Have you ever paused to imagine the disturbing journey of growing up in a country you call home, only to face the possibility of being dropped off in the one where you were born but barely know? The termination of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in 2017 left numerous individuals, often referred to as “Dreamers,” on the edge of deportation to countries they barely call home. DACA is a vital lifeline for those who arrived in the United States (U.S.) as children, protected from deportation, and given the chance to contribute meaningfully to the workforce and rich cultural diversity ..read more

With the presidential primaries in full swing, Democrats have proposed bold policies, including Medicare for All, free college and student-loan forgiveness, and Universal Basic Income (UBI). The Green New Deal, an expansive resolution focused on climate change and a total revamp of the economy, is also in play. But at the heart of these proposals is economic development and diminished carbon emissions. The goal: for Democrats to harness the unique position of cities to help achieve these policy goals.  Cities and the Economy Cities are economic powerhouses that have always been the backbo ..read more

At the western end of Playas de Tijuana, where the land boundary between Mexico and the United States meets the Pacific Ocean, one can find portraits of individuals who arrived in the United States in their early youth forming a mural on the edge of the border wall. The faces on this mural include those of Karla Estrada, an activist whose family was torn apart by deportations, and Andrew De Leon, a 73-year-old Army veteran who was returned to Mexico after a misdemeanor. QR codes attached to each portrait link to short films telling the stories of those depicted. These are just two of the narra ..read more

Films are a cornerstone of Latino American pop culture. Unfortunately, the few films for, by, and starring Latinos are underappreciated and framed as mediocre. Given the ample time the quarantine provides us with and in an effort to spotlight these commonly glossed over gems, I am beginning a series of articles in which I recommend and provide an analysis/review of what I believe to be some of the most significant Latino films of the last few decades. Lack Of Representation To provide context, Latinos are severely underrepresented in mainstream media. In 2019, the Annenberg Inclusion Initiativ ..read more

The most overused word in Hollywood right now in promoting Latinx movies and television is “authentic.” You should watch this movie/tv show because, you know, it’s “authentic.” On the flip side, Latinx critics and bloggers keep chastising Hollywood for not being authentic enough in telling our stories. “You can’t cast a Spanish actor to play Cuban band leader Desi Arnaz!” My question is whether our audience even cares if something is authentic or not, and what does authentic even mean anymore? When I first started making my own independent films, I referred to my own work as authentic because ..read more

How much do you know about WW2? In our first installment of 2 Minute History, we explore the story of the 201st Squadron, also known as the “Aztec Eagles,” a group of 30 Mexican combat pilots, most of them in their early 20s, who fought in the Philippines under legendary General Douglas MacArthur ..read more

In addition to being a cultural icon, Bob Marley is the subject of the film “Bob Marley: One Love” which follows a specific time frame in Marley’s life. So don’t walk into this film expecting a thorough biography. It focuses on the last three years of his life with some recurring flashbacks to his childhood. Starring Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley and Lashana Lynch as his wife Rita, the film follows the icon’s controversial concert in his native Jamaica. The country, which had recently gained independence from Great Britain, was on the verge of a civil war. To bring peace and hope to Jamaica ..read more

Frida Kahlo is a cultural icon whose paintings and mindset continue to influence and impact us today. In the documentary “Frida,” Carla Gutiérrez provides Kalho’s story in her own words using written interviews, journals, essays, and letters. The film elevates its emotional stakes and enhances the immersive experience, thanks to its voice narrator (the incredible Fernanda Echevarria del Rivero). “Frida” succeeds in putting aside the brand Frida Kahlo has become to present instead the individual she was when she was alive. The artist, the woman, the sister, the wife, and the rebel take center s ..read more

For the past month, activists in Southern California known as the “Justice 8” have been fighting charges brought about by the San Bernardino DA alleging that the accused activist engaged in criminal acts related to several protests that took place last summer in response to acts of police misconduct, anti-Latino racism, and discriminatory practices targeting street vendors. From the onset, accusations of racism and political bias have not only shadowed the case, but shed light on concerns regarding freedom of speech, the right to peaceably assemble, and the implications of government overreach ..read more

With its archaisms, rhetorical figures and exalted poetic language, the majority of Mexicans have a hard time understanding the lyrics of their own national anthem, let alone to grasp the story it tells. Why all that apocalyptic imagery? The Contest While The United States’ national anthem is a victory song brimming with idyllic images, the Mexican national anthem was actually the result of a contest called by the government of President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. The winners were Jaime Nunó for the music and Francisco González Bocanegra. Legend has it that Bocanegra´s fianceé locked him in ..read more