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Editor: Mimi Lozano ©2000-2016
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Editor: Mimi Lozano ©2000-2016
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Letters to the Editor |
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| Hi Mimi: Thanks for your continuing contributions to La Red and all the other things you do to make us all aware of our rich heritage. The last articles you made available were especially interesting and informative. Best regards, Ben Alvillar benalvillar@outlook.com |
P.O. 490 Midway City, CA 92655-0490 mimilozano@aol.com www.SomosPrimos.com 714-894-8161 |
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| Last month I asked readers who had their DNA
done to share their findings. You will find the response very
interesting . I've included them all together under United States
category, entitled DNA Sharing by Somos Primos readers. |
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| Quotes or Thoughts to Consider | |
Humankind
has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever
we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together...
all things connect.
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| https://www.youtube.com/embed/uoABty_zE00?rel=0 Sent by my cousin Yomar Villarreal Cleary who writes, Perhaps the best commercial ever. I would entitle it: This is America. |
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| "Change
your thoughts and you change your world." --Norman Vincent Peale |
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Our America: A Hispanic History of the United States by Felipe Fernández-Armesto U.S. now the world’s second-largest Spanish-speaking nation “La leyenda negra en Alemania y los Países Bajos. El patio trasero suramericano” Hispanic Texans: Journey from Empire to Democracy Latino Americans, Shared Orange Heritage Latino Museum Studies Program Mixed Marriages Causing US: Hispanics, Asians to Integrate Faster by Dora Mekouar DNA Sharing by Somos Primos readers The challenge that Chicanada face Brad Pitt is joining Disney to tell the story of Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa. Jovita Idar: Journalism Pioneer Alicia Dickerson Montemayor, civil rights activist G.I. Forum, LULAC Protest "Whites Only" Normanna Cemetery Six Young Women Help Launch NCLR “Entre Mujeres” Program U.S. National Anthem sung by 500 students in Kentucky high-rise hotel. Immigration, World Poverty and Gumballs - NumbersUSA.com Real time U.S. Government spending clock. |
Our America Two flights had been cancelled in Chicago and I had already waited for seven hours to catch a plane. As temperatures kept dropping and a snowstorm was fast approaching, I just jumped on a bus to go to Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. I plowed my way to the Morris Inn at 2:30 am, dragging luggage for three blocks through the snow with soaked, freezing feet. Then I sat down to write this review. I have slept hardly at all. Felipe Fernández-Armesto is worth these troubles and more. I cherish our friendship and I admire his work that much.
The book is divided into three periods:
These worlds surrendered to industrialization, machine guns, railroads, steamboats, industrial tractors, and millions of land hungry illegal immigrants from England, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Norway, and Central Europe, who came to the land to act as, say, Texas Rangers and carry out genocide.
His account of guerrilla fighters and rebels like Joaquin Murrieta who acted as social bandits in Texas and California explores also the emergence of the literary character of El Zorro as the first superhero to emerge in the US. Felipe then adds: “It is to me a delicious irony that a great line of American superheroes, with their lone trajectories, their alienating experiences, the disguises that place them outside society, and the astonishing dexterity with which they stun evildoers, goes back to a prototype who was a legend of anti-US resistance.”
