Oddly, I came across this news report while channel flipping the other day, but flipped the channel before seeing that the report was about Sacramento, Califas. I remember seeing the people and assumed it was a community, say, in the South, a place that I associate with blight (I know that sounds awful, but it's true--I'm fed this by the mainstream media, it's a reaction that comes without any thought). Then Ricardo sent me the link to the NYTimes story.
I generally don't like to put up such depressing things on this blog, but this is so close to home. And i'd actually rather not comment on the content, but point out that the media, in general, has this incredible power to depress people these days. It's all doom and gloom. Not that this sort of thing shouldn't be reported. But it bothers me, how much power the media has to tax our existence.
Mar 12, 2009
Sacramento and Its Riverside Tent City
Mar 8, 2009
Mar 3, 2009
Feb 24, 2009
For a New Generation, Kimchi Goes With Tacos
The food at Kogi Korean BBQ-To-Go, the taco vendor that has overtaken Los Angeles, does not fit into any known culinary category. One man overheard on his cellphone as he waited in line on a recent night said it best: “It’s like this Korean Mexican fusion thing of crazy deliciousness.”
Read Full NYTimes Article
Feb 11, 2009
Jan 22, 2009
The Savage Detectives, Roberto Bolaño
In El Cubo. To get from Nogales to El Cubo you have to take the highway to Santa Ana and head west, from Santa Ana to Pueblo Nuevo, Pueblo Nuevo to Altar, Altar to Caborca, Caborca to San Isidro, then take the road to Sonoyta, on the Arizona border, but turn off onto a dirt road before you get there and go about fifteen or twenty miles. The Nogales newspaper talked about "his faithful companion, a devoted teacher in El Cubo." In the town we went to the school, and one glance was enough to tell us that it had been built after 1940. Cesárea Tinajero couldn't have taught here. Though if we dug around under it, we might be able to find the old school.
We talked to the teacher. She teaches the children Spanish and Pápago. The Pápagos live in Arizona and Sonora. We asked the teacher whether she was Pápago. No, she isn't. I'm from Guaymas, she tells us, and my grandfather was a Mayo. We ask her why she teaches Pápago. So the language won't be lost, she tells us. There are only two hundred Pápagos left in Mexico. You're right, that's not many, we admit. In Arizona there are almost sixteen thousand, but only two hundred in Mexico. And how many Pápagos are left in El Cubo? About twenty, says the teacher, but it doesn't matter, I'll keep teaching. Then she explains that the Pápagos don't call themselves that. They call themselves O'Odham and the Pimas call themselves Óob and the Seris call themselves Konkáak. We tell her that we were in Bahía Kino, in Punta Chueca, and El Dólar and we heard the fishermen singing Seri songs. The teacher is surprised. There are seven hundred Konkáak, she says, if that, and they don't fish. Well, these fishermen had learned a Seri song, we say. Maybe, says the teacher, but more likely they fooled you.
Jan 14, 2009
Jan 1, 2009
Dec 11, 2008
Oct 28, 2008
Movement for Justice in El Barrio
Came across this article while doing research for upcoming videos on street vendors in East Harlem:
"Zapatismo is not a new political ideology or a rehash of old ideologies. Zapatismo is nothing, it doesn't exist. It only serves as a bridge, to cross from one side to the other. So everyone fits within zapatismo, everyone who wants to cross from one side to the other. Everyone has his or her own side and other side. There are no universal recipes, lines, strategies, tactics, laws, rules or slogans. There is only a desire: to build a better world, that is, a new world."
-- The Clandestine Revolutionary Indigenous General Command of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (CCRI-CG of the EZLN)
Movement for Justice in El Barrio (MJB), an East Harlem-based organization of immigrants and low-income people of color, has been fighting gentrification in Manhattan’s “last frontier” for over three years now. Being majority Mexican and sharing an affinity for the zapatistas’ way of organizing, MJB decided less than a year after forming to join the Other Campaign as an essential component of their work for self-determination.
Oct 20, 2008
May 28, 2008
sounds from the deep.
As you can read below,,, luiseño is about to make a quick move again towards its california motherland. with new sights and sounds under our wings we hope to make a slightly more substantial impact on our people of the west.
