Winter 2014 LA GENTE 1
LA GENTE VOL. 44 ISSUE 2
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Reyes
MANAGING EDITOR Jacqueline Espinoza
EDITORS
Rosa Linda Meza Savannah Smith
DESIGN EDITOR Melissa Merrill
WEB EDITOR Michelle Salinas
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Liliana Llamas
COPY CHIEF Savannah Smith
COPY EDITORS Helen Alonzo Melissa Merrill Rosa Linda Meza Madelinn Ornelas Michelle Salinas
Letter from the Editor In January, La Gente's current staff had the privilege of meeting the founders of La Gente, including the first Editor-in-Chief Samuel Paz. It was a moment of reflection and praise for what we as a publication and we as a Latina/o community have developed into. Since the very first issue of La Gente on February 16, 1971, the mission has been to share stories of Latina/o struggles, triumphs, and arts, which are otherwise absent in mainstream news outlets. And 43 years later here we are, presenting you with our 2014 winter issue. Peace,
STAFF
Helen Alonzo Jessica Avelleira Katherine Batanero Magdalena Ceja Mayra Godinez Hector Guevara Miguel Angel Martinez Roxana Martinez Madelinn Ornelas María Perez Kimberly Soriano Tlaloc Vasquez
About the Cover "Our separate struggles are really one--A struggle for freedom, for dignity, and for humanity," said Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Cesar Chavez. Amid all of our diverse struggles, we are one in the same such that we want to produce the same outcome. And this is what artist Oscar Magallanes illustrates on this cover. With various signs addressing different issues, ultimately, the purpose of each is to bring about progress. La Gente, too, is a publication that seeks progress. Born out of struggle, La Gente functions as a platform to unify voices and to illustrate true and diverse experiences.
DESIGN
Michelle Martinez Madelinn Ornelas Michael Reyes
PHOTOGRAPHERS Mayra Jones Melissa Merrill Madelinn Ornelas Erika Ramirez María Varela
TRANSLATIONS Rosa Linda Meza
CONTRIBUTORS Yannina Casillas Sara Haas La Identidad Oscar Magallanes Nicolasito Ricardo Ponce Satyr Magazine Brenda Vasquez
STUDENT MEDIA DIRECTOR Arvli Ward
STUDENT MEDIA ADVISER Amy Emmert
118 Kerckhoff Hall 308 Westwood Plaza Los Angeles, CA 90024 lagente@media.ucla.edu 310.825.9836 This magazine was made possible with the support of Generation Progress, a project of the Center for American Progress, online at: GenProgress.org 2 LA GENTE Winter 2014
Join Us! We’re always looking for bright and talented students to join our staff. Positions are open in writing, editing, design, photography, illustration, video, business, and marketing.
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CONTENTS
LaGentedotorg 4 | Confessions of a Muslim Latina 4 | Escribiendo pa' La Gente desde 1971 5 | Diversity, Divestment, Discrimination
comunidad 6 | From Playgrounds to Prison Yards 7 | Comunidad Profiles 8 | L.A. Ska Community and Empowerment
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9 | Voz de los Jornaleros 10 | Undocumemes
featured 11 | Artist Profiles: Shizu Saldamando & Jose Ramirez 12-13 | Featured Art
¡topen esto! 14 | The Not-So-Admirable Agency 14 | Latinos and Gun Policy 15 | Latinos in Costume
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16 | Falta de Amor Hacia La Educación 17 | For the Prosperity of California 18 | La Resistencia y La Corrupción
arte y cultura 19 | American Illusions 19 | Our Culture is Not in Textbooks 20 | AISA Contribution 20 | Oaxacan Identity
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21 | Awards Season Recap
*Asterisks next to names within articles indicate anonymity.
21 | Satyr Magazine Contribution
Start a conversation! La Gente accepts outside submissions of all sorts for review and possible publication. Email lagente@media.ucla.edu with “Submission” in the subject line.
expresiones 22 | In Bloom
OUR MISSION:
22 | Sigan Luchando
La Gente Newsmagazine is for el estudiante--the student--interested in Latin@ issues. We represent the diversity of our culture and cultivate pride within our community. We’re a forum for conversation, hoping to inspire readers to get involved and get their voices heard.
22 | Arise my Xicana 24 | #WhatsGoodintheHood
La Gente Lingo arte y cultura need we say more? comunidad local insights expresiones all things creative LaGentedotorg online preview
sigan luchando for those inside ¡topen esto! all things opinionated universidad exclusively osito ¡viva la mujer! profiling la mujer
Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the La Gente editorial board. All other columns, cartoons, and letters represent the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editorial board. The UCLA communications board has a media grievance procedure for resolving grievances against any of its media. For a copy of the complete procedure contact student media at 310.825.2787. Copyright 2014 ASUCLA Communications Board
Winter 2014 LA GENTE 3
LaGentedotorg
CONFESSIONS OF A MUSLIM LATINA Yannina Casillas (Contributor)
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s a child of Mexican immigrants, I grew up culturally Catholic. But since I couldn’t find Him there, I decided to seek Him for myself. I never lost faith in God and after years of searching, I finally found peace in Islam. Even though I was extremely content with my new religion I felt lonely at UCLA. I quickly found myself bound between two completely different minority groups in America—Muslims and Latinos. Already a minority on campus as a Latina, I was also a minority in my religious community since the majority of Muslims at UCLA are of Arab or South Asian descent. I felt like an anomaly, so I began to overcompensate my Latina identity by rolling “r’s” in conversation and carrying Tapatio hot sauce everywhere I went. I became known as “The Latina” of the Muslim Students Association (MSA). After two years, I stumbled on an old issue of the Muslim student newsmagazine, Al-Talib, that discussed the Los Angeles Latino Muslim Association. I soon began inquiring about the stories of other Latino Muslims and found out that a friend of mine named Karla (also a Mexicana) had converted to Islam. I finally found someone with whom I could share my experience. We exchanged stories about how our families confused Islam for Hinduism, the pain in having to give up chicharrones, and, ultimately, how our friends and loved ones felt about our conversions. Sharing this experience with Karla helped balance my identity as a Mexican and Muslim woman.
I have been a Muslim for over three years and am actively involved in the Muslim community through MSA UCLA and MSA West. Participating in such organizations has allowed my distinct identity to be expressed. It has also provided a channel through which my political drive can be exercised—by educating my two different communities on issues ranging from the DREAM Act to Ramadan. It was not hard to gain acceptance in the Muslim community since the Muslim brothers and sisters shared similar values towards family as I did and also because they love converts! It was, however, difficult to try to learn new vocabulary. For example, the word for “mijo” in Urdu is “beta” (term of enM AR I dearment). It was funny. I connected with my peers in MSA through childhood stories and discussions on food. After bragging rounds, I dispelled rumors that Mexican food didn’t just consist of tacos and burritos. I introduced them to albondigas, ceviche, and authentic tamales. And of course, they had to recognize the superiority of Mexican cuisine. I represent a growing population of converts in the United States. According to a 2010 report by The Pew Research Center, the Muslim population is around 2.6 million. Although the exact number of Latino Muslims isn’t known, Hjamil A. Martinez-Vazquez, author of Latina/o y Musulmán: The Construction of Latina/o Identity among Latina/o Muslims in the United States, explains that it ranges from 75,000 to 100,000. To this day, I am still reconciling my identity as a Mexican Muslim woman. I am given the opportunity to shape the narrative of my community in this country. With my strong grounding in my faith, I look forward to contribute to the great legacy of the leaders in the Latino community.
More Online
Madelinn Ornelas mornelas@media.ucla.edu
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n January 17, 2014, three members of La Gente’s original staff came to speak to current staff members. Sam Paz, Josie Alavarez, and Laura “Woody” Rangel spoke of the past struggles and accomplishments of La Gente’s inception. Due to a lack of outlets for Latin@ sensitive articles, student activists created their own Latin@ newspaper, La Gente, in February of 1971. Paz, the first editor-in-chief, was surprised that it has lasted this long.
