Category: March

March 20 is World Story Telling Day, celebrating the ancient human tradition of oral story telling.  This tradition has lived for centuries in Mexico and South American countries, known as the National Day of Story Tellers.  (Image by Shalako Indian Art Store) El 20 de marzo es el Día Mundial de la Narración de Cuentos,… Continue reading World Story Telling Day

On March 30, 2011, the nation of Peru welcomed back to Peru over 45,000 Incan artifacts that were “taken” over 100 years earlier from the famed citadel of Machu Picchu.  The artifacts were at Yale University; the government of Peru held that they were on loan, not a gift, and wanted back their heritage.  The… Continue reading Yale University returns Stolen Art 2011

José Alberto “Pepe” Mujica Cordano, the President of Uruguay, was inaugurated on March 1, 2010.  The politician and former Tupamaro guerilla fighter spent 14 years in a military prison and was wounded by police (unlike North American politicians, who usually are imprisoned after their careers in politics).  A 2009 article by The Economist characterized him… Continue reading José Alberto “Pepe” Mujica Cordano, President of Uruguay

On March 11, 2006, Verónica Michelle Bachelet Jeria was inaugurated as the first woman President of Chile. She was elected as President as a Social Democrat by 53.5% of the vote, with a platform that included increased social benefits and reducing the gap between rich and poor. Bachelet worked as a pediatrician and epidemiologist, and… Continue reading Verónica Michelle Bachelet Jeria, First Woman President of Chile

The Hollywood film, “A Beautiful Mind”, was awarded Best Picture at the 2002 Academy Awards.  The film portrayed the heart breaking struggles of Noble Prize winning physicist John Nash, and his wife, Alicia, with John’s dangerous paranoid delusions and mental illness.  Alicia Larde is a native of El Salvador, and graduated with a degree in… Continue reading “A Beautiful Mind” 2002

March 1, 1992 is the release date of the movie, “The Mambo Kings”, based on Oscar Hijuelos’s 1989 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love.  The film and movie are about the lives and loves of two brothers who are refugees from Cuba.   The film features Antonio Banderas, a Spanish actor, and… Continue reading “The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love” 1992

March 18, 1988 is the release date of “The Milagro Beanfield War”, a film set in the fictional rural town of Milagro and filmed in Truchas, New Mexico.  The fictional town was predominantly Catholic and Latinx, with less than 500 residents.  The drama centers on the issue of water rights as small bean farmers challenge… Continue reading “The Milagro Beanfield War” 1988

March 11, 1988 was the release date of “Stand and Deliver”, an inspiring Hollywood movie based on the true story of the students at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles and their dedicated math teacher, Bolivian-American Jaime Escalante.  Despite the difficult challenges of their tough environment, Escalante persisted in teaching them advanced levels of… Continue reading “Stand and Deliver” 1988

On March 24, 1980, Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador was assassinated while celebrating Mass at a small chapel.  Romero was a leader in liberation theology, in which priests and ministers preached against repressive dictatorships and human rights violations.  Romero was deeply concerned about the persecution of the poor, political activists, and the priests and… Continue reading Assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador 1980

March 15, 1975 is the birthday of Eva Longoria, a “Texican” American actress known for her gorgeous looks and her commitment to charities and organizations supporting Latinos.  Eva’s ancestors arrived in Texas long before it was Texas, emigrating from Spain in 1603.   In 1767 the King of Spain granted almost 4,000 acres along the Rio… Continue reading Happy Birthday to “Texican” Eva Longoria

On March 21, 1973, the US Supreme Court decided the case of “Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez”.  The ruling concerned a lawsuit brought on behalf of schoolchildren in low income neighborhoods; the school district was 90% Hispanic and 6% African-American. The Supreme Court majority held that a school-financing system based on local property taxes… Continue reading “Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez”

On March 20, 1973, Major League Baseball star Roberto Clemente was posthumously elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.  Clemente, a Puerto Rican, played for the Pittsburgh Pirates for his entire 18-year baseball career (1955–72). He won the National League’s Most Valuable Player Award in 1966, and was selected to participate in the league’s All… Continue reading Roberto Clemente, Humanitarian and Star Athlete

March 4, 1972 is the birthday of Martha Ivelisse Pesante, known professionally as Ivy Queen, or the Queen of Reggaeton, a Puerto Rican music style.  Ivy released her first album with Sony International in 1997, titled “En Mi Emperio”.  Described in the Smithsonian’s American Sabor as “a socially conscious artist with supermodel looks”, Ivy has… Continue reading Happy Birthday to The Queen of Reggaeton

