Hispanic Heritage Month
The Belfield Banter Hispanic Heritage Month
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The St. Anne’s-Belfield Student Newspaper
Another role model who comes to mind is Rita Moreno. Besides Rita Hayworth (whose heritage originated directly from Spain), Rita Moreno was one of the very first Latina actresses to make it in Hollywood. Because she was at the height of her career during the 1950s, she was easily targeted by men, like Marlon Brando, who used her for their own personal gain. She tells stories in her documentary of sexual harassment, physical abuse, and even rape by her own manager. But, despite all of these challenges, she succeeded greatly; she is one of only seventeen people to have received an EGOT. Due to all of her accomplishments, she has helped clear the way for many Latinos to make it in Hollywood. Next, I would like to mention Oscar de la Hoya. As someone who is currently training for future bodybuilding competitions, Oscar proves to be a great example of someone who has made it in the industry of being an athlete. Oscar de La Hoya is a boxer rather than a bodybuilder, but nonetheless, he still proves to be a great example of someone who has paved the way for many Latinos.
photo by Mr. Antxon Iturbe
Mis Modelos
Pan’s Labyrinth Review
by Lucca M. Rannigan C.
by Maria Viles
— When asked who my role model is, many people come to mind. I am Latino, and, when asked this question, people who are a part of my community that have paved the way for me immediately jump to the front of my mind.
— Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth blurs the line between fantasy and historical fiction, offering an eerie, yet captivating outlook into the life of an 11 year old girl during the Spanish Civil War. Del Toro is a highly regarded Mexican filmmaker who is known for creating films that contain emotional depth and complexity, usually with fantasy and horror themes.
One of the first people that I think of is Celia Cruz. Known famously as “The Queen of Salsa”, Cruz’s angelic voice is instantly recognizable to anyone that has been lucky enough to discover her work. When Fidel Castro took over Cuba in 1960, Cruz, who was on tour in America, was told by the new Cuban communist government that she would never be able to return to Cuba. She was able to return to Cuba one last time because the U.S. allowed her to visit via the American base that was still located there. Before she left, she was able to collect a bag of Cuban soil, with which she requested to be buried. Those who listen to Celia Cruz’s music can hear the sweet melody and sadness of her voice as she sings about her home, her people, and her community. I admire her, because she is one of so many who immigrated to the United States due to their countries being unsafe or other factors that forced them to flee.
The film’s protagonist, Ofelia, has been forced to relocate to a remote region in order for her army-general step-father to lead his troops into a forest to capture a rebel army. Ofeila’s father, Captain Vidal, is a violent, sadistic man who represents fulls authoritarianism and is not afriad to torture or murder those who get in his way. Vidal’s character is supposed to mirror the army generals who were under Fransico Franco’s leadership. Ofelia, an escapist and avid reader, lives in a world of wonder. In order to escape the harsh truth of her reality, she sets off into the forest and meets an otherworldly creature called The Faun. The Faun tells Ofeila that she is a long lost princess and in order to claim her birthright, she must complete three daunting tasks. Page 1
My last few role models are the ones that I have grown up around and who have shown me how I can be successful in this world not only despite, but with pride in my ethnicity. Profe, Dr. V, and Señora Lezama, all of whom are teachers at our school, have immigrated to a country where Spanish isn’t the official language and have had to work hard to get to where they are today. There is no doubt in my mind that these three role models have shown me not only to be proud of my culture, but to embrace it and never be ashamed of where my roots lie. Lastly, I would like to mention my own family, the ones who have been there for me since I was born. My Abuela, La Dowa de Nuestra Familia, and my Abuelo, the big tough Latin man, not only sacrificed their entire lives so that they could live “the American Dream”, but they both built their legacy here in the United States. I am living proof of that. Their five children, three of whom were born in Colombia, continued their legacy so that our family could live and strive in America. My own mother overcame many obstacles to become who she is today. She is a nurse practitioner in neurosurgery who had to raised four children and attended nursing school at the same time. All of her hard work, along with my father’s hard work, is what has allowed me to attend St. Anne’s-Belfield School since 2010.