There is also the case of the origins of American international law and the law of nations that Greg Grandin has so insightfully described in a recent article in the American Historical Review. Grandin shows that jurisprudence and identities, both in the North and South, were the product of codependences and mutual influences. In short, the Hispanic 19th century in the US is much more than dispossession and violence (for other examples of what is possible, see also Gregory Downs’ provocative essay on the Mexicanization of 19th- century American Politics). |
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 SPAR
committee member Monica Dunbar Herrera Smith, and Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, author of 19 books, who is currently teaching at Notre Dame in Indiana. Monica writes: "Felipe Fernandez-Armesto gave a lecture at the University of Arizona, in Tucson on Friday March 11, 2016 which preceded the two-day University of Arizona Book Fair. It was well received by a packed lecture hall audience. |
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He is a very spirited & dynamic speaker
who dispels many myths regarding the forming of the USA. |
“No puedo menos de alabar la paciente virtud de los españoles. Raramente o jamás nos es dado encontrar una nación que haya sufrido tantas desgracias y miserias como sufrieron ellos en sus descubrimientos de las Indias, persistiendo, sin embargo, en su empresa con constancia invencible y logrando brindar a su patria regiones tan maravillosas que se pierde el recuerdo de tantos peligros pasados:” Walter RALEIGH Historia del Mundo El Espía Digital – www.elespiadigital.es José Antonio Crespo-Francés |
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| In the first decade of the second
millennium the U.S. population grew by 27.3 million, and 15.2
million of those people are Spanish-speakers. The Hispanic
population grew by 43 percent while the entire nation grew by 9.7
percent. The report attributes that discrepancy to both Hispanics’
higher reproductive rates and the steady influx of Spanish-speaking
immigrants to the United States.
In total, there are almost 53 million Spanish speakers in this country of about 320 million. Of those about 41.3 million are native speakers, and about 11.6 million are bilingual — generally the children of immigrants. But those official numbers exclude the estimated 9.7 million Spanish-speakers who entered the country under the radar. With those boosts in population, U.S. Hispanics have seen their economic presence grow as well. According to the Institute report, Hispanic buying power has doubled each decade since 1990, and currently sits at $1.2 billion, making Hispanics in the U.S. the world’s 14th strongest economic demographic. That prominence has given the Spanish language a special place in the U.S., where 40 percent of radio and 34 percent of TV programming is either mostly, or entirely, in Spanish. That Spanish-language media sphere, the report said, “indicates that the Spanish-
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speaking community of the
United States has reached the critical mass sufficient to survive on
its own, in the margin of English.” In other words social integration in the United States no longer means Spanish-speakers must move away from their mother tongue. And as their numbers grow, their language has become an ever more crucial skill for non-Hispanic Americans to master, as the numbers show. In 1995, enrollment in Spanish-language courses in the U.S. surpassed, for the first time, enrollment in all other foreign languages, and so it continues. Now, more than 7.8 million people in the United States are studying Spanish as a second language. The report notes non-Hispanic Americans are studying Spanish for professional advancement or as a communication necessity, and empirical studies show that the U.S. labor market rewards the ability to communicate dually in English and Spanish. Because beyond the United States, Spanish sports the world’s second-largest number (after Mandarin) of native speakers: 470 million. It’s the third-most used language on the Internet, as well as the second-most read language on Wikipedia. Spanish is the second-most “economically important” language after English and before Mandarin, the report said. |
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| Texas was almost 40 percent
Hispanic in 2014. Since 2010, the state’s Hispanic population grew
by 9.4 percent, while the entire state population grew by 7 percent.
During that time Hispanics claimed one more percentage point of the
state population, mirroring growth in other minorities, while the
state’s share or white Texan’s fell 2 percent, according
to Census Bureau numbers.
