THIS WEEK ON LATINOPIA: LUIS TORRES ON THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SCANDAL, MARK GUERRERO’S CHICANO MUSIC CHRONICLES, and DR. ALVARO HUERTA AND JUAN TEJEDA ON THE MECHA NAME CHANGE CONTROVERSY.
Lots going on this week. On the heels of the national college admissions scandal, where wealthy parent paid to have their children admitted to colleges illegally, Luis Torres confesses that he, himself, was guilty of taking a test for someone else for payment. Whaaaa? Our Gold Mike winning journalist cheating?! Check it out.
Also this week, lots of controversy over the recent decision by the national Latino student organization, MeCha (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan) to remove the terms “Chicano” and”Aztlan” from the organization name. The reason for this, as near as Latinopia can figure out, is that the organization feels the the term “Chicano” excludes other Latino groups and that reference to the mythical land of “Aztlan” somehow denies that presence of other native groups within the United States. We hear from two bloggers on the issue: Dr. Alvaro Huerta and noted musicologist Juan Tejeda.
This week, Mark Guerrero’s Chicano Music Chronicles includes an interview with legendary music bandleader Don Tosti of the forties and fifties, Don Tosti. Mark was able to land an interview with Don Tosti back in 1999. Don Tosti passed away in 2004 at the age of 81 but has left an impressive archives of legendary sounds, including his famous “Pachuco Boogie.” Check out Mark’s interview and also check out this link to his extensive biography of Don Tosti: www.markguerrero.com/3.php.
Enjoy your week on Latinopia!
Tia Tenopia