May 16, 2008
• * ¨ FROM: PEOPLE OF THE WEST
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HOWDY DUDE are you on your way already?????? Hope you are doing good. what do you think about the happs on the world mann.. It's fucking scary. You got dudes fucking with some of the biggest magnetic fields in the world, causing all these earthquakes, cyclones, and so on. Im freaked out over here. Global control is at it's worst, and nobody with power is doing anything about it, politicly, biblicly , and morally, the world is fucked up. I just hope that we get some more time here, I like my life and I'm just getting to enjoy it. What do you know or what can you tell me to make me feel better. I'm worried for the world and all these beautiful people that don't even have a clue on what is really happening, this shit is weighing on me hard-core. There has got to be something we can do. How come I feel so............................................?//:
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El Bandito Siete loves you brother and hopes all is good!
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Feb 27, 2008
Feb 23, 2008
VIVA OBAMA 2008
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here's an article on Miguel Orozco who launched the video and runs the website AmigosdeObama.com.
Feb 21, 2008
Feb 16, 2008
Tus Mensajes [Old School Divide]
FROM THE MAIL
I thought I'd bring this to your attention. I live in Atlanta. A commercial started running about 10 days ago that shows a black guy (I'm black) talking about how millions of jobs are being lost to illegal immigrants. As he talks, only black faces are shown in the video. I don't know if this ad is being shown in other cities, but I've never seen it before. It has aired 3 times in the last 10 days, and the next time it does I'll make a point to get the name of the sponsor. I can't help to think that in this Republican dominated state, some Karl Rove types are trying to stir the pot and create dissension as we head further into the campaign season. I smell old school divide and conquer tactics. For what it's worth.
It's true. So easy for disease-minded power brokers to jam wedges in sore places. We must not let them. We must remember what we have in common, and we must nurture those things. And we must see where a true enemy lies. And be ready at all times to love. And to direct the fight to those who bring it.
Peace. (and Justice.)
Feb 12, 2008
Presidente de Mexico Felipe Calderón Visiting USA
I find a few things interesting about this report of Calderon's visit to the U.S. ---
"The encounter had a decidedly grass-roots tone, which, from the looks of his official agenda, seems to be exactly the tone that Mr. Calderón is trying to strike during his first official visit to the United States since he took office on Dec. 1, 2006."
Admittedly, I don't know much about mr. calderon. I haven't been following his presidency. I have heard however that there are reports of heightened military presence in such areas as Oaxaca and Chiapas. I guess a couple of links to articles would be good here....
Going back to the article:
Joel Magallán, executive director of Asociación Tepeyac de New York, an education and advocacy group, called the meeting “una entrada,” or an entryway, meaning it was not meaningful enough to produce any results, but could mark the start of a relationship.
“Yes, the meeting was important so he could see the faces of the people who have been working for the Mexicans in the United States,” Mr. Magallán said in Spanish after the encounter...Something seems amiss here, a translation error or something, since obviously what's important are the Mexican faces working in the United States...
Mr. Calderón also talked about the inter-dependence that has characterized United States-Mexico relations, with Mexico providing much of the low-wage labor needed in the United States and the United States providing Mexicans who are here the opportunity to work and sending billions of dollars each year to support their families back home.
I would like to hear what mr. calderon had to say on this matter. This is an interesting thing to hear any presidential leader discussing--namely that the immigration issue is on both sides of the border. I know Obama acknowledges that immigration reform must occur on both sides of the border---here's his "official" stance on immigration. With Clinton all I get are memories of NAFTA...ugh...
Quoting Norberta Díaz of Asociación de Mujeres Poblanas, a Brooklyn-based organization that educates Mexican women about America’s health and educational systems:
“We’re not asking for amnesty — all we ask for is reform,” she added. “We hope he won’t do like President Fox did when Bush came to Mexico, when he had this big party with ranchera music and food. When he hosts a visit from the next president of the United States, we hope that Calderón talks about immigration and shows that he’s interested, that he cares about what happens to the Mexicans who are here.”
I didn't know that president fox threw a party with ranchera music and food when president bush came to visit!!! How come we weren't invited? That would have been hilarious to see!!! Can you imagine bush with his stupid little smirk trying to enjoy ranchera music??? Too funny too funny...