National Latino
Writers Conference Nears
2012 marks the tenth anniversary of the National Latino
Writers Conference in Alburquerque. The National Hispanic Cultural Center hosts
the event this year from May 16 through 19. Per the NHCC’s website, the
Conference:
Now accepting fiction
and nonfiction writers. Genres include novel, poetry, anthology,
playwriting, memoir/biography and popular culture. Registration fee
covers all workshops, interviews, conference activities, refreshments and
evening banquet.
For more information
call (505) 724-4747.
In addition to workshops and immersion in writinglandia, the
the NLWC invites the general public to the announcement of this year’s Premio
Aztlán.
NHCC is the nation’s cultural secret, something Clara
Apodaca and her staff at the institution’s volunteer Foundation are correcting
through tireless and creative fundraising. The galleries, el Torreón, the NHCC
itself, deserve to become an international cultural tourism destination. Attendees
at this year’s NLWC will see for themselves.
Summer Internship
Pays $350 a Week
Summer of my college sophomore year I labored at Kaiser
Steel in Fontana California. Shoveling slag fallen off glowing ingots the size
of a VW beetle, for eight, often sixteen hours at a time was wonderful,
incredibly physical labor.
Earning $3.00 an hour, I pulled down $3300 that paid
for the following year of UCSB. In those days, $3300 went a long way; in Isla
Vista, for example, my share of rent on a two-bedroom apartment was $115.00 a
month.
I was reflecting on tight budgets and lean times after
seeing UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center’s May 6 deadline to apply to be
their Getty Multicultural Undergraduate Intern.
Getty describes
the opportunity as Kaiser Steel-like, “full-time (40 hours/week)
positions, each with a salary of $3,500, for a consecutive ten-week work period
between June and August, 2012.” Sadly, I’m sure a two-bedroom apartment two
blocks from the beach rents for heartbreaking monthlies, so this paid
internship won’t support anyone's mind and body.
Still, what a golden opportunity for someone with the
middle-class ganas to spend the summer feeding their mind with experiences:
typing metadata into computer files, filing books, cleaning and gluing ceramics
manufactured in some Sicilian sweat shop nineteen hundred years ago, policing
cigarette butts from the VIP lounge. Quién sabe, right?
UCLA is looking for one, the Getty promises up to 20 jobs.
CSULA Carlos Fuentes
Conference For Town & Gown
 |
| Cristal Gonzales as Dolores Del Río |
La Bloga friend Roberto Cantu has started his final
checklist preparing for next weekend’s event at the El Sereno campus located on
the eastside of Los Angeles.
For Gown, the provocative theme promises scintillating
listening followed by informed conversation: Ancient Mexico, Modernity, and the
Literary Avant-Garde. Scholars and gente interested in more depth may read the Conference Abstracts at the foot of the conference site.
For Town, the Conference presents an infrequent staging of
Carlos Fuentes’ “Orquídeas a la luz de la luna.”
 |
| Alejandra Flores as María Félix |
The Spanish-speaking cast includes Alejandra Flores as María
Félix, Cristal González as Dolores Del Río and Ricardo Salcido as the Fan.
The campus welcomes visitors to the Golden Eagle Ballroom
who pay an $8.00 parking fee on May 5 for a 4:15 curtain.
Maria Félix (laughing): If in my life I have slept in one hundred beds, I assure you I've only chosen ten of them.
Dolores Del Río: And the other ninety?
María (Directly): They were called hunger, ambition or violence.
Maria Félix (laughing): If in my life I have slept in one hundred beds, I assure you I've only chosen ten of them.
Dolores Del Río: And the other ninety?
María (Directly): They were called hunger, ambition or violence.
 |
| Ricardo Salcido as The Fan |
Dolores: We came looking for Hollywood, remember?
María: Yes, like two elephants in search of their cemetery.
When nobody offered us any films in Mexico, we decided to come to die in
Hollywood, to bury ourselves in the fresh cement of the Chinese Theater.
(Pause.) They didn't want us, not even here. Old Chicanas, old movie
stars? To the trash can. Everything here is a trash can. Nothing should
be useful for more than ten days.
Dolores (Dizzily.) Orchids in the moonlight...
Translation by Carlos Fuentes, courtesy Dr. Cantú
Conjunto fest
This year’s 31st jam occupies a pair of San
Antonio sites. The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center hosts events between May 18 and 20 while nearby Rosedale Park fêtes
conjunto May 15 – 17. Over 35 bands perform, along with sessions for student
recitals and booths.
