The Texas Link to the Battle of Cinco de Mayo On May 5th 1862 in the city of Puebla the 8000 invading forces of Maximilliano the Archduke of Austria, would encounter a force of4000 determined Mexican troops led by Ignacio Zaragoza. We have all heard the story of how General Zaragoza who was born in Goliad, Texas would successfully defeat the French invaders at the Battle of Puebla, but that is only half of the story.
Will Latinos Get it Done for Texas Democrats? Essentially, the Latino in charge of Latino outreach for the Republican Party was so scared of Latino voters that he quit. And it was actually a smart move.
Possible Agreement on Immigration? Yes, but... It's not comprehensive immigration reform, nor is it the DREAM Act, but it's something. True, it benefits big business and the immigrant is the happy collateral beneficiary; and it's just an agreement betweeen two senators to move forward. And we all know what that does, and doesn't mean.
The Death of Anastasio Hernandez:The Silence is an Outrage The tape shows what looks to be more than twelve Border Patrol officers beating a man who was handcuffed and hogtied on the ground - tasing him, kicking him, hitting him with billy clubs.
Lamar Smith: A Political Double Standard He is immovable in his immigration stance, far from his own "half a loaf is better than none, and even a slice beats going hungry" ideology. One has to ask, what gives?
Supreme Court Ruling Could be Bad Karma for GOP ...they're still bouncing inside their message bubble, giddy at the prospect of winning an immigration battle. Their next bet, if I were them, would be to hope Latinos don't vote come November.
Equal Pay For Latinas Stuck In The 1960's Although, some small gains have been made, today, women earn 77 cents to men's dollar, but Latinas only earn 57 cents. Do we need another piece of legislation or can we as a society make a bigger impact in our Latino community?
Opinion:Nielsen Sings Praises Of Latino Market, Finally Latinos have been saying that for years, but now that Nielsen has said it, it must be true. I guess we should be grateful for that. But a larger part of my brain asks why?
Nebraska Upholds Prenatal Care For Undocumented And although the law had to do with health care and prenatal attention, there were obvious underlying issues at hand - immigration being the most obvious, abortion being more inferred.
My Mother, The Most Unfortunate Pilgrim There I was in my Le Tigre shirt and Payless shoes, looking at a globe wondering what ocean my mom and dad crossed with their turkeys and belt buckle hats.
The Latino Paradox: Tradition vs Identity The problem is not how Latinos chose to identify, it's how we're expected to do so - the choice of boxes we're given to check.
The Focus For The Latino Vote Will Be: North Carolina? It's not all Latinos that the candidates need to convince, it's just a very small number of them in Virginia and more importantly North Carolina. If they can convince those Latinos, and by convincing them win those states, they tip the overall balance.
(Start your Monday morning off with a breakfast NewsTaco! - promoted by Katherine Haenschen)
Obama Goes To Colombia: Should U.S. Latinos Pay Attention? The chunk of the world that exists on the American continent south of the U.S.-Mexico border is paying close attention. And although it’s not topping the list of Twitter’s #trendingtopics, I think we – the royal U.S. we – should pay attention too.
Latinos Use More Social Media, But With Limits According to the most recent research Latinos are all over social media; we love it, more than any other ethnic, racial or cultural group in the U.S. But, while Latinos use social media more, it’s only to an extent – we have our limits.
Texas Sen. Carlos Truan, A Living Legacy Inside his home base the former state senator’s sometimes tender approach and sometimes hard-hewed politics were well known. Truan died Tuesday in his hometown, Corpus Christi, Texas.
Two Immigrants Gunned Down In Arizona A truck carrying twenty “Illegal aliens” was intercepted Sunday, April 8th, by “individuals in camouflage uniforms brandishing rifles” in Pima, Arizona.
Marlins Manager Suspended Over Castro Comment The manager of the Miami Marlins Baseball team was suspended for five games after making an offensive comment regarding Fidel Castro in an interview with Time Magazine.
Latino Veep Sweepstakes Is Like Living In A Ranch Truth be told it’s way too early for the veep selection sweepstakes to enter the general public’s awareness, especially if it’s a new name. If you’re thinking about it in April consider yourself a political geek – and welcome to the club.
What Does "Go Back To Mexico" Really Mean?<
Like so many millions of you, I can’t go back because I’m already here and have been for many generations. But that “go back to Mexico” thinking is emblematic of the same idea that pegged me as a Latino writer, the same thinking that pegs most Latinos as hyphenated Americans: it’s not so much “go back” as it implies “go away.”