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This film explores the interactions between children and violence, and how they cope through fantasy when facing harsh realities. The opposing minds of Ofelia and Vidal are expressed through Del Toro’s filmmaking skills: when Vidal is in a scene, the scenes are morbid, violent, and tense, whereas the scenes with Ofeila away from Vidal are mythical and visually beautiful. The scenes in which Ofeila interacts with mythical creatures are disturbing, yet they are still visually stunning. One standout creature is a ghastly pale human-like figure with eyes on its palms rather than its head. Ofeila ends up completing the tasks (and without, spoiling too much), she is left with a difficult ultimatum. Be warned that this film does contain a lot of violence and dark imagery. However, if you are interested in exploring the Spanish Civil War, quintessential Spanish-Mexican film, and folklore, I highly recommend a watch.
A Brief Biography of Tony Gonzalez by Liam Robertson — Tony Gonzalez terrified professional football defenses for 16 years, securing a league record for tight ends of 1,325 receptions and receiving yards of 15,127. Not only was he a record breaking tight end, he also greatly changed the culture of the NFL. When reflecting on his career in a recent ESPN interview, Gonzalez said that it was tough for Latinx players to enter the league when he joined: “I heard, ‘Why are you playing football?’ You just didn’t see a Gonzalez out there or any kind of Latin name.” But he was able to pave the way for more Latinx athletes: “I still hear it now, that people appreciate what we did as Latinos.” Tony Gonzalez fought hard for a NFL game to be played in Mexico City, and now Gonzalez says that the game is “exploding for Latinos.” “I identify with the Mexican people,” Gonzalez said. “It’s been a big part of who I am. It’s very important to me.” Tony Gonzalez is one of the greatest to play the game of football, and because of him more opportunities for Latinx fans and players have been created.
My Spanish may not be perfect, and I may not look like a stereotypical Latino, but it’s with these role models that I am able to live in a country where I can be the best version of myself and strive for success and a bright future. A common saying in my culture is “alza tu bandera”, which translates to “raise your flag”. Page 2
Hispanic Heritage Month So, if you take anything away from this article, I hope it’s this: never be ashamed of who you are, never be too shy to raise your voice, and always proudly raise your flag.
From Mexico to Colombia by Antxon “Profe” Iturbe — I love traveling. I love the feeling of being new in an unknown place, all senses on high alert in an attempt to soak it all in, and maximizing every minute and every lesson of the experience. I am fortunate and privileged to have had the opportunity to visit several countries. Last week, I traveled to Mexico City, Mexico and Bogotá, Colombia to recruit future students for our School.
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Joan Baez: Hidden But Heard by Izzy Sanok — I recall the sound waves of Diamonds and Rust echoing from a speaker and immediately obsessing over the angelic voice of Joan Baez. Little did I know, I was listening to one of the most powerful Latina lyricists of all time. Soon after listening I took a deep dive into her story. I found myself astonished by her background, her present-day impact, and her future legacy. Beginning in early adolescence, she plucked guitar strings, warbled tunes, and spoke out on human rights without fear, paving paths for future women of color to do so. When off at college at Boston University, she performed originals at local coffee shops, bestowing poetic verses unto crowds. Her performances were so incredible that she dropped out of school and signed a record deal shortly afterwards, fulfilling her dream of becoming a professional musician. She rapidly grew into a thriving, americana-folk artist unafraid of speaking her mind.
