QUE TRISTEZA NOS DA.

Hola Mijos and mijas, we have very sad news this week. On July 26th we lost a giant of an actress and social activist, the acclaimed and much loved Lupe Ontiveros. Hay que tristeza nos da! Lupe starred in such films as “El Norte,” “Goonies,” “Selena,” and “Real Women Have Curves.” She also starred in many televison shows including “Reba,” “Southland,” “Desperate Housewives” (she was a cast regular) and most recently, “Rob.” A personal friend to many Latinos in the film and television industry, she is remembered on Latinopia this week by our own Jesús Treviño who directed her in a number of television projects. Lupe, you will be missed by all who knew you!

Also this week we have another in the continuing reviews of the classics of Latino Literature in the Unied States. This time Luis Torres reviews the 1959 classic “Pocho,” by José Antonio Villareal. Our regular weekly blogs return as well. Sara Inés tells us about her reason for voting in the year’s coming elections. Young Lazaro De La Tierra continues to struggle trying to fit into his Boy Scout troop without revealing the secret of his identity as a Mexican zombie. Sergio Hernandez is still out on vacation but will return with new adventures of Arnie and Porfi next week.

Con mucho tristeza,

Your Tia Tenopia

LATINO MEDIACOM EXPO.

Oh my what a week! My Tio Braulio came by on Friday morning  and said, “Mija, You have to tag along with me there’s really important event happening that I want you to know about.” So yeah, of course, hay voy, there I go, following him. Well it turns out the big event he’s all bothered about is the Latino Mediacom Expo in Pasadena California.

This a Latino media capirotada of panels and discussions on everything from “Will Latinos Decide the Presidential Election, “ to “Latinos in Social and Digital Media,” to “Empowering Latinas in Entertainment.” And quite a line-up of celebrities like writers Ligiah Villalobos and Dennis Leoni, directors Patricia Riggen and Jesús Treviño, Producer Emilio Sanchez of Voxxi.com and actors like Michael Pena, Nicholas Gonzales, Aimee Garcia, Kiki Castillo, Pepe Serna, news anchor Maria Elena Salinas–hay pues, una bola de big- shots, Your Tia , of course, was just overwhelmed! Y porque no me invitaron? Only to say that we always hear about how Latinos are under-represented in television and cinema, and that is true! But it’s great to see our Raza getting out there and doing something about it! Adelante!

Okay, now to this week on Latinpopia. Well, first off please check our regular blogs–La Sara Ines returns with her weekly Thinking Latina column. Good one this week on an experience many of us have had, when Mexican people think that just because we speak fluent English that we’ve forgotten our roots and are Gringos. El crazy Zombie Mex is back, this time trying to grapple with the challenges of being a Mexican Zombie who decides to  join the Boy Scouts! Sergio Hernández is still on vacation but we’ll resume the exploits of this crazy pair of cousins in next week’s cartoon strip, Arnie and Porfi.

This week, our videos commemorate the passing of one of the greatest artist in the world, who also just happened to be Chicano: Gilbert “Magu” Lujan. We post a profile of this extraordinary artist who not only paved the way for Chicano art, but help to define its very existence. We also post a “Letter to Magu” from his friend and fellow artist Wayne Healy. Magu passed away a year ago on July 24, 2011.  Que en Paza decanse.

OOXX Your Tia Tenopia

A CRUSADE FOR JUSTICE.

Hola Latinopians! Here we are with another rollicking week of Latinopia!  This week we focus on a legendary civil rights organization of the 1960s, the Crusade for Justice, and its charismatic leader, Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales. This is all part of the long-term Latinopia goal of filling in the little known history of Latinos in the United States.

In “Latinopia Event 1966 Crusade for Justice,” we visit with Ernesto Vigil who was a member of the Crusade from 1968 to 1981. Ernesto talks about the work of the Crusade and Corky’s passion for justice. In this video we also hear Corky speaking himself, speaking about his vision for the Crusade and Chicanos in the United States. This is a rare archival interview conducted by Jesús Treviño back in December 8, 1971. Hijole! How old must this Treviño guy be? A regular Chicanosaur, que no? Anyway, we also have Corky Gonzales, in his own words–memorable quotations from one of the pioneering champions of Latino civil rights.

In our weekly blogs, Sara Inés Calderon explains why she writes and the impact that Latina writers can have on our future and how we see one another. Enjoy Thinking Latina with Sara Inés Calderon.

Sergio Hernández is on vacation this week, so the next installment of the Arnie and Porfi cartoon strip will be delayed till next week. But this week your Tia Tenopia thought you’d like to see a page from the cartoon strip that started it all way back in the 1960s with the literary magazine Con Safos. Check it out! And here’s one for you: do Mexican zombies listen to classical music? Find out in this week’s blog of Zombie Mex Diaries.

Also check the amazing story of a Latino brain surgeon who began life as a migrant worker in Luis Torres’ review of the book, “Becoming Dr. Q, My Journey from Migrant Worker to Brain Surgeon.” by Dr. Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, MD. This is a truly amazing story and a book you’ll want to read!