The Simple Truth About The GOP And Latino Voters Technically there are still 2 GOP front runners, Romney and Rick Santorum, and both of them have a big problem to overcome among Latino voters. Now, you can listen to all the usual experts tell you what they think that problem is – most will say it has to do with policy and stances on issues like immigration and voter I.D. and the like. My take is a little different.
Can A New Model Predict The Latino Vote? A group of political scientists at Latino Decisions have come up with a model to take the guess work out of figuring our how the Latino vote will affect the 2012 presidential election.
What Would Jesus Say About My Gay Son? Confidential documents from the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), an anti-gay and supposedly faith-based organization, had been released by court order and were published online earlier this week. The internal documents included plans to pit Latinos and Blacks against gays and to use Catholic officials as part of the process.
Autism Cases On The Rise Among Latino Children The Center for Disease Control (CDC) says “autism prevalence among Latino children (the number of 8-year-olds identified) increased by 110% between 2002 and 2008, compared with a 70% increase for white children.”
Forty years ago the U.S. Government decided it would build a box to stow all persons who, according to the the Pew study summary, “ trace their roots to Spanish-speaking countries.” The mandate was to use the terms Hispanic or Latino. The problem was that the government decided what the terms would be, decided that the terms would fit, then imposed the terms.
The way that Latinos are now positioned in the fabric of the U.S. society and economy, if Latinos thrive the U.S. thrives. It really is that simple. And we can take it a step further: the things that will help Latinos thrive will help all other Americans thrive.
On April 6, 1813, Jose Bernardo Gutierrez de Lara issued the first ever Declaration of Independence against Spainin North America. Contrary to popular myth, Rev. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla considered the “Father of Mexican Independence” opposed independence from Spainand thus never issued such a declaration.
The fact that they’re Latino holds a lot of water in some circles, being that the Latino vote is said to be vital for winning the election in November. But another question pops-up: Will the majority of registered Latino voters cast a vote for Marco Rubio? For Susana Martinez?
I am an endless string of adjectives that have nothing to do with my ethnicity or race. I am composed of contradictions and paradoxes. One day I might be talking about Chaucer whilst eating Flamin’ Hots until my fingers are stained red.
The problem is that Arpaio went all-out in his pursuit of the undocumented, egged on by the raucous right wing anti-immigrant echo chamber. He was bound to overstep, somewhere.
Mexican Americans Have Higher Rates Of Obesity - Mexican Americans have a higher rate of obesity than the rest of population; whereas about 40% of Mexican American adults are obese, only 36% are nationally.
Sylvia Romo Wants To Be The First, Best Latina U.S. Rep From TX - Sylvia Romo should be preparing for retirement, instead, she's campaigning as the Democratic candidate for the 35th district of Texas. The long-time tax assessor-collector of Bexar County and former state house rep said that the opportunity to run for Congress in this newly created district came about just as she had decided not to seek re-election to her county post.
Outgoing Hispanic Congressional Chair: There's Still Lots To Do - Outgoing Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair and Texas Congressman Charlie Gonzalez is currently working on a graceful exit, given that he has chosen not to seek reelection, but he is still focused on the things that need to be done in his district, and the country. Gonzalez's exit represents the first time someone from his family will not represent the 20th district of Texas since his father, Henry B. Gonzalez, first took office in 1961.
Law Firm Sues Over José Hernández's "Astronaut" Title - Having conquered the agricultural fields of California and the infinite black abyss of space, José Hernández is now taking his talents to the grinding media battlefield of politics. Last Wednesday a law firm based in Sacramento asked the Sacramento County Superior Court that Hernández remove his "astronaut" title from the June primary ballot.
A Letter To Geraldo Rivera From A Hoodie-Wearing Black Latina - A three-piece suit and a tie would not have saved Trayvon Martin's life. Urging black and Latino parents to "not let their children go out wearing hoodies" and saying that the 17 year-old's hoodie holds as much culpability as the murderer who snuffed out his life is a dangerous line of thought. Trayvon's hoodie did not end his life - George Zimmerman did. Wearing a hoodie is not a crime, shooting an innocent person is.
The Racism In The Trayvon Martin Case, Voter ID Is The Same - The shooting of Trayvon is a reflection of the fear of black men by white society. Growing up black or brown in America has always been a problem, because for the most part you are perceived by white authorities - police, school teachers and so forth - as less than your white male counterparts. Voter ID laws are just a way of codifying election shenanigans, a legal way (albeit unconstitutional) to suppress the votes of people of color.
