Cecilia.

Angela Ortiz returns with a new Photo of the Week, as does Sergio Hernández with another cartoon commentary under Arnie and Porfie with Sergio Hernández.

Check it all out, this week on Latinopia!

OOXX

Tia Tenopia

OLD BOOTS, IMMIGRATION REFORM, THE DNA OF HERITAGE AND MORE!

Greetings, salutations, howdies and que’huboles to all you Latinopians out there! Your Tia Tenopia is back with another week of you know what–great videos and blogs on the Latino experience in the United States! Our videos this week are literary but in vastly different ways.

From the Las Cruces New Mexico Border Book Festival, we eavesdrop on a reading by Native American potter, sculptor and poet Nora Naranjo-Morse. Nora is a member of the Santa Clara Pueblo and is renowned for her artful pottery and clay figurines. But Nora is also an imposing poet and she proves it with her reading of “My Father’s Feet,” a poignant remembrance of her father that we all might  keep in mind.

Our other video this week is hot off the presses. Last week, union and pro-immigrant activists gathered in Bakersfield, California, the home of House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy. The Representative, whose district is heavily Latino, may play a key role in passage of the comprehensive immigration reform legislation presently in the Congress. Calling attention to the need for immigration reform, poet Jorge Guillen read a two-part poem to the hundreds assembled at the  rally on August14, 2013. We present here the first part, “I Woke Up This Morning.” Next week, we’ll present the second part of the poem.

And yet one more literary treat this week–a review of Dominican American Raquel Cepeda’s memoir “Birds of Paradise: How I became Latina” by Dr. Thelma Reyna. The memoir is a profound bit of writing about Raquel Cepeda’s experiences growing up in an abusive environment and then finding her way to self-expression and success is not to be missed. Check out this important review and then go out an buy the book! No sean flojos!

Hay, and our lovely and lovable bloggers return once more! Angela Ortiz has another wonderful photo of the Week, one that will make you think twice the next time you have chicken for dinner.

Sergio Hernández returns with a new cartoon commentary on recent events affecting Latinos. This week he calls our attention to certain statements made by Iowa Representative Steve King about immigrants and the Dreamers.

Zombie Mex Diaries will return in a couple of days with a surprising narrator–that’s all we’ll say for now. But it will make you wonder, what the heck is happening to Lazaro De La Tierra?!

‘Nuff said, enjoy this week’s show!

Tia Tenopia

ROSES, OLD DOGS, WENDY DAVIS, AND WHAT IS POETRY?

Howdi my Latinopian buckaroos! Tia Tenopia welcoming you to another wild west week of Latinopia videos and blogs. Check it out! Our videos this week feature acclaimed Chicano poet, activist and educator Francisco X. Alarcón with some cool observations on the nature of poetry. Francisco is impassioned about his craft as you will see from this vivacious interview. As my Tio Braulio might say, ‘sta pesao este vato!

Our other video this week is from Ricardo Lira Acuña. He brings us another of his Ricky Luv Videos, this time a poem titled, “These Roses For You.” After you watch this you’ll want to go out and get some Roses for your compañora compañero. And why not? But hey, who brings flowers to your Tia…nadie

Sara Inés Calderón, the thoughty-ist Latina that your Tia knows, returns with a considered look at the future of Texas politics for Latinos. She speculates what the impact might be if Wendy Davis, who commanded national headlines with her filibuster at the Texas capital, were to run for Governor of the state. How would this impact Latinos? Check out her surprising answer this week on Thinking Latina with Sara Inés Calderón.

Sal Baldenegro brings us another Political Salsa y Más blog. This week it’s reflection on the 1983 Clifton Morenci miners strike in Arizona that pitted Latino miners against not just the Phelps Dodge Corporation but the governor of Arizona himself, Bruce Babbitt. Check out this important part of Chicano/Latino American history.

From New Mexico, Don Felip De Ortego returns with a thought-provoking Bravo Road blog on the power of words in the human experience. And Don Felipe personalizes it with reference to his beautiful and smart thirteen year old retriever Cha Cha.  Dogs learn fifty and more human words, but how much dog language do you know?

Don’t miss Angela Ortiz’s latest Photo of the Week, a subtle lovely photo called, “Morning.”

Serge Hernández is off this week, preparing more Arnie and Porfi cartooning. But check his cartoons next week. And Zombie Mex will also be returning next week. Hey, what the heck happened to our boy Lazaro–he passed out?! How can that be?

Okay, ‘nuff said. Time for me to stop yakking and for you to start viewing and reading.

Abrazos,

Tia Tenopia

A “TENDER” LOVE STORY, WALL DANCING, AN OLD MAN’S LOVE STORY
AND EL PLAN DE SANTA BARBARA.

What up my superbuenismo Latinopian amigos! Your Tia Tenopia aquí con otra semana of cool videos and blogs on Latinopia.com- the place where Latino culture, art, music and literature all meet to keep you entertained and informed.

This week’s two videos are original works from two multi-talented Chicanos: Joe Hernández-Kolski and Harry Gamboa Jr.  Pocho Joe, as he is known to his friends, is an actor, writer, comedian who has written and stars in the comedy “Tender Love.” This is six minutes of unstopped laughter and carcajadas. Your Tia promises!

Harry Gamboa Jr. is a videographer, co-founder of the legendary Chicano art collective ASCO, and author of the book “Urban Exile.” His regular monthly blogs on Latinopia will take the form of narratives, photography, and, in this case, a video blog. Check out his original “Wall” video blog.

This week we have a great review of the new Rudolfo Anaya book, “The Old Man’s Love Story.” As you know Anaya is the considered the grandfather of Chicano letters and is author of the classic “Bless Me Ultima.” Luis Torres reviews the book for Latinopia and provides insight into Rudy Anaya’s life and writings.

This week we also feature a guest blog from Professor Manuel F,. Medrano from the University of Texas at Brownsville. Dr.Medrano offers insight into an important event that took place in 1969 which continues to impact education for today’s Latinos. Check out his guest blog, “El Plan de Santa Barbara: Ayer y Hoy.”

As usual our weekly staunch bloggers return with new material.Angela Ortiz has another stunning Photo of the Week, another in the “In the Neighborhood” series. Sergio Hernández once again directs his biting humor at recent political scandals, and Lazaro de La Tierra and his zombie comrades return to the secret Mano Poderosa lab in the continuing war of the Juan de Oñate zombies.

Enjoy your week of Latinopia videos and blogs! And leave comments on what you like and what you’d like to see!

Abrazos from your

Tia Tenopia