On March 12, 1971, Rolling Stone Mick Jagger married Nicaraguan Bianca Perez Morena de Macias, later known as Bianca Jagger.  After a few years as a glamorous Studio 54 girl, Bianca transformed herself into an advocate and activist for human rights.  She has campaigned for the cause of peace and social justice across the world,… Continue reading Bianca Perez Morena de Macias

“Had I been sprawled just a foot more to my left on the morning of March 7, 1970, while receiving hostile fire from somewhere within the canopied, high-land growth of Phuoc Long [Vietnam], my name would be black-marbled on … the Vietnam War Memorial, along with more than 58,000 other names.” This begins the account… Continue reading Ruben Quintero, PhD, a Soldier and a Scholar

March 1, 1969 is the birthday of Javier Ángel Encinas Bardem, a Spanish actor.  Bardem won an Academy Award for his role in “No Country for Old Men.”  Bardem has also won a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a BAFTA, five Goya awards, two European Film Awards … and I’m running out of… Continue reading Javier Ángel Encinas Bardem, Award-winning Actor

On March 16, 1966, Alfred Rascon, a Latino US Army medic, distinguished himself by a series of extraordinarily courageous acts.  Rascon was assigned as a medic to the 503rd Infantry in the Vietnam War (1955-1975).  During a deadly barrage of enemy gunfire and grenades, he rescued and aided his fellow soldiers.  He was awarded the… Continue reading Alfred Rascon, US Army Medic

On March 7, 1965, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and freedom fighters across the US rallied in Selma, Alabama, to march for civil rights, open and fair voter registration, and an end to segregation.  The day became “Bloody Sunday” as the 600 civil rights marchers were attacked by state and local police with… Continue reading Latinx Activists at Bloody Sunday 1965

On March 21, 1962, North American Glen Bell founded Taco Bell in Downey, California, and the North American public has confused its offerings with Latinx food ever since.  Taco Bell serves fast food tacos, burritos, and other menu items to more than 2 billion consumers annually in 5,800 restaurants in the US.  Over 80% of… Continue reading Taco Bell 1962

Happy Birthday to outspoken journalist, writer, and highly successful news anchor, Jorge Ramos. Ramos was born on March 16, 1958 in Mexico City, Mexico. After a dispute over censorship on social issues in Mexico, he immigrated in 1983 to the Republic of California. He has built his career working for prestigious companies such as Univisión.… Continue reading Happy Birthday to Jorge Ramos, Journalist and Autor

March 14, 1954, was the release date of the classic movie, “Salt of the Earth”.  The movie was based on the long, difficult strike in 1951 against the Empire Zinc Company in New Mexico.  The actual miners and their families starred in the film.  The producers, director, and the movie were blacklisted during the 1950’s… Continue reading “Salt of the Earth” 1954

Happy birthday to writer, poetry and essayist Julia Alvarez. Alvarez was born in New York City on March 27, 1950; her parents were political refugees from the Dominican Republic. Her more prominent novels include “How the García Girls Lost Their Accents” (1991), “In the Time of the Butterflies”(1994), and “Yo!” (1997). Alvarez’s work centers on… Continue reading Julia Alvarez, Award Winning Writer

On March 26, 1948, Dr. Hector P. Garcia founded the American GI Forum, with the motto, “Education is Our Freedom and Freedom should be Everybody’s Business”.  Dr. Garcia formed AGIF to address the needs of Mexican American veterans of World War II (1939 – 1945), who were not receiving medical treatment.  AGIF expanded its mission… Continue reading The American GI Forum 1948

On March 29, 1946, the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México was founded with the mission of creating a society that was more free, more just, and more prosperous. ITAM is one of the Mexico’s leading universities, offering specializations in accounting, economics, applied mathematics, and international relations, among other subjects.  ITAM is located on two campuses in… Continue reading Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) 1946

On March 12, 1945, the state governor of New York signed in to law the Ives-Quinn Anti-Discrimination Bill.  New York became the first state to enact legislation prohibiting the practice of discriminating against job applicants and employees on the basis of race, religion, or creed.  This law was modeled on the policies of the Fair… Continue reading Why We Love New York!

