June 2017
Volume 13 No. 8
Un Peri贸dico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper
Latino Scholarship Fund 2017 26th Annual Celebration Un Peri贸dico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper
Un Peri贸dico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper
Un Peri贸dico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper
2
Portada / Front Page
Latino Scholarship Fund Celebra su 26º Aniversario por MANUEL FRAU RAMOS El Latino Scholarship Fund, Inc. celebró su duodécimo sexto Banquete Anual en el Log Cabin en Holyoke el pasado 23 de mayo. En la celebración se reconocieron líderes comunitarios y se otorgaron becas a estudiantes Latinos graduados de escuela superior que han sido aceptados en universidades para seguir estudios post secundarios. Doce estudiantes de las escuelas superiores de Holyoke y Springfield recibieron becas que los ayudarán a sufragar los gastos económicos de su primer año académico. El evento de este año fue el más concurrido en la historia de la organización. Cerca de 330 personas asistieron al evento.
Kiara Nazario-Cartagena (Holyoke High School – Holyoke Community College), Tamara Rivera (Holyoke High School – Tufts University), Emily López (Holyoke High School – Mass College of Liberal Arts), Justin Colón (Holyoke High School – Holyoke Community College). Sylvia Galván, una de las maestras Latinas pioneras de la región, fue reconocida con el Antonia Pantoja Award. Galván fue una de las fundadoras del Latino Scholarship Fund, Inc. y del Carlos Vega Social Justice Fund. También es Co-Directora de la Junta de Directores del Care Center en Holyoke.
Desde sus comienzo a principios de la década de los noventa, el Latino Scholarship Fund, Inc. ha otorgado miles de dólares en becas a cientos de estudiantes Latinos de diferentes escuelas superiores del Pioneer Valley. Los doce estudiantes reconocidos este año fueron - Javelin Parra (Springfield High School of Science and Technology - Bay Path University), Nysha Sánchez (Holyoke High School – Curry College), Jasmeen Burn (Springfield High School of Science and Technology – American International College), Laleiska Martínez (Springfield High School of Commerce - Elms College), Genesis Martínez (Springfield High School of Commerce -Elms College), Richard Barreiros (Springfield Renaissance School – Umass Dartmouth), Darian González (Holyoke High School – Westfield State University), Jacksiel Colón (Holyoke High School – Syracuse University)
Foto del Mes/ Photo of the Month
HCC en la Celebración 2017 de LSF
Dr. Christina Royal, Presidenta de HCC y Lucy Pérez, miembro de la Junta de Directores del Latino Scholarship Fund y del Board of Trustees del Holyoke Community College
contents
2 Portada / Front Page Latino Scholarship Fund Celebra su 26º Aniversario 3 Premios Carlos Vega Fund for Social Justice 2017 4 Homenaje Gráfico a Nuestro Amigo Cuco Guevara 5 Puerto Rican Diaspora Summit II: An Overwhelming Success 6 Collective Actions of Resistance against PROMESA 7 Media / Media Why America’s public media can’t do its job 9 ¿Qué Pasa en...? 10 Opinión / Opinion Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Initiative: A Model for Volunteer Service Engagement 11 Through the Eyes of Rebel Women, The Young Lords: 1969-1976 12 Oscar Lopez Rivera: The Freedom Fighter American Government Colonial Violence Produced 13 Libros / Books Los Abrazos Oscuros 14 Historia / History Cada Familia Tiene una Historia Science / Ciencia Significance of Universities Research to Society 15 Deportes / Sports Holyoke Old Timers Softball League 2017
Sylvia Galván y Maddie Márquez.
Dr. Antonia Pantoja (1922-2002), nacida en Puerto Rico, fue educadora, trabajadora social, feminista y líder de los derechos civiles. Creó el National Puerto Rican Forum para promover la auto-suficiencia económica de los Latinos, y ASPIRA, organización que promueve el éxito educativo, la concientización cultural y el desarrollo de liderazgo entre los jóvenes puertorriqueños y otros Latinos en Estados Unidos y Puerto Rico. Pantoja ayudó a crear el Boricua College, una institución de estudios post-secundarios en New York City, y un programa de investigación conocido como el Puerto Rican Research and Resource Center. A su regreso a Puerto Rico, fundó Producir. una organización que provee asistencia económica a pequeños negocios en comunidades rurales pobres. En el 1996, Pantoja recibió el Presidential Medal of Freedom.
continued on next page
Founded in 2004 n Volume 13, No. 8 n June 2017 Editor Manuel Frau Ramos manuelfrau@gmail.com 413-320-3826 Assistant Editor Ingrid Estrany-Frau Managing Editor Diosdado López Art Director Tennessee Media Design Business Address El Sol Latino P.O Box 572 Amherst, MA 01004-0572
Editorial Policy El Sol Latino acepta colaboraciones tanto en español como en inglés. Nos comprometemos a examinarlas, pero no necesariamente a publicarlas. Nos reservamos el derecho de editar los textos y hacer correcciones por razones de espacio y/o estilo. Las colaboraciones pueden ser enviadas a nuestra dirección postal o a través de correo electrónico a: info@elsollatino.net. El Sol Latino welcomes submissions in either English or Spanish. We consider and review all submissions but reserve the right to not publish them. We reserve the right to edit texts and make corrections for reasons of space and/or style. Submissions may be sent to our postal address or via electronic mail to: info@elsollatino.net. El Sol Latino is published monthly by Coquí Media Group. El Sol Latino es publicado mensualmente por Coquí Media Group, P.O Box 572, Amherst, MA 01004-0572.
Portada / Front Page
El Sol Latino June 2017
3
Latino Scholarship Fund Celebra su 26º Aniversario continued Harry Meléndez III y el Center for New Americans fueron reconocidos con el Carlos Vega Community Champion Award. José Cotto, 2004 LSF Scholar y graduado de UMass Amherst, compartió sus experiencias como estudiante universitario con los becados. Harry Meléndez III, natural de Holyoke, es el Director de Cultura e Inclusión de la Holyoke High School. Meléndez se graduó de esa institución en el 2006 y obtuvo un Bachillerato en Educación de Trinity College en el 2012. Es fundador de The Paper City Basketball Club y está comprometido con el desarrollo y empoderamiento de los estudiantes-atletas. El Center for New Americans (CNA) en un centro de educación de adultos que provee educación y recursos a inmigrantes, refugiados y migrantes del Pioneer Valley para que aprendan inglés y puedan incorporarse más fácilmente a sus comunidades. Carlos Alberto Vega (1950 – 2012) natural de Quito, Ecuador, inmigró con su familia a Holyoke a los cinco años de edad. A lo largo de su vida, Carlos trabajó incansablemente a favor de los residentes marginados de Holyoke.
Su enfoque como líder comunitario giró en torno a derechos de vivienda adecuada, celebraciones culturales, educación, y desarrollo económico, trabajando estrechamente con la comunidad Latina de Holyoke. Carlos fue uno de los fundadores y sirvió como Director Ejecutivo de Nueva Laurie Millman, Harry Meléndez III y Sylvia Galván Esperanza por muchos años, una agencia de desarrollo comunitario. Para contribuir al fondo de becas: Latino Scholarship Fund P.O. Box 6706 Holyoke, MA 01041-6706 Para más información, ponerse en contacto con Maddie Márquez a mmarquez@ham pshire.edu ó latinoscholarshipfund413@gmail.com
Premios Carlos Vega Fund for Social Justice 2017 por MANUEL FRAU RAMOS Carlos Vega Fund for Social Justice anunció el pasado 19 de mayo de 2017 el grupo de organizaciones recipientes de su sexta ronda de minisubvenciones. El evento se llevó a cabo en el Wistariahurst Museum en Holyoke, sede del Carlos Vega Collection of Latino History. Las mini-subvenciones se le otorgan a iniciativas comunitarias que fomenten el cambio y promuevan el empoderamiento, la autoayuda y la justicia económica, política y social. El propósito de esta ayuda económica es apoyar los esfuerzos dirigidos a enfrentar la injusticia, la opresión y la pobreza en el área de Holyoke, especialmente para aquellos que son marginados por la sociedad.
• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke recibió $1,000 para el Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Initiative Party en el “Back to School Event.” • Community Education Project recibió $500 para el HiSSet Scholarship Program. • Maurice A Donahue Elementary School recibió $400 para el programa culinario para los estudiantes de Applied Behavioral Learning. • The Care Center recibió $920 para comprar tres Chromebooks para estudiantes de Bard Microcollege. Además, la Junta de Directores del Carlos Vega Fund for Social Justice, reconoció durante la ceremonia a la organización estudiantil de la Holyoke High School, Pa’lante, con el Premio Carlos Vega Social Justice. Estos recibieron $1,000 en apoyo por sus esfuerzos para crear una escuela y una comunidad más segura usando técnicas centradas en los estudiantes para lidiar con problemas de disciplina y resolución de conflictos.
El Representante estatal Aaron M. Vega, hijo de Carlos y maestro de ceremonias del evento, y Katherine Kruckemeyer, directora de la propuesta ganadora sobre Puerto Rican History and Culture Collection. (foto MFR).
Este año, el fondo recibió quince solicitudes de las cuales nueve fueron seleccionadas para recibir las mini-subvenciones. Un total de $7,820 fueron distribuidos entre las organizaciones seleccionadas. Estas fueron: • Nuestras Raíces recibió $500 para comprar equipo de jardinería para el jardín comunitario en la United Congregational Church en Holyoke y $1,000 para el Mobile Market. • Transformative Culture Project recibió $1,000 para la clase Video for Social Change en LightHouse. • Friends of the Holyoke Public Library recibió $500 para el Puerto Rican History and Culture Collection. • Holyoke Summer Strings, en asociación con Friends of Holyoke Public Schools, recibió $1,000 para el estipendio de dos maestros de guitarra. • Plunge Arts recibió $1,000 para Connect with Art Workshops en Girls Inc. de Holyoke.
Premio Carlos Vega Social Justice otorgado por la Junta de Directores del Carlos Vega Fund for Social Justice a los estudiantil de la Holyoke High School, Pa’lante.
Carlos Vega fue un ardiente activista en pro de los derechos civiles, la construcción comunitaria, la educación, la salud, y la justicia social en Holyoke. En el 2016, para honrar a Carlos Vega en su 60 aniversario, se organizó esta iniciativa de subvenciones a organizaciones sin fines de lucro a través de un proceso competitivo anual. Los fondos son administrados por el Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. El Representante estatal Aaron M. Vega, hijo de Carlos, fue el maestro de ceremonias del evento. Entre los Miembros de la Junta de Directores que estuvieron presentes estaban Sylvia Galvan, Mary Birks, Ginetta Candelario, Debra Vega, Liz O’Dair, Aaron Vega, Luis-Orlando Isaza Villegas, Jane Frey y Miguel Arce.
4
Portada / Front Page
El Sol Latino June 2017
Homenaje Gráfico a Nuestro Amigo Cuco Guevara Víctor Ernesto Guevara, popularmente conocido como Cuco, falleció en su hogar, rodeado de su familia y su esposa Gloria Guevara (Goggie) la madrugada del 23 de febrero de 2017. Víctor, natural de Patillas, Puerto Rico, nació el 24 de julio de 1939. Cuco and Gloria estuvieron casados 56 años. El matrimonio tuvo dos hijos - Marta y Gustavo Guevara. Gustavo está casado con Kim Guevara. Cuco y Gloria tienen 5 nietos: Tatiana, quien está casada con Andrew Moylan, Alyssa, quien está casada con Michael Santos, Gabriel, quien está casado con Yaritza Scott, Javier y Olivia, Tienen 2 bisnietas: Chloe y Lorelai. Desde su llegada a Amherst en el 1974, Cuco hizo notar su presencia en actividades y proyectos relacionados con la educación, la política, y la cultura latina, especialmente el arte y la música. Cuco fue maestro en las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke. Por más de 30 años estuvo asociado a la estación pública de radio WFCR. Fue colaborador del programa ¿Qué tal Amigos? junto a Sonia Vives y Julio Torresoto. Posteriormente, fue parte del equipo de Tertulia en WFCR, junto a Luis Meléndez y, más adelante, Raquel Obregón.
4. José Bou, Cuco y Julián Ortiz (Salsarengue Restaurant, Holyoke - Mayo 2006)
Desde los comienzos de El Sol Latino en el 2014, Cuco ha sido una presencia constante en nuestras páginas debido a su activa participación en una amplia gama de eventos comunitarios. Es por esta razón que hemos decidido rendirle un homenaje gráfico, presentando una muestra de las fotos que han sido publicadas en nuestro periódico a través de los años. 5. Cuco y Los Callejeros (Westfield - Noviembre 2008)
6. Goggie y Cuco (Salsarengue Restaurant, Holyoke - Diciembre 2012) 1. Luis Meléndez y Víctor Cuco Guevara (El Mercado, Holyoke - Marzo 2007)
7. Nilka Ortiz, Diosdado López, Cuco, Goggie, Carlos González y Pat Duffy (Waterfront Tavern, Holyoke - Julio 2016) 2. Diosdado López, Anthony Soto, Cuco y Vladimir Morales (Amherst, Noviembre 2014) 3. Gaddier Rosario, Cuco, Agma Sweeney y Eduardo Meléndez (Salsarengue Restaurant, Holyoke - Mayo 2008)
8. Cuco y miembros del comité pro apoyo del programa radial Tertulia en WFCR (UMass Amherst - Febrero 2007).
Portada / Front Page
El Sol Latino June 2017
5
Puerto Rican Diaspora Summit II: An Overwhelming Success Reprinted with permission from Centro Voices - Center for Puerto Rican Studies | May 17, 2017 This past month the Center for Puerto Rican Studies hosted Diaspora Summit II as part of its ‘Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican’ series. Hundreds attended the two-day event, which was held at the Silberman School of Social Work in East Harlem. Day One was centered on the theme of ‘Understanding’ the crisis in Puerto Rico, which now encompasses not only economic woes, but a litany of humanitarian issues. In his opening presentation, Dr. Edwin Meléndez, Centro Director, provided a thorough overview of the crisis in Puerto Rico. From the stark economic reality, “Without economic growth, we’re going nowhere fast,” to evolving perceptions of the Puerto Rican diaspora, “We can no longer sustain the island-centric view of the Puerto Rican people,” Dr. Meléndez set the stage for the opening plenary panel; while also reaffirming the role of Centro in the solidarity movement, “What can Centro do to help? Give us feedback.” Health care and the debt restructuring process initiated by Title III of Promesa were some of the more pressing topics during the early part of the day. “We must continue to demand health care parity [on Medicaid],” said Gretchen Sierra-Zorita, Media Diversity, National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, during the first plenary planel; a sentiment echoed by Dennis Rivera, Chair, Service Employees International Union-Healthcare, who added that not only the government, but the court system should address some of the impending consequences on healthcare, childhood poverty, and other humanitarian issues faced by those on the island. Eric LeCompte, Executive Director, Jubilee USA, went on to discuss the creditors of Puerto Rico’s debt, “Creditors [and] lobbyists were doing everything they could to stop Title III,” before suggesting that a principle haircut, similar to that of the 1953 London Accord, would be a possible option. During the first set of concurrent panels, journalist and co-host of “Democracy Now!” Juan González made a similar historical comparison by referencing the Control Board appointed to manage the District of Columbia in the 1990s. However, in the case of Puerto Rico, he asserted, “[This] is the biggest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history and its ramifications could be far reaching.” González cited the implications for pension systems if the health insurer Ambac collapses as a result of the debt restructuring process. The company has $169 million in just the first quarter of 2017, with the example of Puerto Rico most likely to set a precedent that would materially and adversely impact municipal debt markets in the future—not to mention a Wall Street Journal report that estimates losses of $5.4 billion for mutual funds invested in Puerto Rico’s debt in the past five years. There was also discussion of the Marshall Plan, an aid package which helped Western Europe rebuild in the wake of World War II. “This is about transforming a nation-state,” said Carlos Cuevas, esq, Research Associate, University of Houston School of Law. He went on to categorize the economic crisis in Puerto Rico as a civil rights issue, “Puerto Rico’s bankruptcy fight is our Brown vs. Board of Education”; later adding, “If you don’t have economic rights, you’re not a person in this country.” Indeed, many of the panelists framed the Puerto Rican debt crisis within a much larger historical context, one that went beyond comparisons to the recent economic meltdowns in Argentina and Greece.