Categories: América
Latina
http://blog.chron.com/lavoz/2015/06/u-s-now-the-worlds-second-largest-spanish-speaking-nation/ Sent by Juan Marinez jmarinezmaya@gmail.com Tom Saenz saenztomas@sbcglobal.net John Inclan fromgalveston@yahoo.com
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| “La
leyenda negra en Alemania y los Países Bajos. El patio trasero
suramericano” por Por José Antonio Crespo-Francés*
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Publicación el 6 de
marzo de 2016 en el diario digital www.elespiadigital
en la sección Informes de un trabajo dedicado la leyenda negra y su
visión desde Inglaterra y con respecto a la América hispana, bajo
el título: “La leyenda
negra en Alemania y los Países Bajos. El patio trasero suramericano”. Podríamos
definir la idea de leyenda
negra como
el ambiente creado por relatos inexactos, malinterpretados, sacados
de contexto temporal, acerca de España, que se ofreció fuera de
nuestras fronteras, creando descripciones grotescas de la
personalidad española, individual y colectiva, ignorando de una
manera sistemática todo aquello que es favorable y hermoso en las
diversas manifestaciones del arte y de la cultura y que fue
presentado y asumido, gracias a la repetición y a la imprenta, por
los propios españoles, llegando algunos a renegar de su pasado “y
suministrando en determinados casos un material de primera mano
exagerado o malintencionado”. http://www.elespiadigital.com/index.php/informes/12542-la-leyenda-negra-en-alemania-y-los-paises-bajos-el-patio-trasero-suramericano |
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Available now for free download (PDF) and also online
ordering, for free. The 100-page, full color travel guide showcases hundreds of heritage tourism sites across the state, each featuring cultural and historical attractions significant to the Hispanic experience in Texas. |
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| The book is arranged by location in the Texas Heritage Trails Regions, allowing readers to plan heritage travel journeys or find specific attractions as they travel for business or pleasure across the state. "The THC’s new travel guide is our biggest and most comprehensive cultural heritage guide yet," said THC Executive Director Mark Wolfe. "It’s an invaluable guide for travelers across Texas while also showcasing the history and contributions of a culture that created and continues to create the Lone Star State. Get a copy of this free guide and go out and explore these unique attractions today." Texas’ recorded history begins with the arrival of Spanish explorers in the first years of the 16th century, and Hispanics from Mexico and around the world have left their cultural imprint on Texas for 500 years. From celebrations and traditions like Cinco de Mayo, to architecture, music, cuisine, internationally-recognized artists and influential politicians, Hispanic heritage has left its mark on the foundations of Texas. Travel to Texas’ many Hispanic heritage sites is a fun and meaningful way to learn about and connect with the culture that helped make Texas what it is today. Hispanic Texans: Journey from Empire to Democracy is free and can be ordered online, or downloaded as a PDF. Visit TexasTimeTravel.com for more information. The new guide joins the suite of travel guides that includes African Americans in Texas: A Lasting Legacy and the recently released Texas Heritage Travel Guide that leads visitors to thousands of historic sites across 10 regions of the Texas Heritage Trails Program. - See more at: http://www.thc.state.tx.us/news-events/press-releases/free-texas-hispanic-heritage-guide-helps-you-plan-historic-travel#sthash.QvXs0bps.dpuf Sent by J. Gilberto Quezada |
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Ricardo Ramirez and his wife Maria are photographed seated, surrounded by their children. Included in this photograph is Henry Martinez, father of current Orange Public Library Director Yolanda Moreno. Henry and his brother Joseph Martinez (also pictured) both served in the United States Army during World War II. To learn more about Orange Latino families such as theirs, please visit www.cityoforange.org/localhistory and click on Digital Collection. If you have stories or photographs about Latino American people, families, businesses, or organizations from the City of Orange and would like to add them to our archive, please contact us by phone at (714)288-2465 or by email history@cityoforange.org. Sent by the Hon. Fredrick Aguirre FAguirre@occourts.org
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Applications are being accepted
through APRIL 8, 2016! |
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| U.S. immigrants appear to be
integrating faster than expected, according to a new report, which
finds that the grandchildren of Hispanics and Asians are less likely
to identify themselves by these ethnicities on government surveys
than their parents and grandparents are. This is especially true of children of mixed marriages.
Among Asians, 38 percent of the native-born and 24 percent of the foreign-born married a non-Asian.
It’s possible that in time, Asians and Hispanics will proudly reclaim their lost heritage as the Irish have done. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Irish newcomers faced virulent anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic sentiment. However, by 1980, when possessing Irish ancestry had become decidedly mainstream, the U.S. Census found that far more Americans claimed Irish ancestry than could be explained by immigration and birth patterns. Once
Scorned, Many Americans Now Happily Claim This Ancestry |
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DNA Sharing by Somos Primos readers
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Dear Mimi,
I am always glad to receive your letters because they always contain something
of interest, this time
it mentions our DNA.
Actually about one year ago I had mine done...I had no idea what to expect.