Hispanic Heritage Month Interactions with the locals reveal the beauty of the diversity of the Spanish speaking world and the richness of the language. The reminders are everywhere. Cafés are packed in the afternoons with families, friends and coworkers gathering over coffee and sweets. Corn, a native staple food in Latin American, is cooked very differently depending on which country you are in. Fútbol is passion, and passion is in our DNA. The upcoming World Cup will bring a celebration filled with flags and rivalries. I’d rather focus on humans than flags, because the hospitality and curiosity I encountered allowed me to feel solidarity and not shame when I ran into a protest advocating for the rights of the indigenous people of Mexico.
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“Diamonds and Rust,” my favorite of her work, speaks of the ups and downs of her failed relationship with Dylan, and skyrocketed her to fame within the folk genre. Up until 2018, she performed live at major venues across the world, spreading her music and passion for creating a better tomorrow. I’ve been listening to her catalog for weeks, and my appreciation of her talent and influence has only grown. By forcing the music industry to create spaces for women of color, fighting for equity, and writing honest songs, she’s been a catalyst for immense cultural transformation. She’s inspired people of all races, genders, and ethnicities to push for what is right. Seeing her determination moves me to wish for a better tomorrow and helps me know that everyone, regardless of their identity, can cause an impact around them.
photos by Mr. Antxon Iturbe
La Tauromaquia en España by Tristan Fan and Dylan Fox
Traveling to Spanish speaking countries, however, is a different experience for me. I begin the trip hyper-aware of my accent and the fact that people will immediately know what country my passport is from. It is a mix between shame and guilt emanating from the barbaric genocide that Spain committed during the colonization of Central and South America more than 500 years ago. This fear of being judged is quickly dissolved by the warmth with which I always feel welcomed, reminding me that, while our cultures are different, our shared language brings a sense of connection and unity that crosses oceans and human-made borders.
It is only after going through this irrational process that I allow myself to focus on the beauty of the similarities and differences that Spanish speaking countries have to offer. Having visited Ciudad de México and Bogotá before, I chose to wander the streets of both cities without a specific destination and to allow them to reveal themselves to me rather than visiting the most touristy destinations. I ate street food, read my book at public parks, talked to strangers at cafés and visited local food markets, an absolute must-do anytime you visit another country.
With a Mexican-American father and Scottish mother, she grew up facing undeniable discrimnation. She knew since infancy that she was no ordinary human, and has worn that on her sleeve as her fame has flourished. Preaching anti-violence, human rights, and love, she used the racism, sexism, and hatred that had been thrown at her to fuel her creativity and create lasting impact in America. Amid the beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement of the 60’s, she marched with artists like James Baldwin, and instead of singing for money, she sang for the greater good of mankind. In the early 70’s, she became romantically involved with Bob Dylan. Although they became tight-knit and consistently publicly performed together, she morphed into a mere pawn in his scheme of fame. After rising into popularity, he began to use her and her lyrics for the benefit of his own career. Although he openly spoke out against sexism and racism, he assisted in perpetuating it within the music industry by using Baez. But their tumultuous relationship fueled her creativity even more, and she further developed her lyricism and went on to create some of her best work yet. Page 3
This trip also served as a refresher of two things. First, my trip brought renewed appreciation of how lucky we are to have such a diverse World Language faculty with teachers from Venezuela, Spain, Perú, France, and the U.S. Regardless if you prefer to say “qué chévere”, “qué padre” or “qué guay”, that is a cool fact.
— Es un espectáculo de lucha entre toros y toreros, intentando someter, inmovilizar o dar muerte al toro. Es de griego ‘tauromaquia’: tauros ‘bull’ + makhē ‘battle’. El luchador de las corridas se llama torero, que es un término total de matador y banderillero. Se utiliza el Toro Bravo, un tipo de ganado natal en la Península Ibérica. Cada toro de corrida tiene al menos cuatro años y pesa entre 460 y 600 kilogramos. La temporada de esto es de marzo a octubre, que es un festival brava también. Esa tradición y los sacrificios prehistóricos de toros en la Mesopotamia y el Mediterráneo. El primer toreo documentado sería probablemente la epopeya de Gilgamesh, que Gilgamesh y Enkidu pelearon y mataron al Toro del Cielo. Se enlazaba con Roma donde hubo muchos acontecimientos entre los humanos y los animales, como ‘venationes’.