The conference also provided attendees with a panoramic view of the resources available via the diaspora, including cultural, political, and other institutions around the country in places like Chicago, Central Florida, and New England. Once again, Centro provided a forum for the diaspora to meet and forge new partnerships, especially during the breaks between panels where lively discussions spilled into the lobby—often running over the allotted time scheduled. And despite the many views shared among the Puerto Rican community, there were frequent calls for unity. As Lorraine Cortés, CUNY Trustee and Board Chairperson of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, stated, “Use your voice, but not to attack each other.” This was complemented by calls to action, or as Natasha Otero-Santiago, founder, Parranda Puerto Rico, explained, “We need to do more than baile, botella y baraja”. Long term solutions were also established as a significant talking point throughout the first day of the conference. This boded well for the second day of the conference, which was centered on the theme of ‘Engagement’. Despite the inclement weather, (a scheduled walking tour of East Harlem had to be cancelled) hundreds arrived to continue the discussion of the crisis in Puerto Rico, and more specifically, the role of the diaspora. Purchasing power, for instance, was one suggestion rooted in Dr. Meléndez’s opening presentation that gained traction throughout the conference. “Can we inject that money into the island?” he asked. Perhaps an afterthought in the midst of an economic crisis, purchasing power among the stateside community had reached over $100 billion in 2015 alone, with Puerto Rican-owned businesses growing 13.6% from 2002-2012. These indicators could be found in The State of Puerto Ricans, 2017, which was released by the CENTRO Press to coincide with the Diaspora Summit. There was also an action fair was held in which attendees could learn more about the hundreds of organizations which serve Puerto Rican communities throughout the country. In addition, the Library & Archives hosted an Open House, which included the recent exhibit on Puerto Rican bodegas in the 1950s and 60s and archival materials on the National Puerto Rican Day Parade. From there, panelists provided creative, legal, religious, LGBT, academic, and other perspectives on what the diaspora should be doing to aid Puerto Rico in the midst of the crisis. The panels on the ‘Creative Network of the Puerto Rican Diaspora’ and the ‘Legal System and Puerto Rico’ were particularly engaging, as the debate generated both tension and solidarity. In the end, panelists such as Anthony Suarez, Puerto Rican Bar Association of Orlando (FL), reaffirmed the initial aim of the summit, “We [the diaspora] have to be advocates for and the voice of Puerto Rico.” From that standpoint, the conference was an overwhelming success, with many attendees expressing gratitude via social media for the opportunity to convene with likeminded colleagues and share what they learned over the course of two days. The Center of Puerto Rican Studies will continue to play a crucial role in helping to organize the diaspora, while providing non-partisan resources for understanding and engaging the ongoing crisis in Puerto Rico. Stay tuned for upcoming events as we continue our ‘Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican’ series, as well as video recaps and more of Diaspora Summit II.
6
Portada / Front Page
El Sol Latino June 2017
Collective Actions of Resistance against PROMESA by LILIANA COTTO MORALES, PhD Professor, University of Puerto Rico – Rio Piedras This is a summary of the paper “ Collective Actions of Resistance Against the Colonial Despotism of PROMESA: Exploring Vocabularies And Strategies” presented by the author on the panel Puerto Rico Economic Crisis: Analysis at the Puerto Rico: Savage Neoliberalism, Colonialism and Financial Despotism Conference @ UMass Amherst, April 13-14. La utopía es un proyecto realizable. Pablo Freire I will be talking about organizations that are engaging now in collective actions against the impact of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act known as PROMESA which created the Fiscal Control Board: Trayecto Dignidad, Jornada Se acabaron las Promesas, Movimiento Unión Soberanista, Campamento Contra la Junta, Vamos and the students on strike. The interviews took place in the context of a work stoppage, which later became an official strike by the decision of the national assemblies of students, organized professors and non-teaching employee’s. All these organizational initiatives value participation and a more direct form of democracy. Some, as Jornada Se Acabaron las Promesas, engage in direct confrontational actions. Others as Vamos pose the need to engage in autonomous productive and/or urbanistic activities to build a new political paradigm. Each has different types of limits respect their long terms objectives and the urgency of short-term collective actions. The mobilized students and a sector of the professors (APPU, PaReS) engage in prefigurative strategies, that is actions that embody in today’s political practices the type of horizontal politics pertaining to the type of democracy they aspire. What are collective actions? A pragmatic definition is: they are actions and activities generated by groups with certain objectives related to their chosen identities and their positions within a social conflict. They may include a variety of work groups (communitarian, spiritual, patriotic, ecological, gender, labor, educational, human rights and peace organizations among others). But they can also be protests, sits-ins, civil disobedience actions, strikes, boycotts, and other social struggles which, under certain conditions may develop into social movements. Previously in such cases the combined collective actions of organizations, spontaneous groups, individual common citizen’s initiatives [ciudadanos de a pie] gave birth to the rescate urban movement (1970s) and to the social movement for Vieques. A public event, a campaign, a controversial meeting or any other public behavior have their own value, both empirically and analytically. The fact that they have not become THE social movement does not limit or diminish their social and/or political value at all. That explains the importance of these emerging prefigurative attempts towards a different type of politics. Participation and “horizontalism” become the guiding discourses of these activities.
This does not exclude the fact that others, with the same participatory rhetoric reproduce vertical relationships and other traditional forms of organization. Micro, macro campaigns and broad mobilizations even if they are eminently mediatic, pose proposals vis a vis any crisis. Nonetheless, these proposals require, in my view, a conscientious design of transformative praxis in order to build a broad social movement. The profile of collective actions and social movements has changed historically according to the context. Decades of neo-liberal globalization have undermined worker and other forms of organizing. Social actors therefore, redefine their identities and alliance strategies. They shift the locus of their efforts from making demands on the state to attempting to transform of society. These initiatives are exemplified in Puerto Rico, by the political organizations interviewed and by the growth of communitarian productive enterprises such as agricultural markets of different kinds. Some examples are the agricultural markets of Roosevelt Square, the Caimito community in the Metropolitan area and other towns such as Aibonito. They are also exemplified by urbanistic initiatives such as the projects presented at the First Exposition of Participatory Design in Puerto Rico, (2017): Casa Taft, Energía Roja y Negra, San Juan’s Participatory Budget Project, Taller de Diseño Comunitario,Taller Creando sin Encargos, Proyecto Piso, among others. The common denominators between these organizations and others that include confrontational tactics are: they are young, committed to democratic procedures and tend towards a different notion of productivity. All of which points to the strategic idea, so necessary at the present conjuncture, of combining protest, proposals and production. Protest, proposals and production are seen as connected in a more explicit way. Activists are explicitly recognizing the intersectionality of their multiple dimensions of identity. This consciousness is clearly expressed by the statement ‘ There is no politics without cultural work’ (Jornada Se Acabaron las Promesas.) or by the actions of Somos Dignos in Trayecto Dignidad. They include: Artistic performances, a formal questionnaire and dialogues with the people in squares, markets and beaches, among other places. A University on strike The students on strike implemented pre-figurative politics in liberated zones. But also, they used re-configurative politics with the university authorities, government and the Junta. They created their own deliberative institutions to exercise a different form of power. They organized inside and outside, with one foot with traditional actions and another outside, creating a new form of legality.
Some see themselves as territories in resistance where grassroots activists are not waiting for change to be structured from above but commit themselves to developing new anti-hierarchical relationships and participatory dynamics from below. Some of them implement strategically novel and/or socially pre-figurative processes and practices which are in themselves transformative and represent —a new way of viewing social and political change--, a different way of “reinventing the left”.
Recent political events have endangered the achievements envisioned by the strikers. Negotiations of the Dialogue Committees are broken. Threats of incarceration have haunted the Chancellor and the President. Almost all the high University officials have resigned. The striking sectors became conflictual. The final outcome will be defined on May 25, 2017 after the student assembly and the parallel meeting of the Academic Senate. This is material for another article The reformed public university that this struggle envisioned requires social responsibility and the creation of new institutions. This kind of reorganization, if opted for, will take time and conflicts. In the meantime, a counter university is attempted to create innovative ways of combining popular and scientific knowledge. That is the attainable utopia of UPR’S strike participants. Jornada se acabaron las Promesas
Media / Media
El Sol Latino June 2017
7
Why America’s public media can’t do its job by CHRISTOPHER CHÁVEZ This article was originally published on The Conversation | May 2, 2017 When the Trump administration released its proposed budget in March, it suggested eliminating federal funding for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting (CPB).
