Tag: 1937

June 24, 1937 is the birthday of iconic Chicano poet, Luis Omar Salinas, born in Robstown, Texas.  Orphaned at age four, he was raised by his aunt and uncle.  Salinas lived with his family in Mexico and Texas, and they eventually settled in central California.  Salinas attended, and taught at, Fresno State University.  He published… Continue reading Luis Omar Salinas, Chicano Poet

June 4, 1937 was the birthday of country singer and musician, Freddy Fender, born Baldemar Garza Huerta, in San Benito, Texas.  Huerta’s parents were migrant workers, and as a child, Huerta constantly moved. At age 16, he dropped out of high school and joined the US Marine Corps, serving from 1954 to 1956. He began… Continue reading Freddy Fender | Baldemar Huerta Garza, Country Singer and Musician

Happy Birthday to Solomon Ortiz, born in Nueces County, Texas, on June 3, 1937.  He earned his GED (high school equivalency) while serving in the US Army.  In 1968 Ortiz became the first Latino elected as Nueces County Commissioner and later the first Latino county sheriff.  In 1982, Ortiz won a seat in the US… Continue reading Happy Birthday to Solomon Ortiz, US Congressman

On June 2, 1936, General Anastasio Somoza Garcia installed himself as dictator of Nicaragua, beginning the decades-long rule of the Somoza family.  (Please do not confuse this dictator with his equally ruthless son, Anastasio Somoza Debayle, whose regime was embroiled in the Iran Contra scandal during the Reagan years.)  Somoza attended the Pierce School of… Continue reading Nicaragua’s Day of Tears 1936