And thanks hermanas, for your consultas about my boyfriend problem. I’m not writing him off yet, but I am planning a little surprise for him. Something I hope will get hm to see the light. More next week!

Bueno, enjoy this week’s posts and be sure to spread the word about Latinopia, the video-driven site for Latina/o history, art, literature, music, theater, cinema and food!

OOXX

Tia Tenopia

LOVE IN THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE.

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh! Latinopianos, help your Tia out! I went out again with you-know-who and now he’s getting serio. Serio but SERIO. Check this out, he’s talking about how much he’d like to have children, and how I would make SUCH a great mother to his children, and how I could “take care of the home front” while he pursued his career. Y esto y el otro. Now don’t get me wrong. I think motherhood is noble and important but maybe I’m not just ready for it just now. In any case, when the time comes I want to do motherhood on an equal basis.  Did he even ask about my career plans? About what I wanted to do with MY life that was not just an extension of HIS career? Por favor! And yet otherwise he’s so considerate and always such a gentleman. Hay, y tan guapo tambien. Your Tia is really angustiada! For real! I welcome any ideas from you sisters out there as to what I should do next.

Meanwhile, back in the world of dependable Latinopia.com, we have another week of great videos and a new book review in our series on the classics of Latino literature. And–ojo pelado!– if you haven’t read these classics, you really should! Just visit the Book Reviews page under Literature. This week Dr. Thelma Reyna reviews “Love In the War Years” (hay, that’s how I sometimes feel with you-know-who!) written by Cherríe Moraga.

Our videos this week are a new Latino music sound, Cuñao. Julio Montero is the main guy behind Cuñao. He was born in Ecuador and raised in New York, and now resides in Los Angeles. His  song writing is pretty pesao itself so give a listen. More to come from him later this year on Latinopia! And we finish off our two-parter on the historic literary phenomenon of the 60s and 70s, Con Safos. In this week’s video we learn how the group of Latino writers and artists went from a purely literary magazine to one filled with political content as well.

And, of course, please check out Thinking Latina with Sara Inés Calderon. This week Sara is reflecting on Latino stereotypes and asking the question…are we them? Our Zombie Mex Diaries returns with Zombie boy telling us about a major discovery in his young life. Poochi! I’ll just leave it there! And don’t miss the latest in the new revived and rejuvenated Adventures of Arnie and Porfi cartoon strip by el maestro, Sergio Hernández.

All of this and more on Latinopa.com!

Abrazos,

Your Tia Tenopia

THE FOURTH & LATINOS.

Hola Latinopians! Well, this is July 4th week on Latinopia ( duh, and yes the rest of the USA) and we are celebrating by taking a look at what being Americans means to all of us. For me the Fourth has always been about bar-b-ques and fireworks and day long marathons of The Twilight Zone on TV. But I do understand that this holiday in particular has great resonance to Americans across the nation in many different ways. We’re taking a look at how this applies to Latinos on Latinopia this week.

Our Thinking Latina Sara Inés Calederon gives us insight on the issue of immigration and how that impacts on what we think of when we think American. From Arizona,  poet Alberto Rios informs us that the Fourth of July celebration along the border is done in a slightly different way as it coincides with a popular Saint’s Day. Don’t miss this video and its insight on our national holiday.

While Arizona is home to many talented and gifted Latinos like Alberto Rios, it is also the hotbed of controversy with SB1070, the banning of Chicano Studies in the Tucson school district and the banning of books written by Latino/a  writers (See Latinopia’s Librotraficantes videos under History).  Sergio Hernández plants his revived Arnie and Porrfi cartoon strip right in the middle of this struggle. Check it out this week’s Arnie and Porfi and kudos to Serg for being a gifted pioneering artist whose work is as relevant today as it has ever been.

And in Art, we are showcasing enormously talented artist José Ramírez, and his arc from graduate school to the professional world.  And, back to the Fourth of July theme,  how does a Zombie Mexican deal with the 4th and what does it mean to be American for a zombie? Check out Zombie Mex Diaries and all the other great features on Latinopa this week!

OOXX Your effervescent and bodacious Tia Tenopia.

Hola my dawgs! So here we are with another week of Latinopia offerings! Y espero que les guste!

Before I jump into this weeks videos just let me say to all of you who were so kind as to ask–yes, I have given Mr.You-Know-Who a second chance. And I am happy to say que se ha portado muy bien!  We went out again this week and he spent the whole night talking about…ME! Asking me questions about my childhood, my interests, career goals y esto y el otro. I’m embarrassed to think that he may have read my posting last week. Anyway, we seem to be back on track. Let this be a lesson to you vatos out there!  Ahora a ver que pasa. As my ‘cus from San Anto says, “I’ll keep ya’all posted!”

Bueno, this week we are deep into great Latino history. We have the first part of a Latinopia two-parter on the legendary literary and art collective of the sixties and seventies, Con Safos. In this episode, we learn about how the literary and art group came together in the first place, way back in 1960, though it wasn’t until 1967 that they published the first issue of the Con Safos magazine.

