THIS WEEK ON LATINOPIA: BETITA MARTINEZ PRESENTE! BETITA ON THE 1969 WOMEN’S CAUCUS, BETITA ON 500 YEARS OF CHICANO HISTORY IN PICTURES, JESÚS TREVIÑO REMEMBERING A LATINOPIA HERO AND RICARDO ROMO’S TEJANO REPORT ON GINA MACIAS AND THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK.
This week we are saddened by the loss of another pioneering social activist and author, Elizabeth “Betita” Martinez who passed away on June 29th at the age of 95 years. Latinopia honors her with a remembrance by a long time friend, filmmaker and author Jesús Treviño. Also this week, we post two interviews with Betita which Treviño filmed with the help of another filmmaker, Sylvia Morales, in 2013. The first video is Betita recalling the women’s caucus at the 1969 Denver Youth Conference and the surprising outcome of a debate on the role of Chicanas in the Chicano Movement. The other video is Betita talking about how she came to publish her book, 500 Years of Chicano History in Pictures (1994). And also check out Betita’s biography and you’ll see what a very special person she was.
Also this week, Ricardo Romos’ Tejano Report highlights the work of Gina Macias at the San Antonio Food Bank, a services that feeds many Tejanos.
Though we are saddened we take heart in knowing there are people like Betita and Gina who work tirelessly on behalf of or community.
Betita Martinez Presente!
Tia Tenopia