It read : 25% Greek, 25%
Italian, 25% Spanish, and 25% Native American.
Notice that it did not say Mexican and the reason for that is that Mexican is
a political label like American
or Canadian.
My father's name was David Cavazos De Leon, My mother was Maria Teran De Leon
so I am De Leon on
both my grandmothers.
My maternal great-grandmother ( Romana ) was blue-eyed but married an
Indian Man ( Zamarripa ) who
looked a lot like the Great Chief Sitting Bull ( very dark ).
The Cavazos were from Northern Spain ( Burgos ) and I suppose they
brought into the mixture of Italian
and Greek because they are tall, fair-skinned and blue or green eyed and of
course the Northern Spanish
blood as opposed to Southern Spain where they had the dark Moorish blood.
I have traveled in South America, Mexico, Canada, Central Europe,
Eastern Europe, Russia, Scandinavia and Poland and nobody can guess what I
am...everybody claims me and I enjoy it.
Sincerely yours,
Roy Cavazos
Cavazointl@aol.com |
My husband and I had our DNA done . Mine 42% Native American, 46 % European ( Spanish , Italian& Greece) 10 % Irish, 2% European Jew, my husband 41 % Native American, 47% European. I paid to get my Dad's last surviving brother done as well as my brothers. My Uncle was 44% European& 40% native American, my brother was 45% European, 40% Native American. They have the Ancestry On sale right now, Angie Z mz13301@gmail.com
Mimi,
First, I really enjoy the work you do. I had my DNA done and it resulted
in 90% European, 7% indigenous, 2% Central Asia, 2% Middle East. I was
born in Las Cruces, NM and my Father's side goes back to Spain (through
Mexico) and my Mother was Scottish-Irish from North Carolina. There was
family lore about coming from Jewish roots which may explain the Middle
East DNA.
Greg Romero
patngregnc@aol.com
Wilmington, NC
I have gotten my DNA tested. Like most Mexicans, maternally I'm Native, paternally, I'm European. I also have substantial Jewish DNA. |
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Hola Mimi: I am Gerald Flavin and although, I have a very Irish surname I am very much Hispanic via my maternal side. My Grandmother was born,
Elizabeth
(her real name was Felicitas) Abarta. Her parents were Jose Abarta and Maragrita Miles and her mother was Felicitas Mendibles Martinez. Felicitas was married to Francisco Mendibles, a vaquero, and they came to Los Angeles in 1840 from Sonora. Felicitas was born in a pueblo, Curcupe, Sonora. Cucupe is a small pueblo in the hills near Magdalena and the Arizona border. My grandmother and the family always insisted that we were Spanish 100% but I had my doubts. My grandmother's other grandmother( paternal side) was Isabel Abarta nee Rada. She was a creolla i.e. of Spanish blood but born, not in Spain, but in Mexico. She was born in Hemosillo and her father, Rafael Rada was born in 1793 in Arizpe, Sonora and his parents Juan Jose Rada and Maria Conception Valdez, Spanish. So yes we have the Spanish side for sure. My daughter, two years ago for a Christmas gift, gave me a DNA test. AND THE ENVELOPE PLEASE- I am 3% native American Indian....so that would include the Mexican tribes also.So if I am 3%, my mother would be 6%, and my grandmother, Elizabeth Abarta 12% and Felicitas Martinez 24%.The oral history is the Mendibles left Curcupe because of the Indian raids. As I was raised by my grandmother I was always around the Hispanic family and friends. Mary Alvarado, Arturo Bilderine, Mr. and Mrs. Yorba and she was an Avila. In fact my grandmother reverted to Spanish in the last years of her life. Hope that this will add a little bit to you project. I am so proud to be Hispanic. I have found my cousins in Mexico and visited last year with them. 23october1978@tpg.com.au The rest:
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Hi Mimi: I have had my DNA researched through Ancestry.com and
it read my ethnicity from America was 44% Native American and 49% from Europe. I am interested in your heritage project, The Spanish Presence in Americas Roots. Any information will greatly be appreciated.