Ticket buyers and fence listeners expect to hear star-studded
performances by an array of players from celebrated hall of famers to debut
artists. At as much as $40 three days, the Conjunto Festival brings the
recession’s biggest music bargain.
Organizers host a free Seniors Conjunto Dance, “New
Directions” concert, and the Conjunto Music Hall of Fame Dinner &
Baile. Locals and gente planning a San Antonio visit benefit from close
inspection of datos linked
at centro’s website.
Bless Me, Ultima Week
at La Bloga
UC Berkeley recently celebrated the 45th
anniversary of the founding of Tonatiuh Quinto Sol Publishers. The company, led
by Octavio Romano and Herminio Rios, published the world’s first “Chicano
Literature” when it titled its revised edition of El Espejo The Mirror "Selected CHICANO Literature".
As is the case with any live event, the only way to share Cal's celebration was to be in the right place at the right time and pay attention.
As is the case with any live event, the only way to share Cal's celebration was to be in the right place at the right time and pay attention.
Next week, gente all across the Internet can join in anytime
as La Bloga celebrates the 40th anniversary of TQS’ publishing
Rudolfo Anaya’s Bless Me, Ultima.
Visit La Bloga daily to share each bloguera’s bloguero’s
observations reflecting on Rudolfo Anaya’s career, influence, and writing. Join the
appreciation by leaving Comments for Don Rudy.
Epiphyllum Opens – Chicano
Photography
“What is Chicano
Photography?” The founders of La Bloga vowed to avoid the foregoing construction as one of those statements
that resemble grammatical construction but is meaningless.
It is what it is. Like my fundamental belief that by my putting
some mayo and a slice of baloney on a tortilla de maíz and folding it for
lunch, I am making a Chicano baloney sandwich. What’s Chicano about baloney?,
purists object.
Epiphyllums have been in my family for as long as I can
remember. My grandmother owned specimens she took from family members, and
wherever we vacationed my mother visited nurseries and public gardens
collecting cuttings or plants. So, if a contrarian objects that my baloney
isn’t Chicano, pobrecito. Epiphyllums are the Chicano National Flower as far as
I’m concerned. Watch this one open:
Banned Books Update
Arizona’s depravity
calls to mind Martin Niemöller’s meditation:
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak
out--
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I
did not speak out--
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade
unionists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then
they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a Jew;
Then
they came for me--
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
First, Arizona came for the Mexicans with SB1070 and a few
United Statesians tsk-tsked and laughed and filed a lawsuit.
Then, the Tucson Unified School District came for the Mexicans’
books and few people spoke out because… the news is managed and gente do not
realize what Arizona and TUSD are doing to books and ideas.
Now Arizona is coming for the professors who write the books
and teach the teachers who teach the books that educate the students. But the books, in
the fascist’s Mexican-hating perception, are designed for members of a
particular ethnic group, or make students want to overthrow the U.S.
government, or resent another ethnic group, or believe membership in an ethnic
group has more value than being an individual.
In La Bloga's latest banned books overview, La Bloga reports that, on the eve of oral argument in D.C. about SB 1070, only Tucson’s school administrators enforce A.R.S. § 15-112, the section of Arizona law about these purported teachings. The law continues in force throughout the state.
Tucson continues to single out Chicana Chicano authors in
social science and literature. Bans on works by, among others, Sherman Alexie,
William Shakespeare, bel hooks, Howard Zinn, Henry David Thoreau, remain in
effect. Administrators have not yet announced plans to bury or burn the volumes
currently stored in school repositories but freely available via
Librotraficante clandestine libraries.
Then the tipos from The State came for the universities that taught the
professors who wrote the books…
La Voz Del Pueblo:
Your Feet, Tucsonians
Crummy as Arizona and Tucson remain, gente have one guaranteed-to-be-effective weapon when properly wielded: shoe leather.
The People, yes, the people recalled SB 1070 author Russell
Pierce. I'm sure it hurt Pierce to be dragged from the public trough and sent home to find honest work.
In Tucson, gente are mobilizing an effort to recall an
official making the United States a belly-wrenching laughingstock all over the
world. O brave new world to have such creatures in it indeed!
TUSD school board member Michael Hicks calls attention to
his ilk’s set of beliefs in numerous published and broadcast statements. Hicks’
tea party obtuseness displays itself in a hilariously self-satirizing interview
generously
shared by the Recall Hicks campaign.
Michael Hicks proves himself a genius of politcal satire. A twenty-first century equivalent to The Art of Political Lying
Michael Hicks proves himself a genius of politcal satire. A twenty-first century equivalent to The Art of Political Lying
The only people in the world with power to change TUSD school board members are certain voters in Arizona. Only Tucson voters, in fact, have authority--freely given by the State--to print, circulate and sign petitions to recall inadvertent political satirist Michael Hicks.