Oh, some of you may be wondering, what the heck does Con Safos really mean, anyway? Well, truth to tell I didn’t know so I went to my veterano Tia Braulio with the question. He tells me that “Con Safos,” refers to the signature “C/S” that you see on the graffiti wall in any Chicano barrio. Me dice my Tio, “It’s a protective symbolism used by Chicano graffiti artists appearing usually by a person’s name or the name of his barrio, it means “the same to you, ditto, likewise.” It’s a way of warding off any potential insults someone may wish to add to your graffiti. Whatever insult they put on the wall to insult you, “C/S” means, right back at you!”

We also have another Latinopia Hero. New Mexico-based Don Felipe De Ortego y Gasca is a pioneering scholar and educator specializing in Chicano literature–he taught the first course in the country way back in 1969! He also created the first Chicano Studies department in the state of Texas. For all of this, Latinopia salutes him as a Latinopia Hero!

We also continue with our review of the classics of Chicano literature. This time Luis Torres reviews Oscar “Zeta” Acosta’s “Revolt of the Cockroach People.” And check out this review–Latinopia is not giving anybody a free ride just because they are Latino and write a book.
Our reviews are critical and honest–ouch, even when it hurts a little. Pues, how do we get any better without some critical comment, que no?

And of course, check out our regular blogs, Sara Inés Calderon’s Thinking Latina. Sergio Hernández’s cartoon strip, Arnie and Porfi, and of course, everyone’s favorite degenerate undead, Zombie Mex Diaries.

Enjoy, regozen and otherwise knock yourselves out! Tia Tenopia

Hay mi gente! Your Tia Tenopia is very tired and both delighted and disappointed this week. Púes, I just got got back from a week long trip up the coast with Mr. You-Know-Who. Well, the trip itself was great. Drinks at the El Encanto overlooking Santa Barbara bay, then wine-tasting in the Santa Inez Valley, then a romantic dinner at the Rose Café overlooking Morro Bay, then up to Monterrey and a visit to the Aquarium, and then a quick visit to Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco before we headed back We never made it to wine country–my gosh the week just flew by! Oh, and no hanky-panky, thank you. Separate motel rooms each night!

But to be honest I am a bit disappointed. All this vato did all through the trip was talk about himself! Your Tia doesn’t give out names, but let me just say this guy is smart, good looking and well educated. Pero no tiene minor idea de como ganarse a una mujer! I mean, I know he’s smart because he told me so: twenty times!  All about his Stanford and Yale degrees, how good he’s doing at work, how he’ll soon be moved up to assistant manager at the bank where he works, etc. etc. But not one question about me! And I hinted around plenty, believe me! What about MY goals and aspirations in life. After a while I just gave up. I’m really going to have to consider this whole thing out. See him again? Quien sabe.

On other fronts we have the second installment in our Teatro series on San Antonio playwright Gregg Barrios and his play, “Rancho Pancho 2.” This is really fascinating stuff about the role that a Mexican American had in shaping Tennessee Williams’ play, “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Gotta tell you after hearing about Gregg Barrios’ play, I went out and rented a copy of  “A Streetcar Named Desire” with the new knowledge about the Stanley Kowalsky character in mind. Try it, it’s really eye-opening! And in honor of Father’s Day we are reprising Sarah Raphael Garcia’s poem on her father. Plus, as you will see, we have a new Arnie and Porfi cartoon strip, our friend Zombie Mex remembering Father’s day with out a dad, and Sara Inés Calderon with some firme observations about buying clothes and how that affects our self-image.

So what do you think, give the vato another chance or just dump him and his two University degrees?

OOXX  Tia Tenopia

Surprise my Peeps! We’re posting a day earlier this week. And why? Well, here’s the lowdown. As you know your Tia  has been pretty circumspect about her…shall we say private life? Boyfriends..lovers..quien sabe.  I’ve always kept it “bajo ala.” But now that’s all changing. Pues, el más guapo, chulo  y sincero de todos los papas del mundo Latino just stepped into my life!  Not sure where’s its all going but I think your Tia may be falling in love! So this week-end we’re jumping into his fancy ride and are off to a week of travel up the California coast– Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, Cambria, Big Sur, San Francisco and who knows where else! Your Tia is guardedly excited. A ver que pasa con este vato. I’ve had my heart broken before, so I am being cautious. But heck, I figure I deserve some time off! And why not?

But I did my homework–la causa always comes first.

This week we have posted some pretty amazing videos for your enjoyment. In History, we have a video on the creation of a really important group of the sixties, the Educational Issue Coordinating Committee. In spite of its clunky name, this group of parents, students and activists was created in the wake of the high school walk-outs in Los Angeles in 1968 and wound up making civil rights history. And in Theater we have the story of an amazing revelation. What does the actor Marlon Brando, the playwright Tennessee Williams, the director Elia Kazan, and the Guadalupe Cultural Center of San Antonio have in common? Well, have you ever heard of the names Gregg Barrios or Pancho Rodríguez? Check out “Rancho Pancho 1″ and the amazing story of how an American classic play, A Streetcar Named Desire, came to be and how a Mexican American was crucial to it.

