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Podcasts

  • Podcast #8 - Nilsa Mariano reads "Hunger"
  • Podcast #7 - Monica Garcia Saenz reads "A Hero's Story"
  • Podcast #6 - Marie Delgado Travis reads "Me and Don Paco"
  • Podcast #5 - Kathy Cano Murillo reads "Dad, The Rock Star of Tamale Makers"
  • Podcast #4 - Norma Oquendo reads "I'll Always Remember You"
  • Podcast #3 - Anjela Villarreal Ratliff reads "In My Classroom"
  • Podcast #2 - Marie Delgado Travis reads "Abolengo"
  • Podcast #1 - Introduction, reading of poem "University Avenue" by Pat Mora

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September 2005
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December 2005
February 2006
March 2006
April 2006

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Podcast #8 - Hunger - Nilsa Mariano

Please tune in and listen to podcast #8, where you will get a chance to have Latino Soul author Nilsa Mariano reach right in and grab your heart with her compelling story "Hunger," a fantastic story that recounts the hunger of our Latin@ children to be proud of who they are, and where they come from. I remember the first time I read Nilsa's story, right after she submitted it, and I was in tears. I couldn't help thinking how much it would have meant to me as a child-- getting a lot of negative messages about being Latina--to have had an experience like the one that Nilsa writes about in "Hunger." And I was crying not because I was feeling sad about the past, but because I was so grateful that there are children in today's world who are lucky enough to be in the audience when Nilsa tells her stories. God bless you for being in the world Nilsa, and for helping our children to walk tall, and to dream big...

This podcast is very dear to my heart, because it touches on a theme that I think is crucial for Latin@s: how do we work to support our children's sense of cultural pride and dignity? Especially in a world that so often tries to rob them of it. Is it easy, no! Is it possible? Yes! On podcast #8 we get a lesson from the story "Hunger" by Latino Soul contributing author Nilsa Mariano on how we can reach out to our children—not just our own but any and all latino children—and show them just how beautiful and special they are, and how part of that beauty and specialness comes from being Latino, in all the different ways that being Latino can be expressed. When I interviewed Nilsa for this podcast, I asked her what she wanted people to take away from her story. She said: I want them "to believe in possibilities, to believe in self-respect, to walk with pride, and to be a mentor to those coming up now."

Nilsa Mariano is a teacher, storyteller, writer, editor, and award winning and published poet. A proud boricua who now lives in Binghamton, New York by way of Brooklyn, Nilsa prides herself on being a teller of traditional folktales, a teller of stories of grief and healing, and a devoted and loving mom. Her short story "Hunger" is her first commercial publication, but several of her poems have been published in literary magazines, and since being published in LS, she has had two more poems accepted in forthcoming anthologies.

Nilsa is the founder and editor of the monthly LATINO COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER: BROOME COUNTY AND BEYOND: IN OUR OWN WORDS. The mission of the LATINO COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER is to share information and knowledge with and about the Latino Community, and to support Latino literacy by promoting Latino writing. The NEWSLETTER features articles, community and cultural resources, editorials, interviews and updates on local businesses and community events. Nilsa says that with the newsletter, "We want to enrich, challenge and uphold our traditions with a vision toward the future." So check out the Latino Community Newsletter that always keeps "nuestra gente en mente." Nilsa has a Dr. Seuss quote on her newsletter site that really inspires me and goes perfectly with the theme of podcast #8. It goes like this:

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." Dr. Seuss.

For news and information about the Latino Community Newsletter, please email Nilsa at nmariano@stny.rr.com. You can also get to the newsletter on the latinosoul website, where you'll find links on the April Featured Author page, and the April Featured Story page. Check it out, on www.latinosoul.com.


Dr. Susi's Book Club: this month my theme is on children, thanks to Nilsa, and so I would like to recommend a couple of exceptional bilingual, Spanish/English children's books. Both of these books are all about the love of family and the power of family values in teaching our children what's important in life. They are funny, lighthearted, but instructive, and children love them

1) Carlos And The Squash Plant/Carlos y la planta de calabaza, by Jan Romero Stevens, (Jeanne Arnold, illustrator)

Synopsis: "Having ignored his mother's warnings about what will happen if he doesn't bathe after working on his family's New Mexican farm, Carlos awakens one morning to find a squash growing out of his ear."