A mirror for the nation When Congress passed the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 to establish a national, publicly funded media system, there were two clear mandates: to cultivate a more engaged citizen and to affirm the nation’s diversity. In the network’s original mission statement, NPR architect Bill Siemering described public media as a “necessity for citizens in a democratic society to be enlightened participants.” Unbeholden to the demands of the marketplace, public media would ideally be able to reach audiences that might not be targeted by commercial broadcast networks and their advertisers. This included communities traditionally left out of civic discourse: the uneducated, the poor, the housebound, ethnic minorities and those living in rural areas.
PBS headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. (melanie.phung/flickr, CC BY-NC-ND)
“Can we really continue to ask a coal miner in West Virginia or a single mom in Detroit to pay for these programs?” Trump’s Office of Management and Budget director, Mick Mulvaney, said in defense of the cuts. Mulvaney seemed to argue that public media was a luxury for the educated few, rather than a truly public resource. Indeed, since the CPB was first established, the degree to which public media reflects the diversity of the nation has the subject of much debate. But it’s not as simple as Mulvaney makes it out to be. Though the proposed cuts seem unlikely to go through this year, public media will continue to be at the mercy of political and economic factors that have hampered its ability to fulfill its mission and achieve its goals.
Jeroton Clown
Music, Games, Balloons and Much More... For More information call: Jerry & Brenda 413-557-8273 • 413-210-5458 jero4817@yahoo.com
NPR HQ is located in Washington, D.C. (David/flickr, CC BY)
continued on page 8
8
Media / Media
Why America’s public media can’t do its job “We try to mirror ALL of the country – perhaps the hardest thing of all,” NPR’s former deputy director Rick Lewis said in 1970, describing his vision for “Morning Edition.” To tackle this challenge, the CPB decided its subsidiaries, National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), would have a national reach. Meanwhile, they would cultivate member stations rooted in a diverse range of communities across the country. NPR affiliates based in Fresno, California; Mobile, Alabama; or Erie, Pennsylvania might all carry national programs, but they are also tasked with pursuing local stories. A precarious funding model Nonetheless, speaking to the country’s extraordinarily diverse populations through a single media system has proven tricky. And over the years, public media has ended up tailoring its programs to an almost exclusively upscale audience of baby boomers. The decision to focus on college-educated listeners and viewers is certainly a function of the CPB’s own economic realities. As communications professor Robert McChensney argued in his book “The Political Economy of Media,” American public media has been severely handicapped since its inception. Unlike the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) – which citizens subsidize by paying an annual television license fee – American public media receives relatively little federal funding, denying it a stable source of income. With federal funding in a constant state of flux, public media has come to rely on income from private sources such as pledge drives and corporate underwriting accounts. For example, in 2015 NPR member stations received about 14 percent of their revenues from federal, state and local entities, while 20 percent came from corporations and 37 percent from private donations. To be economically viable, therefore, public media must focus on affluent, educated listeners. The result is a media system that can, at times, seem woefully out of the touch with nation it purports to represent.
El Sol Latino June 2017
continued from page 7 Just as the country is becoming more ethnically, religiously and linguistically diverse (a recent Pew study showed that the U.S. electorate in 2016 was the most diverse in the nation’s history), consumers of national public media remain disproportionately white. According to a 2012 report, the audience for NPR’s member station news programs was 5 percent African-American, 6 percent Latino and 5 percent Asian-American. This disparity is also reflected at the leadership level. In an essay, Joseph Tovares, the senior vice president and chief content officer for the CPB, admitted that the inclusion of African-Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans and Native Americans at the general manager level are almost nonexistent at NPR and PBS member stations. We see these disparities in the programming itself. Like other national media institutions, public media has traditionally struggled to find a way to include the voices of ethnic and racial minorities. While there are some bright spots – including PBS’s children’s programming and NPR’s Latino USA, the overall diversity efforts seem tepid. In a forum organized by NPR to address public radio’s diversity challenges, sociologist Michael Schudson effectively captured the dilemma: “No doubt the staff makes an effort to cover issues of special importance to minorities and women, but you suspect that it is a mission and not a habit, and that it feels like a kind of foreign correspondence. You know it can be done well or poorly but, in either case, it is done with the handicap of a largely monochromatic newsroom.” A wavering commitment to diversity? Public media realizes that the status quo is a losing strategy. The demographic realities are too sobering. NPR projects that by 2020, its stations’ audience of people younger than 45 will be around 30 percent – half of what that audience accounted for in 1985. To its credit, the CPB has made broadening its appeal a core part of its current strategy, which includes what it calls the “three D’s”: digital, diversity and dialogue. However, their own strategic documents provide some insight into just how elastic their definition of inclusion is. For example, NPR’s target audiences still include the “Affluent Business Leader” who is “a c-level employee, has an investment portfolio of $150,000 or more, and holds a leadership position in a club or organization.” Then there’s the “Cultural Connoisseur” who has a postgraduate degree, is more likely to buy tickets for classical music, ballet and opera, and takes more than three vacations a year. For its part, PBS touts the “Power Mom,” who enjoys outdoor activities and spends a significant amount of time online searching for information on museums and concerts.] In other words, these are not the disenfranchised communities whom the original architects of NPR believed would be served by public media. As journalism professor Ralph Engelman writes in his book “Public Radio and Television in America,” today’s public media was born out of the desire to achieve a more democratic version of German philosopher Jürgen Habermas’ public sphere. Habermas’ notion of what “public” means was criticized as being reserved for propertied, educated males at the exclusion of the poor and disenfranchised. But by serving those already inclined to participate in civic life, it appears that today’s public media extends – rather than disrupts – this pattern. Just as we’re witnessing unprecedented attacks on the country’s most disenfranchised communities, this seems like an institutional failure. Legislators are advancing policies designed to restrict the movements of Latinos and Muslims. Gains made by the LGBTQ community are being scaled back. There are active efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, eliminate entitlement programs and defund early education programs like Head Start, all of which undermine working-class communities. Now more than ever, it seems necessary to include the voices – and reach the people – most impacted by these policies. It seems that only by unhitching its funding model from private interests can public media truly fulfill its mission of serving the public at large. But this would require a federal government that’s willing to boost – rather than slash – its funds. Christopher Chávez is an Assistant Professor of Communications, University of Oregon. Chris’ research and teaching interests lie at the intersection of globalization, media and culture. Dr. Chávez is author of Reinventing the Latino Television Viewer: Language Ideology and Practice and is co-editor of Identity: Beyond Tradition and McWorld Neoliberalism.
¿Qué Pasa en...?
El Sol Latino June 2017
Holyoke
9
Journeys Home: Perspectives on Immigration Wednesday June 7, 2017 • 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm THIS PROGRAM WILL BE HELD IN THE HOLYOKE HERITAGE STATE PARK
Wistariahurst Museum: June 2017 Events Opening Reception: National Immigrant Heritage Month Monday June 5, 2017 • 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Wistariahurst will be hosting a new show by Steven Huerta, “Journeys: An American Mix Tape,” inspired by the lives and stories of his family who traveled from Mexico to California. The event kicks off a month-long celebration of Holyoke’s immigrant populations, past and present. Mayor Morse will be present citations for two honorees in the City who have made contributions to the community as immigrants and State Representative Aaron Vega will speak on the importance of Holyoke continuing to be a safe and welcoming community for all people. Live music at the event will be provided by Malgorzata Lach. Free and open to all
Publish your bilingual ad in El Sol Latino! Call us today at (413) 320-3826
This program will feature a panel of experts discussing modern-day immigration to the United States. Panelists include: Eduardo Samaniego, an undocumented immigran that has lived in the state of Georgia since coming to the United States. Since 2015 he has been Hampshire College student, where he is pursuing a concentration on Constitutional Law. Raúl D. Gutiérrez, a full-time faculty member at Holyoke Community College since 2013. Megan Kludt, a specialist in complex immigration cases in the areas of business, academia, scientific research, and the arts.