And, of course, please see what Sara Inés Calderon has to offer this week on THINKING LATINA With SARA INÉS CALDERON. And this week on the adventures of  ARNIE AND PORFI we get to see if Porfi and that mysterious gal from Arizona, Lavender, are able to rescue cousin Arnie from the evil clutches of the nefarious NALGAS organization. And we have another reminiscence in Zombie Mex Diaries by the only Zombie Mexican your Tia knows anyway, Lazaro De La Tierra.

Pues, have fun! I’m sure gonna!

OOXX  Tia Tenopia

Oh my holy, sweet cuchifritos! Before I launch into telling you all about the videos this week, I gotta tell you–have you been reading Zombi Mex Diaries?! Por Dios, this guy Lazaro is killing me, er, pardon the expression. But you really do have to check this blog if you haven’t already. And have you been following Sara Inés? Se avienta esta loca! Really good stuff. Hay, it makes me proud of my people, que no? Of course, I tried to share all of this with my Tio Braulio–old school, remember–hay, the generations show, que no? His take on La Sara: “she got problems with speaking Spanglish, pues que no lo haga!” I see he totally missed the point of Sara Inés’s cool blog on speaking Spanglish. Hijole! And he totally doesn’t get Zombie Mex as well: “Mexican Zombies? We don’t have Mexican Zombies! Other races have zombies, but not us. All this talk of Mexican Zombies is nothing but an old Gringo trick!” What can I tell you: denial is ugly, que no?

But my Tio Braulio does come around to Arnie and Porfi. “Now there’s some sensible cartooning!” he tells me. “I remember them from the old Con Safos days! Sad to say, the same problems Arnie and Porfi were encountering in the 1970s are still with us. Okay, okay,
I get it…move on with this week’s videos.

Which are about two VERY awesome people, er, should I say… AWESOME WOMEN!  In Art we showcase the photographic work of Angela Ortiz. Angeles lives and works in Los Angeles and has done extensive celebrity photography. But, as she herself will tell you, taking pics of the big shot stars is not all that. She prefers to do her artistic vision which is what we showcase on Latinopia. Check out what happens when she goes looking for Lines and Textures, Urban Hiking or singles out the Best Photo of the Day. In Literature we showcase Melinda Palacio, a prolific poet and novelist. We caught up with her at the 2010 Festival de Flor y Canto, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow held at the University of Southern California in September of 2010.  Check out her cool reading.

And also in Literature, we are posting the latest in our on-going series of reviews of the Classics of Latino Literature. This week, Luis Torres reviews Ernesto Galarza’s classic memoir, ‘Barrio Boy.” Oh, and of course, we have JUNE EVENTS – Latino cultural events in cities throughout the United States.

Bueno púes, que esperan? Get on with checking out this week’s ATM Latinopia offerings!

Your loving Tia Tenopia

Ooops!. “ATM”? Por Dios, did I really say that?

Hola My Peeps! Welcome to Latinopia! Our videos this week are in Cinema Showcase and Art. We continuing with our commemoration of Memorial Day, with a  final VOCES video documentary, this one edited by Soñia Escot on Erasmo López, a veteran of World War Two and of Korea. In Art, we visit with celebrated Chicana artist Linda Vallejo as she tells us about her shift from doing nudes to painting landscapes and we see an array of her new landscape at the Metro gallery in Los Angeles.

And this week we have a new REGULAR WEEKLY blog ZOMBIE MEX DIARIES. Check out Lazaro De La Tierra’s blog and you’ll see what it’s like to grow up as a zombie in the barrio–hey, its not easy being a double minority, being Mexican AND a zombie! Also this week we have another new episode in the adventures of Arnie and Porfi, this time the boys time travel from 1970s Los Angeles to 2012 Arizona and run into a sinister organization known as N.A.L.G.A.S.! And of course our favorite brainiac Sara Inés Calderón returns with another Thinking Latina blog–this time she takes on something we all know and practice–Spanglish!

And in Literature, we continue with our book reviews of the Classics of Latina Literature with Dr. Thelma Reyna’s review of the poetry collection Emplumada (1981) by Lorna Dee Cervantes.

Hay, púes, lots of good stuff on Latinopia so let’s get to it, nothing to it but to do it!

OOXX

Tia Tenopia

ola mis muy queridos señores y señoras, frijoles y frijolas, compañeros y compañeras, estudiantes, profesores, intelectuales, payasos, trabajadores, organizadors, artistas, musicos, pues, en fin, everyone who is smart enough to visit one of the most awesome websites ever. You’re Tia Tenopia here, doing a little bragging, y porque no?

This week, in anticipation of Memorial Day,  we are paying homage to the brave men and women who defend our country. While many of us, your Tia included, wish we didn’t have our young Latino men out in Iraq and Afghanistan–we need them here as soldados in the struggle for education and equality in the barrio! But, of course, they are there. And we feel the special need to give them a very heartfelt “Gracias.” For all of their sacrifices.  We are showcasing this week, winners of the Annual Voces Oral History Editing Contest out of the University of Texas at Austin, Journalism Department.