4 LA GENTE Winter 2014
Believing in a New California, Luis J. Rodriguez runs for governor
DREAMERS are global, protest deportations in France
The Lucha Libre culture that is Latino mental health
R.J. Palacio's novel Wonder addresses difference, acceptance and kindness
LaGentedotorg STUDENTS FOR JUSTICE IN PALESTINE
UCLA students organize the day after USAC rejected the divestment resolution
DIVERSITY, DIVESTMENT, DISCRIMINATION A Gentista's opinion on UCLA as a racist institution TLALOC VASQUEZ TVASQUEZ@MEDIA.UCLA.EDU
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o ifs, ands or buts about it. No pretext, no qualifiers, no asterisks. Let us simply acknowledge the fact that UCLA is racist. For anyone who takes issue with this statement, may I remind you of the absolute shit-show we refer to as campus climate at UCLA. In my past four years here, I have experienced and seen racist viral rants, misogynistic and racist letters posted publicly for the world to see, racial discrimination lawsuits filed against UCLA, racist and misogynistic graffiti on the doors of students, reports detailing instances of race-based discrimination against faculty members, daily microaggressions of all sorts, even faculty questioning the merits of students of color. And those events don’t even address issues of structural racism at UCLA. Retention and access efforts of students of color are ridiculously underfunded, and a diversity requirement is not included in our general education. Students of color, queer students, undocumented students, women, and pretty much anyone who falls outside of
the heterosexual white middle class lifestyle are thrown into a culture of constant attack. Perhaps nowhere is this more relevant than the failed student government resolution to divest from U.S. companies that directly profit from committing lasting and physical harm against Palestinians. A majority of the undergraduate student council members (Avi Oved, Sunny Singh, Darren Ramalho, Armen Hadjimanoukian, Lauren Rogers, Sam Haws, and Jessica Kim) squandered a unique opportunity to stand for human rights. A majority of our student representatives ruled that it was more important to spare the feelings of anti-divestment students than it was to stop investing money in companies that destroy Palestinian homes, deny their freedom of movement and wall them away like animals. A majority of our student representatives decided this and essentially condoned the subtext that Palestinians deserve to live in such conditions. By knowingly financing these atrocities, the pain of Palestinian students’ relatives is disregarded. At this undergraduate student council meeting (which lasted for over 11 hours) I heard racist, Islamophobic, hateful, and vile speech. I heard students normalize and belittle the violence and human rights violations committed against the Palestinian people. I repeatedly heard students against the divestment bill equate Palestinians to terrorists, claiming that if this resolution were to pass, their families, the state of Israel, and indeed any semblance of democracy in the Middle East
would come under immediate bomb threat. I heard over and over and over again that students who supported divestment—including Jewish students— were blatant anti-Semitics. During this meeting, a friend of mine was cornered in the bathroom and asked to defend her viewpoints as to why the Palestinian and Latina/o struggle are connected. Brushing aside the clear intimidation methods used against her, my friend replied that one of the companies included in the resolution was Cemex—the same corporation which builds the increasingly militarized U.S.Mexico border. Collectively, Latina/o students voiced support for divestment not only because of the brutal abuse of power executed by military occupation and the application of settlements towards a people, but because our Raza can relate to the concept of invasion, dispossession, occupation, exploitation and discrimination. We stated our unwillingness to contribute to companies that use our money to keep people restricted with arbitrary borders and checkpoints, which is something we are all too familiar with. The protection of white privilege at this university has never been so obvious to me. UCLA, your message is heard loud and clear. This institution reaffirmed that they don’t care if Palestinian, Israeli, Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Atheist, Latina/o, Chicana/o, Indian, Feminist, Pakistani, Indigenous American, Vietnamese, Pilipino, Black, Queer, Afghan, Iranian, Armenian, and Sikh students come together for a just cause. They don’t care that students of color were united in overwhelming support of divestment. They don’t care that human rights violations are being committed with our tuition. When it comes down to it, our lives and our issues are somehow less valuable. I emphatically reject the claim that UCLA values diversity. It has characterized Palestinians (and many others) as second-class students. I am tired of the empty promises and the patronizing pats on the back. I am tired of the tokenization of students of color whose happy, smiling faces are plastered on every UCLA advertisement. Never have I felt so alienated on this campus. To the Bruin community and the greater Los Angeles community, I say that the violence, racism, and discrimination against us ends now. It ends now because we say it will end, because we are not being silent any longer. In solidarity y con cariño!
reject “Itheemphatically claim that UCLA values diversity.”
Winter 2014 LA GENTE 5
comunidad YOUTH JUSTICE COALITION
expulsion. The false idea that harsh discipline makes schools safer is sending youth of color to the criminal justice system. A single suspension increases the risk of the student being pushed out. A school-based arrest can not only cause emotional trauma for youth, but also derail the student’s job opportunities or acceptance to college. Suspensions lead to expulsions and arrests, ultimately sending millions of students to the criminal justice system for minor behavior. This cycle of punishment perpetuates the oppression forced upon communities of color. The zero tolerance discipline policies were implemented to make schools safer. Yet, research shows that after one generation since the first implementation of these policies, schools are not safer and the youth of color in the schools are being put on a path towards the juvenile justice and criminal justice systems. The School-to-Prison Pipeline is a direct pathway youth of color are forced upon in school districts. Prison-like environments, harsh discipline, and underinvestment are the foundation for the School-to-Prison Pipeline. The police presence on campus, zero tolerance policies, and school closures are the catalyst to why youth of color are being pushed out of schools and into prisons. Annually, more than 3,000,000 students receive an out of school suspension. More than 70% of students who are involved in school arrests are Black and Brown youth.
demographic that is most “The affected by zero tolerance policies is youth of color.”
FROM PLAYGROUNDS TO PRISON YARDS
The School-to-Jail Track and youth of color injustices KATHERINE BATANERO KBATANERO@media.ucla.edu
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outh of color are targeted and portrayed as misguided youth who need to be under surveillance. The act of criminality is racialized, thus targeting Black and Brown youth. A place where a student’s knowledge and success should be fostered and supported has become a place where students are criminalized and targeted. School districts utilize suspensions, expulsions, and even arrests to reprimand minor misbehavior. Among the various reasons why Black and Brown youth are being “pushed out” of school are school closings, lack of relevant curriculum, and harsher punishments such as zero tolerance policies. The demographic that is most affected by zero tolerance policies is youth of color. Zero tolerance discipline policies essentially authorize suspension or expulsion of students for what the school considers misconduct. This policy of zero tolerance that is being implemented in schools is having a direct effect on the students of color. Minor behaviors receive serious consequences. Having a cell phone or dress code violations can lead to suspension or even 6 LA GENTE Winter 2014
The Youth Justice Coalition is an organization that strives to battle injustices placed upon youth of color. Alberto Cazarez, a youth organizer for the Youth Justice Coaliton, addresses the epidemic of the School-to-Jail Track that is spreading among youth of color. A member of the Lobos (Leading Out Brothers and sisters Out of the System) Group, Cazarez says Youth Justice Coalition is constantly in the barrios and school systems trying to fix the problem through campaigns and by leading presentations and workshops. The Youth Justice Coalition refers to this injustice as the “School-toJail Track” opposed to the “School-to-Prison Pipeline.” This is because a pipeline only has one way in and one way out. This does not correlate to the experiences of the youth of color. Rather, like a track, there are many ways to get into the justice system. Cazarez believes the catalyst to the problem is the schools system. The authoritative environment is counterproductive to the progress of students of color. Zero tolerance policies, too, are detrimental to students of color. “The zero tolerance policies are criminalizing young people for being young people,” Cazarez states. Cazarez believes one way we can overcome the injustices of the Schoolto-Jail track is through the reconstruction of the school system. He advocates for the removal of barbwire, metal detectors, police on campus and the implementation of on-site counselors and more intervention workers. Intervention workers are counselors who students know and trust. These workers embody the idea of transformative justice. They do not punish the students for misbehavior. The workers sit down with the students and talk about the root of the problem. Youth Justice Coalition believes in restorative justice. This alternative method gives more support for students of color and rids school systems of policies that criminalize youth. Despite the cycle of punishment placed upon youth of color, people will continue to put youth where they belong—behind desks, not bars.
