THIS WEEK ON LATINOPIA: THE ERNESTO GALARZA STORY! EPISODE ONE: BARRIO BOY, EPISODE TWO: A HIDDEN ENEMY, RICARDO ROMO’S TEJANO REPORT LATINOS OVERCAME A WAR AND A BROKEN TREATY.
We’re excited to announce a new series on Latinopia! We have produced five original videos for on our history page telling the Ernesto Galarza Story. Who was Ernesto Galarza? He was a legendary educator, social activist, Washington diplomat, farm labor union organizer, author and educator. He graduated from Occidental College in 1927, one of the very first Latinos in higher education. He went on to receive a Master Degree from Stanford University and a doctorate degree from Columbia University. But his real claim to fame was working as a diplomat to Latin America for the United States government during World War Two. Later he was chief organizer for the Farm Labor Union in 1947. This was the first farm worker’s union, preceding the UFW which would not arise until the 1960s. Galarza’s union failed because of the U.S. sponsored bracero program which allowed Mexican nationals to come into the United States to work crops. American growers used the braceros as strike breakers which ultimately led to the end of Galarza’s union efforts. Galarza wrote of the abuses of the bracero program in his book Merchants of Labor which resulted in the termination of the bracero program by the United States Congress. Latinopia is proud to post the first two videos on the life of this diplomat, scholar, labor organizer and educator. Check out these cool videos!
Also this week, Ricardo Romo’s Tejano Report returns with a look at how Latinos Overcame the Mexican American War and a Broken Treaty to take their place in what is now American society. Ricardo’s post coincides with the February 2nd anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which ended the war between the United States and Mexico.
Enjoy your exciting week on Latinopia!
Tia Tenopia