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
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