COMUNIDAD PROFILES
Compiled by MiCHELLE SALINAS mSALINAS@media.ucla.edu
comunidad Latino communities affected by HIV/AIDS. They use the inspiration of The AIDS Monument as a catalyst for social change. The Wall Las-Memorias Project was designed as a Quetzalcoatl serpent, an Aztec symbol for rebirth. The monument consists of eight wall panels, six murals depicting life with AIDS in the Latino community, and two granite panels that contain the names of individuals who have died from AIDS. The monument also includes a serene park setting with benches and an archway set in garden areas for personal meditation. The total size of the monument is about 9,000 square ft., with half of this area being developed as new landscaping. Thewalllasmemorias.org
Inner-City Arts, Downtown Los Angeles
Community Rights Campaign, Los Angeles The Community Rights Campaign tells it like it is and calls out the systematic oppression that tries to hold back our Black and Brown youth. The Community Rights Campaign is organizing in L.A. high schools and among L.A.’s 500,000 low-income bus riders to build campaigns. The campaigns push back the growing police/prison state and push forward an expanded social welfare state. They also push back the police/prisons/punishment approach to organizing society and push forward a resources/reparations/redistribution approach. “When I first organized at Roosevelt High School, they caught my attention when they were running a workshop on truancy tickets and started to discuss the school to prison pipeline. After that workshop I kept getting involved because CRC was my first exposure to politics and also to black and brown solidarity.” – Cindy Castro, Community Organizer. Thestrategycenter.org
InsideOUT Writers, Hollywood InsideOUT Writers works with current or formerly incarcerated youth who are taught to use creative writing as a weapon for self-renewal. The mission of InsideOUT Writers is to reduce the juvenile recidivism rate. Using creative writing as a catalyst for personal transformation, these young people are empowered with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully reintegrate into our communities, becoming advocates for their future. Insideoutwriters.org
The Wall: Las Memorias, Lincoln Heights The Wall-Las Memorias reminds us all to remain strong while our fellow Latin@s battle illnesses like HIV/AIDS and reminds us to respect the battles of those that left before us. The Wall-Las Memorias Project is dedicated to promoting wellness and to preventing illness among
Inner-City Arts makes art accessible for youth around Los Angeles in an effort to expose them to this form of expression and for it to serve as an alternative to the streets. Through a landmark partnership with the Los Angeles Unified School District and local charter and parochial schools, Inner-City Arts provides the only arts instruction many students will have during the school day. This growing after-school program for elementary and middle school students provides intervention and prevention during the critical afternoon hours. On weekends, opportunities for focused, long-term study devoted to a particular art form encourage middle and high school students to pursue higher education. “Inner-City Arts is first and foremost about the children. We exist only for them.”- Cynthia Harnisch, Former President & CEO. Inner-cityarts.org/index.php
InnerCity Struggle, East Los Angeles As an InnerCity Struggle alumni, I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be where I’m at if it weren’t for them. With ICS I learned about my history and the importance of college. InnerCity Struggle works with high school students through United Students campus clubs at Roosevelt, Garfield, Esteban Torres, Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez Learning Center, Wilson and Lincoln high schools. These clubs demand equitable opportunities and educational justice to ensure that all students graduate and attend college. InnerCity Struggle promotes safe, healthy and non-violent communities by organizing youth and families to build power and influence in Boyle Heights, El Sereno, unincorporated East Los Angeles and Lincoln Heights. Collectively, they work towards economic, social and educational justice. Innercitystruggle.org
More Local Organizations Community Action Network, Downtown Los Angeles cangress.org Community Coalition, South Los Angeles cocosouthla.org Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project, Los Angeles esperanza-la.org Youth Justice Coalition, Inglewood youth4Justice.org Winter 2014 LA GENTE 7
comunidad
L.A. SKA COMMUNITY AND EMPOWERMENT
messages resonate with the Latino audience. A majority of Ska showgoers are teenagers and young adults of immigrant parents. Most of them partake in the art of skank – a form of dance that specifically pertains to Reggae or Ska music. “I like skanking. It feels like a community and it’s fun!” says Duenas. Ska shows provide a good platform for young people to express themselves and to feel part of a community. As long as Ska backyard shows exist and major events like Ska Wars provide a stage for the music, Ska is far from dwindling down in Los Angeles’ Latino neighborhoods.
Ska music and culture resonates with Latino/a youth
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his year hundreds of people gathered to see the sixth annual music festival Ska Wars in Los Angeles which can only be described as the ultimate ska show. Attendees sported black t-shirts of their favorite bands, spikes and studs, leather and denim jackets, and colorful punk hair styles. You name it, they were wearing it. However, major ska events aren’t the only places where the youth turns out in big numbers. All over Los Angeles the underground ska scene has been bubbling with events almost every weekend, most of them in local backyards. This is due to the growing popularity of ska with Latin influences among Latino youth. Originally from Jamaica, Ska music was popularized in the 1960s and combined elements of Reggae with Jazz and Blues. It wasn’t until what musicians call the Second Wave of Ska, or 2-Tone, during the 70s in England that artists started to throw punk influences into the mix. In what’s known as the Third Wave during the 80s and 90s the genre expanded to the rest of the world giving light to popular music artists such as Sublime. Today in the Los Angeles underground scene, some of the most popular acts include Los Chiles Verdes, Blanco y Negro, Profesor Galactico, Viernes13, and La Resistencia. These musicians combine the sound of guitars, drums, and bass with trumpets, keyboards and saxophones and play to an overwhelmingly Latino audience. This can be attributed to Latin influences in the music which often display a use of Latin melodies and their use of both English and Spanish lyrics in their music. “I like the mixture of punk rock and Latin music. I grew up listening to my mom’s music and punk. A clash of both is random but perfect,” says Lily Dueñas, second year Cal State Northridge student and regular ska show attendee. Some bands even have political messages for their audience. They sing about corruption and the problems they believe Latinos face today. These
MADELINN ORNELAS
jessica avelleira javelleira@media.ucla.edu
EAST LOS VANS DOCUMENTARY
Michael reyES MREYES@media.ucla.edu
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In 2008 there was a violent backlash against emo youth in México. In Querétaro, México, at Plaza de Armas, there was a gathering of those who opposed emo culture. They attempted to eliminate the Mexican emos by hurting and mocking them at this public demonstration. Illustration by Jonathan Horcasitas
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mbracing originality and creative expression is the focus of VANS’s new documentary series #LivingOffTheWall. A collection of the episodes, titled East Los, looks at the punk rock scene in East L.A. backyards. Youth from all over the greater Los Angeles area take part in these backyard music shows, which include metal, horror ska, oi psychobilly, and much more. The episodes document the personal stories of extraordinary and inspirational youth who are #LivingOffTheWall, or living creatively and freely, at these backyard shows. Some of the youth speak about why they got into the punk rock scene, and how it has empowered them. One individual says, “Without the backyard shows I’d probably be very angry.” Often negatively stigmatized, these episodes humanize the punk rock East L.A. youth. They are allowed to tell their own stories, and define themselves. Each episode is emotional, inspirational, and empowers these thriving Latina/o subgroups.