In case you don’t know, since 1999 Dr. Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez (check her profile from last week’s video interview) has been interviewing Latino veterans (on video) from World War II, Korea and Viet Nam. Every year she sponsors an editing contest where students from UT Austin can edit a five-minute documentary based on one of the veterans she has interviewed. This year Latinopia is proud to showcase the top three videos. Third place went to Soñia Melendez for her documentary on Col. Enrique Cervantes. Jordan Kerfeld won Second Prize with his documentary on fighter pilot Leonard Fuentes. And Rosa Elena Pruneda won First prize for her documentary on pioneering Puerto Rican WAC Carmen Contreras Bozak. Judges for the competition included filmmaker Nancy De Los Santos, Jesús Treviño and Houston-based documentary filmmaker Roland Hartzog. Check out these cool, inspiring and accomplished videos!

Also this week we bring you yet another adventure with Arnie and Porfi by acclaimed cartoonist Sergio Hernandez as well as a new thoughtful blog by that Thinking Latina herself, Sara Ines Calderón.  Dan Guerrero is still away but we bring in his place a guest blogger, that wacky ZombieMex himself Lazaro de La Tierra. Check out all these great features this week on Latinopia.com!

Hola Mis queridos!

This week Latinopia welcomes guest blogger Ernesto Hogan who writes a weekly blog for our friends over at La Bloga. If you haven’t visited La Bloga check it out–the best literary blog in the world! Ernesto hails from Glendale, Arizona and is a science fiction writer! Your Tia was blown away by his novels (yes, Raza I do read) Cortez on Jupiter, High Aztech and Smoking Mirror Blues.  Of course, we’ll  have more fun with our cartoon strip, Arnie and Porfi. This week the two esquincles discover that a beat up old jalopy isn’t all that it appears to be. And Sara Ines returns with another one of her thoughtful observations on Latino life–this week she speculates about the influence of Latino nerds on America.

We’re running a bit late on our weekly videos but here it is!  We are introducing a new video feature, Latinopia Hero.  From time to time we will showcase an individual who has made an important contribution to the Latino community in the United States. We’re starting with Dr. Maggie Rivas Rodríguez, a firme profesora from the University of Texas at Austin who has created the VOCES oral history project which to date has recorded more than 800 interviews with Latino veterans of World War Two, Korea and Viet Nam. She conducts a yearly video competition where students edit five-minute videos based on the interviews that Dr. Rivas-Rodríguez and her staff have compiled. Next week’s Latinopia will showcase three of these award winning documentaries.  Oh, and in celebration of  Conjunto Festival week in San Antonio ( May 14th thru 20th) we’re reprising our interview with San Antonio Conjunto Festival founder and director Juan Tejeda. If you’ve ever wondered what Conjunto music is about, check out this interview which shows off the conjunto’s different musical stlyes.

Bueno, sin más, enjoy!

Tia Tenopia

ASK TIA TENOPIA 5.06.12

Hey, Peeps! Welcome to another fun week at Latinopia. First off, another in the adventures of Armie and Porfi–check out the Sergio Hernández cartoon strip! Dan Guerrero is away this week, but we have a guest blogger: ZombieMex. Your Tia is not really sure what this blog is about except it is a different way of looking at Mother’s Day. You should really, really check it out! Sara Ines Calderon returns with another firme insight in our Latino world–this time it as about mentoring–something we should be doing!

Our major this week is the final installment in the Librotraficantes Banned Book Caravan. In this final episode you’ll see the Librotraficantes finally arrive in Tucson, Arizona and deliver the censored books to the high school student of Tucson. You Tia has t admit I teared up a little on this one. To see this smart and intelligent leaders of our future as they discover the wonder of books! Hijole!

Also, to commemorate Mother’s Day, we are showcasing Pat Mora’s reading of her poem, “Mi Madre.” An eloquent homage to a mother of a different kind. And speaking of mothers, Latinopia is congratulating Dolores Huerta, who, in addition to raising eleven children, also managed to lead the United Farm Workers into numerous victories. She was honored last week when President Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom award. Wow! Eleven kids and the Medal of Freedom, además! Go Dolores!

Enjoy, pues!

OOXX Tia Tenopia

Hola my gente! I have great news for you this week–the launch of Sergio Hernandez´s new cartoon strip Arnie & Porfi. These are two loving but mismatched cousins (one, muy listo y el otro medio tapado) that Sergio created for the celebrated literary and arts magazine Con Safos. Well, this week Arnie and Porfi return! Watch for these rollicking characters every week on Latinopia!

Y hablando de bloggers, la Sara Ines returns with another Thinking Latina blog. Check her muy pesao thoughts on latinos and la technologia. Wow!, someone is thinking! Dan Guerrero is busy for the next few weeks traveling  on tour with his one-man show Gaytino, so for the next few weeks we will have some guest bloggers in his place. This week, its our friend and colega Michael Sedano of La Bloga who makes some pretty cool observations of the Chicano literary canon.(entre nos: your Tia didn’t quite get “literary canon” que we shoot books at people? Pues in a way…)

We have two exciting videos this week, one in History and one in Music. In History we complete the two-part story of the founding of Chicano Park under the Coronado Bridge in San Diego. Your Tia knew nothing about this historic fight but my movimiento Tio Braulio me dio todo el low down. Fijense. It seems the city of San Diego had promised the land under the Coronado Bridge to the Mexican American community of Logan Heights so community activists could convert the land into a public park for the chavalitos.  But when the city went back on its word, the citizens of Logan Heights tore down the fencing around the land and occupied the land for 12 days! Hijole, like a hen protecting her pollitos, the padres and madres of Logan Heights defended the right of their children to have a park! Pos, imaginate! The city council eventually had to give in and then the folks of Logan Heights se aventaron and began painting murals in the park! Pues check out the video y te dira todo!

