Latino arts, history and culture
Chicanos have been carrying metaphorical pitchforks and flaming torches for years—demonstrating and complaining that Hollywood just doesn’t make enough movies by and about Latinos, especially … [Read more...]
“If it wasn’t for Chris Strachwitz, Los Lobos wouldn’t have happened the way they did.” I was saddened to hear that Chris Strachwitz, the visionary and indefatigable music producer and founder … [Read more...]
Let’s get rid of the presumed need for “active-shooter drills” in our schools Desafortunadamente, we observe a horrifying anniversary this week. A year ago, this country was convulsed by the deadly … [Read more...]
Hello. My name is George Santos. I used to go by a different name—Luis Torres. Actually, I used to go by several different names, but that’s beside the point. What is the point? The point is I wanna … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving Day has come and gone, leaving lots of leftovers – both actual and metaphorical. Above the din of football game crowds emanating from the nonstop television in the next room, there were … [Read more...]
Secretly Recorded Racist Comments by Public Officials Are a Setback for Latinos !Chingao! Latino political “leaders” have created a tsunami of controversy and social chingasos … [Read more...]
“Let’s Get Stupid on Crime” For Latinos and African Americans, it seems like we’re living in the surreal world of the Racism Mambo: one step forward, two steps back. Politicians and pundits … [Read more...]
HOW I ENDED UP BEING FERNANDO VALENZUELA’S HOMIE 40 YEARS AGO Wow! How time flies. It’s been 40 years since Los Angeles (and the Chicanada throughout the country) was mesmerized by Fernandomania. … [Read more...]
Adios to Trump, the Pendejo-in-Chief Our long national nightmare is over – well, ya mero. And ya era tiempo. And Latinos played a positive role in putting an end to a presidency that … [Read more...]
This is not just a matter of “a few bad apples” in the police department The televised killing of George Floyd has slapped this country awake. It has forced this country, among other things, to … [Read more...]
Remembering Bobby Lee Verdugo I was excruciatingly sad to learn that Robert (Bobby Lee) Verdugo died this week. I got a call from his wife, Yoli. He had a heart attack, following other serious … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving Day has come and gone, leaving lots of leftovers – both actual and metaphorical. Above the din of football game crowds emanating from the nonstop television in the next room, there were … [Read more...]
World Premiere of Play Based on Esteemed Memoir “Always Running” It got a standing ovation on opening night recently and it was well deserved. It just may keep pulling in satisfied audience by … [Read more...]
Trump’s Racist Words and Actions Fan Flames of Mass Shootings It sounds like a bad Quentin Tarantino movie: “Massacre in El Paso.” That’s what newspaper headlines screamed and cable news network … [Read more...]
I recently attended an event to honor peripatetic educator, journalist and broadcast executive Frank Cruz. The evening at downtown L.A.’s LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes (they insist on the upper case “A” … [Read more...]
Women Helping Women in Hollywood: How about Latinos helping Latinos? Very recently there was a thought-provoking article in the Calendar section of the Los Angeles Times. Basically, it was a … [Read more...]
A bit like Claude Rains in “Casablanca,” I’m shocked. Shocked at news of the scandalous college admissions scandal. Wow! Stop the presses: it’s news that wealth, position and prestige confer … [Read more...]
“I am a nationalist.” That’s what Trump shouted at one of his bullshit rallies recently. All he needed was the brown-shirted “heil” salute. How much clearer could this be? We should understand his … [Read more...]
Just when you think El Mero Pendejo Trump can’t do anything more insidious and evil than he’s already done, he proves you wrong. We are in the midst of his latest pernicious pendejada: the separating … [Read more...]
Trump Has Lost Any Semblance of Moral Authority By Luís Torres It’s time to call for Donald Trump to resign the presidency. Given the maniacally egotistic nihilistic that he is, it is of … [Read more...]
How to say “No” to Donald Trump Cornel West has described Naomi Klein as “One of the few revolutionary public intellectuals of great integrity and vision.” And he is correct. Klein is also a … [Read more...]
