THIS WEEK ON LATINOPIA: ESMERALDA SANTIAGO ON PUERTO RICO TODAY, RICARDO ROMO’S TEJANO REPORT ON NEW EXHIBIT AT BLANTON MUSEUM OF ART, BURUNDANGA BORICUA ON OLIGARCHY AND KLEPTOCRACY IN PUERTO RICO, MARK GUERRERO’S EAST L.A. MUSIC STORIES WITH HARRY MANAKA AND AMALIA ORTIZ READS “I REMEMBER.”
Lot of good stuff this week folks! We start with Puerto Rican novelist Esmeralda Santiago commenting on the state of her native homeland, Puerto Rico, today.We discover that Santiago is not only a gifted author but also enormously aware of the politics and history that have shaped her people on the island. And she has some very decided ideas about things that need to change.
And we get a complimentary view of what’s going happening on the island today from our regular blogger José Umpierre who weighs in this week with his views on oligarchy and kleptocracy. As usual El Zocotroco doesn’t hold back when it comes to calling out injustice and corruption. Pesado!
Ricardo Romo’s reports on a new exhibit at Austin’s Blanton Museum of Art which showcases the works of Carlos Cortes, Alma López and Leo Limón, Together these artists represent decades of commitment to their art with venues from Chicago to Texas to California.
Mark Guerrero’s East L.A. Music Stories features an interview with Japanese American musician Harry Manaka. We learn that side by side with the explosion of the Chicano rock sounds of the 1960s was an equally vibrant Japanese American rock music scene.
And last but not least, Texas based poet Amalia Ortiz reads her poem “I Remember,” recalling memories from her South Texas homeland.
Enjoy your week on Latinopia!
Tia Tenopia