In Music,  Agustin Lira and Patricia Wells Soloranzano of Fresno-based El Teatro de la Tierra return with another Teatro member, Merlinda Espinosa, who beautiful voice renders a poignant song about the struggle for freedom throughout the Americas.

And in Literature we have another in our series of book reviews of the classics of the Latino Lliterary canon. This time Dr. Thelma  Reyna dazzles us with a review of the late Estela Portillo Tramley’s first book, Rain of Scorpions and Other Writings. Oh, and later this week we’ll be posting on monthly events calendar.

Bueno, como dice me Tio Braulio, “Nothin’ to it, but to do it!” So get on with watching this week’s videos and reading this week’s blogs.

OOXX Tia Tenopia

Hola my Peeps! Hey big changes at Latinopia this week. We’re welcoming two new bloggers! Sara Ines Calderon is a firme sister who until recently was editor at the Newstaco.com  You can check out a Latinopia profile of her  in the Latinopia Showcase Newstaco.  Sara is an accomplished reporter and writer and will be writing regularly on issues pertaining to Latinas in particular but also culture, politics and all things Latino–don’t dare put here in a box!  Watch for her blog Thinking Latina with Sara Ines Calderon!

Our second new blogger will be artist and cartoonist Sergio Hernández. Sergio will be communicating to us his views on Latinos and the world through his regular cartoon strip Arnie & Profi.  Who are Arnie and Porfi? These are two cousins, one rather naive and “tapado,” the other street smart and savvy.  Sergio created them for the legendary magazine Con Safos back i the 1970s.  Latinopia has convinced Sergio to revive the cartoon strip for the year 2012 and beyond. Watch for the adventures of Arnie and Porfi beginning next week!

And of course we’ll continue to hear from our man in Hollywood, enterainment and  cultura, Dan Guerrero.  Dan was busy with his one-man show this week, so we’ll see his new blog next week.  And of course this week we have new videos.  We’ll visit the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, new Mexico as they host the arrival of the Librotraficantes Banned Book Caravan.  Poets and authors turned out from all over New Mexico and they read from their works. Check out the impressive list of authors!

And speaking of impressive authors.  Your Tia Tenopia and all of us at Latinopia congratulate  our friends and acclaimed writer Rudolfo Anaya for winning the 2011 Robert Kirsch Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Los Angeles Times. This is a muy especial and most prestigious award is given to a living author whose work relates to the West. We’re so proud of Rudy being in the company of other winners of the award like Ray Bradbury, Joan Didion, Caroyln See and Larry McMurtry.  Rudy couldn’t attend the awards ceremony but sent a video acceptance speech that so firme we’re thought we’d share it with you. Check it out and avientate Rudy!

Okay, púes, time to let you check out our new bloggers, new videos  and the new Latinopia look.

Abrazos, Tia Tenopia

What up Latinopians! Wow, what an exciting week! Your Tia Tenopia couldn’t resist attending the Annual Conference of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) at the Universal Sheraton hotel in Los Angeles this week-end. The three day conference had really interesting platicas on the new Youtube channels, how Latinos are using Facebook and Twitter to expand film marketing to Latino audiences, and yes, even a panel discussion on new media that highlighted  Latinopia.com!  The finale was a fabulous dinner that was MCed by that terrific actor and comedian Joe Hernandez-Kolski. The dinner honored legendary actress Rita Moreno (West Side Story) for her lifetime of artistic achievements–she is the only Latina to have won an Oscar, an Emmy, a Tony award and Grammy award! Pesada! Your Tia was inspired to see so many talented Latino writers, directors, producers and actors working together to tell our stories to the world. Hay que orgullo!

Okay, back to our Latinopia world. This week, we have yet another installment of the epic journey of the librotraficantes bringing banned books to the children of Tucson. This time the librotraficantes visit legendary pioneer of Chicano letter Rudy Anaya, whose novel Bless me Ultima is perhaps the most widely read ( and perhaps most banned) novel by an American born Latino yet. Sin embargo, next week, Rudolfo Anaya will receive the Roberto Kirsch Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Los Angeles Times. Mira nomás! Check out this video as another celebrated Chicano author, Dagoberto Gilb, visits with Rudy Anaya.

In Art, we commemorate a historic event. In 1970, the residents of the Logan Heights barrio in San Diego were promised a park in the land under the recently built Coronado Bridge. But then the city reneged on the agreement. The city fathers decided they wanted to lease  the land to the Highway Patrol for a substation. The community responded by occupying the land! In the years that followed they not only built their CHICANO PARK but also filled it with amazing murals. This is the first of a two-part video on the founding of Chicano Park which will be celebrating its 42 anniversary this coming weekend. Ajua!