Sincerely, Lupe Rivera-Cornell
RiveraCornell@aol.com |
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My son,
Carlos Rodriguez Link half Mexican, has his DNA was processed by Ancestry.
Katrina Link link_katrina@yahoo.ca
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I saw your announcement on Somos Primos. In my genealogy I believe that Montezuma is my 16th great grand father. Andy's pedigree You Agustin Gonzalez, your father Andres Gonzalez Alvarez, his father Bonifacio Gonzalez Gonzalez, his father Maria de la Luz Gonzalez Gomez, his mother Severo Gonzalez Martin, her father Francisco González Martín, his father Maria Gertrudis Martin de Sotomayor y Fernandez, his mother Juana Gertrudis Fernandez de Rueda, her mother Maria Macías Valadez y Muñoz de Nava, her mother Petronila Muñoz de Nava y García de Hermosillo, her mother Luis Lopez Muñoz de Nava, her father Elvira Tiscareño Molina y Ruiz de Esparza, his mother Lorenza Ruiz de Esparza y Gabay, her mother Ana Francisca Gabay Navarro y Moctezuma, her mother Petronila Sotelo de Moctezuma, her mother Leonor Valderrama de Moctezuma, her mother Leonor de Moctezuma, her mother Moctezuma II, 9th Aztec Emperor, her father DNA RESULTS for "Andy" Antonio Gonzalez |
| Editor Mimi: I found
the comparison of Gerald Flavin and Antonio Gonzalez SO interesting.
Jerry of Irish heritage relates to his Abuelita and embraces warmly his
Mexican culture. Jerry is 95.4% European with 3.1% Native
American lines. Andy, with a direct line to Moctezuma II is 77%
Southern European and 5% Native American. Native American DNA is
at the roots of this nation and us. My maternal mitochondria is Native American and one of my grandsons, a graduate student in the bio sciences says that I also have Native American on my father's side. All my surnames 500 years back are Spanish/Southern European surnames. We Americanos are a very complicated and fascinating mix of bloodlines connecting us to the whole world. Let us embrace our Spanish roots, along with our indigenous Native American roots, Somos primos . . . . You will find eleven
more articles on DNA in this issue: four in the DNA section: four
in the Sephardic section: one in Indigenous, one
in African-American, and one in archeology. |
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| There is no point in taking sides when discussing empires of long ago. My interest is almost always in trying to understand things. Remember, I'm the guy who proposed a radical strategy to unite La Raza by giving birth to a new ethnicity that might be called Amerícans with a decided bias toward our Native American heritage. At the same time, I find it highly contradictory that Raza should hold a long standing grudge against the Spanish when, according to the Mexican American genetic reference group of the National Geographic Society, Mexican Americans (Los Angeles sample) have about 30 percent Mediterranean and 20 percent European genes. The Native American genetic component is about 30 to 35 percent. From these scientific facts, it seems to me that to detest the Spanish is to engage in some kind of self-hatred. And accepting our European genetic makeup should not result in us hating our Native American genes, or Afro genes, etc. In my view, the challenge that Chicanada face is to accept who we really are and to get rid of all the prejudices that others have imposed upon us over many centuries. And, for heaven's sake, it's time for us to stop hating some part of ourselves. If we want to move forward we have to accept us as we are and then see what we can make of ourselves. I need not point out to you the politics in all of this . . . (we may even be trying to solve the same problem from very different angles. . . ) Regards, Ray Padilla rvpadilla1@GMAIL.COM January 2016 discussion on LARED-L@LISTSERV.CYBERLATINA.NET |
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Brad Pitt is joining Disney to tell the story of Dr. Alfredo
Quiñones-Hinojosa. |
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The movie star turned producer will be producing the story about an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, who came to the United States at 19 and started working on farms in California, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Quiñones-Hinojosa saved up a ton of money and enrolled in Harvard Medical School. He is currently the head of brain tumor surgery at the famous John Hopkins Hospital. |
Pitt's company, Plan B, first started a relationship with the doctor in 2007 and it is now all coming together. Matthew Lopez will be writing the script focused on the surgeon's life. Everyone is keeping all the details surrounding production on the down low but we are sure it's going to be amazing.