History Matters: How When They Came Affected Immigrants’ Incorporation and Life Chances in Holyoke Wednesday June 14, 2017 • 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm In this overview of immigration from Europe and Canada, and migration from Puerto Rico to Holyoke, Prof. Ginetta Candelario (Smith College) will present on how the shifting economic, political and socio-cultural landscape that newcomers to Holyoke had to navigate upon arrival have structured their opportunities and life chances, from the City’s founding in the mid19th Century to the present moment. Free and open to the public.
Wistariahurst Museum – 238 Cabot Street, Holyoke MA 01040 • Contact Information: Phone: (413) 322-5660 • wistariahurst@gmail.com
Greenfield Applications now available for this homeownership opportunity! Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity is pleased to announce that applications are available for an energy efficient single family home in Greenfield. The application deadline is June 15, 2017. The sale price for the homes will be $139,900 or less. Eligible applicants will have incomes up to 70% of area median income which is adjusted for family size. Families interested in submitting an application are invited to attend one of the following information sessions to learn more: Greenfield Public Library 402 Main St Greenfield Tuesday June 6th at 6pm
Greenfield Public Library 402 Main St Greenfield Saturday June 10th at 10am
During the information session, potential applicants will learn about Habitat’s selection criteria and how to prepare a complete application. The selection criteria include housing need, ability to make mortgage payments of $700-$1,100/month, and willingness to partner with Habitat, such as participating in the construction of the home and other Habitat projects. Thanks to a donation from local company PV Squared this 2 bedroom singe story home will also have solar panels! All Habitat built homes are restricted to income eligible buyers in perpetuity. bringing more stability into our neighborhoods and communities. Contact: Megan McDonough, Executive Director Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity, office 413-586-5430, cell 413-218-0683, megan@pvhabitat.org
10
Opinión / Opinion
El Sol Latino June 2017
Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Initiative: A Model for Volunteer Service Engagement by MIGUEL ARCE and WALTER MULLIN
Every day throughout Hampden County, there are residents facing substantial challenges with hunger, education and labor force participation, limited access to decent, affordable housing. This happens despite numerous local, state and federal agencies as well a community residents working to address these issues. In all inner-city neighborhoods, including Holyoke, there is a problem of minority disconnected youth, especially between ages 16 and 24. Countless youth are not in school and are chronically out of work. They infrequently have work skills. They subsist through the underground economy, often through illicit activities and crime; often they belong to gangs. This culture is reinforced by contemporary conditions like poverty, racial discrimination, chronic unemployment, single parenting and a chemically toxic, injurious environment. What responsibility do law enforcement and rehabilitative agencies have to engage these youth in ways that might prevent future trouble for them? In western Massachusetts, the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department sponsors Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Initiative, which serves as good example of prevention efforts. Included in the HSNI community is an interpretation of people who share a common concern. The mission of HSNI is to create a partnership between law enforcement, human service organizations, businesses, schools, and residents to create a safe, health and economically viable neighborhood. Through the HSNI, the Sheriff’s Department efforts are intended to directly impact and reduce the issue of youth alienation. Children, youth and families have the right to be safe at home, at school and on the streets. Too many have been victims of violence. HSNI has created a blueprint for mobilizing the collective resources of Holyoke in working together, sharing resources and building local capacity to prevent and reduce youth violence. HSNI focuses on one of Hampden County’s high crime, high need neighborhoods. The HSNI is on the forefront and connects with numerous agencies’ work and missions.
USTED ESTÁ CORDIALMENTE INVITADO A
CADA FAMILIA TIENE UNA HISTORIA
What is the nature of the activities that HSNI sponsor? The HSNI started over five years ago as South Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Initiative. Over the years, they have sponsored numerous actions that usually take place in the South Holyoke at Morgan Elementary School and the Carlos Vega Park. South Holyoke is a neighborhood set apart being comprised of low-income Puerto Rican residents. The HSNI has been involved in free backpack giveaways and basketball tournaments at the Boys and Girls Club and others. HSNI holds a monthly Family Fund night at Morgan Elementary School. They have identified the neighborhoods and people who are at high risk of being “consumers”; those whom might be leading into legal trouble. Because they are connected to the neighborhood, the HSNI team knows the identified communities and the things that occur there. They understand the characteristics, the values, the culture and perspective of the target population. Their work has helped. How do they organize it all? The Sherriff’s Department plays a leadership role in unifying extremely diverse structures in an inclusive participatory process. The HSNI brings together a group of people, through regular almost daily electronic communication. They hold meetings with other professionals who are interested in prevention efforts. They assist in making police visible with the goal of embracing the important role they have in working with residents. They hold monthly community meetings with residents, who work to solve the persist problem of community safety and development. In addition, the HSNI brings diverse social agencies and government organizations into a working relationship around their common interest. The HSNI has developed a rhythm for interacting. What are the signs that HSNI is being successful? HSNI has created alternatives for youth such as summer basketball leagues. There are few incidents of violence en route to and from schools. There is a more free exchange of information from community members. Stories include decreased numbers of youth involved in the criminal justice system and a culture of communication that continues to improve. According to Janet Reno who served as the Attorney General of the United States between 1993 and 2001, “One of the problems in America is that everybody focuses on their own narrow little bit of the problem without connecting punishment and prevention together, without connecting the schools and the police together, without connecting the pediatricians with the social workers together”.
SÁBADO, 10 DE JUNIO DEL 2017
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
UNA EXHIBICIÓN DE LAS HISTORIAS FAMILIARES Y PERSONALES COMPARTIDAS CON EL PROYECTO NUESTROS SENDEROS DE LA BIBLIOTECA PÚBLICA DE HOLYOKE 2:00 PM: Exhibición , refrigerios 3:00 PM : Oradores y Discusión: Ramón Borges-Méndez (Clark University): La Formación de comunidades Puertorriqueñas y Latinas en el Noreste de Estados Unidos Joel Blanco-Rivera (Universidad de Puerto Rico): Archivos comunitarios: una introducción y diálogo Con Introducciones por los invitados especiales Representante Aaron Vega y Manuel Frau-Ramos
Sala de Comunidad de la Biblioteca Pública de Holyoke 250 Chestnut Street GRATIS / TODOS SON BIENVENIDOS
For people excited about advancing the future of Holyoke’s collaborative success, there is no better organization for doing it than the HSNI. The HSNI is grounded in successful strategies. Their leadership role is exemplary in unifying extremely diverse organizations and cultural communities in an inclusive participatory process. HSNI utilizes best practices to creatively engage volunteers and services to promote prevention of incarceration and, when needed, reentry. HSNI efforts demonstrate that prevention efforts matter. Walter Mullin, PhD (wmullin@ springfieldcollege.edu) is a Professor at the School of Social Work at Springfield College. Miguel Arce MSW (marce@springfieldcollege. edu) is an Associate Professor at the School of Social work at Springfield College.
Opinión / Opinion
El Sol Latino June 2017
11
Through the Eyes of Rebel Women, The Young Lords: 1969-1976 by IRIS MORALES NiLP Guest Commentary The National Institute for Latino Policy Report (NiLP) | May 21, 2017) It took eight years to produce the film, ¡Palante, Siempre Palante! The Young Lords, which documents conditions of poverty and racism that gave rise to the Young Lords and organizations such as the Puerto Rican Socialist Party, El Comité, the Puerto Rican Student Union, and others in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s. Most funders had no interest in the film, but Latinx young people believing in the importance of this history assisted in efforts to complete it. In 1996, the documentary was broadcast on national public television to an estimated one million viewers. More than twenty years later, it continues to introduce audiences to the Young Lords and the Puerto Rican social justice movements of the sixties. For the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Young Lords in New York, El Diario La Prensa published “Mujeres de los Young Lords” sparking renewed interest in the women members. Women joined to fight poverty, racial and gender inequality, and the colonial status of Puerto Rico. We understood that the inequities lived by women of color were never solely based on gender; rather, they were the result of intersecting oppressions of class, race, national origin, and the legacy of history. We also fought the “revolution within the revolution” insisting on a woman’s right to share equally in all aspects of society and successfully moved the Young Lords Party to adopt feminist principles as central to its agenda. Several publishers expressed interest in the story, but none made a commitment. A few years later, I created Red Sugarcane Press, a grassroots effort to publish works about the history and culture of the Puerto Rican, indigenous and African Diasporas in the Americas that from the time of enslavement to the present have triumphed through the courage and tenacity of many generations. The purpose was to produce works that inspire our communities, educate, and promote dialogue. Among our first publications were poetry collections and plays. In October 2016, Red Sugarcane Press published Through the Eyes of Rebel Women, The Young Lords: 1969-1976, an introductory account and the first book describing the experiences of women. Believing in direct action, the women in the Young Lords were both community organizers and women’s rights activists. We mobilized in poor neighborhoods demanding better living conditions and services, and joined in mass demonstration and dramatic takeovers of institutions. We formed women of color groups, fought sexist ideologies and practices, and built solidarity with African American, Chicana, and Asian feminists of color. We demanded reproductive justice and protested the mass sterilization of Puerto Rican women on the island and poor women in the US.