Bien Hecho: California Swears In First Latino Poet Laureate - California Governor Jerry Brown swore in Juan Felipe Herrera as the state's new Poet Laureate last week. Herrera currently serves as Chair in the Department of Creative Writing at the University of California, Riverside.
The DOJ Rules For Texas Voters, Against Voter ID - On March 12, 2012 the Department of Justice (DOJ) stood up for Texas voters by refusing to pre-clear the strict photo ID legislation that Texas Republicans passed during the 2011 legislative session.
Mexican Americans Key To Future Latino Growth In The U.S. - The east coast's Hispanic population is indeed growing - don't think otherwise - but, likely due to immigration, the U.S.-Mexico border has become the center of America's Hispanic population.
How To Get More Latinos At South By Southwest - "The numbers are definitely growing, but we should encourage SXSWi to add more panels and include more Latinos in their programming; this will definitely increase the attendance of Latinos at SXSWi. It's a win-win."
Latinos Keep Asking, "GOP Why Don't You Like Me?" - If the GOP could shift on immigration and they could by taking more of a Regan approach, they could win both the heart and mind of the fastest growing voter block in the country.
Latinos Still Underrepresented In Federal Employment System - According to a recent report, 7.9% of the 2.8 million people in the employ of the federal government are Latino. Specifically, this means that there are about 133,100 Latinos and about 92,000 Latinas working for the federal government.
Kaleb Canales' NBA Rise Paves The Way For Latinos In Sports - Kaleb Canales' gradual but persistent ascension from unpaid video intern to NBA head coach is a good sign of things to come for the Hispanic community and their influence in the sports world.
Spicy Aztec Chocolate Cookies - Delicious, sweet, spicy, chewy on the inside and crunchy on the outside, don't let the chile powder intimidate you, they aren't super spicy and are very chocolatey.
"In Wonderland" Celebrates Latina Surrealist Painters - The works by Frida Kahlo in the "In Wonderland" exhibit at LACMA are well worth the price of admission; they spangle the middle of the exhibit, like stuffed grizzlies. But, the competing compositions of other painters ensured I was actually able to see them with factory-eyes.
(NewsTaco will have a big presence at SXSW next week, so be on the lookout! Meanwhile, here's this week's round-up. - promoted by Katherine Haenschen)
What Really Happened At The Alamo On March 6, 1836 - In movies and TV programs, the Mexican soldiers who participated in assaulting the Alamo on March 6, 1836, are always depicted in clean, almost new, beautiful uniforms. But there's a lot more to what really happened at The Alamo.
Latinos Engage In Protests More Than Other Groups - Latinos are more likely to engage in political protests and other groups, while at the same time that Latinos are less likely than other groups to engage in the electoral process.
It's Time For All Of Us To Move Past SB 1070 - The recent decision by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton to uphold the constitutional rights of day laborers in Arizona and block the implementation of part of the SB1070 law that sought to make it illegal to seek work in public, is a victory for the immigrant rights movement
Latinos With Tattoos Seek To Represent Their Culture - While for many Latinos of older generations, tattoos have traditionally been associated with criminals or undesirables, for younger generations that are increasingly mainstreaming, getting a tattoo has become something of a right of passage.
My Memories Of Cesar Chavez, And How His Spirit Lives On - I know Cesar would prefer I write about La Causa rather than about him, but I believe it is very important for people to know the real Cesar. He was just an ordinary man in extraordinary circumstances. He was a plain-spoken, unassuming leader who had a great deal of common sense and a practical approach to dealing with issues.
Will Immigration Matter In November? - The GOP is making a strategic gamble that immigration will not be a decisive factor in the Latino vote and in many ways they are correct.
Are Latinos Going To Start "Passing" As White? - Will Latinos start self identifying as white, foregoing their culture or language, and remembering their heritage primarily via eagle and serpent tattoos on Cinco de Mayo?
Latina Filmmakers Shine In Boyle Heights Film Fest - The 6th Annual Boyle Heights Latina Independent Film Extravaganza (BHLIFE) kicked off with three films by strong Latina actors-turned-directors: "kAyLIEN" by Zoe Saldaña, "A Proper Send-Off" by Eva Longoria, and "California Romanza" by Eva Mendes.
(Get your weekly NewsTaco for breakfast! Happy Friday y'all. - promoted by Katherine Haenschen)
Undocumented Student Ran For Texas A&M Student Body President - Jose Luis Zelaya, 24, is a Honduran immigrant, graduate student in the College of Education and Human Development at Texas A&M University, expert crocheter, and aspiring teacher, who ran for student body president. What makes his case so exceptional is the fact that he is undocumented. However, under state law, there is nothing preventing him from becoming or pursuing this position.