2) A Gift from Papa Diego/Un regalo de Papa Diego, by American book award winner Benjamin Alire Saenz, (Geronimo Garcia, Illustrator).

Synopsis: little Diego loves his grandfather but they don't see each other often because Papa Diego lives in Mexico. Little Diego asks for a superman outfit for his birthday—he wants to fly across the border to be with his grandfather. His parents buy him one, but will little Diego be able to fly? How will he be able to enjoy one of his happiest birthdays ever?

Dr. Susi's Suggestion: Support Latino writers and family literacy by picking these books up for your kids today!


Latino Soul Hero of the Month!: You know, you hear a lot of bad things about education in the United States, and a lot of equally negative things about teachers who aren't doing their job well enough. But we all know that there are exceptional teachers out there giving heart and soul to their students and their education. So this month I am thrilled to give you some information about Latino teachers doing wonderful things for our children. The Latino Soul Hero of the Month is Michele Sanchez-Capriotti, Reading Specialist at Bear Valley Elementary School in Moreno Valley, CA.

Latino Soul tips its sombrero to Bear Valley Elementary School, in Moreno Valley, CA, for the collective effort that resulted in the blockbuster success of the Family Literacy Fiesta which took place on March 11th. Latino Soul contributing author Michele Sanchez-Capriotti, who is a bilingual Reading Specialist at the school, organized the event at which an estimated 400 people were in attendance! The goal was to provide literacy opportunities/activities for the students and their families, to have fun with books and to target students who need additional support with reading. Latino Soul salutes the parents, teachers, administrators and everyone else who had the generosity and vision to help make the Family Literacy Fiesta a huge success. Here's a glimpse of what went on the Family Literacy Fiesta at Bear Valley:
  • every child who attended was given a dog tag that said "reading award" on it
  • guest readers--who were dressed up as characters from the books they read--read to the students every 20 minutes! I hear that Tigger and Winnie the Pooh were a particular hit with both kids and parents!
  • other guests supervised literacy games like sight-word bingo, and sightword bean bag toss
  • there was a "make and take" booth where kids made bookmarks, stationery, wordwheels, etc.
  • there were book raffles
  • books were sold below cost for $1 a piece
  • books were read in Spanish and English
  • Nachos were sold and eaten
  • Piñatas were broken
  • the place was filled to capacity!

I hear that given the success of this year's fiesta, teachers are already starting to work on their costumes for next year's literacy fiesta.

I talked to Michele about the literacy fiesta, and she told me that "the best thing about the day was watching the parents listening to their kids read stories, helping them sound out words, and congratulating them for trying to read above their level. The kids got so excited that we had 2nd graders trying to read 4th grade words!"

I want to particularly congratulate Michele, and her assistants, including her husband Michael, for all the grass roots work they did to get people out to the event. It isn't easy to get hundreds of people to a literacy event on the weekend, and it was only through tireless efforts, and pure ganas, that they pulled it off. After hearing all this, it won't come as a surprise to learn that in May Michele will receive Moreno Valley's Board Leadership Award for outstanding service to the educational community. Latino Soul salutes Michele Sanchez-Capriotti for these exemplary efforts on behalf of Latino Family Literacy and Latino children.

Michele tells me that if you are interested in having a literacy fiesta at your school, she will be glad to email you a packet developed by Katie del Monte and the presenters at the California Reading Association, to whom she want to give all the credit. Email Michele at mcapriotti@mvusd.k12.ca.us . And if you've got an upcoming or past literacy event that you would like me to publicize on the Latino Soul podcast, please email me at soup@latinosoul.com . Remember what Dr. Seuss said "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." Let's make sure our kids--as award winning Chicano writer Luis J. Rodriguez says--have the cultural literacy to be able to choose where they want to be in society, and not have that choice made for them.