comunidad ERIKA RAMIREZ
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VOZ de los JORNALEROS
hen you see them outside, standing around, waiting in front of Home Depot, most cannot help but think, “Who do they think they are that they can just hang out here and take up our space?” But whenever a building or a house is under construction, or a house pipe is being fixed, the public witnesses the fruits of their labor. Jornaleros, or day laborers, are believed to be able-bodied immigrants from Central and South America who come to the United States without legal documentation, in search of economic opportunities. To some extent, this is true: most are Spanish-speaking men who come seeking the American Dream, including the promises of a society and culture where civility is practiced and people’s worth is acknowledged. They soon find out, however, that this is not so. The illusion of the United States, as a first-world country, is almost immediately shattered. It is not as devoid of trash, of crime, and of prejudice, as those who come here hope it would appear. Luis, a 42-year-old jornalero, originally from Zacatecas, México, says, “Siempre que llega un paisano a tu tierra o a Tijuana, te preguntan sobre tu salario. ‘¿Cuánto ganas?’ ‘Pues tanto.’ ‘¡Oh no, yo gano eso en una hora!’ Cuando van de aquí de Estados Unidos hacia México, El Salvador o equis lugar, siempre mencionan, ‘¡Oh, yo gano más! Tú hubieras ganado…’ Pero nunca te dicen lo pesado que es el trabajo, lo difícil que es para conseguirlo o todo lo que vas a sufrir al cruzar. Eso nunca lo dicen. Siempre te cuentan lo bonito.” The jornaleros come to the United States knowing that they arrive as people with disadvantages and lack of rights. They understand that they have to stand low and do what they can under their circumstances, which is to seek any job they can perform under anyone who will take them in. Their workdays begin earlier than most, especially when they set out not knowing if they are going to work. Placido, a 23-year-old male from Acapulco, Estado de Guerrero, México, says, “Hay que venir a buscar trabajo a las 5:30 o 6 a.m. A veces cuando se consigue un trabajo estable por unos días o unas semanas, el horario puede comenzar a las 7a.m. La salida es alrededor de las 3:30 PM, dependiendo del patrón con quien trabajes.” When they get home, their relaxation takes the shape of television, or a good book, before they have to go to sleep and do the same thing all over again the next day. But even through all this, the jornaleros would not choose to remain in the United States if they did not feel that it benefited them in some way. Through the struggle, they recognize that the experiences that have since passed have brought about new perspectives in life, which only help strengthen their purpose to achieve their goals. Placido, for example, only wants to remain in the United States until he has sufficient money for the
Maria Perez mperez@media.ucla.edu
security of his family. After that, he says, “Quiero tener un hogar, un hogar en mi país, estar en paz con mi familia en México.” Since he arrived in this country in 2012, this has remained his objective. Though admitting not knowing how long it might take, he is aware of the possibility that he might never go back. The experiences that jornaleros have survived since claiming the United States home have ultimately taught them to value their possessions and simply hope for the best in both the present and the future, especially for that of their children. “Creo, que en la vida, todos siempre tenemos el objetivo de tener algo más estable. Muchos deseamos tener una casa o una mejor economía para vivir más tranquilos y sin presiones. Si tienes hijos, darles una educación —que estudien, que no sufran lo que uno ha sufrido. Que no pasen lo que uno ha pasado. La mejor herencia que uno le puede dejar a los hijos es el estudio, el conocimiento y el que no se dejen manipular,” says Luis, emphasizing on his hope that one day him and his family will be able to finally live reassured that everything has been taken care of. Because just like us, jornaleros also want to live long and fruitful lives in which worry is not a constant reminder of the hardships of life.
JORNALEROS Nicolasito (Contributor)
Morning is a bitter, gray fog— a dirty cough into calloused hands— the same hands that load tools to trucks that mean American Dream. The day peaks and they dig without complain— dust falls on their frowning mustaches color of early morning darkness, which they learn to wake up in, without complain. Each strike of their tool comes with a gray groan that follows them to their casa. But they understand, a small clean hand should meet a book and never a tool, never the bitter, gray fog. Winter 2014 LA GENTE 9
comunidad
UNDOCUMEMES COMPILED BY MICHAEL REYES mreyes@media.ucla.edu
Following recent incidents with the undeportable Justin Bieber, people created memes to show their opinions on the racialization of deportations. Here are some from the Undocumemes Facebook page. “The #undocumemes illuminate the double standard of the justice system,” said Miguel Martinez, undocumented student and La Gente writer. “The undocumemes call for equal treatment.”
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ARTIST: SHIZU SALDAMANDO HELEN ALONZO HALONZO@MEDIA.UCLA.EDU
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veryday there are repeated actions and interactions that seem trivial, but L.A. based artist Shizu Saldamando purposefully chooses to use scenes from her everyday experiences. According to Shizu, she “portrays her personal friendships, and relationship with family and everyday mundane interaction.” Her art portrays what she knows, and is full of self-awareness and intention. Her intention comes from “high fashion knock-offs, random piñatas, DIY culture and independent music.” Growing up in San Francisco’s Mission District, Shizu learned the importance of public art. She was exposed to tremendous amounts of public mural and art centers and programs. While studying Art and Chicano/a Studies at UCLA, she worked at Self-Help Graphics and Art in East L.A. where she met muralists and silkscreen artists who she had been exposed to while attending workshops or art shows at Galeria de la Raza or the Mission Cultural center in S.F. Shizu received motivation from Self-Help's Executive Director Evonne Gallardo to attend New York Art Omi artist residency. She then began thinking of art as a career. Shizu received her Master’s of Fine Arts from California Institute of the Arts. She has shared her artistic representations of her experiences, friends and family with audiences at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C., LACMA, and most currently at CSUN for their "This is not a self-portrait" exhibition curated by Mario Ontiveros. Yet, L.A. audiences should be excited to see Shizu’s artwork at the Palms Metro station for the new Expo Line. Shizu describes that the process of translating her artwork into mosaic tiles at the station is in order for it to last out in the elements. “The original
ARTIST: JOSE RAMIREZ
MICHELLE SALINAS MSALINAS@MEDIA.UCLA.EDU
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eminiscing on the beginnings of his art trajectory, artist and educator Jose Ramirez said that he remembers the Chicano murals that he drove by everyday in El Sereno. He recognizes these murals for playing a role in his artistic path, influencing him with their colors and messages as a youngster and even up to this day. Ramirez initially pursued a career in architecture at the University of California, Berkeley for two years before switching to art with a focus on ceramics, painting, and drawing. That is when he “began doing art everyday.” He also continued to play the drums, a talent he developed while in high school. He was the drummer for two bands. Ramirez explored all these art forms all while enrolled in Chican@ and Ethnic Studies classes, which inevitably contributed to his artistic trajectory by politicizing his thinking. “I remember walking into Rasputin’s record shop in Berkeley and seeing BDP’s By All Means Necessary and Public Enemy’s Yo! Bum Rush the Show, with the subtitle, ‘The Government is to Blame’. It changed my life forever,” said Ramirez as he talked about the influence that music has had in his life as an artist. Music’s influence on Ramirez’s art is reflected in his most recent video projects, where he fuses his art of gardening with his own musical recordings. Ramirez further describes how gardening rooted into his art-life puzzle: “I grew up gardening with my father, planting vegetables and fruit trees at our house. As an adult, I started gardening and became increasingly interested in the organic, biodynamic gardening of super foods and fruit trees.”
