Latinas made history at the 95th Annual Academy Awards this past Sunday. Sylva Villagran became the first Latina (and third woman) announcer for the Oscars – welcoming attendees and viewers to the show, and announcing presenters to the stage. This makes her an EGOT – not for winning…
On January 18, 2023, Georgia State Patrol shot and killed 26-year-old Panamanian forest defender, Manuel Esteban Paez Terán, during a raid. Manuel, who identified as nonbinary and who’s chosen name was “Tortuguita,” or “Little Turtle” was with a group of forest defenders who were protesting to prevent the…
New York City was once dotted with symbols honoring our heritage — porcelain enamel medallions painted with the coat of arms of different countries in North, Central and South America — but now they’re almost gone. In 1945, New York City’s Sixth Avenue — a major thoroughfare in Manhattan, was…
If you’ve heard the phrase “they’re stealing our jobs,” it’s likely you heard it said about immigrants, particularly immigrants of color. The phrase has been co-opted to be a political statement, which — given its origins — is ironic. “They’re stealing our jobs” was actually a satirical meme…
At the westernmost point of the U.S.-Mexico border lies Friendship Park, a binational space that has historically allowed people on both sides to gather at the border. After decades of bittersweet reunions, Friendship Park became a symbol of unity, and for a long time, was often the only…
This past midterm election marked a historic win for Latinos. Americans elected at least 45 Latinos into Congress, making this a record high year for Latino representation in government according to NALEO. So far there are nine Democratic newcomers and four new Republicans. Several of them are the…
Marcelino Ramos is a Latino veteran who joined the Marines when he was only 17 years old. He was deported six years ago after serving time in jail for a felony and has been living in Ciudad Juarez since. Ramos illegally re-entered the U.S. in 2009 to be…
When 125,000 Cubans arrived in Florida in the Mariel boatlift of 1980, they were looking for a future that looked brighter than what seemed possible for them in Cuba. They boarded rented shrimp and fishing boats and headed to the U.S. But, the residents of Miami-Dade county didn’t…
In 1969, thirty-year-old Reyna MarroquĂn marked three years living in the United States. An immigrant from El Salvador, Reyna moved to the U.S. in search of a promising future after her marriage ended. But one day in January 1969, Reyna — then pregnant — suddenly disappeared. Her disappearance…
On the night of Oct. 2, 2022, 17-year-old Érik CantĂş was sitting in the parking lot of a McDonald’s, eating a burger with his girlfriend in the passenger seat. Érik is visibly shocked when then-San Antonio Police Officer, James Brennand opens his car and instructs him to step…