And finally, I want to plug another literacy event, this one for all ages, that is taking place all over the country. And that is the Edward James Olmos Latino Book Fair. The Book Fair will be in Houston, at the Houston Community College, Central Campus, on Sat and Sunday, May 6 and 7th from 12-6pm. for all of you in the Houston area, go check out the book fair, and the booths put up by NPR's Tony Díaz. You will be able to meet some of the Latino Soul authors, who are doing a panel on "how to get published" and who will also be reading from Latino Soul and from their own books. Get your autographed copies of Latino Soul (Barnes and Noble booth), and of the other wonderful books of Latino Soul authors Marie Delgado Travis (Coordinator), Esther Bonilla Read, Maria Luisa Salcines, Olga Valle-Herr, Margarita B. Velez, Rogelio Gomez. Special thanks to Marie for organizing this, and for all the time and planning that she has put into this over the last many months.

Since I won't be back with you until May 10, I want to wish you all a happy Cinco de Mayo in advance. And for those listening who don't know this already, and I know you're out there, 5 de mayo is not the commemoration of the day Mexico gained independence from Spain (that's Sept. 16th). But it is a day that celebrates freedom and liberty, and the unparalleled courage of 4000 Mexican soldiers who defeated a French army twice as large in Puebla, Mexico. For more information about Cinco de Mayo, and to find out why it's more than just a reason to buy 2 for 1 margarita's at your local bar, go to this award winning website: www.vivacincodemayo.org You'll be surprised what you find there!

Tune in to podcast #9 next month (May), when I will have the pleasure of hosting *myself* on the program, and reading my story about baseball, good solid Puerto Rican values, and the incomparable wisdom and courage of my abuelita. So please join me next month to hear my rendition--complete with my attempt at my Puerto Rican grandmother's accent)--of "Don't Do It, Willy!."

Thanks again to Nilsa Mariano for gracing podcast #8, and as my bilingual eight-year-old son Max Fernando said at the end of podcast #8:

ADIOS, Y HASTA LA PROXIMA! (listen to the podcast and you can hear his adorable voice!)

1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a beautiful story and a beautiful post. I would like to share a poem that gets to the heart of what we are talking about...understanding when we are insiders and when we are outsiders within this bicultural life we try to live...

An insider and an outsider both
Some days it is hard to know
Who I really am
Who I crave to be
Who I can be
Some days it is hard to know
What I want to be
What I desire to accomplish
What I wish to be known for
Some days it is hard to know if
I am an insider
or an outsider
or both?



When are you an insider?

When are you an outsider?

What makes that determination for you?

 

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Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Podcast #7 - A Hero's Story - Monica Garcia Saenz

Podcast #7, March 5th, 2006, features Latino Soul author Monica Garcia Saenz, author of A Hero's Story.

Monica Garcia Saenz is a proud Latina writer who resides in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Monica is a native of Kansas City, Missouri, but her roots grow deep in Chihuahua, Mexico, where she spent most of her childhood summers. She feels blessed to have the best of both worlds, having lived in Mexico City for five years and embracing its culture in her daily life while making a home in the good old USA. She is proud to be 100 percent bilingual and bicultural. She now lives in South Florida with her three kids, two dogs and a very lovely man. They each inspire her life and her writings on a daily basis! She loves going to the beach, reading, writing and cooking Authentic Mexican food (almost as much as she loves eating it). Monica enjoys writing poetry and inspirational pieces. She currently has a few books in the making. Expressions of the Self is her first poetry book and will go into production very soon. She produces the Garcia Family Newsletter on a regular basis for her very large family and intimate friends in an effort to unite them with love through her writings. She also produces the Latino Soul Newsletter (available at www.latinosoul.com) to promote Latino Soul and to share some insights into the contributing authors' writing as well as their lives. She can be reached at monica_garcia_saenz@hotmail.com.