feature pieces were graphite drawings and collage on wood panels. The studio we are working with for fabrication has come up with a combination of silkscreen and hand painting techniques to make the tile look like wood and mosaic tile for the collage parts,” Shizu said. “It’s really trippy to see sample tiles blown up to a huge scale but also really exciting to think that this body of work will be up in public for generations to come.” For Shizu, the content of her art is equally important as the material the art is painted on because each material carries a different context and different interpretation depending on what she wishes to convey. Shizu has used handkerchiefs and bed sheets in her art pieces. Shizu said, “The handkerchief and notebook paper drawings were really kind of regressive for me in that I was revisiting my time when I was drawing without being overly self-conscious. In high school my friends and I would try to copy the drawings we saw in Teen Angel Magazine, and random friends had handkerchief art that various family members had done while in prison. I started doing portraits of friends on handkerchiefs as a nod to that time but also as a kind of intimate memento or homage. I did most of that work while in graduate school as an escape from the overriding self-analysis one has to go through.” For Shizu, “good” art is “a combination of factors involving process, self awareness, intention, re-contextualization, form and, of course, content.” Look, feel, observe and take in any one of her pieces and you will find yourself immersed in art that makes you appreciate your everyday experiences and which may ultimately become your own inspiration to create. As Shizu believes, “Being proactive in any context is awe-inspiring. If you can't find a venue to play at, play in your backyard and invite your friends. If you can't find a gallery to exhibit your work, create an alternative space in your living room or on a street corner. Can't afford that outfit? Fuck it and make your own version, wear it and be proud of it.” Ramirez’s videos are very uniquely informative about gardening. But there is one video that particularly catches one’s attention because it uses an element of his garden to breakdown a historical timeline of resistance. The video “Mascaras” is 52 seconds long and shows various ceramic masks displayed on soil. This is just enough time to spark curiosity about the specific historic events referenced, including the 1969 East Los Angeles high school walkouts. Not only does Ramirez create artistic educational videos, but he is also an educator at Esperanza Elementary located in the Pico Union area. Ramirez forms a full circle with art and education. “I use my artistry to teach and I use my teaching mentality to do art.” He has been teaching for 22 years now and has been invested in Esperanza Elementary for 14 years. Although Ramirez works in Central Los Angeles, he is an Eastside native. “There are many people and programs working to ensure that the art created in the east side reflects our shared experiences in positive ways and provide a context for the creation of art that inspires, challenges and documents this ever evolving community.” Ramirez said. “The eastside is almost like a state of mind, it has no borders, we are everywhere.” This allows Eastsiders to represent their communities wherever they go. It is evident that Ramirez is an extremely versatile artist whose art reveals the communities he connects with. He says, “My paintings are a reflection of the projects I involve myself with. Plants, education, family, the history of struggle and introspection are all important themes in my work.”
See More Artwork Online Shizu Saldamando shizusaldamando.com Jose Ramirez ramirezart.com Winter 2014 LA GENTE 11
feature
Shizu Saldamando. In Between Sets, 2010. Colored pencil on paper. Courtesy of the artist. The Buck Collection, Laguna Beach, CA.
Shizu Saldamando. Sandy and Siouxsie, 2007. Colored pencil, collage, glitter on paper. Courtesy of the artist. Collection of David & Cristine Card, Los Angeles, CA.
12 LA GENTE Winter 2014
Shizu Saldamando. Downey Happy Birthday, 2007. Colored pencil, collage on paper. Courtesy of the artist. Cheech Marin Collection.
feature
Jose Ramirez. Flowers in the Sky, 2012.
Jose Ramirez. Plantation, 2010.
Winter 2014 LA GENTE 13
¡topen esto!
THE NOT-SO-ADMIRABLE AGENCY Hector Guevara hguevara@media.ucla.edu
I
n recent years, the National Security Agency has escalated into a great informational power source. Constructed as a defense agency, the NSA has been heavily criticized for the amount of information that they can obtain. Recently, Edward Snowden released sensitive information pertinent to the United States’s surveillance programs —exemplifying the United States’s autonomy over personal data. PRISM is an informational program that gives the U.S. the ability to analyze citizens' most visited websites, even without their consent. Another program that the NSA uses is called Medadata, which monitors phone calls and their duration, but it does not provide the user’s name unless consent is given. The array of filtration of communication over the phone and Internet has created an uproar and has attracted national attention. On January 17, 2014 President Obama intervened on the subject in an appearance and acknowledged: “Without proper safeguards, this type of program could be used to yield more information about our private lives, and open the door to more intrusive, bulk collection programs.” In hopes of consoling U.S. constituents, President Obama addressed four steps to limit the amount of information that can be accessed, and promised a transparent annual review about major sensitive judicial reviews conducted by the U.S. But this has little to no impact on citizens. A recent poll conducted by POLITO demonstrates that the illusive act to combat terrorism undermines citizens’ approval of the program. Down 10 percent from July 2013, 40 percent of Americans agree with the NSA’s combat on terrorism through invasion of personal data, and 79 percent believe
LATINOS AND GUN POLICY
Magdalena Ceja mceja@media.ucla.edu
A
s gun violence in America rises, so do debates about gun control. A recent poll formulated by Latino Decisions, a Latino political opinion research firm, demonstrates that for every gun control policy option suggested, more than half of the registered Latino voters surveyed supported laws that would regulate the use and ownership of guns. Latino interviewees favor gun regulations, such as background checks for gun ownership approval and a national database that would include the names of all registered gun owners. Adali Arroyo, third year UCLA English major, believes that Americans have the right to own licensed guns. He strongly supports background checks in order to certify that guns do not fall into the hands of people incapable of using them properly. A majority of Latinas/os oppose gun ownership for both mentally ill individuals and school teachers. The results of this survey show Latinos’ concern for gun violence. Latino Decisions also graphed the same poll 14 LA GENTE Winter 2014
that no difference can be made through this program. The government’s approval ratings are continually deteriorating, but that does not stop them from enacting new initiatives to enhance the NSA’s provision. Andres De La Torre, a freshman undeclared Life Science major says, “Newly granted jurisdiction will make it harder to catch actual criminals while making a lot of us uncomfortable. It is a step in the wrong direction.” On January 28, 2014, the Obama administration established a deal with Google, Microsoft, Facebook and other companies to further extend the amount of information that can be disclosed of its users. This creates a strange perception of what is currently occurring and what the government is disclosing — creating an altered reality of the situation. There exists a clear sense of disapproval among citizens, but the provision of the NSA continues to flourish when most individuals are clearly against government intervention of personal data to combat idealistic terrorist attacks. De La Torre also says, “I don’t feel comfortable knowing that a random person can read my personal conversations with my girlfriend whenever he/ she feels like it. We are virtually eliminating privacy while encouraging actual criminals to have their conversations in person.” To fend off attacks from the mass media and the public there is a security facade that our information is only being viewed if there is a connection with terrorist activity. This is a deception towards the reality that the federal government can scrutinize our information and anything that is accessed through communication software. This in turn seems to only add more perpetual questions about the NSA’s cycle of data-analyzing power: Will the public ever have privacy on the internet? With the escalating authority that’s been handed to the NSA and continuous citizen-activism to create a sense of privacy on the Internet, only time can determine the response to this issue.
with a breakdown of the responses based on respondents’ political parties. While popular belief is that gun control is only a liberal party view, the graph shows that Latinos on both sides of the political spectrum support gun control policies. Though some in the media consider the gun debate an issue between political parties, the graph suggests that political party identities do not always determine people’s views on gun control. Whether democrat, independent, or republican, the poll illustrates Latinos favoring gun regulation. Arroyo says, “We should take the necessary (measures) to ensure that guns do not fall into the wrong hands.” Voting is one of the measures Arroyo believes the public should take. Although Arroyo believes in gun regulation, he also feels voting is a good way to see where America as a whole stands on the issue of gun control. Voting can also help determine where various communities stand on the issue. The role of voting, although tedious to some, is an important right that has the power to create change. While many people don’t think voting makes a difference, the more people that vote, the more political attention they get from policy makers. It is significant for people to vote in order to pass the laws they feel are better for their com-
munities. Latinos, specifically, are a growing political voice in the United States. This is a time when the Latino voice matters, whether people acknowledge it or not. Through their support of gun regulation policies, Latinos have the power to help make the change that they feel can keep their communities safe.
¡topen esto!