Desde Puerto Rico para el mundo— "la primera y única emisora de tv con licencia para la historia"
Through the Eyes of Rebel Women highlights this undocumented herstory expanding the Young Lords narrative to include the activism of women members. In the Introduction, Dr. Edna Acosta-Belén, distinguished historian and women’s studies scholar, summarized the book’s main theme: “How the past is unveiled and represented by an oppressed group or community is an essential component of constructing a collective historical memory that inspires their present and future sphere of activism and resistance.” Through the Eyes of Rebel Women, The Young Lords: 1969-1976 was received with enthusiasm. The first public reading took place a few weeks after the 2016 US presidential election. Young and veteran activists, neighborhood residents, and artists gathered in Sunset Park, Brooklyn at UPROSE, an intergenerational, woman-led organization, promoting climate justice and sustainability. In the aftermath of an election that ushered in a neo-fascist regime, people arrived eager to share ideas about social justice movements and related themes discussed in the book. Subsequent readings at colleges, community organizations, and cultural centers were often paired with a screening of ¡Palante, Siempre Palante! These presentations created an opportunity to examine the development of the Young Lords and the movements of the sixties, both successes and failures. The attendees were primarily young Latinx, African American, Asians, and progressive whites - a generation facing a different set of economic, political, and social conditions than in the 1960s with access to a powerful new technology that allowed instant communication with large audiences. They were familiar with the African American civil rights and black liberation movements, but most had little knowledge about the Latinx organizations of the period. They were interested in parallels with the current political situation. Seeking collective solutions, they asked, “What sources of power are available to disenfranchised people? What strategies and tactics galvanize and sustain people’s movements?” The Latinx participants at the events were supporters of Black Lives Matter. Many were also active in recent fights for the rights of immigrants, Muslims, LGBT, and transgender people, in campaigns for women’s rights and reproductive justice, and in protests against the latest US government maneuvers in Puerto Rico. The activists understood the combined power of social media linked with direct organizing to mobilize people and build coalitions that could bring about social and institutional change. Puerto Rican and other Latinx social justice movements exist within a long trajectory of struggle against exploitation, racism, and gender oppression. These his/herstories inspire young people to feel connected and see themselves as organizers who can battle injustice and mobilize our communities toward a more just and equitable society. These collective stories are insufficiently documented, and a younger generation is looking for them. Iris Morales is a long-time educator, social justice activist, and attorney. She was a leading member of the Young Lords for five years and can be reached at redsugarcanepress@gmail.com. For more information, visit www. redsugarcanepress.com and https://irismoralesnyc.wordpress.com. _____________________________________________________________ The NiLP Report on Latino Policy & Politics is an online information service provided by the National Institute for Latino Policy. For further information, visit www.latinopolicy.org. Send comments to editor@latinopolicy.org.
12
Opinión / Opinion
El Sol Latino June 2017
Oscar Lopez Rivera: The Freedom Fighter American Government Colonial Violence Produced NiLP Guest Commentator by HOWARD JORDÁN The National Institute for Latino Policy Report (NiLP) | May 21, 2017 I must admit I have been taken aback by some of the hostility and venom exhibited over the recognition of one of our national heroes, Oscar Lopez Rivera, by the National Puerto Rican Day Parade Committee. As a First Amendment absolutist, I have always understood reasonable minds may differ as to the actions of my dear brother Oscar about U.S. government colonialism and the political status of Puerto Rico. Many hold diverse views. We have those who recognize Oscar as a freedom fighter who took on the evils of American colonialism as “a crime against humanity.” As a case in point, some have referred to him as the “Nelson Mandela of the Americas” and look to his imprisonment for 35 years as a violation of international law. He was never convicted of an act of violence and calls for his release ranged from the Pope, Archbishop Tutu, the Congressional Black and Hispanic Caucuses, five Nobel laureates, five Latin American presidents, President Carter, Bernie Sanders, Cornel West Lin-Miranda, Ricky Martin, and every political party on the island. Another view emerges from those who are not entirely sympathetic to Oscar Lopez who are troubled and differing markedly from his independentista views but supported a humanitarian call for his release and parade recognition. They emphasize the 74-year old has already served 35 years, did his time, was awarded a military bronze medal and, as an act of human compassion, should have been released and deserves to be honored for his years of service to the Puerto Rican community. (See his book Between Torture and Resistance). The opposition to Oscar Lopez Rivera is focused either on those who are terribly misinformed, characterizing him as an “ultranationalist,” “terrorist,” “murderer,” “communist,” or all four. Many naively ask, “Why would you Puerto Ricans support a “terrorist?” They are composed of some confused and misinformed Puerto Ricans and Americans and many right wing demagogues. Let me state my bias at the onset: I belong to the first group. My reasoned perspective as a en educator, lawyer and activist is that Oscar Lopez Rivera is a freedom fighter struggling for the self-determination of the Puerto Rican people. As a pacifist, I, like Oscar, deplore violence (see Jorge Ramos and Gutierrez interview) and believe that bullets are not the solution, especially those shots that have historically been used by the American government against our people. We must continue to build a unity movement to win the Puerto Rican people’s corazones (hearts). Let me reject a common misconception--- to favor Puerto Rican self-determination is not to be in any way against the North American people. We only denounce the actions of the American government done in their name. As freedom loving people, all progressives of conscience should join our cause. During the last month, listening to the venomous hatred directed against Oscar Lopez and Puerto Ricans I have felt a burning need to respond. Let me share some thoughts: First, it is up to the Puerto Rican people to determine their leadership whether these opponents like it or not. Part of decolonizing our people is to defend our international and national recognized right to decide. If you don’t like the selection of Oscar as an honoree that is your right but don’t tell us who our heroes are! We have shed much Puerto Rican blood for that right. Enter Goya Foods, a Spaniard-owned food company profiting from Puerto Ricans for decades now pulls out economic support from the Puerto Rican Day Parade whose theme is “One People, Many Voices” because of the selection of Oscar, a dissenting voice that insulted their right wing purchasers. They ignore all those other “acceptable honorees” like Gilberto Santa Rosa, Iris Chacon, Yandel, the Puerto Rico National Baseball team, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Since they don’t support a diversity of voices, they want to tell us who to call our leaders. That is why I joined the call for a boycott of Goya, we should not support those who in their neo-colonial inclinations say, “We corporations decide or you won’t have a parade.” Never eat food prepared by your self-declared enemy. Every self-respecting Puerto Rican and progressive should boycott Goya.
