THIS WEEK ON LATINOPIA: RICARDO ROMO ON MARFA TEXAS RESTORING ITS “MEXICAN” SCHOOL, JOSEPH CASTEL ON THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOSÉ SARRIA, LATINOPIA SHOWCASE “NELLY QUEEN THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOSÉ SARRIA,” AND MARK GUERRERO’S CHICANO MUSIC CHRONICLES PODCAST WITH RENE AND RENE.
This week we learn of two major historical events and how they have shaped the present. We begin with Ricardo Romo’s Tejano Report. This week he updates us on the restoration of a school house in Marfa Texas. But it’s not just any school house, it’s where Mexican kids attended in a time of segregated Texas education. To the credit of the people of Marfa and in particular the Blackwell School Alliance , they have restored the school house as a testament to a time when equal educational opportunities were denied to Mexican American school children.
Writer director Joseph Castel has completed a major 90-minute documentary on the life and times of gay activist and drag performer José Sarria. José was the first openly gay person to run for political office in the state of California. All of this way back in 1961! At a time when members of the gay community were persecuted and arrested if they assembled together, José was instrumental in bringing about a lawsuit, Stoumen versus Reilly, which resulted in a California supreme court decision which declared such arrests unconstitutional. Accompanying this plática is a Latinopia Showcase clip from the documentary. Not to be missed.
And last but not least, Mark Guerrero’s podcast, Chicano Music Chronicles, returns. This week he interviews singer and musician René Ornelas of the duo René and René, do you remember their big hit Angelito. Check out Mark’s interview.!
Enjoy your week on Latinopia.
Tia Tenopia