LATINOS IN COSTUME
Latinas/os not symbolic of mainstream humanity
Más y Menos
RICARDO PONCE (CONTRIBUTOR)
DC COMICS
T
he superhero genre has experienced a surge in popularity within the last decade, making millions of dollars in various mediums from books, television and coveted success in film. Despite this massive growth in popularity, the same cannot be said of culturally diverse heroes, specifically these of Latino heritage. If superheroes are so popular, why hasn’t there been a Latino superhero on the big screen? A good place to start would be examining a small group of popular mainstream Latino comic book superheroes that have the potential to gain a Miles Morales as Spiderman wider audience through larger mediums. DC Comics has created a stable of MARVEL heroes of Latino descent. The shortlist of these flagship characters include, “The Blue Beetle,” “The Question” and Kyle Rayner, also known as “Green Lantern.” Since the early 1990s, DC writers have been developing these three characters as integral components of DC lore and have gained massive fan followings. The Blue Beetle, known as the teenage Chicano Jaime Reyes of El Paso, Texas, made his debut in 2006 and has since been featured in several television shows including Batman: The Brave and The Bold, and Smallville. The alter ego of “The Question”, Puerto Rican-American detective Renee Montoya, made her first appearance in Batman: The Animated Series and is considered a landmark character for being one of the few openly gay charThe Question acters in the comic industry and has garnered a large following amongst DC COMICS young LGBT readers. Finally, Kyle Rayner, the half-Mexican Green Lantern from L.A., served as the reluctant replacement for the original Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. He has gone on to make appearances in Superman: The Animated Series and Justice League: The Animated Series, which speaks volumes about the character’s success in assimilating into the comic universe. Although these characters serve as shining examples of culturally diverse and essential heroes, several other Latino superheroes created by both DC and Marvel Comics have failed to find an audience. DC Comics hero Aztek dons a superhero identity based on the appearance of an Aztec warrior. While not strictly stereotypical in portrayal, the character struggled to find Fire footing within DC’s wider universe and was killed off only 10 years after his DC COMICS initial appearance. Likewise, this has been the case with other Latino heroes, such as DC’s Fire and Más y Menos. Marvel also met defeat with Miles Morales, the company’s replacement for Peter Parker as the new Spiderman for the Ultimate Marvel comic series. Morales, a young teenager of AfricanAmerican and Puerto Rican descent, was met with general outcry that was largely a result of Marvel’s ill advised attempt to replace fan favorite Peter Parker so suddenly despite Spiderman creator Stan Lee approving of the character as a positive role-model for minority readers. Aztek These are many traditional Latino superheroes that failed to capture DC COMICS mainstream success because their heroic identity and Latino culture didn’t coincide with the neutral sensibilities of a symbol for all of humanity. This differs from classic heroes like Batman who dons armor inspired by a bat to metaphorically become an image of fear or the Green Lantern who wears a green suit symbolizing will. Certainly, this is the case for heroes like Aztek whose alter egos and costumes are inspired by cultural heritage and are too specific to represent or find an audience outside of Latin culture. Heroes can and are Latino. Ultimately, if the public is searching for a hero who wears their Latino heritage, then it is not only proven to fail in numbers, but it would also betray the moral values of symbolism for all *All images from Wikia.com and Wikipedia.org people in comics culture. Winter 2014 LA GENTE 15
¡topen esto!
FALTA DE AMOR HACIA LA EDUCACION Reflexiones en la inclinación de la educación en los Estados Unidos
Rosa Linda Meza rmeza@media.ucla.edu
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on el trascurso de los años la educación Estadounidense ha estado decayendo. Para la sociedad y miembros de la administración educativa es más fácil señalar con el dedo a quienes ellos creen culpables. Por supuesto los padres son los primeros señalados, se dice que no le dan importancia a la educación de sus hijos, mientras que otras personas opinan que la educación es cada día más pobre a causa de que no hay suficientes recursos monetarios para ayudar a los planteles escolares contratando mas maestros que ayuden a enriquecer la educación de quienes son el futuro. Otro grupo que también es señalado es el grupo de los administradores del dinero, se dice que estos no tienen la suficiente audacia para manejar y distribuir los fondos que se les confía. Como podemos notar todos nos quejamos de todo, lo único que hacemos es quejarnos en lugar de hacer algo para evitar que la educación continúe decayendo.
realmente “Hay ningún interés en
encontrar maneras de cómo los maestros pueden hacer participar activamente a sus estudiantes en la educación.”
La administración educativa y la sociedad están tan ocupados tratando de encontrar culpables que se les olvida la razón principal de este dilema: los estudiantes. No se dan cuenta que están desviando su atención de la razón principal de la disputa y se van alejando más de la posibilidad de encontrar una solución que pueda ayudar a mejorar la educación estudiantil en este país. Brianna López un estudiante de cuarto año estudiante para obtener una licenciatura en geografía dice, “Se ha hecho cada vez más difícil para los maestros y administradores a desempeñar un papel activo en la educación de sus estudiantes, hay mucha más atención a las normas en 16 LA GENTE Winter 2014
la enseñanza y hay realmente ningún interés en encontrar maneras de cómo los maestros pueden hacer participar activamente a sus estudiantes en la educación.” El amor e interés hacia los estudios es cada día más diminuto. En ocasiones los educadores y/o padres se preocupan más porque los estudiantes y/o hijos se involucren en deportes, que por la educación la cual no sólo los prepara para tener un mejor futuro si no que también los aleja de la cadena vicios que existe. Los medios de comunicación social llenan la mente de los estudiantes con imágenes de lo que es aceptable y lo que simplemente será lanzado hacia una esquina sin reconocimiento. ¿Qué pasó con el interés de aprender y obtener sabiduría? Te diré, ha sido sofocado por la inmensa propensión de ser corriente. Un estudiante al obtener un promedio medio es felicitado dándole a entender que fue suficiente. López también comenta, “ [Es] una pena que la educación no se vea como algo muy importante en este país, me siento como que hay mucha desigualdad sobre las posibilidades de poder obtener una buena educación.” La mayoría de las veces ni siquiera se trata de incitar al estudiante a tratar de conseguir excelencia quizás ni se les menciona que pueden mejorar. Es más, desde el principio del viaje educativo, los estudiantes son guiados a seguir una rutina de educación, se les dice es tu obligación, por lo tanto no se interesan por aprender. Me pregunto, por qué será? Me preocupa pensar que el sistema educativo de los Estados Unidos en su esfuerzo por mantener el número de estudiantes ingresados en instituciones de educación no se den cuenta
de que posiblemente los estudiantes van de caída. Los estudiantes sin interés y sin motivación pueden llegar a convertir al país en un basurero lleno de seres humanos que llegaran a ser conformistas y quienes jamás trataran de luchar por adquirir excelencia. La energía y el enfoque por tratar de remediar todos los grupos afiliados a los estudiantes sólo han mostrado ser un fracaso. Si la administración educativa y la sociedad no muestran interés ni tienen amor a la educación, ¿que se puede esperar de los estudiantes jóvenes? Por supuesto ellos tendrán la misma actitud y no querrán hacer cambios, pues para ellos es mas fácil divertirse que educarse. Yo en lo personal tengo esperanzas de que ocurran sucesos que nos hagan abrir los ojos y darnos cuenta que no estamos haciendo lo suficiente para impulsar a la juventud a estudiar y prosperar. Que esperamos, sembremos la semilla de la educación, cuidémosla, abonémosla, reguémosla todos unidos lograremos que de buen fruto. Recuerden, para que la semilla llegue a dar tal fruto todos debemos trabajar unidos. Lo lograremos. ¡Empecemos hoy!
amor e interés “Elhacia los estudios es
cada día más diminuto...ha sido sofocado por la inmensa propensión de ser corriente.”
¡topen esto!