Selena's Music Is Back, But It's Not Better - With a new album of posthumous duets out, will the new listeners remember Selena as a Mexican American singer who was brought up in Texas, or just as an accessory that sells even after death?
One Young Latino Hopes To Change Houston For The Better - Joseph Carlos Madden, 28, is running for a seat in the Texas legislature. As a young man, he's one of the emerging leaders in Texas that will oversee the demographic changes that will transform our state.
Activists Launch Campaign To Register 200,000 Latino Voters - Motivated by the conservative anti-immigrant rhetoric going around the country, leaders from the Hispanic community launched a national campaign on Thursday to register 200,000 Latino voters and mobilize 100,000 individuals to go to the polls in November.
Fight For Mexican American Studies About The Future, Our Children - Why I am working with groups like Save Ethnic Studies, UNIDOS, and the Librostraficantes to end the ban of the Mexican American Studies program and bring the books by our historians, cultural critics, and literary greats back to our classrooms.
Alabama's Law Backfires, Creating A New Civil Rights Movement - Alabama's show-me-your-papers law, HB56, threatens to turn the clock back to a time when hardworking men and women were persecuted because of the color of their skin. Now a new generation of civil rights advocates, community organizations, and faith groups are calling upon the nearly 50-year-old civil rights struggle to combat this latest attack on people of color.
(Just in time for lunch, it's the weekly NewsTaco round-up! - promoted by Katherine Haenschen)
Texas Teacher To Latino Student: "Go Back To Mexico" - There is no good end to this story. The best thing that the administrators at the Arlington ISD can do is put an end to the problem and decide Bunn's future, before the controversy grows too big to handle.
Protesters To Big Oil: Don't Mess With Texas - In Texas, landowners are locking arms to fight would-be pipeline builder TransCanada over eminent domain cases that may determine where the 1700-mile project will be built.
When The Drug Cartels Are The Guys Down The Street - Violence, I must admit, is taking over the southernmost part of Texas. Here in the Rio Grande Valley we have grown accustomed to it. Sad, but true, we seem to have turned numb to the horrible escalating violence. But who can blame us?
CA Apology To Deported Mexican Americans 80 Years Too Late - During the Great Depression, 400,000 U.S. citizens and legal residents were removed from California alone, their property seized and sold to pay for their removal. For almost 80 years the fact has simmered, dried and been forgotten, until this week, when what little could be done, was done.
Latinos, Asians Have Highest Rates Of Intermarriage - Asians have the highest rates of intermarriage, a little more than three-times that of whites, with 28% and 9% respectively. Latinos are second marrying out with 26% with blacks at 17%.
The Next Online Explosion: Original Latino Web Series - The entertainment industry has been quickly changing to embrace content created for online consumption, and leading the charge has been a group of innovative new generation Latino pioneers creating original web series directly targeted at their own demographic.
(Celebrate President's Day with a heaping portion of NewsTaco! - promoted by Katherine Haenschen)
500 Years In The Making: The Tejano Monument - On Jan. 13, workers finally broke ground on the Texas Capitol site where a 525-square-foot statuary honoring the legacy of Tejanos, or Texans of Mexican and Spanish descent, will be dedicated March 29.
Chimichangas, Tacos and Latino Politics - With chimichanga-gate in the news, and Latino unemployment stalled at about 11%, we're talking about tacos and chimichangas? If anything, that's what irritates me. There are real issues to contend with, and the conversation reaches it's highest pitch when the subject is food? Even the undercurrent is a farce.
Bien Hecho: Latino Profs. Receive National Humanities Medal - President Obama recently awarded the 2011 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal to a group of selected intellectuals, including UCLA professor Teofilo F. Ruiz, and Stanford professor Ramón Saldívar.
Will Latino Grads Grow As Online University Access Expands? - The University of Texas recently launched a new program, Finish@UT, with the goal of creating better access to classes and the attainment of degrees for non-traditional students, who may be juggling work or children, or simply cannot access the campus. Will that be enough to create more Latino grads?
Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup - This tortilla soup is easy, delicious, doesn't have a ton of ingredients (you probably have most in your pantry anyways) and full of flavor.
One Latina Twentysomething's 12 Tips For Teens - Bumbling through life, I have learned helpful things that I would like to pass on. I have compiled some tips for teenage girls, some of which I learned by doing, others by judgmentally observing.
Mississippi's Gulf Of America Representative Is My Hero - Mississippi State Representative Stephen Holland has become my personal hero. He's the guy who jokingly filed a bill in the Mississippi state legislature (HB150) to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America."
