THIS WEEK ON LATINOPIA: JOSÉ MONTOYA READING ‘EL LOUIE,” CARMEN TAFOLLA’S ONE WOMAN SHOW “OCCUPATION NONE,” AND “TERE,” LATINOPIA DOCUMENT “CONGRESSIONAL LETTER TO PUERTO RICO’S OVERSIGHT BOARD.”
Hola my peeps! This week marks the sixth year since the passing of our dear friend and stellar artist, poet,visionary and someone once called “the conscience of the movimiento,” José Montoya. We celebrate the life of this wonderfully talented artist and poet with this video of him reading his now classic poem, “El Louie” recorded at Occidental College in 2011. The poem recounts the life of a legendary “pachuco” but giving him a humanity that surpasses stereotypical perceptions of pachucos. Check it out!
Also this week, we celebrate the powerful dramatic work of writer and performer Carmen Tafolla, now President of the prestigious Texas Institute of Letters. In her one-woman show, she portrays a diversity of barrio archetypes. In these two selections she portrays an older woman confronting a census taker who wants to know what her occupation is and a young girl encountering a teacher determined to rob her of her ethnic identity. Check out “Occupation One” and ” Tere.”
In the aftermath of the successful ouster of corrupt Governor Ricardo Roselló in Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rican people continue to demand justice even as searing austerity measures continue to be leveled by the questionably appointed Fiscal Management Board members. Last month, members of Congress decided to take matters into their own hands and wrote a letter to the Oversight Board which oversees Puerto Rico, demanding that it stop its work until corruption accusations are investigated. Check this important Latinopia Document, “Congressional Letter to the Oversight Board.”
Enjoy and be educated by this week’s Latinopia!
Your servidora,
Tia Tenopia