Second, I point to what I call the selective outrage of these hypocrites. When we point to the political, economic and cultural violence committed against the Puerto Rican people by the U.S. government, reactionaries respond, we are “changing the subject.” So to these two-faced, duplicitous opponents the bombing of Vieques, the Ponce Massacre, the sterilization of masses of Puerto Rican women, the murder of independentistas, a colonialism-induced 74-billion-dollar debt which has led to mass hospital and school closings, the radiation torture of Pedro Albizu Campos (who they also called a “terrorist”), are not related at all? That is why, like it or not, Oscar Lopez is one legitmate Boricua response to this consistent violence committed against the Puerto Rican people. I have chosen to use my radio program, the Jordan Journal, on Fridays from 3-5 p.m. on WBAI to call on all supporters of sovereignty for the Puerto Rican people to help me document all the acts of violence committed by the U.S. government against the Puerto Rican people (listen to this message; my contact information is at the end of this commentary). They want to know why we love, yes, love Oscar, because he stood up against all these anti-Puerto Rican government public policies while his critics today were conspicuously silent. Oscar is the fixed point of principle and integrity in a Boricua world filled with many souless politiqueros and accomodados. For those whot don’t think it’s important and believe “what does that have to do with Oscar?” then that is your deceitful selective outrage. Let’s be frank, if the murder, torture, and dehumanization of Puerto Ricans do not outrage you, then ¡vayasen pa’l carajo! Puerto Rican lives matter. Stop bringing up your phony concern promoting a tragically misinformed characterization of a 74-year-old Puerto Rican patriot. Let’s tell our story. Please send me your examples of American violence against Puerto Ricans/ I will read the best (worst?) ones on the air next Friday. Be careful and carefully watch out for the media “divide and conquer” tactics of these detractors. They have now targeted playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda, threatening to boycott Hamilton and have chosen to highlight the statement of the NYPD Hispanic Police Society, supporters of Rudy Giuliani, that they will not attend the parade. The subliminal message is, “We are not anti-Puerto Rican, we have some of your own in agreement.” The Hispanic Society, however, has nothing to say on Eric Garner, Ramarley Graham, only Oscar Lopez Rivera. Mejor, now they will have more time to concentrate on limiting the brutalization of Puerto Rican and African Americans citizens by some police who are never held accountable. The media headline of the NY1 News cable news station:”Top leader of a Puerto Rican militant group that said it was responsible for more than 100 bombings during the 1970s and early 1980s, including one in New York, was freed Wednesday...” Anti-Puerto Rican NY1 News had amnesia and forgot Oscar was never charged or convicted for any of these bombings in 35 years and was in an entirely different location at the time. Are these “alternative facts”? My final point, familia, every Puerto Rican and progressive person in this city must join us in marching with Oscar Lopez Rivera at the June 11th Puerto Rican Day Parade. I have had many differences with the Parade Board of Directors --- it’s prior corruption and lack of accountability, their poor treatment of legendary activist lawyer Ramon Jimenez --- but on this ISSUE WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. I hope many of our elected officials who supported Oscar’s release --- que se han estado escondiendo (who are in hiding) se apreten las faldas y pantalones and will now join us. Also, I urge you to attend some of the activities honoring Oscar at Hostos Community College and throughout the City of New York. That week let’s light up Gotham with the love and fire of the Puerto Rican heart by joining Oscar at the parade. Hug Oscar, talk to Oscar, march with Oscar, thank Oscar, show your love for this noble warrior and torchbearer of the Puerto Rican nation who spent 35 years in prison for our right to decide our leadership and break the chains of the American government’s colonial captivity. Also see: • Oscar Lopez Returns to Chicago 2017 (English) http://bit.ly/2r2BqVi
continued on next page
Libros / Books
Los Abrazos Oscuros
El Sol Latino June 2017
13
por JULIA MONTEJO • Lúmen Editorial, (Junio 2016) reseña por CATHLEEN C. ROBINSON
Autora, guionista y directora del cine y de la televisión, la española Julia Montejo acaba de salir con su última novela, Los Abrazos Oscuros, que mezcla dos temas intrigantes: ¿se puede escapar definitivamente de unos orígenes humildes para llevar una vida supuestamente mejor que la anterior? ¿Y qué pasa si uno no puede contentarse con una vida llena de amor y familia y se cede a las ansias de saber si hay algo más en la vida que uno debe buscar? La protagonista Virginia es una fotógrafa profesional de bastante fama, casada con Álex, el amor de su vida, y con él tiene dos hijas, Sofía y Mariana, a quienes adora sin límites. “Yo era feliz como nunca lo había sido, convencida de que por fin había encontrado mi lugar… Confiaba en mí, en él.En la familia que habíamos construido.Indestructible.”Se jacta de que “yo no pertenecía a la vida mediocre y gris de un barrio obrero de provincias donde el azar me había colocado por nacimiento”. Sin embargo llega a sentirse inquieta, como si hubiera algo más en la vida que quiera experimentar.Dice que vive “alejada de la injusticia social y la pobreza, de las guerras y la maldad del ser humano.Esa que yo había denunciado una y mil veces con mi cámara, hasta sentir que el dolor ajeno me aburría.”A pesar de que por lo visto tiene todo, “Lo que añoraba realmente era salir a la aventura, que me pasaran cosas, aspirar emociones y sentir la adrenalina bombeándome en el cerebro.” Recibe una intrigante oferta de empleo:navegar a las islas Seychelles para sacar una fotografía con la que un empresario rico va a cubrir un lado de un edificio nuevo que piensa construir. A pesar de las dudas de su esposo Álex, Virginia acepta el trabajo. Tras una serie de maniobras, Daniel, el empresario mismo, se encarga de llevarla a las islas. Es “un hombre de mil caras y las cambiaba según su conveniencia con la habilidad de un trilero.”Pasan por una gran tempestad que daña gravemente el barco.Están a flote en el mar a miles de distancia de cualquier rescate, sin ningún medio de comunicación y con comida que solamente les bastará unos días. Poco a poco, Daniel se revela y Virginia cae víctima de sus encantos a pesar de sus dudas:“Aquel hombre que había tenido una infancia dura y miserable, sufrido abusos, que había robado y traficado, que había contratado sicarios e incluso asesinado, construyéndose un yo sin escrúpulos, que se había convertido en un hombre capaz de desechar la ética general e inventarse su propio código, que había utilizado el sexo y los sentimientos como moneda de cambio para ascender en la escala social…, había elegido terminar sus días amándome y pidiéndome que le amara…” Pero todo no es lo que parece.Resulta que se conocieron años atrás en el barrio pobre de su infancia. Memorias olvidadas la asaltan; memorias de las
Oscar Lopez Rivera: The Freedom Fighter • En exclusiva: Oscar López Rivera habla con Jorge Ramos pocas horas antes de su libertad luego de 35 http://bit.ly/2r2cmO6 • STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL PUERTO RICAN PARADE OF NYC BESTOWING NATIONAL HERO OSCAR LOPEZ RIVERA the title of “PROCER de la LIBERTAD” (May 20, 2017) Howard Jordán is an educator, attorney, journalist, and political activist and serves as host of the popular radio program ‘The Jordan Journal’ is heard Fridays from 3-5 p.m. on WBAI 99.5 F.M. The Journal is a current event-driven program committed to a cross-fertilization of ideas between people of color and
realidades de su vida pobre de la niñez y las crueldades que le había hecho a sus compañeros.A pesar de que piensa que se ha cambiado, y que ya es diferente, tiene que confesarse que “había sido una chica cruel.” Daniel había sido una de sus víctimas y lleva años buscando una venganza. Cuando Viriginia le pregunta, “--¿Qué quieres de mí?”,Daniel le contesta que “--Quiero que sufras como tú me hiciste sufrir a mí.” Y ella ve “la verdadera cara del odio reflejada en la suya.Rencor amasado durante años, dolor, afán de venganza.”De repente, recuerda aquel día cuando eran compañeros de clase. Llora.Llora por haber sido la de antes.Llora por la que es ahora: “Lágrimas de rabia, porque mi egoísmo, mi necesidad de aventura, me habían alejado de Sofía y de Mariana y de mi marido…;también él iba a pagar por haber amado a una mujer estúpida que no se había conformado con su buena fortuna.” Están rescatados. Virginia vuelve a su vida, pero nada es lo mismo.Virginia dice que con su esposo Álex “Intentamos pasar página.Pero las páginas pesaban como piedra.” Ella lucha “haciendo un esfuerzo por recordar cómo era yo antes, cómo sentía, quién había sido.Necesitaba regresar exactamente a aquella mujer que todos querían, porque la que era ahora no podría ser querida.” No es posible; confiesa que “No me gustaba nada esa nueva Virginia…ida, nerviosa e irascible, envenenada por el deseo y la vergüenza…”Se define ahora como “Yo, la gran Virginia, la gran esposa, la gran madre, la gran puta.Apenas nada.” Daniel sigue metiéndose en su vida con desastrosos resultados. Cuando Virginia demanda, Daniel le dice que “Ahora empiezas a saber qué se siente cuando deseas de verdad algo que no puedes tener”. Montejo es maestra de construir tramas complejas con pasos que sorprenden, con personajes que son tan vivos que casi saltan de las páginas para vivir en la imaginación del lector. Expertamente maneja las palabras para crear los ambientes en los cuales envuelve al lector.Describe la tormenta sobre el mar que ataca a Daniel y a Virginia:“Las estrellas habían desaparecido del cielo y la negrura era profunda como la del comienzo de una pesadilla... Tuve la sensación de que el barco se encontraba sobre la piel de un monstruo líquido de dimensiones colosales que se movía con desesperación para sacudirnos de su lomo.” Los Abrazos Oscuros es una excelente novela que deja al lector recordando los personajes y las escenas mucho después de terminar de leerla. *Reseña de Cathleen C. Robinson, profesora jubilada del español y de la historia de la América Latina quien ahora se dedica a escribir.
continued from previous page the progressive community in the United States. Jordan is also Chair of the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences at Hostos Community College and Unit Coordinator for the Public Policy and Law Unit, where he teaches Criminal Justice, Paralegal Studies, and Public Administration. He can be reached at thejordanjournal@hotmail.com or on Twitter @HJordanWBAI or go to his webpage howardjordan.net for additional information. The NiLP Report on Latino Policy & Politics is an online information service provided by the National Institute for Latino Policy. For further information, visit www.latinopolicy. org. Send comments to editor@latinopolicy.org.
