Powerful Mujeres and “Herstory”

Keeping Hispanic Heritage Alive

María G. Martínez, Staff Reportermariamartinez@csumb.edu

Most of us know some history, the history written mostly by men, and particularly white men in power. But what about herstory? Women’s voices, struggles, work and ideas are immense to the country we have now. The “500 Years of Chicana Herstory” event aimed to make visible Latinas and Chicanas significant contributions in history.

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, students of the Otter Cross Cultural Center at Cal State Monterey Bay (CSUMB) hosted an event on October 10 celebrating “500 Years of Chicana Herstory.”

The event educated the CSUMB community about famous women who had been oppressed, and who struggled for justice. Among the women who made herstory was Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, a poet who in the 16th century became the “first feminist,” Jovita Idar, a brave journalist who fouth for racial justice in the 18 hundreds, Liza Moreno, a pioneer labor organizer, and Dolores Huerta, a leader with Cesar Chavez or the farmworker’s rights movement. The event included also Juana Alicia, a migrant bilingual education advocate and artist etc. They fought towards the acceptance of all Latino and Chicano women and made a difference in society and history.

Amongst the event’s highlights was a play about Lucy Parsons, an Anarchist Labor Organizer from México, and Jim Sleeper, a historian journalist. Yvette Sanchez, Kinesiology, and junior wrote the play based on the characters life experience.

Shiyla Goodie, psychology, junior and Ethan Federman, senior, human communication delved into the roles of Lucy Parsons and Jim Sleeper.

“I felt really empowered playing the part of Lucy Parsons,” Shiyla Goodie said, “At first I was nervous, but then I felt connected because she fought for what she believed in, as do I. And it was an honor and a privilege to play such an influential woman in Hispanic history”.

The audience was impressed by the actors’ ability to portray the characters and their dedication to the roles.

Inspired by the “Herstory” portraits the audience shared their personal stories. Student’s experiences were filled with hardships and struggles to growth, the audience was enthralled in the stories and some shed tears.

“The meaning behind herstory is to break silences, and sharing stories that were previously untold or unknown, but have the power to reach others at various levels, whether it is through language, culture, or community,” Yvette Sanchez said.

As CSUMB demographic page reports that 31 percent population is Latino, the second larger ethnic group in campus. In connection to the Hispanic Heritage Month, the Tanimura Library offers the opportunity to check out books currently banned and removed from classrooms in the Arizona Tucson School District. In 2010, the Arizona state legislature passed the HB 2281 bill that banned a number of books related to Latin American history, poetry and politics. The ban stirred the ongoing controversy over the dismantling of Ethnic Studies in the Arizona’s curriculum.

The Modern Language Association (MLA), an organization devoted to the study of language and literature, seems the law as part of an attack on Mexican American citizens and cultures including, but not limited to, undocumented immigrants.

Some of the banned books include: “Occupied America: A history of Chicanos,” by Rodolfo Acunia,“ Message to Aztlán” by Rodolpho Gonzales, “500 Years of Chicano History” by Elizabeth Martínez, and “ The history of Mexican American Civil Right Movement” by Francisco Rosales. Students interested in this opportunity can ask the librarians or visit the library web page for a complete list of books.

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15 coinciding with the anniversary of independence of five Latin America countries including Mexico and Chile. Also Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 8, falls within this 30-day period.

Word count: 620

Hispanic Heritage Countries Flag.

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Shiyla Goodie, playing Lucy Parsons role

PowerPoint Presentation At the Hispanic Heritage Month

CSUMB Students listen to Yvette Sanchez, the presenter.

Student from the audience sharing her own story.

Interviewers:

Yvette Sánchez, Kinesiology, and junior. She was the person who organized the event and gave the “ 500 Years of Chicana Herstory”. She also told her own experience story to the public.

Shiyla Goodie, psychology, junior. She played Lucy Parsons role. She said “I felt really empowered playing the part of Lucy Parsons, at first I was nervous because I was worried I would not be able to do the part justice.” She also added “While reading her bio, I felt connected because she fought for what she believed in, as do I. I was nervous going up, but after I felt relief because people seemed to enjoy my performance and remembered who she was after.” She said that it was an honor and privilege to play such an influential woman in Hispanic history.

Pictures.

Hand Picture by: Goshen Public Library (http://gplteensblog.wordpress.com/2012/09/19/national-hispanic-heritage-month/)

Event pictures: María G. Martínez

The pictures are no in good quality.

Work Cited

 Calefati, Jessica. "Arizona Bans Ethnic Studies." Mother Jones. N.p., May 2012. Web. 9 Oct. 2012. <http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2010/05/ethnic-studies-banned-arizona>.

 Hanso, Kathlene. "Hispanic Heritage Month." Library. Cal State Monterey Bay, 17 Sept. 2012. Web. 9 Oct. 2012. <http://library.csumb.edu/hispanic-heritage-month-0>.

 "Statement on Tucson Mexican American Studies Program." Statement on Tucson Mexican American Studies Program. Modern Language Association, 3 June 2012. Web. 8 Oct. 2012. <http://www.mla.org/ec_tucson>.