Monica's awe-inspiring tale "A Hero's Story," recounts how an uncle she never met sacrificed his young life to save another, and in doing so, became the first local hero of Kansas City, Missouri. "A Hero's Story" recounts the life and death of Primitivo Garcia, and how his heroic act in 1967 was lost until the early 1990s, when a Kansas City reporter revived Primitivo's story, and brought local and national attention to his heroic legacy. In 1993, in honor of Primitivo García's extraordinary example of compassion and heroism, and in an effort to keep his memory and legacy alive, the KC school board was persuaded to name a new elementary school The Primitivo Garcia World Language School. An example of how Primitvo's legacy is kept alive is the song about Primitivo that opened this 7th podcast. The song was written by Bob Walkenhorst, the leadman for the popular and critically acclaimed rock group The Rainmakers. Bob's daughter attends the Primitivo Garcia School, and Bob performed the song along with his daughter's fourth grade class. In September of 2005, Monica revisited the Primitivo Garcia World Language School to read her story, and to autograph Latino Soul books for the 150 people who attended the event sponsored by Kansas City Hispanic News and MANA of Greater Kansas City. Monica recalls attending the dedication. "I remember the day they had the dedication ceremony", she says. "I thought to myself, `I need to do something someday.'" What she did was to write the powerful and gripping tale "A Hero's Story."

Monica wanted to thank someone else for keeping Tivo's memory and legacy alive. That person is Joe Arce, from the newspaper Kansas City Hispanic News. Joe is a long time family friend who not only helped Monica's family get the primitivo Garcia school named after her uncle, but who also assisted Monica as she did research for her story. In Monica's words, "Joe Arce is a role model for Latinos everywhere. When I was researching "A Hero's Story" I felt like Joe walked with me through the dreaming process and then celebrated with me as my dream came true."

Thanks for sharing that with us Monica, and for letting us take a moment to acknowledge another Latino hero, Joe Arce. It's nice to know you're out there in the world Joe, and Latino Soul salutes you. In addition to being our featured guest on the podcast, Monica Garcia Saenz is also our March Featured Author on the website www.latinosoul.com. Go to our site to get more information about Monica, and to read my interview with her, and to read "A Hero's Story." Another great way to read A Hero's Story is to go to your local bookstore, or to amazon.com, and buy the book. Latino Soul offers you 86 stories (and a few poems) written by Latinos and Latinas that will make you laugh, cry, and identify.

Dr. Susi's Book Club: March Recommendation
I would like to recommend for March reading the book of bilingual poetry Ofrenda/Offering, by award winning poet Marie Delgado Travis. This compelling book of poetry contains the Spanish version of her poem included in LS "Abolengo," and the English and Spanish versions of her award winning poem, "The Window." The Window, which recreates a compelling vision of Marie's childhood in the Bronx, placed Second in the international Tom Howard Poetry Contest (over 1,600 entries received). Ofrenda/Offering is a compelling collection of poems that will move you from one page to another with a desire for more. Marie Delgado Travis will keep you riveted throughout the 45 pages of this compelling book of poetry. Whether the theme of the poem is love, regret, childhood memories, or unfulfilled dreams, you will be pulled in each time by the expression of honest human desire that fills each page. Marie Delgado Travis is a bold, elegant and versatile new voice on the poetry scene, and you don't want to miss the opportunity to experience for yourself the wit, passion, and invitation to desire that you will find in Ofrenda/Offering. The book is available through major online booksellers, including Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

I want to give a little shout out to Joseph Puentes, the creator of the website NuestraFamiliaUnida.com which is a portal for Latino cultural resources. Joseph is a big supporter of the LS podcast, and I wanted to acknowledge publicly how much his support means to us. Please check out the NuestraFamiliaUnida podcast, which you can access at www.nuestrafamiliaunida.com.

Thanks to everyone, y HASTA LA PROXIMA!

3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is an amazing reading. I love the story and I just love her work. Thank you so much Monica Garcia Saenz for that reading.

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Monica's hero story reminds me of the many unsung heros in our own Latino community. The mothers, fathers, and grandparents who have made incredible sacrifices to help us get to where we are today. I know my parents, who came from Brazil when very young, are my heros...they made sacrifices that I can only pay forward...

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am so sorry for Tivo's loss. I love you and your bokk.

