Happy birthday to actor, singer, politician, poet and social activist Ruben Blades, born in Panama City, Panama on July 16, 1948. After achieving a degree in law and economics, his love of music inspired him to take a job in the mailroom of a record company in New York. In true American style, his big… Continue reading Happy Birthday to Ruben Blades 1948
Tag: 1948
Happy Birthday to Antonia Hernández, MALDEF President
Happy Birthday to Antonia Hernández, born on May 30, 1948 in Coahuila, Mexico. Hernández immigrated to the US with her family when she was 8 years old. Her mother stated in an interview with Parent magazine that, “In my time, women didn’t have the freedom that women have today, but I wanted my daughters to… Continue reading Happy Birthday to Antonia Hernández, MALDEF President
Frank del Olmo, Writer and Editor
May 18, 1948 is the birthday of Frank del Olmo, writer, editor, and columnist for the Los Angeles Times. Olmo earned a BS in journalism from California State University. He raised awareness of Latino issues and advocated increased hiring of Latino reporters. Olmo received an Emmy Award for The Unwanted (1975), a documentary about the… Continue reading Frank del Olmo, Writer and Editor
Esmeralda Santiago, Author, Editor and Documentary Filmmaker
Happy Birthday to author, editor and documentary filmmaker Esmeralda Santiago, born on May 17, 1948 in Santurce, Puerto Rico. Santiago immigrated to the US with her family when she was 11 years old. She graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University and earned her MFA at Sarah Lawrence College. Santiago’s writings capture the emotional, psychological… Continue reading Esmeralda Santiago, Author, Editor and Documentary Filmmaker
“La Violencia” Colombia 1948
On April 9, 1948, populist politician Jorge Eliécer Gaitán Ayala was assassinated in Colombia, igniting riots in the streets and 10 years of political unrest known as “La Violencia”. Ayala was a former Education and Labor Minister, and was elected Mayor of Colombia’s capital city of Bogota. Gaitán earned national prestige through his congressional investigation… Continue reading “La Violencia” Colombia 1948
Carlos Salinas de Gortari, President of Mexico
April 3, 1948 is the birthday of Carlos Salinas de Gortari. He was born in the small town of Agualeguas, Mexico, about 25 miles south of the US border. In the mid-1970s Salinas studied at Harvard, where he earned a doctoral degree in political economy and government. Salinas was elected President of Mexico in 1988,… Continue reading Carlos Salinas de Gortari, President of Mexico
The American GI Forum 1948
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
Mercedes Ruehl, Award-winning Actress
Happy birthday to Mercedes Ruehl, a Cuban-American theater, television and film actress born on February 28, 1948. Ruehl won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1991 for her memorable role as the buoyant, witty businesswoman in “The Fisher King”. She has also won the American Comedy Award, a Boston Society of Film Critics… Continue reading Mercedes Ruehl, Award-winning Actress
“They are just deportees” 1948
On January 28, 1948, a plane crashed at Los Gatos Canyon, California, carrying 28 deportees and 4 North Americans from California to Mexico. Famous American folk musician Woody Guthrie wrote a protest song about the event, concerning the racist mistreatment of the deportees. The song was covered by many artists, including Dolly Parton and Judy… Continue reading “They are just deportees” 1948