And of course, check out Dan Guerrero’s blog–this week he tells us about a new up and rising Cuban star. And–Ojo!–we will soon be enjoying two new regular blogs. One from journalist Sara Inez Calderon and another from cartoonist Sergio Hernández–watch for all of this in the next few weeks on Latinopia.com!

Abrazos mis queridos! Tia Tenopia

Hay mis queridos hijos,hijas, buscaruidos, tormentosos, activistas, estudiantes, profesores, intelectuales, vagos, etc. etc. Your Tia Tenopia here ushering in another week of new Latinopia videos and noticias. First off, be sure to check in with Dan Guerrero’s blog about the América Tropical mural. Your Tia posted a clip from Jesús Treviño’s classic documentary, América Tropical (look under the art page on Latinopia) in anticipation of the unveiling of a new viewing platform for the mural this summer. Dan gives us the latest scoop on what’s up with the mural that time could not destroy. Ojos! Ojos!

We continue in our journey with the librotraficantes as they leave El Paso, Texas and reach Mesilla, New Mexico. They had a close call on the way, check out the Librotraficantes 3 video which has some real deep observations by celebrated Chicano author Dagoberto Gilb (winner of the PEN Hemingway award) who went along the librotraficante ride.

Also this week, we visit with one of the legendary artists of the early days of the Chicano movement–Sergio Hernández. My Tio Braulio, to whom I refer all matters pertaining to the civil rights movimiento of the sixties, tells me that Sergio was a member of a collective of multi-talented writers and artists that included Gilbert “Magu” Lujan, Arturo “Tudi” Flores, Adaberta “Berta” Flores, Antonio “Tony”Gomez, John “Figgy’ Figueroa , Oscar “Pinguino” Castillo and many others. Later this year we’ll be posting a report on the work of this incredible group of creators. But for now, check out the profile piece on Serg Hernández. My Tio Braulio affectionately calls him, “Un vato de atolle,” (your Tia’s not quite sure what that means, but it sure sounds firme!).

Okay púes, get on with your viewing for the week and spread the word about Latinopia!

Abrazos, Tia Tenopia

Hola Mis Queridos! Dan Guerrero is back! Yes, our media, entertainment and cultura blogger has returned from New York, so check out his bloga and find out all about his aventuras! And speaking of adventuras, check out Latinopia’s on-going report on the Librotraficante Banned Book Caravan.  Latinopia’s own Jesús Treviño embedded himself on the caravan for a good portion of the trip from Houston to Tucson and, with the help of blogger Michael Sedano (labloga.blogspot.com ), was able to capture the spirit of the expedition and the amazing poetry readings along the way. Check out the 2012 Libreotraficantes 2 report, the second in an on-going series!

Also this week, we feature El Paso poets Richard Yañez and Vincent Emery Jr. reading the works of one of the authors banned by the Tucson Unified School District. I’m talking about Pulitzer Prize nominee Luis Alberto Urrea’s poem, “Hymn To Vatos Who Will Never Be in a Poem.” Scope out the reading of this pesao poem as read by Ricardo y el Vince!

Hay, esta semana llena de literary events! Ojo! While the Tucson Unified School District is busy banning and censoring our books, Governor Jerry Brown has named Chicano poet Juan Felipe Herrera as the Poet Laureate of the state of California! And in San Antonio, Mayor Julian Castro has named multi-talented Chicana poet, author, playwright and actress Carmen Tafaolla as the first Poet Laureate of San Antonio! Your Tia Tenopia sends out kudos to both of these pioneering and gifted poets.

And last but not least, this week we feature the first of our political book review. This is a  review of Dr. Armando Navarro’s economic blockbuster, “Capitalist Global Crisis,” reviewed by Dr. José Calderon, Profesor Emeritus of Sociology, Pitzer College. Your Tia doesn’t pretend to be able to figure out all the wheres and whys and hows of this brainy book, but she’s happy that there are Chicano scholars out there who can analyze all the economics and politics of our world order and make some sense of it–hay, pues!

Enjoy this week’s postings and hey, what do you think of my new look with my new Barrio Dog baseball cap?

OOXX Tia Tenopia

WOW,WOW! Tia Tenopia is so excited about the cool stuff on Latinopia this week! Cesar Chavez’s birthday , Librotraficantes (book smugglers) and classics of Latino literature!

March 31st is the birthday of legendary union organizer and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez  and we’d thought we’d celebrate by posting some of his more memorable quotes–pensamientos to think about, que no? Check it César Chávez In His own Words.

Librotraficantes!  As you know, Latinopia has been in support of the historic caravan of  book smugglers  bringing banned books to the children of Tucson following the edict by the Tucson Unified School District to take certain books out of the classrooms. It seems some books are too dangerous for Mexican American kids to read (among them Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Henry David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience, not to mention classics of the Latino Literary canon such as House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros and Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya). What are they thinking?!  Last week,  Latinopia’s own Chuy Treviño ( Mister Barrio Dog himself) rode with the book caravan and we are posting the first of several video reports he filmed during this historic week-long caravan and its aftermath. Yes, only here on Latinopia.com! Michael Sedano of  La Bloga was also covering the caravan, for a day-to-day photo essay on the events check out his La Bloga!

