Latinas – Fake Flamenco

Latinas, Latinas in the News, Mexico, Spanish Culture and Language, writing

First Latina Poet Laureate of Madison

Thursday night I was fortunate enough to attend a reading by Angela Trudell Vasquez, Madison’s new poet laureate. She read from In Light, Always Light. Her poems are elegant and sparse. Word-by-word they lodge themselves in our hearts. Angie is an engaging speaker who builds rapport with her audience through personal anecdotes, a warm presence […]

Latinas, Life as a Woman, Spanish Culture and Language

Who’s Your Favorite Chicana Writer?

One of my favorite Chicana novelists and poets is Ana Castillo. I adore how she incorporates details she’s observed from daily life into her stories. In the book of hers I read recently, Peel My Love Like an Onion (1999), the example of cleaning out an older relative’s refrigerator; the open cans, the frying pans […]

archeology, bilingual, blogging, Latinas, Spanish Culture and Language

Could Taposiris Magna Be The Place?

The final day of the initial two month excavation permit at Taposiris Magna, the archeologists on Dr. Martínez’ team sat on the ground, refused to work, and encouraged her to give up. Martínez said she would not. She would use every minute of those eight remaining hours. The Dominican asked her excavation team to spread […]

Latinas, Spanish Culture and Language

Butterfly Defender Susette Oñate

Susette Oñate is a member of the Dr. Jane Goodall Roots and Shoots National Fellowship Program. This encourages young people, especially youth of color to work in underserved communities around the world. Dr. Goodall’s nonprofit gives grants to youth leaders so they can develop community action programs and empower people. Susette is working in her […]

Afro-Latinos, Latinas, Nicaragua, Spanish Culture and Language

Rafaela Herrera Defeats the British Navy

Rafaela Herrera is a Nicaraguan heroine. In 1762, She was key in defending the El Castillo Fortress on the San Juan River from the attacks of the British. Rafaela was born in 1742 to Felipa Torreynosa and José de Herrera y Sotomayor. Her father was Spanish and her mother was Afro-Latina. Sadly, her mother Felipa […]