14
Historia / History
Cada Familia Tiene una Historia Holyoke History Room - Biblioteca Pública de Holyoke El Salón de La Historia de Holyoke (Holyoke History Room) de la Biblioteca Pública de Holyoke celebrará el primer año de su Proyecto Nuestros Senderos con un evento especial el sábado 10 de junio de 2:00 a 5:00 de la tarde en la Sala Comunitaria de la biblioteca. Cada Familia Tiene una Historia (Every Family has a Story) presentará una exposición de historias de familias de Holyoke. La actividad contará con la participación de conferenciantes y una discusión sobre como las comunidades pueden emprender la preservación de sus propias historias. Con el apoyo de una subvención del National Endowment for the Humanities, el Salón de la Historia de Holyoke ha estado coleccionando historias y fotos personales de familias que se trasladaron a Holyoke en los últimos 50-60 años. Aunque se sabe algo acerca de previas migraciones por personas de descendencia irlandesa, canadiense, polaca y alemana, se sabe muy poco acerca de la experiencia migratoria a Holyoke de Puerto Rico y América Latina de las últimas décadas. Muchos residentes actuales de Holyoke son fuentes vivas de esa historia. Desde septiembre, el Proyecto Nuestros Senderos, cuyo título indica la intención de recobrar las experiencias de un viaje físico tanto como las vivencias de los participantes, ha realizado duplicaciones digitales de fotografías y ha documentado recuerdos personales. Un componente clave de la subvención Common Heritage Grant, que apoya el proyecto, es que los participantes autorizan la duplicación digital de fotos para que sean compartidas con el público, pero los participantes retienen todo material original. En el evento del 10 de junio, se resaltarán las historias de seis familias y un cartelón en blanco les facilitará a los visitantes compartir fragmentos de
Ciencias / Science Significance of Universities Research to Society by BRYAN SALAS-SANTIAGO • bryansalas0815@gmail.com In my opinion, the most important type of research is the one conducted at educational institutions, for example the University of Massachusetts. Different universities all over the world are conducting research and generating data that will impact human society, but society’s general knowledge of what is being researched is limited. Being aware of this issue as a young researcher, I decided to introduce the type of research that is being conducted at our educational institutions so that society can understand the relevance and impact of this research on our lives. Dr. Yasu Morita is an Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He completed his undergraduate studies in Japan, then came to the USA to gain his PhD at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore where he worked with a parasite responsible for African Sleeping Sickness Trypanosoma brucei. After his PhD, he went to the University of Melbourne in Australia as a postdoctoral fellow to work on a bacterium (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that causes tuberculosis (TB). He continued his research at Osaka University in Japan and was recruited to UMass Amherst to establish his own laboratory to continue his research about TB. TB is still a big problem in many parts of the world. It is estimated that around two billion people carry the disease as an asymptomatic condition. This means that people are healthy and show no symptoms, but they have the bacteria. From all people carrying the bacteria, only a small percentage becomes sick, but this still causes 1-1.5 million deaths per year. In addition, when TB is combined with HIV/AIDS, it becomes a very big problem for the patient. HIV/AIDS makes the immune system defective in humans and it is a scenario for which we still don’t have many treatment options. The issue of antibiotic resistance is a big concern for public health. The antibiotics used for treating TB are very old (introduced in 1950-60) and many people suffer from infection that is resistant to current treatments. This bacterium has a protective layer that helps it to fight against our
El Sol Latino June 2017
sus propias historias. Además, dos académicos han sido invitados como conferenciantes para el evento. Ramón Borges-Méndez, Profesor Asociado de Planificación y Desarrollo Comunitario en Clark University, ubicará las historias de las familias resaltadas - de Holyoke - en un contexto más amplio de “La formación de Comunidades Puertorriqueñas y Latinas en el Noreste de los EE.UU.” Luego Joel Blanco-Rivera, Profesor Asistente en la Universidad de Puerto Rico, iniciará y conducirá un conversatorio acerca de la construcción y sustento de un archivo de la vida comunitaria. Invitados especiales, el Representante Aaron Vega y Manuel Frau-Ramos, proveerán introducciones. Refrescos serán provistos. El evento es gratis y abierto al público. Aunque esto representa la culminación de la porción subvencionada del proyecto, el Salón de la Historia de Holyoke tiene como intención el continuar construyendo el archivo digital comenzado por el Proyecto Nuestros Senderos. Aquellos que les interese contribuir sus historias o remembranzas, o servir como voluntarios con el proyecto, deben comunicarse con la archivista del Salón de La Historia de Holyoke, Eileen Crosby: ecrosby@ holyokelibrary.org, (413) 420-8107, o en persona en la biblioteca. http://www.holyokelibrary. org/historynews.asp https://www.facebook.com/ nuestrossenderosholyoke/
Fotografía cortesía de Michelle Falcón
immune system and antibiotics. TB contains a very impermeable surface which makes it very challenging for the immune system to combat. Also, many antibiotics work by penetrating a bacterium and once inside the cell, they can properly function. But with the TB bacterium’s surface, it is hard for antibiotics to reach their target inside of the cell, making many commonly used antibiotics not very effective. Dr. Morita’s Lab focuses on understanding the biology of the bacteria and to identify molecules present on the cell surface. By understanding the way this surface layer is made, scientists can find a way to attack this process in the cell and come up with more effective treatments to combat this disease. The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a research-active university, where many undergraduate students are involved in research. To keep the research lab safe, undergraduate and graduate students in the Morita Lab do not work directly with TB pathogen, even though UMass has the facilities and capability to handle dangerous pathogens like TB. The Morita Lab studies TB using a nonpathogenic bacterium Mycobacterium smegmatis. M. smegmatis is a model bacterium for different aspects of TB research. TB pathogen belongs to the Mycobacterium family; the Mycobacterium species are responsible for many diseases like leprosy for example. Many people in developing countries still suffer from many of these conditions caused by mycobacterial pathogens. In the USA, non-tuberculous mycobacteria diseases caused by atypical mycobacteria affect more people than TB. Using M. smegmatis as a model has been a big success in the Morita lab and the TB research field in general. This model organism is not harmful for healthy people and because it belongs to the same family as TB, this means that many processes in the biology of both bacteria are very similar. Because of this, researchers have exploited their resources in understanding the model organism first and then apply knowledge to the study of TB. “Education is the most important of all. When I think about science and its importance for society, it comes down to education – scientific way of thinking makes young people realize how powerful it is to be curious, ask questions, and think logically.” -Dr. Yasu Morita
Deportes / Sports
El Sol Latino June 2017
Holyoke Old Timers Softball League 2017
Jibaritos vs Tigres • 20 de mayo de 2017
15
16
El Sol Latino June 2017
HAGA VALER SU VERANO ¡Obtenga créditos adicionales, cumpla los requisitos del título, salga adelante! en línea en el recinto transferibles Las clases comienzan el 10 de julio
El Sol Latino May 2014 www.hcc.edu 9 1/8 x 5 3/8
Your community radio station, broadcasting 24/7 from the campus of Springfield Technical Community College
www.wtccfm.org WTCC is your source for music - from salsa to R&R oldies, gospel to jazz, R&B to bluegrass, Motown and more, as well as Ecos del Ritmo, Cantares Latino-Americanos, and Club House Dance Music plus local talk shows with local hosts discussing local issues.