Secondly, I met Mansi Tripathi, class of 2018, who is currently teaching English at a University in Bogotá thanks to a Fullbright scholarship. She shared what her experience has been like and reflected on the journey of living in a different country. I cannot think of a better way to develop empathy than to spend extended time in a culture different than yours. It was also a reminder that, no matter where our graduates are in the world, they will always be Saints.
El primer Castellano que lanceó al toro en la arena cerrada era Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, El Cid. El emperador Carlos V reformó las técnicas de matar al toro al montar a caballo con los ojos vendados. Francisco Romero introdujo el toreo a España en 1726 por usar la muleta y el estoque. El proceso de toreo sería la cosa más interesante y ritual que a la gente le podría encantar ver. Se divide en tres distintas etapas: Tercio de Varas, Tercio de Banderillas, y Tercio de Muerte. Los participantes entran a la arena en un desfile, llamado paseíllo, para rendir homenaje al dignatario presente con música. Page 4
Hispanic Heritage Month
Music as Protest in Argentina by Jack Dozier — When listening to music, one often focuses on songwriting, sound, or relatability. I, for one, have certainly had my moments of blankly staring off into space while the acutely specific lyricism and soaring melodies of the likes of Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift mesmerize my ears. But people often don’t think to consider the inspirations and the origins of the songs that accompany them in the car, soundtrack their walks to class, or serenade them during homework sessions. I like to think of myself as someone who appreciates music. Music is a part of nearly every one of my waking moments (and even many of my moments of slumber: I have been known to accidentally forget to silence my speaker before falling into bed). My Apple Music Replay is always a mélange of artists and genres, and it typically clocks in at over one thousand hours (As of October 7th, 2022, I have already listened to 1,276 hours of music and 916 different artists). In the past couple of years, a conscious effort of mine has been to broaden my music taste. Though, it wasn’t until I attended the Governor’s Spanish Academy (or Academia Española del Gobernador) this summer that I decided to broaden the languages of my playlists. In the months after the Academy, as my listening began to vary further, I noticed my selections lacked a central theme. I had created a blend of flamenco, 1970s Spanish glam rock, operatic ballads from Mocedades of Spain, the Ranchera and Tejano style from Angela Aguilar of Mexico, and the forever notorious “música tropical” by Banda Blanca of Honduras. These selections quickly fell into heavy rotation. became some of my go-to artists. Despite the significant exploration I had undergone and progress that I had made, I sought to further broaden my listening taste after being recommended some Argentine artists. Lyrically, the Argentine songs that I found portrayed normal life and challenges: “La Guitarra” by Los Autenticos Decadentes portrays a young adult who is told that is necessary that he “matures… he works” and his response that he doesn’t “want to work,” doesn’t “want to study”, and doesn’t “want to get married,” all ideas that were contrary to the culture of late-20th century Argentina. Argentina, in that era, passed through a window of mass reconstruction following The Process of National Reorganization. The Process of National Reorganization, or “El Proceso,” was Argentina’s final dictatorship that lasted from 1976 through 1983, with support from the United States government until close to a year before its fall.