On March 6, 1945, Federico Garcia Lorca’s play “La Casa de Bernarda Alba” premiered in Argentina.  Lorca was a Spanish poet, playwright, and theater director who traveled in the US and South America.  His book of poetry, ”Gypsy Ballads”, was selected by Le Monde, a leading French newspaper, as one of the 100 books of… Continue reading “La Casa de Bernarda Alba” 1945

March 19, 1943 is the birthday of Mexican scientist Mario José Molina-Pasquel Henríquez, who was a co-recipient of the Noble Prize for Chemistry in 1995.  Henríquez is the first Mexican born scientist to achieve a Noble Prize in Chemistry.  Henríquez’s contribution is in the domain of climate change and the environment; he researched and proved… Continue reading Mario José Molina-Pasquel Henríquez, Nobel Prize Winner

March 9, 1940 is the birthday of Puerto Rican humanitarian, activist and actor, Raúl Rafael Juliá y Arcelay, known as Raul Julia (1940-1994).  Julia starred on Broadway, on television, and in Hollywood films, with work that ranged from Shakespearean drama to the Addams Family comedy.  He earned numerous nominations and awards from the Golden Globe,… Continue reading Raul Julia, Actor and Humanitarian

Happy Birthday to Richard A. Tapia, a noted mathematician and educator, born in Santa Monica, California on March 25, 1939. Tapia’s parents were immigrants from Mexico. He earned a BA, MA, and Ph D from the University of California at Los Angeles. Among other numerous awards, Tapia was named one of the twenty most influential… Continue reading Richard A. Tapia, Mathematician and Educator

March 10, 1936 is the birthday of Alfredo Zitarrosa, a singer, songwriter, poet, and journalist from Uruguay.   His birth and childhood were complicated; he was adopted shortly after he was born, but later in life lived with his birth mother and her family.  He began his career as a radio broadcaster and actor, and later… Continue reading Alfredo Zitarrosa, Singer, Songwriter, Poet and Journalist

On March 13, 1933, Mexican artist Diego Rivera completed “Detroit Industry”, which Rivera considered to be his greatest mural in the US.  Rivera, a member of the Mexican Communist Party, was a great admirer of the city of Detroit and its industrial strength.  The Detroit Institute of Arts commissioned Rivera to paint the series of… Continue reading Diego does Detroit! 1933

March 31, 1927 is the birthday of the Latino civil rights leader, Cesar Chavez (1927-1993).  Chavez, a Mexican American migrant worker and labor leader, was born in Yuma, Arizona.  Together with Dolores Huerta, he co-founded the United Farm Workers (UFW).  Chavez, the UFW, and millions of North American consumers launched a five year boycott against… Continue reading Cesar Chavez, UFW Co-Founder

Happy birthday to the legendary story teller and literary genius, Gabriel Jose Garcia Marquez (1927-2014).  Marquez was born on March 6, 1927 in Aracataca, Colombia, a small town on the Caribbean coast.  Marquez was raised by his maternal grandparents, who encouraged his creativity with stories of local history and a supernatural view of reality.  His… Continue reading Gabriel Jose Garcia Marquez (1927 – 2014)

March 22, 1926 is the birthday of Guy Louis Gabaldon (1926 – 2006), a US Marine who was a hero of the 1944 Battle of Saipan in World War II (1939 – 1945).  During his troubled youth, the Mexican-American Gabaldon was adopted by a Japanese-American family.  Gabaldon later used his knowledge of Japanese language and… Continue reading Guy Louis Gabaldon, US Marine 1926

March 13, 1926 is the birthday of Carlos Roberto Reina, the Honduran politician, law professor, and editor who rose from political prisoner to President of Honduras. Reina was elected in 1993, and worked to keep his election promises to crack down on corruption and reduce the power of the military. As part of the latter… Continue reading Carlos Roberto Reina, President of Honduras

On March 15, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson sent 4,800 US troops across the US – Mexican border in pursuit of Mexican revolutionary leader, Pancho Villa.  The US Troops were undocumented and uninvited.  The incident occurred during the Mexican Revolution, and was in retaliation for Villa’s raids in New Mexico and the reported killing of sixteen… Continue reading Undocumented US Soldiers invade Mexico 1916

March 31, 1914 is the birthday of Octavio Paz, a Mexican writer, political activist, diplomat, poet, and Noble Prize Laureate for Literature.  Paz spent extensive time in the US, including during his parents’ political exile, as a student at the University of California, Berkeley, as a lecturer at Harvard, and in the diplomatic service in… Continue reading Octavio Paz, Writer, Political Activist, and Diplomat 1914

On March 18, 1907, US troops invaded Honduras, which they occupied until June 8, without proper documents or visas.  The troops were supposed to be there to “protect American interests” during a war between Honduras and Nicaragua.  The undocumented troops were stationed in Trujillo, Ceiba, Puerto Cortez, San Pedro, Laguna and Choloma. El 18 de… Continue reading The US invades Honduras … again! 1907