FOR THE PROSPERITY OF CALIFORNIA Recidivism and unconstitutional overcrowding in California prisons Miguel Angel Martinez mmartinez1@media.ucla.edu
I
n May 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that California state prisons violated the 8th Amendment, and ordered the end of overcrowding. Governor Jerry Brown has attempted to drop
prison population with realignment, or AB 109. Population increases began in the 1980s. Prop 8 from January 1982 changed parole from five years and allowed seven, 10, and 15-year extensions. The three strikes law was passed in 1994. Subsequently, Proposition 39 passed in November 2013 to reduce three strike laws for nonviolent infringement. Nevertheless, Governor Brown and the state legislature did not meet the December 31, 2013 federal court deadline to reduce the population of prisoners in the state prison system. The state has failed to reduce overcrowding. But California has been given a two year extension until February 2016. AB 109 does not target the issue of increased incarceration. Gov. Brown’s solution merely relocates California inmates to county jails and ends prison time for parole violations. It is analogous to putting a Band-Aid on a deep wound. The court has ordered California to reduce the prisoner population to 117,686 which is curremtly at 137.5 capacity. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) reported that inmate population in 2013 was 131,071. CDCR speculates that the inmate population will be 129,427 in 2014 and increase to 129,854 in 2016. For young people of color, this is definitely problematic. Howard Chung, fourth year Study of Religions major and Executive Director of Bruins Reforming Incarceration Through Education (BRITE), said, “From an academic community, [BRITE works] on education to realize economic mobility. We plan educational and social events to build community and reduce recidivism.” As students of color in California, it is imperative to be aware that there are 33 adult prisons and only 10 University of California institutions.
Latinos/as and Chicano/as, and African Americans are the ethnic groups who make up a majority of the incarcerated population, but who are a minority in the University of California. “We need to rehabilitate, transform, help find purpose, and provide counseling for post traumatic stress disorder for [inmates]. There are sanctions to put people in the front door but no strong system to receive them when they come out and reintegrate them into society.” According to the Statistical Summary of Students and Staff University of California, 183, 498 undergraduates entered UCLA in Fall quarter 2012. Of those, 28,898 made up the Chicano/a Latino/a population, and 6,817 made up the African American population. The numbers indicate that about 16 percent of students identified as Chicano/a or Latino/a, therefore, putting African Americans at about four percent. The numbers are higher when looking at what percentage of the prison population is Chicano/a, Latino/a, and African American. One can only imagine how many youth of color will be end up in California prisons instead of the University of California, given such inadequate policies. How many children will become inmates when they grow into adulthood? Law makers are not making the effort to effectively reduce the population of inmates in California. The trend of prison construction and mass incarceration over the prioritization of education needs to stop in order for there to be a better future for minority communities. It is important for the people of California to hold law makers accountable. Although we claim to be the land of the free, in California we are championing incarceration.
is analogous to “Itputting a Band-Aid
on a deep wound... How many children will become inmates when they grow into adulthood? Law makers are not making the effort to effectively reduce the population of inmates in California.”
MELISSA MERRILL
Winter 2014 LA GENTE 17
¡topen esto!
LA RESISTENCIA Y LA CORRUPCION
Mexican pueblos fight, and the U.S. invests on the War and Narcotraficantes
Time dedicated its most recent Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia covers to Mexico’s President Peña Nieto, with a bold caption that says, “Saving Mexico.” His reforms are said to be changing the narrative of Mexico’s narco-plague situation.
Following the announcement of Time's cover, people circulated images with messages that showed disagreement with the positive representation of the president. The reporter of the article commented: “Remarkable how many critics of Mexico's president seem to believe I must have literally taken a bribe to write a positive story.”
SINEMBARGO.MX
O
n February 22, 2014, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was captured in Mazatlán, Sinaloa. El Chapo Guzman, notorious drug lord of Sinaloa, was captured three days after the three leaders of North America, President Obama, President Enrique Peña Nieto, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper gathered in Toluca. A report by Aquí y Ahora de Univision said that maybe El Chapo, the world’s most powerful narco, was so difficult to capture because he was protected by the world’s most powerful government. There have been many speculations if whether the captured person is in fact El Chapo or just another scapegoat. Many Spanish-speaking news channels have claimed that El Chapo had undergone plastic surgery, which would explain his change in appearance. Reports done by Univision say that the United States was involved in the capture of El Chapo. U.S. agents along with Mexico’s Marina, captured El Chapo with similar tactics used to capture Osama bin Laden. At first, Mexico was hesitant to work together with the U.S. due to the lack of control Mexico would have in the operation. Consequently, we can only speculate that the War on Narcotraficantes will not end until U.S involvement completely ceases. Recent incidents with El Chapo and other U.S. aid are extensions of the larger issue of the War on Drugs. The United States, the largest market for illegal substances in the world, seems to be aiding the terror in Mexico. Reports from El Universal claim that the United States’s Drug Enforcement Administration has been secretly meeting with the Sinaloa Cartel. The United States has also fueled the War on Narcos by providing 70 percent of the weapons seized. “I accuse the U.S. weapons industry of (responsibility for) the deaths of thousands of people that are occurring in Mexico,” Calderon said in a speech in 2011 to the San Jose Community. “It is for profit, for the profits that it makes for the weapons industry.” Within the past six years under Calderon’s War on Narcos more than 70,000 people have been murdered and more than 25,000 people have disappeared. These casualties surpass those of the Iraq and Afghanistan war. The turmoil in Mexico has left the country in devastating and dangerous conditions. With little to no help from local or federal authorities, pueblos have begun to take matters into their own hands. Guerrilla groups have risen against the corruption of both the government and the Narcotraficantes. Local guerillas, or “Autodefensas,” in Michoacán have successfully driven away the drug cartel Knights of Templar from the small town of La Huerta. The Knights of Templar are the controlling cartel in Michoacán, which broke off from La Familia, a Michoacán drug cartel, in 2011. Similarly, vigilantes in Antunez, Michoacán made one narco flee his two story mansion, and even confiscated the house and other belongings. Autodefensas have used houses, cars, and territories that have been seized from narcotraficantes to further supply their effort. The Knights of Templar have accused the “Autodefensas” of being tied with The New Generation Cartel, which operates in the neighboring state of Jalisco. But the Autodefensas quickly denied this accusation. What has begun as a “para el pueblo” insurgency group has turned into part of the official security forces of the state of Michoacán. Mexico’s president Enrique Peña Nieto recently announced that the government would designate $3.4 billion for Michoacán’s education, health and transportation. Community resistance can only go so far when big players are involved and benefiting from Mexico’s war on narcos, including the U.S. 18 LA GENTE Winter 2014
TIME.COM
Kimberly Soriano ksoriano@media.ucla.edu
Edber CM:
“This reminds me of that famous picture with Sadaam Hussein shaking hands with Donald Rumsfeld. The media and state will use whatever necessary to legitimize corrupt relations.”