 

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Saturday, February 11, 2006

Podcast #6--"Me and Don Paco"--Marie Delgado Travis

Marie Delgado Travis is an inspiration to those of us who have always felt that we had a good story or poem in us, but never got around to putting them down on paper. She started what is proving to be an admirable and acclaimed writing career at the tender age of 50. In the span of a few years, Marie has produced over 150 stories and poems, in both English and Spanish. Marie's writing has received a number of distinctions. Most recently, Marie's gripping poem "The Window" received Second Place in the prestigious international TOM HOWARD POETRY CONTEST. In the same contest, two of her poems ("Bijoux" & "The Bedspread") were commended. These three poems were published in the anthology, Across The Long Bridge (2005), edited by John H. Reid . In November, 2005, Marie was named "VIP of the Day" at Radio WOSO (1030 AM), the leading English language station in Puerto Rico.

Marie receives many invitations to read her work: Marie has appeared on NPR in Houston's NUESRA PALABRA; LATINO WRITERS HAVING THEIR SAY, on the Houston based show THE MEXICANZ (KLOL, MEGA 101), the popular community television program VIVA HOUSTON. Marie has also been an avid reader of her work at book stores and literature festivals. most recenty, in January, Marie read at Barnes and Noble in Austin TX (along with Jackie Mendez and Norma Oquendo) and she was also interviewed by Sergio Fernández on the radio show COFFEE BREAK on Radio WOSO in San Juan, PR. On Feb. 26th Marie will be reading at the Hispanic Book Festival in Houston (www.hispanicbookfestival.com). And Marie is currently organizing a Latino Soul authors discussion panel and reading for the Edward James Olmos 4th Annual Latino Book and Family Festival in Houston, on May 7th. For more information about the book fair, please go to www.latinofestivals.com

A proud Nuyorican who was born in Manhattan and moved to the North Bronx at an early age, Marie considers herself to be a "post-9-11 writer". After the horrific events of Sept. 11, Marie says that she felt an urgent need to sift through the rubble to find some meaning for herself and offer whatever comfort she could to others. Her story Me and Don Paco is an inspiring story of friendship and forgiveness, and for me its main message is that while we can't change the past, we CAN change our relationship to it by acting consciously and compassionately in the present. It's a gentle message, and a personal one, that also hints to us that we need to stay awake in life, and recognize the opportunities that we are given to rise to our spiritual potential.

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've always been overly protective of my father's memory. His absence, even now, many years later, still hurts deeply.

Reading Me and Don Paco, allows me a moment to embrace him again, through your words.

I sincerely appreciate the warmth and grace in which you wrote this. Excellent story.
thank you.

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I, too, love Marie's story. After losing my mom, I did not know how I was going to live withou her, until a dear friend said to me, "You don't have to, she will always be with you."

It took a while, but now I feel her presence everyday and I feel as if I can truly embrace her by embracing all those thngs that were important to her.

 

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Thursday, December 01, 2005

Podcast #5 - Dad, The Rock Star of Tamale Makers - Kathy Cano Murillo

Podcast #5 features Latino Soul author Kathy Cano Murillo, aka the "Crafty Chica," who introduces and reads her story "Dad, the Rock Star of Tamale Makers." Kathy's hilarious story recounts her father's superb skills as a tamale maestro, and his creative and comical (if sadistic!) way of dealing with meddling family members during one particular Christmas season. Listen in for Kathy's great introduction and spunky ready of her story, which is guaranteed to make your mouth water while you laugh at the family antics that you may find familiar.

Click here to read my interview with Kathy in the Featured Author column, where she talks about her inspiration for writing, her latest projects, and her tricks for juggling job, family and being the super-enchufada Crafty Chica. At the end of the interview, I offer links to Kathy's website, podcast, and blog. Enjoy!

3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Kathy,

What a beautifully inspired reading. I loved your website and blog and have spent quite a bit of time looking over both of them. You are truly a wonderful role model and an inspiration to all of us. Latinas everywhere can gain much from your energy and encouragement.

Gracias for sharing so much of your way of life with all of us.

latina4justice

 
Blogger Unknown said...

Aww, thank you so much!! This was such a fun and memorable experience and I'm so grateful to Susan for pulling it all together. i never stop reading the Latino Soul book. i feel like everytime I pick it up, I find a new story!!