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Es para examinar la ferocidad y observar las conductas y las vueltas del toro. Un picador entra a la arena a caballo armado con las varas, llamadas peto, lanceando un músculo alrededor del cuello de los toros, para debilitarlos. Es para proteger al caballo de los cuernos del toro y que el toro no le destripe. Cada de los tres banderilleros intenta plantar dos banderillas en los hombros del toro, que agitará al toro y le dará fuerzas a causa de su estado aplomado para atacar de nuevo. Eso ayudará a la última actuación del matador para matar el toro y bailar la faena. El personaje principal, el matador, re-entrará a la arena con una muleta roja y un estoque. Ya que los toros son daltónicos, la muleta no se utiliza para irritar, sino cubrir la sangre y atraer la atención de los toros. El matador podría empezar su baile de faena relacionado con el ritmo para emocionar y fascinar a la audiencia. Después de la faena, inicia la estocada. El matador trata de maniobrar el toro en unas posiciones especiales y estoquear. Antes de eso, él probablemente actuaría con el estoque simulado y cambiaría el estoque de verdad cuando termine la faena. Si el toro no ha sido matado, él tomaría de una otra espada, llamada descabello, que es más pesada que la estoque, para causar su instantánea muerte.
Hispanic Heritage Month As I reflected on a particularly interesting class session on music as a metodo of protest in Latin American paises, I chose “Los Dinosaurios” by Charly García to play through my headphones. A subtle work of allegory, the song repeats lines such as “those who are in the streets can disappear in the streets / your neighborhood friends can disappear / but the dinosaurs are going to disappear.” The Process of National Reorganization, or “El Proceso,” was Argentina’s final dictatorship that lasted from 1976 through 1983, with support from the United States government until close to a year before its fall. As I reflected on a particularly interesting class session on music as a metodo of protest in Latin American paises, I chose “Los Dinosaurios” by Charly García to play through my headphones. A subtle work of allegory, the song repeats lines such as “those who are in the streets can disappear in the streets / your neighborhood friends can disappear / but the dinosaurs are going to disappear.” Under El Proceso, it is estimated by Amnesty Inter national in the Registro Unificado de Víctimas del Terrorismo de Estado (Unified Registry of Victims of State Terrorism) that 662 Argentines disappeared under Isabella’s reign and over 30,000 during the reign of Jorge Videla, the leader of the military coup and following dictatorship– the victims of forced dissapearances in Argentine have been coloquially refered to as los desaparecidos, or the disappeared.
The Banter’s Hispanic Heritage Month Playlist by Sasha Rinkevich, Jack Dozier, Lucca Rannigan and Izzy Sanok
“Junio” by Maluma “Mayores” by Becky G “Effecto” by Bad Bunny “Tiro” by Arca “Rie y Llora” by Celia Cruz “DESPECHÁ” by Rosalia “Hotel Caro” by Luísa Sonza “PROVENZA” by Karol G “Cavalgada” by Pabllo Vittar
“Amore Prohibido” by Selena
Después del toreo, el matador será recompensado con una oreja del toro o dos por el presidente según su rendimiento, a veces incluso la cola del toro. Rara vez, si la gente cree que el toro ha luchado muy valientemente, el indulto se concederá por la audiencia y el matador que el toro pueda volver a su casa y recibir un tratamiento. Los debates del toreo comenzaron en la década de 1900 y continuaron hasta hoy en día, debido a que lo catagolaron como un deporte sangriento. Desede la década de 2000, muchos activistas de derechos de los animales han surgido y protestado contra la idea de la corrida de toros porque no sólo era peligrosa, sino también era peligrosa, sino también era nociva para los animales. Se ha vuelto prohibida en las zonas de EE. UU., Cuba, Panamá, Bolivia, Filipinas, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay y Uruguay. Entre 2007 y 2014, la cantidad que ve las corridas en España declinó por 60%, de 3.651 a 1.521. Desde que su audiencia empezó a disminuir, los titulares de toreo no habían comenzado a invertir. Page 5
Considering that García’s “Los Dinosaurios” was released in 1983 and that the song was written at the very end of El Proceso, it is easily inferred that Garía’s song is in reference to the dictatorship under which he came of age. Though, the connections between disappearances is easy to make, one between dinosaurs and dictators might be more difficult to juxtapose. But, with a broader application of cultural and idiomatic expressions, some prehistoric creatures fit better into the picture of 20th century Argentina. The references about the possibilities of people disappearing in the streets and from your neighborhood come pretty straightforwardly with the context of the era, but the reference to dinosaurs comes with a less grim connotation.