Ana Laura de Santiago:
“I felt like puking when I saw this...This is just a bunch of crap...”
arte y cultura
AMERICAN ILLUSIONS MAYRA GODINEZ MGODINEZ@MEDIA.UCLA.EDU
AMERICA TROPICAL, LATACO.COM
A
s a native of Los Angeles, I have visited Olvera Street several times, but a recent tour of the new exhibit of the mural America Tropical made me question the use of Mexican art and culture in public spaces. The mural by Mexican artist, David Alfaro Siqueiros, has an interesting and controversial history. It was commissioned by the owner of an art gallery on the second floor of the Italian Hall which is located between Olvera and Main Street. The mural was supposed to be located on the second story south-facing wall of the Italian Hall. At its center, the mural contains a picture of an Indian Peon crucified on a double cross. Siqueiros painted what he described as an American imperialist eagle perched on top of the cross. The mural also contains a picture of a Mayan temple and figures of Aztec symbolism. This mural was a political statement on behalf of Siqueiros that was not well-received because of its
criticism on American political agendas. It was not what the commissioner expected and the mural was literally whitewashed with white paint after the opening ceremony on October 9, 1932. It wasn’t until 1971 that several groups tried to restore and conserve what remained. The themes of class struggle within the mural highlights a history that Mexican-Americans do not often get the chance to see in public cultural spaces. Siqueiros’s mural illustrates a Mexican heritage that many MexicanAmericans often forget is theirs because of government intervention to censor public displays that carry anti-American views. The mural is now located in the America Tropical Interpretive Center which opened October 9, 2012. It can be viewed from a platform behind a protective covering on the second floor of the museum. The idea behind Olvera Street was to create a Mexican theme park for the white community. It was designed by a wealthy member of the elite named Christine Sterling. It opened two years before the original unveiling of America Tropical. Christine Sterling was originally from San Francisco and wanted Olvera Street to represent a view of a pre-industrial Mexican past that she thought was romantic. She offered the Mexican-Americans in the area the chance to sell traditional Mexican food, clothing and household decorations. In order to sell, however, Sterling made these people dress up in Mexican folkloric costume. It seems strange to me that this romanticized version of Mexico is acceptable for the public to engage with, while in the news today, Mexicans and Mexican-Americans are viewed as the criminals and drug-dealers that should be deported in large numbers. Olvera Street is a cultural space created by elite Americans who see it as an acceptable area for Mexican culture to be positively engaged with. It is not a depiction of how Mexicans or even Mexican-Americans view their own cultural heritage. With Los Angeles having such a large population of people from Mexican descent, I wish to see in the future a more accurate depiction of Mexican culture in public spaces by Mexicans and Mexican-Americans themselves. American nostalgic illusions of a pre-industrial Mexican culture are misleading and reinforce stereotypes that neglect a history of political struggle.
"OUR CULTURE IS NOT IN TEXTBOOKS" Steve jimenez, LA IDENTIDAD
Winter 2014 LA GENTE 19
arte y cultura
BRENDA VASQUEZ (CONTRIBUTOR)
A
ISA is a student organization at UCLA. It is composed of students from American Indian backgrounds, but is highly inclusive of all backgrounds. AISA sponsors an outreach
OAXACAN IDENTITY ROXANA MARTINEZ RMARTINEZ@MEDIA.UCLA.EDU
I
’ve been called “Oaxaquita,” and have been looked at condescendingly when I say I originate from Oaxaca. I’m grateful to be connected to my roots. But some think their homeland is better than mine. In reality, Oaxaca is a state that’s recognized for being more traditional and cultural than other states that were profoundly colonized by Spaniards. According to the National Commission for the Development of the Indigenous Peoples, at 48% Oaxaca has the greatest percentage of indigenous people after Yucatán. Oaxaca has more speakers of indigenous languages than any other Mexican state, and contains 16 formally registered indigenous communities. Oaxaca’s rugged topography has also played a significant role in giving rise to its cultural diversity. Since individual towns and tribal groups live in isolation from each other, 16 ethnolinguistic groups have maintained their individual languages, customs and ancestral traditions. The Zapotec, which is what my family is, and the Mixtec are the two largest native groups. I’m very grateful to say that my family still speaks Zapoteco, our mother tongue from the valley of Oaxaca.
20 LA GENTE Winter 2014
project, American Indian Recruitment (AIR) and a retention project, Retention of American Indians Now (RAIN!). Both projects help Native students in getting to and achieving in higher education. For AIR, UCLA students go to sites to tutor/college-mentor middle school and high school students, to peer advise Native community college students, and to work with tribal communities. For RAIN, UCLA students peer counsel other students, provide a Native support group, as well as mentorship and wellness activities in order to retain Native American students at UCLA. In addition to AIR and RAIN, AISA holds several community based events every year, including Native American Heritage Week, the Annual Youth Conference and Basketball Tournament, and the UCLA Pow Wow. These events not only educate others about Native American culture, but also celebrate it. It’s a fun and rewarding experience to hold these events every year. The annual UCLA Pow Wow brings the Native American community and its allies to the UCLA campus. There’s contemporary pow wow dancing, fry-bread, and
arts and crafts vendors. The pow wow is free and open to the public. AISA welcomes you to its 29th Annual UCLA Pow Wow.
People look at Oaxaqueños like they’re “less Mexican” because we have a unique culture compared to Northern and Central Mexican states that are not habituated by indigenous peoples. We eat chapulines (grasshoppers), which are harvested in Oaxaca. To many it’s gross, but it’s a Oaxacan delicacy. Another example is our cultural festival of “Guelaguetza,” which in Zapotec means “reciprocal exchanges of gifts and services.’’ Guelaguetza honors the
and others who are also still connected to their indigenous roots. People don’t realize that having the knowledge of our indigenous traditions is a gift. Zapotecs have come a long way from their rural pueblos to cities like Los Angeles. It’s important to keep an open mind for different cultures and traditions, rather than passing judgement.
don't “People realize that having
the knowledge of our indigenous traditions is a gift.”
diverse cultures that contribute to Oaxaca, and gives communities around the state the opportunity to share their music, costumes, dances and food. People in the pueblos perform Guelaguetza: if someone helps you by contributing to your communal event it is then expected of you to help them out as well. It upsets me to see people belittle Oaxacans
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
arte y cultura
AWARDS SEASON RECAP Liliana Llamas lllamas@media.ucla.edu
Draco Rosa “Vida” Best Latin Pop Album
La Santa Cecilia “Treinta Días” Best Latin Alternative Album WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Sofia Vergara Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Nominated, Modern Family)
Alfonso Cuaron Best Director (Won, Gravity) *Best Director Academy Award (Won, Gravity)
Lupita Nyong’o Born: México City, México Nominated for: 2014 Academy Awards, 2014 Golden Globes Won: 2014 Academy Award Fun Fact: She attended U.N.A.M. to learn and practice her Spanish skills!
Alejandro González Iñárritu Born: México City, México Previous Nominations: Golden Globes, Academy Awards Won: Golden Globe for Best Director Fun Fact: He was the first Mexican director to be nominated for an Academy Award! Winter 2014 LA GENTE 21
expresiones
"IN BLOOM"
sara haas, Fem Newsmagazine
SIGAN LUCHANDO Gilbert Bao, Soledad Prison
"ARISE MY XICANA"
Aranzazu Medellin Guerrero, LA GENTE ALUMNA
Disfigured 90 degree angle lime-dark in this pillar. A plum mollifying my India lips– Releases the tears of the grape pickers. Stuck between the figure I expose The mainstream of my superfluous angle begins weeping.
“Silencio”, Whisper the voices. “Do not Rise,” “Caya your Fear.”
The words are harmonized, Resucito, Aleluya, Resucito, Aleluya…. The twinge quenches in the shackles of my mainstream, más y más. My corneas dissolve into the cavern of Soledad.
The redolence of Plum is all around me. Coyolxauhqui is here. My goddess de La Luna. The wombyn of maíz vortex my body. I’m the lost espíritu interpolated in Aztlan and America, the great. They can’t sustain my engraved pain.
Thunderous roars Corneas Thunderous roars Corneas
“No Cihualt” “We Can’t.” Arise mi Xicana Find the strength in the chrome and callow wires jutting behind your pate.
Awake!
There lies la ponderosa: Tu. There lies la Xicana without barriers: you. There is la hija de Malinalli: yo y Tú.
22 LA GENTE Winter 2014
Winter 2014 LA GENTE 23
#WhatsGoodintheHood La Gente's photo contest winners, Winter 2014
Chinatown
@101tlaloc
Westwood
Hollywood
@melamerrill
@snapsnapwendy
24 LA GENTE Winter 2014
L.A. Arts District
Santa Monica
Lennox
@corazon_infinito
Mid City
@gilly0210
@helenalonzo
Koreatown
@roxanaah
@__elsita__
Torrance
@itsbren_duh
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