 
Blogger Blue Heron said...

my Name is Joseph Puentes with http://NuestraFamiliaUnida.com I would like to link to some of your podcasts. can you email me?

thanks,

joseph
makas@nc.rr.com

 

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Friday, October 21, 2005

Podcast #4--"I'll Always Remember You"--Norma Oquendo

Podcast #4 features Latino Soul author Norma Oquendo, who introduces and reads her story "I'll Always Remember You." Norma's story is a heartwrenching tribute to her mother, Josefina, a loving, courageous and gentle soul who at the end of her life suffered from Alzheimer's disease. Listen to Norma's beautiful reading of the story, where she recaptures her love and devotion to her mother in the midst of a moment of shock and heartbreak. Click here to read my interview with Norma in the Featured Author column, where she talks about her inspiration for writing, and her ideas about the importance of loving and respecting our elders. At the end of the interview, I offer some important information on Latinos and Alzheimer's.

5 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love Norma's story in the book,
and loved hearing her read it.
The interview with her is great too!!

Many of us baby boomers are
experiencing the role as caregivers
of our beloved elders, so I'm sure
there will be countless others who
can relate to Norma's story...



--AV

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed the interview with Norma. It gave insight as to why she decided to write the story and although I have not had anyone in my family with Alzheimer's, I was sincerely heartwarmed by her experience.

Thank you for being able to offer such a great story Norma -

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have read Norma's work since her first publication and enjoy it immensely. I have a personal interest in this story as my own father passed away from Alzeheimer's.

While I do believe Latinos are at greater risk because of personal family history with the disease, (we have reason to believe there is a genetic link because of the high incidence in our family) I doubt that research will prove that education has anything to do with stemming the disease because every one in my family who has succumbed has been college educated with the exception of one aunt.

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Susan, Norma,

Another great job on the latest podcast. I appreciate the tie-in on your verbal and written comments for further information on Alzheimers disease. When my mother died recently, the first experience for my family dealing with her absence during the coming holidays will be especially difficult.

One of the symptoms she suffered the last year or so was Alzheimers. Sort of amusing at first, as all of us were guilty of making light of it, then the stark reality and fear that she was indeed leaving, was devastating. You don't realize how great a feeling it was to have her recognize me on one of my last visits (a good day). It was like a thick veil had lifted, and her eyes were gloriously opened. "Eres tu Charlie Boy?" Just hearing her say that was both joyful and heartbreaking. I put my head on her lap and cried like a baby. "Yes Mama, it's me."

When the time comes to drive that direction, that 150 miles down the 99, I might pull over, turn around, go back. "She's not there, why go home?" It will be too hard on my family though, not having her, then me. I couldn't do that. It's strange, but i've become some kind of familial light through all this. Brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins, all emailing, all calling.

My mother was such a loving presence, and through me, my quiet little pages, she comes home.

 
Blogger Mr. H. said...

Bravo! Thank you for a great story... too close to home. May God bless you

 

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Sunday, October 02, 2005

Podcast #3--"In My Classroom"--Anjela Villarreal Ratliff

Podcast #3 features Latino Soul author Anjela Villarreal Ratliff, who introduces and reads her story "In My Classroom." Anjela's story gets at the heart of the bilingual/bicultural legacy of Latinos, the struggles around preserving our bicultural birthright, and the common Latino experience of working toward the recovery of cultural identity and pride. Listen to the podcast and hear Anjela's compelling and animated interpretation of her story. And then click here to read my interview with Anjela, where she offers us insights into her craft as a writer, her ideas about Latino storytelling, and some interesting information on the history and current status of U.S. Latinos and language. Check it out!

1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

There are many of us who grew up in that same generation and time when Spanish was not allowed in public schools. It was hard on little children who didn't know any other language, but Spanish. For many, it left deep scars and instilled shame for their Mexican home environment and their culture. Even today, Spanish is not embraced in this country for the beautiful language that it is.

 

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Sunday, September 25, 2005

Podcast #2--"Abolengo"--Marie Delgado Travis

On podcast #2, posted Sunday, September 25, I have the pleasure of featuring writer and poet Marie Delgado Travis, who contributed the wonderful story "Me and Don Paco" and the powerful and eloquent poem "Abolengo" to Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul. Marie reads her poem "Abolengo" on the podcast and offers great insight into both her own work and Latino Soul.