On March 30, 1903, the US Marines landed in the Dominican Republic to “protect American interests” in the city of Santo Domingo during a period of political turmoil. (I can’t help but wonder how the US Army would react if the Dominican Army landed during Occupy Wall Street in 2011, to “protect Dominican interests”?  Lots… Continue reading US Marines invade the Dominican Republic 1903

On March 23, 1903, undocumented US troops invaded in Honduras.  Their mission was to “protect the American consulate and the steamship wharf” at Puerto Cortez during a period of revolutionary activity.  During the late 19th century, US multinationals such as the United Fruit Company, later known as Chiquita Brands International, had invested heavily in banana… Continue reading The Banana Wars 1903

On March 8, 1895, US troops landed at Bocas del Toro, undocumented and uninvited.  Bocas del Toro was then part of the sovereign nation of Colombia.  As usual, the US government stated that the reason for landing was to “protect American interests”.  (Honestly, I think that excuse is getting old.)  Bocas del Toro is now… Continue reading Another US Invasion of a Sovereign South American Nation 1895

Francisco Antonio Manzanares began his short term as New Mexican Delegate to the US House of Representatives on March 5, 1884. Manzanares was a successful businessman and entrepreneur who greatly contributed to the economic development of New Mexico and the southwest. He worked to develop the retail, railroad and banking industries, including the establishment of… Continue reading Francisco Antonio Manzanares, New Mexican Delegate 1884

On March 3, 1875, Georges Bizet’s opera “Carmen” premiered in Paris.  The story is set in Seville, Spain, in the early 19th century, and the protagonist is Carmen, a beautiful, free-spirited gypsy with a fiery temper.  She seduces a naïve soldier, and events soon spiral to ruin them both.  The very popular opera quickly established… Continue reading “Carmen” 1875

On March 4, 1849, Zachary Taylor was sworn in as the 12th President of the US.  He was the last North American President to own African-American slaves while in office. Earlier, under orders of the previous President James Polk, Taylor positioned US troops on Mexican territory to provoke the Mexicans into war (which would be known… Continue reading Starting the Mexican-American War

On March 10, 1848, the US Senate ratified the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which formally ended the Mexican-American War.  Depending on your point of view, Mexico either lost about 55% its territory to the US in this War, or the US stole about 55% of Mexico from the Mexicans.  (Image of the United States of… Continue reading The United States of Mexico 1848

On March 9, 1847, the twenty-day Siege of Veracruz began, one of the key battles in the Mexican-American War.  Major General Winfield Scott led the US troops.  The troops began to build a siege line around the city, and soon started the artillery bombardment.  On March 25, Mexican officials requested that women, children, and noncombatants… Continue reading The Siege of Veracruz 1847

After centuries of Spanish rule, Florida was admitted as the 27th US state on March 3, 1845.  Florida was first sighted by the Spanish in 1513, who named the land “La Florida”, the flowery land.  The Spanish established Saint Augustine in 1565, which is the oldest European settlement in North America, predating the Jamestown 1607… Continue reading Florida as US State 1845

March 22, 1841 is the birth date of Lieutenant Augusto Rodríguez, a Puerto Rican who volunteered to serve in the Union Army during the North American Civil War (1861-1865).  Rodríguez defended Washington, DC, against Confederate attacks, and led his men in battle at Fredericksburg and Wyse Fork. El 22 de marzo de 1841 es el… Continue reading Lieutenant Augusto Rodríguez, War Hero

Charles Darwin, the evolutionary biologist and writer, spent substantial time in South and Central America observing nature to formulate his important work, “The Evolution of the Species”.  The birds and reptiles on the Galapagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador, were of particular interest to Darwin.  Darwin sailed around Tierra del Fuego (the Land of… Continue reading The Voyage of “The Evolution of the Species” 1835

Fortunately, during at least the 18th Century, US Presidents issued dignified and respectful statements about South American sovereignty, in sharp contrast to our 21st Century Tweeter-in-Chief.  On March 8, 1822, President James Monroe sent a message to Congress demanding recognition of five Spanish American nations: Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru.  In his message, Monroe… Continue reading A Message from Monroe 1822

March 27, 1814 is the birthday of Diego Archuleta, the first Latino to achieve the rank of Brigadier General in the US armed forces.  Archuleta was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  During the Mexican American War, Archuleta fought with Mexico against the US.  During the US Civil War, he joined the Union troops against the… Continue reading Brigadier General Diego Archuleta 1814