Also in the literary field this week, we offer a book review by Dr.  Thelma Reyna of yet another classic of Latina literature, Nicholasa Mohr’s novel Nilda. This is part of a year long effort by Latinopia to preserve and promote the CLASSICS OF LATINO LITERATURE. Watch for the reviews of classic of our literature by author and reviewer Dr. Thelma Reyna and award-winning journalist Luis Torres throughout the year!

And in history, check out our MOMENT IN TIME photograph of Alex and Esther Bernal. An unassuming couple who decided to stand up for their rights when they were denied entry into an all white neighborhood of Fullerton, California in 1943. Hay Dios! They were attacking our community in 1943 and are still at it in Arizona today. Hay que decir basta, no? Hey, one aunt’s opinion.

Abrazos, Tia Tenopia.

What up, Latinopians! Last week Latinopia’s founder, the Barrio Dog himself, was riding on the bus with the librotraficantes banned book caravan. Riding with the Barrio Dog was Michael Sedano who reported on the exciting week in la bloga.  The exciting week included stops in El Paso, Mesilla, New Mexico, and Albuquerque before finally landing in Tucson, Arizona to deliver boxes of books written by Latino authors to Latino high school students. These are books that have been banned by the Tucson Unified School System and taken out of the school libraries. Hay que barbaros!  The caravan, instigated by Tejano Tony Díaz,  was a historic demonstration of people power–Latinos across the Southwest united to stand up for their first amendment rights. About as American as you can get! Watch for filmed reports on this historic struggle coming to you in the weeks to come on Latinopia.com!

This week we highlight another historic event and yet another attempt to censor the Latino voice. Your Tia is talking about the 1932 whitewashing of a mural painted by Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siquieros called “América Tropical.” Here’s the lowdown.  Siquieros was asked to paint a mural on the wall of a building in Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles. The theme was to be “Tropical America. ” The shop owner who commissioned the mural got more than he bargained for when Siquieros created an image so powerful that the mural was soon whitewashed and kept from public view. What was that image? Check out this week’s excerpt from the classic documentary “America Tropical,” made by filmmaker Jesús Treviño was back in 1971.

Also this week, we have the trailer for a new drama by Latino filmmaker and director Gabe Torres titled “Brake.” This is an exciting action adventure that is released this week (March 23rd) in theaters in New York and Los Angeles. So go out and see this film and support this talented director!

Bueno, as my Tia Braulio likes to say, “Nothing to it, but to do it!” Check out this week’s videos and enjoy!

OOXX  Tia Tenopia

Flag of the San Patricio Battalion

Hola Mis Queridos Latinopianos! Your Tia Tenopia has two themes this week. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, which is just around the corner, we focus on what I call “the Irish/Mexican Connecta.”. That’s the special affinity between the Irish and the Mexican people. We start with a guest blog by Arizona-based Irish/Chicano Ernesto Hogan who reflects on the meaning of the “Irish Mexicano conecta” from first-hand experience. In Art, we feature Wayne Healy, whose parents were also Irish and Mexicano–though known for his pioneering mural work with the East Los Streetscapers, Wayne also was the first Chicano to take an exhibit of Chicano Art to Ireland! In History, we have a classic Moment in Time, when artist Victor Ochoa led an international group of muralists in painting a mural in Belfast, Northern Ireland. To round off our celebration of Irish Mexican week, we reprise Mark Day’s documentary on the “San Patricio Battalion”– check out this incredible story of how more than 300 Irish left the U.S. Army during the Mexican American War of 1848 to fight on the side of Mexico! And in Food, break out your baking soda and raisins and prepare for Bobbi Murray’s recipe for Jalapeno Soda Bread! Hijole, Irish and Mexicanos…what a combo!

Our other theme this week is the Librotraficantes Caravan of Banned Books. As your Tia has been telling you, this whole thing started last year when the Arizona state legislature passed a law banning the teaching of ethnic studies in public schools. To comply. the Tucson Unified School District took the unprecedented step of removing books used in Chicano Studies classes from the school libraries. In effect, Chicanitos can’t read about their history, culture and literature and neither can anyone else! Enter Tony Diaz who is leading a caravan from Texas to Tucson to bring these banned books by Latino authors to the children of Ariozna. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, meanwhile poets mounted an impassioned Benefit Poetry Reading on March 4, 2012. Take a look at the vide of this event as shot and edited by filmmaker Daniel Sonis. Also check out Luis Torres’s review of Rudolfo Anaya’s Bless Me Ultima–one of the books banned in Tucson–he explains why the book is still so powerful.
And, of course, please check out Dan Guerrero’s blog Out and About with Dan Guerrero. This week he reports on the screening of new film.

What a week on Latinopia! Enjoy! OOXX Tia Tenopia