Signature gathering and submission must follow printed instructions precisely. Any exceptions, hire a lawyer.
Signature gathering and submission must follow printed instructions precisely. Any exceptions, hire a lawyer.
Then they came for the sympathizers and there was no one
left to keep them from burning my books, too.
Latinopia Update & New Look
There’s a new site design in store for La Bloga, with our software provider’s upgrade that's become necessary. La Bloga will feature a new look, including buttons to Like La Bloga on Facebook and other social media. Leave a Comment with ideas to make La Bloga meet your expectations.
Latinopia has a new look this week. The site’s guiding
light, Jesus Treviño, plans ongoing improvement to the look feel and
functionality of the site, so regular visitors will find the changes useful.
In the past two weeks, Latinopia’s continuing coverage of
los Librotraficantes has brought visitors the caravan’s visit to Casa Anaya and
readings from the NHCC floricanto organized by Richard Vargas and sponsored by
Carlos Vásquez and the NHCC’s dynamic History and Literary Arts division.
Arnie and Porfi Are Back
Con Safos, one of el movimiento’s leading magazines,
introduced numerous writers and artists to public appreciation. Among them,
Sergio Hernandez sketched the popular comic strip Arnie and Porfi. The one,
an agringado guy looking for answers,
the other a good friend gently inculcating a clueless Chicano to his own chicanidad.
Latinopia brings Serge out of retirement to time warp Arnie
and Porfi all grown up back to their youth.
Casa Anaya:
Rudolfo Anaya accepting the Los Angeles Times Robert Kirsch
Award for lifetime achievement:
NHCC floricanto:
Pacific Northwest
News: eSe Teatro Turns Two
Celebrate, eSe! combines theatre and celebration in honor of
eSe Teatro's 2 year anniversary. Entertainment includes snippets from works in
progress, dance, and corporate business teatro-style, a theatrical Mission
Statement. The plays include Oedipus el Reyand zapateo performance by Peru’s master
dancer and choreographer Lucho Sandoval.
The staged performances will be followed by a reception and
a moderated talk-back session
Celebrate, eSe! Comes to Seattle’s ACT produced by Nilki
Benitez and Colette Cosner on
May 5.
La Bloga On-Line
Floricanto
Manuel Lozano, John Martinez, Iris de Anda, Elena Díaz
Bjorkquist, José Díaz Hernández
"Left & a Right/Ballot Box Burns" by Manuel
Lozano
" I am Speaking of the Girls of Juárez" by John
Martinez
"Nowhere Girls" by Iris de Anda
"Over the Border, Under the Radar" by Elena Díaz
Bjorkquist
"Ode to Poets Responding to SB 1070" by José Díaz
Hernández
Left and a Right/ Ballot Box Burns
by Manuel Lozano
Everyone is being given a choice
Between all those that will eventually harm you,
The same ones that censor your voice
As they go on to disarm you.
A crooked center with a left and a right
Ascends from the bowels of the darkest night
With plans of false peace that set off a storm.
With smiling faces and the power of speech,
They will try to take everything they reach
With your children in the army they form.
Many will rise up to put in their word,
Fooled into thinking that their phrasing is gold,
The song deep inside them will be one caged up bird,
Silenced with no fight as it’s bought and sold.
The dead advocates are still doing their thing,
Rewarding the beauty of being able to sing
To spread a poison absorbed through the senses,
And deep in the pocket the faces are burning,
While outside yourself the body is yearning
For nutritional value with no deadly consequences.
Others will insist that its all just a story,
A theory conspired by rebellious thought,
While many are set up to fight for false glory
In a move that will strip you of all you have got.
The terror is plotting from inside the system—
Domestic betrayers killing all the old wisdom
That holds on to its true righteous roots.
They try to sever the link to all that is sacred,
And plant the seeds of anger and hatred
Through all the false dreams of material pursuits.
Few are the ones that will honor the ancestors,
Able to hold on to their true spirit of resistance,
While the world is sold to a group of investors
Who plot every move of your very existence,
And away from the shadows the people will stand,
In their maize feet, with machete in hand,
And the song of their flower rising with each note.
The medicine of their word will be a ritual cleansing,
Running insiders out through their white picket fencing
As the true elders gather to cast their vote.
