Queridos, HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

Your Tia is here celebrating our nation’s birthday. And I bet you never suspected that Latinos were a crucial part of our country’s struggle for independence way back in the day! So here’s the awesome scoop!  Apparently the father of our country, George Washington, back in 1779, sent a message to the then Governor of Louisiana under Spanish rule, Bernardo de Galvez, asking for help to fight the British.  Galvez collected monies from Tejano families and sent them off to Uncle George. He even commanded Tejanos  to drive cattle herds north to help feed the colonial army (imagine George chomping down on a Tejano rib eye!)  Later, Galvez himself  led a  contingent of Tejanos  who fought at the battles of Pensacola, Florida, and New Orleans–all crucial and successful battles in the struggle for independence!  All of this, muy interesante información, comes to us by way of author and historian Dan Arrelano who tells us that, Yes, there were Latinos involved in the struggle for American Independence from England!  Latinopia thanks  Dan for passing on the history and we pass on his reference in case you want to read more about this (I bet you thought I was making this up!) :   “Bernardo de Galvez, Spanish Hero of the American Revolution” by G. Rolando Vela Musquiz., Acacia Press, 2006. Hay pues, so next time you light up a July 4th firecracker, remember it was  your people that helped and continue to make this country what it is!

Ya parle, pues!  You’re asking, what about this week’s videos? Well we have the young and the seasoned this week. From Laredo, Tejas, veteran playwright and actress Raquel Sentíes brings us an original play, “Nothing To Declare,” which reflects the true life experiences of Americans, Latino and not, who cross to and from Mexico along the International Bridge at Laredo, Texas.  And Olmeca, that brilliant songster rapper, returns to Latinopia with his no-holds barred comment on societal mores with his audacious original song, “Go to Hell!”

So enjoy this week’s videos! Abrazos, Tia Tenopia