On March 26, 1812, a devastating earthquake rocked Caracas, Venezuela and its first independent government. The quake struck on the morning of Holy Thursday, as Venezuelans prepared for the holiday.  The devastation seriously impacted the First Republic of Venezuela, which lasted from 19 April 1810 to 25 July 1812.  Francisco de Miranda was one of… Continue reading US Foreign Aid to Venezuela 1812

On March 16, 1782, Spanish troops under the command of Mathias de Gálvez, father of Bernard de Gálvez, defeated British troops in Honduras.  At that time, the British were very busy with illegal logging operations in Honduras.  The Spanish declared war on the British in 1779, and their military campaign in the southern theater was… Continue reading Commander Mathias de Gálvez 1782

On March 17, 1780, George Washington declared one of the earliest celebrations of Saint Patrick’s Day in the US as our country struggled with the rebellion against the British. The Army was in winter camp at Morristown, New Jersey, during some of the coldest days of the Revolutionary War.  The Continental Army included large numbers of… Continue reading Saint Patrick’s Day Celebration in the American Revolutionary War 1780

On March 14, 1780, Spanish Army soldiers and local volunteers led by Bernardo de Galvez captured the British Fort Charlotte in Mobile, Alabama.  This victory was part of Galvez’s sweep from New Orleans, Louisiana to Pensacola, Florida.  The Spanish forces effectively diverted many British Army troops from fighting against the US Continental Army in the… Continue reading Bernardo de Galvez captures the British Fort Charlotte 1780

On March 25, 1777, the American ship, Tabby, with Captain Hodges departed from Spain to the US, carrying supplies to the rebels.  The ship brought blankets, quinine (medicine), and cloth for uniforms.  The shipments were arranged by Spanish Basque merchant Diego Maria de Gardoqui, and the supplies were paid for by the Spanish government.  Meanwhile,… Continue reading Spanish Aid to the norteamericano rebels 1777

On March 10, 1777, Spanish Minister  José Moñino, conde de Floridablanca, wrote a secret dispatch concerning Spain’s support of the North American rebels in the struggle against Britiain, “the fate of the colonies interests us very much, and we shall do for them everything that circumstances permit….”   Moñino also discussed the steady flow of aid… Continue reading Spanish aid during the American Revolutionary War 1776-1781

On March 28, 1776, Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza selected the site for the Presidio in San Francisco, California.  The Presidio, or fortress, was built later in September of that year, and served as an important location for the Spanish colonization of California.  Anza and his expeditionary forces traveled from Mexico to San Francisco from 1774… Continue reading The Founding of San Francisco 1776

On March 5, 1766, Antonio de Ulloa y de la Torre-Girault (1716 –1795) administered the transfer of the Louisiana territories from the French to the Spanish.  Ulloa was a Spanish general, explorer, author, astronomer, colonial administrator and the first Spanish governor of Louisiana.  He accomplished scientific research in Peru, and published “Relación histórica del viaje… Continue reading The Louisiana Territories 1766

On May 30, 1746 in Fuendetodos, Spain, Francisco Goya (1746-1828) began his passionate, talented life. Goya was one of Spain’s most influential and prominent artists, whose paintings, graphics, and drawings often defied the conventionality of the 18th century. The Italian notion of beauty had dominated European art, and Goya fearlessly introduced human images of cruelty,… Continue reading Francisco Goya Original Selfie in 1746

On March 19, 1601, Spanish architect, artist, and sculptor Alonzo Cano began his brilliant, tempestuous life.  He was an artist in the royal court.  The Spanish King appointed him as chief architect of the cathedral in Granada, Spain.  Cano added Baroque architecture to the exterior façade, as well as Baroque sculpture in the interior. El… Continue reading Alonzo Cano, Spanish Architect, Artist and Sculptor 1601

On March 29, 1546, the city of Salvador da Bahia was founded.  Salvador de Bahia was the first capital of Brazil and is one of the oldest European cities in the Americas.   As of 1558, the city was the first slave market in the New World, with slaves kidnapped from Africa and sold for brutal… Continue reading Salvador da Bahia 1546

March 28, 1515 is the birthday of Theresa of Avila, the Spanish mystic, nun, writer, and saint.  Her famous literary works are the autobiographical, El Castillo Interior (The Interior Castle), and Camino de Perfección (The Way of Perfection), which delineated her profound thoughts on prayer and meditation.  The thoughts of her heart that she described… Continue reading “To have courage for whatever comes in life” 1515