© Manuel Lozano 2012
I AM SPEAKING OF THE GIRLS OF JUAREZ
There is a spoon
Twisted
Like a question mark
On the table,
A breast, milk less,
A cloud
That will not
Thunder,
A song that
Sweeps
Across the globe,
But few are
Listening, I am speaking
Of the girls of Juarez,
Sleeping, under
The midnight
Glistening
Stars,
There are
Unmarked graves,
A mascara brush
Buried too,
A comb, a small
Dress, I am speaking
Of the girls of Juarez
Tell us of the dreams
You had,
The little brother
Barefoot
At the door,
Tell us of the half
Eaten
Corn left
With your
Mother, whose tears
Can fill a wash tub,
Tell us of how
You looked
To the hills, felt the moon,
An infinite eye
On you,
You sing
Together
With the sad
Violin of the desert floor,
You gather to pray
For all of us
Who look away,
Like your
Country, I am speaking
Of the girls of Juarez
© John Martinez 2012
Nowhere Girl
by Iris De Anda
sadness
long eternal
sadness
eyes not yet old enough to comprehend
behold impurity of men
thoughts too clouded to remind herself of then
a repressed
anger
frustration
fear
a repressed
tear
a single blood drenched
heart breaking
mind crushing
spirit numbing
faith devouring
self rejecting
image breaking
pain inflicting
soul dividing
life dejecting
death inviting
black depressing
tear
feeling
so forgotten
cry, cry
cleanse it all away
slash drip
die,die
tomorrow will she remember
a scar so sad
they call me Blue
a mystical
deep
rich
fucked
ripped
purified
blue
softly
cold
softly
holding death in hands
felt it slip
like she could feel every grain
like sugar
like rain
through bleeding hands
and in the midst of it all she forgot...
Over the Border, Under the Radar
By Elena Díaz Bjorkquist ©2012
Transfronterizos they call them,
Students who cross the border
Every day to attend high school,
Migrating between two cultures,
Two languages.
Transfronterizos stand in line
At the border in Tijuana
Clutching their passports
Waiting to cross into the U.S.
They look like any other teens
Waiting in line for a movie
Except they face drug sniffing dogs,
Customs and Border Patrol Officers,
And a “Welcome to the U.S.” sign.
Transfronterizos fly under the radar
Live with anxiety of having to lie,
And having an education
Taken from them.
Who knows how many
Transfronterizos there are,
Their presence reflects
The complexity of border life.
An Ode to Poets Responding to SB 1070
L'horizon colonial est tout couvert de draperies
Allons dormir sous l'arbre pareil à la pluie.
-Vicente Huidobro.
One poem at a time,
We remember their
Ancient names,
We sing of their
Broken wings—
They of solar,
Bronzed hearts,
They of stone-cleft,
Restless feet.
|
One stanza at a time,
We denounce all the
Sprouting laws,
We critique what
We see as greed—
Laws of fear and
A biased scheme,
Laws endorsed by
The Anglo bourgeoisie.
|
One word at a time,
We envision a
Blooming sun,
We profess of
A need for love—
Love of one as
A fellow man,
Love as proof of
A common ground.
|
BIOS
"Left & a Right/Ballot Box Burns" by Manuel
Lozano
" I am Speaking of the Girls of Juárez" by John
Martinez
"Nowhere Girls" by Iris de Anda
"Over the Border, Under the Radar" by Elena Díaz
Bjorkquist
"Ode to Poets Responding to SB 1070" by José Díaz
Hernández
She recently received the 2012 Arizona Commission on the Arts Bill Desmond Writing Award for excelling nonfiction writing and the 2012 Arizona Humanities Council Dan Schilling Public Humanities Scholar Award in recognition of her work to enhance public awareness and understanding of the role that the humanities play in transforming lives and strengthening communities.
Elena is a writer, historian, and artist from Tucson who writes about Morenci, Arizona where she was born. She is the author of two books, Suffer Smoke and Water from the Moon. An Arizona Humanities Council (AHC) Scholar, Elena has performed as Teresa Urrea in a Chautauqua living history presentation and done presentations about Morenci, Arizona for twelve years.
She is co-editor of Sowing the Seeds, una cosecha de recuerdos and Our Spirit, Our Reality; our life experiences in stories and poems, anthologies written by her writers collective Sowing the Seeds.
A SIROW Scholar at the University of Arizona, Elena conducted an oral history project funded by AHC: “In the Shadow of the Smokestack.” A website she created contains the oral history interviews and photographs of Chicano elders living in Morenci during the Depression and World War II. Another project funded by AHC and the Stocker Foundation is “Tubac 1880’s Schoolhouse Living History Program.” Her website is www.elenadiazbjorkquist.net/.
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