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We know our readers have a lot to say! Mail letters to Latino Lubbock “Letters to the Editor,” Box 6473 Lubbock, TX 79493, or email them to news@latinolubbock.net. Please include your name, address, and contact phone number. Mailed letters must be signed. Please note that unsigned letters will not be published. Letters are limited to 100 words, depending on space availability, some longer will be included. Writers are limited to one letter per month. Submissions may be edited for clarity or space consideration. Letters are not acknowledged. Opinions expressed in letters and Op-Ed articles do not necessarily represent the views of Latino Lubbock Magazine.

Congrats Are In

Christy, again you are making headlines. Congratulations to you for the 2023 Minority Small Business Champion. Thank you for all you do, you do make the difference.

Joanne Harwood

It was a pleasure to see Nephtalí de León’s picture and article on the April issue of Latino Lubbock Magazine announcing that he has been named San Antonio’s Sixth Poet Laureate. I am so proud of my brother for his literary achievement.

I would also like to congratulate your husband, Frank Garcia, on his new position as Sales Manager for Resthaven Funeral Memorial Park.

I am so grateful for the excellent work that you and our staff do on publishing Latino Lubbock Magazine.

Sincerely,

Maria T. Rangel

LUCKY LUBBOCK

I picked up a Latino Lubbock Magazine recently before a flight back home after attending a meeting in Lubbock.

I thought it was interesting that Lubbock had a publication geared to an audience that I would have never thought was so large considering they were absent from my meeting.

As I went through the publication, page by page I thought, 'WOW, lucky Lubbock!' The publication had so much information, it is well put together, it is very positive, and very colorful! Kudos to your publisher and staff!

Sincerely, Adam Gonzalez meant to benefit everyone regardless of ethnicity, race, gender, religion, etc. Anti-DEI legislation like SB-17 & 18, handicaps the democratic objectives set forth by inclusivity programs in businesses and educational institutions. If (and when) bills like SB-17 pass, they would negatively affect the states of over 100 Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI). How? They project hostility and intolerance. Potential faculty and students would feel unwelcome and choose not to make Texas their academic or professional home. Recruiting new faculty and students will be difficult. In fact, several faculty members at various institutions across the state already experienced firsthand the negative image of Texas held by potential faculty members and students. Moreover, SB-17 could adversely affect our ability to maintain the HSI threshold of 25% Latino student population as students may not feel welcomed staying in-state or coming to Texas. HSI standing makes Texas Tech and other HSIs eligible for millions of dollars in grants to better serve our student body. If our numbers decline, the consequences would be dire and reverse years of institutional efforts to welcome more Hispanic students to Texas Tech.

Intolerance has no place in our schools, universities, or state. Inclusivity is what makes Tech and Lubbock unique. We are a diverse community who are welcoming and gracious toward everyone. SB-17 and SB-18 are antithetical to our values of faith, hospitality, grace, and empathy. History informs us that we have been down this road before, and it also teaches us that we can overcome these challenges. Programs like Texas Tech’s Mexican American & Latina/o Studies and Black Cultural Center provide spaces for ALL students to learn and share so we can all build a stronger and more compassionate community. We need to be better or else Texas regresses to a past that never really existed.

Miguel A. Levario, PhD is the Associate Professor of US History & Borderlands Studies; the Director, Committee on Diversity & Community Engagement; Program Coordinator, Mexican American & Latina/o Studies in the Department of History at Texas Tech University.