Marie, who is originally from the Bronx but now divides her time (with her husband Edmunds) between Houston, Texas and Isla Verde, Puerto Rico, has won awards for both her poetry and prose. She is the author of two wonderful books of poetry, Anochecer / Nightfall and Ofrenda / Offering (2005), available worldwide through online booksellers. Marie honors her bicultural heritage in her books by writing in both Spanish and English, and in doing this, encourages and empowers us to keep alive our bicultural heritage. You can find more information on Marie at hometown.aol.com/marilutravis/index.html.

Marie previews her reading of the poem "Abolengo" by sharing the inspiration behind her two LS contributions. Marie also talks about how Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul showcases diverse Latino/a storytelling, and why it is such a special and powerful collection of stories and poems that will appeal to readers across races and cultures.

On the podcast, as a gift (I hope!) to Marie and to listeners, and in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, I read "Abolengo" in Spanish, as it appears in Marie's bilingual chapbook, Ofrenda/Offering. I am so impressed by Marie's stellar bilingualism, and the way that she is able to communicate so eloquently in both English and Spanish. She makes me proud! What a gift to be Latina (or Latino) and to speak two languages with such command, creativity, and confidence. And even for those of us who speak one of the two with more confidence than the other, still, what a gift we give to ourselves and to our society.

At the end of the podcast I direct myself to monolingual English-speaking Latino/a listeners, who may feel left out when they hear the Spanish reading of "Abolengo." My message to my monolingual gente is: there is no shame in whatever your linguistic situation is, no shame! So don't waste time feeling bad about it! If you are a monolingual English-speaking Latino/a who yearns to recover our linguistic legacy, who desires to have Spanish and its melodious and warm sounds roll off of your tongue, then get active and go and learn the language. There are so many ways to do this... How many Latinos have found themselves in the same situation and worked hard to get their linguistic birthright back? It is such a common story, and one that Anjela Villarreal Ratliff will explore in next week's podcast, when she introduces and reads her great story "In My Classroom." Stay tuned!

Listen to LS authors on award-winning radio! Three LS authors were featured on Houston radio show: Nuestra Palabra: Latino/a Writers Having Their Say (KPFT 90.1 FM, Houston, Texas, Sept. 20), produced and hosted by Liana López and Tony Díaz). Anjela Villarreal read "In My Classroom," Esther Bonilla Read interpreted her story "The Ring," and Norma Oquendo read "I'll Always Remember You." They were all wonderful and you don't want to miss this! The readings and short interview with Latino Soul authors is followed by a powerful interview with Latina activist and hero Dolores Huerta, co-founder (along with César Chávez) of the United Farm Workers of America, so tune in by clicking here: it's a power-packed show: http://www.kpftx.org/archives/kpftsignal/. (The readings by LS authors start about 10 minutes into the show, so if you don't have a lot of time, you can forward to the readings).

And if you can, tune in this Tuesday, September 27, to Nuestra Palabra, to hear Latino Soul authors Marie Delgado Travis, Rogelio Gomez, and Margarita Velez read their work and share their insights. Nuestra Palabra, as always, will be hosted by Tony Díaz and Liana López, and can be found live on 90.1 FM (for all of you in Houston), and also online at http://www.kpft.org/, at 7:30 pm on Tuesday. I will post a link to the archived show after it airs.

Click here to listen to the wonderful Marie Delgado Travis on podcast #2!

íHasta la próxima!
Susan

3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Editor:

I've only got a 'dial-up' ISP, so playing or downloading the podcasts takes a bit of patience on my part; but I want you to know that it's well worth the wait. Cutting edge technology now provides us the unique pleasure of hearing the cadence and nuances of authorial spirit as well. Thank you! I look forward to hearing all the other writers.

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love that poem. One of my favourite stories is I graduate Barkeley and this poem made me think of it. That story made me cry--its so touching!!

 
Anonymous Cialis Generico said...

Nice post.....I like your blog

 

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