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“Eres Tú” by Mocedades
“Mariposa Tecknicolor” by Fito Páez
“O’ Cangaceiro” by Joan Baez “La Vida Es un Carnival” by Celia Cruz “Dime Como Quieres” by Christian Nodal +Angela Aquilar
“El Preso Numero Nueve” by Joan Baez
“no eres tu” by Kali Uchis Page 6
Hispanic Heritage Month To garner hope under Videla’s reign, civilians often invoked the word “dinosaurio” (dinosaur) as a covert way of describing the dictatorship. This use of zoomorphism likely comes from an old saying, one that appears in the song, that “the dinosaurs are going to disappear.” This phrase, used with positive connotation, uses dinosaurs as a vehicle for a big problem and that all big problems are going to disappear. Later in the song, García uses the line “imagine dinosaurs in a bed.” This time, though, García referenced a colloquial phrase from the early days of the Argentine revolution aimed to highlight the ridiculousness of daily military occupation by comparing it to the inherently ridiculous image of dinosaurs in a bed. Though it only went as far as cautiously belittling the dictatorship, censorship and “forced disappearances” were often the occurrence because of perceived insubordination, subversiveness, and occasionally unknown reasons.
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Hispanic Heritage Month
Editor’s Note “Volare” by Gipsy Kings “En Realidad” by Angela Aquilar
“Persiana Americana” by Soda Stereo
“Abre la Puerta” by Celia Cruz “Sopa de Caracol” by Banda Blanca “Volver” by Carlos Gardel
“Bulería” by David Bisbal
“El Vendedora” by Mocedades “Color Esperanza” by Diego Torres “No Debes Jugar” by Selena “Los Dinosaurious” by Charly Garcia
“La Guitarra” by Los Auténticos Decadentes “Corazón Culpable” by Anthony Santos
by Sasha Rinkevich — Hello, everyone! Happy October! I am so excited to share with you, in collaboration with Spanish Club, the Hispanic Heritage Month Issue of The Belfield Banter! We have fantastic content covering a range of topics, including impactful Latinx figures, a film review, and pictures from Profe’s recent travels! We even have an article in Spanish to share. This issue wouldn’t have been possible without Maria and Lucca, the Banter staff, and our wonderful Spanish Department faculty! I truly hope that you enjoy what we have to share.
The Belfied Banter would also like to acknowledge the recent challenges that the Spanish speaking community around the world has been facing following the destruction caused by Hurricane Ian. The Spanish Club put on a wonderful bake sale in September raising money for hurricane relief, and our school was able to raise over two hundred dollars! Thank you to everyone that baked, and everyone that bought a delicious treat, and of course Maria and Lucca. Thank you so much to each and every person that has taken the time to read this issue. Our editors, staff, and contributing writers put so much effort into making the Banter a reality, and we are all eternally grateful for the Upper School community’s support! Espero que tengas un buen dia,
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2022-23 Staff of The Belfield Banter Sasha Rinkevich--- Senior Editor Izzy Sanok--------- Managing Editor Rose Ryan-Byrne--Asst. Managing Editor Kay Tu-------------- Columns Editor Anthony Cai-------- Features Editor Liam Robertson---- Sports Editor Lyra Stewart-------- Associate Editor Sonia Kamath------ Associate Editor
Banter Publications
Jack Dozier and Emma Finley-Gillis Editors in Chief
Sasha Rinkevich, Senior Editor
photo by Mr. Antxon Iturbe
Even though “Los Dinosaurios” and “La Guitarra” are two of the best known songs from and about the era of the Final Dictatorship of Argentina, there still remains the haunting memory of the 30,000 desaparecidos. But, through echoing piano and detailed lyricism, “Los Dinosaurios” can start to tell the story.
photo by Mr. Antxon Iturbe
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