LATINO VOICES: THE STRUGGLE FOR REPRESENTATION IN MASS MEDIA
Thursday October 18, 2007
Produced by Mo Roberts and Don Deeley at KPFT studios in Houston, Texas
University of Texas associate journalism professor and historian Dr. Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez, Filmmaker Stephanie Saint Sanchez, Nationally Syndicated Cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz and Literary Arts Collective Nuestra Palabra deliver a collective indictment of how mass media are affecting and sometimes destroying the lives of Latinos living in America and the interminable struggle to seize the narrative.
Dr. Maggie Rivas Rodriguez recently made national headlines in her very public battle against PBS and documentarian Ken Burns. Marshaling the collective force of WW2 Latino veterans, families of veterans, and other grass roots organizations through the website Defend the Honor, launched a searing attack against the non-representation of Latinos in Mr. Burns sweeping 14 hour documentary "The War" which aired on PBS. Though Defend the Honor won editorial concessions, it's clear the war rages on.
Senorita Cinema is only the second film festival dedicated to films for and by Latinas. Founder and independent filmmaker Stephanie Saint Sanchez discusses film, machismo, and the need for Latinas to use film to say something if they want to.
Lalo Alcaraz is the creator of the nationally syndicated comic strip, La Cucaracha. La Cucaracha known for its biting satire and pro-immigration commentary, Cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz found himself in the middle of a pitch battle against censorship when La Cucaracha was summarily dismissed from the comics pages of two of the countries biggest news dailies, The LA Times and The Houston Chronicle, sans adequate explanation. La Cucaracha's struggle to be reinstated at the Houston Chronicle is ongoing.
Nuestra Palabra takes the upper echelon of Latino literature into the deepest part of the community. Radio Objectif magazine spoke with Tony Diaz, Lianna Lopez, and Bryan Parras about the vibrant Latino literary arts movement that remains outside the purview of the cloistered New York literary scene.
Sprouts is a weekly program produced in collaboration with community radio stations and independent producers across the country. We bring you local stories of national interest produced at these radio stations and media groups.
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Left KU Channel
October 18, 2007 3 PM EST
Total time: 28:36
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