Source: Latina
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| At
85, Huerta became the first Latina to be honored at the
Smithsonian Institution's, with the exhibit, titled “One Life: Dolores
Huerta.” And even though it only looks at part of the civil rights leader's
life, it is definitely one of
the most important ones, as it highlights the significant role of this Latina
leader in the California farm workers movement of the 1960s and 70s. It features
Huerta as the co-founder, with Cesar Chavez, of the United Farm Workers union (UFW),
and shows her position as the union’s lobbyist and contract negotiator. Do read her Wikipedia biography. It will make you proud. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolores_Huerta Dolores Huerta Foundation P.O. Box 2087. Bakersfield, CA 93303. Phone: 661 322 3033. Fax: 661 322-3171. Sent by Pauline Avendano pavendano@earthlink.net |
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| Secretary
Julián Castro addressed the Leadership Luncheon and visited the Emerge
Latino Conference Scholarship recipients. |
Over 800 people attended the Legislative Conference, Emerge Conference, and Awards Gala. We are especially grateful to our diamond, platinum, and gold sponsors for making these events possible. |
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U.S. National Anthem sung by 500 students in Kentucky high-rise hotel. |
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| 500 high school choir students sing the U.S. National Anthem in a high-rise hotel. Each night before curfew they gather on their balconies to sing the Star-Spangled Banner from the balconies of the | 18-story atrium at Louisville's Hyatt Regency, part of Kentucky Music Educators convention. http://www.chonday.com/Videos/anthofius3 Sent by Yomar Villarreal Clearyycleary@charter.net |
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Recollections on the 45th Anniversary of the White House Conference on Youth |
| Hello Mimi, It is amazing how fast time flies. In looking over the new year, I realized that there was one major event that took place and that affected me personally. This April 18 through the 21, will be the 45th anniversary of my participation in the White House Conference on Youth in 1971. Shortly after I returned to St. Mary's University for the spring semester to work on my M.A. thesis on the life of Father Carmelo A. Tranchese, S.J., I received an invitation from the White House to participate as a delegate to the forthcoming conference. The explanation in the letter indicated that I was recommended by Texas Governor Preston Smith, and that I was one of the leaders assigned to the task force on Race and Minority Group Relations. The university had submitted my name to the governor's office. Furthermore, the letter explained that all my expenses were to paid, that the conference would take place at Estes Park, Colorado, that I was one of 1,318 delegates representing every state and U.S. territory, with an addition of 100 international invitees, and that the focus was on a number of issues affecting people ages 14 through 24. The topics included Values, Ethics and Culture, Foreign Affairs, the Draft, Drugs, Economy and Employment, Education, Race and Minority Group Relations, National Service and Alternatives, Environment, Legal Rights and Justice. Most importantly, this was going to be my first time in an airplane! At the San Antonio International Airport, I boarded a colorful Braniff Boeing 727, with its blue fuselage and the wings speckled with white and a lighter blue. I was extremely nervous and afraid. Before the plane took off I started praying the rosary silently to calm my nerves and to find solace and peace within my heart and soul. After we landed in Denver, Colorado, on a sunny warm afternoon, chartered buses were ready to take us up the mountain to our destination. Sitting by the window I noticed that the temperature was getting colder and colder. As one of the leaders on the task force on Race and Minority Group Relations, we discussed ethnic identity and minority group interactions among other critical issues. In our summary report, we called for President Nixon to denounce racism as the “cancer of American society.” We recognized institutional racism as a major problem in the United States. Some of the recommendations included: 1. The rejection of the American concept of the "melting pot." We emphasized the recognition of the unique features of all the cultures in the United States. 2. The inclusion of racial diversity in all the textbooks at all educational levels. The textbooks must clearly and honestly reflect the diverse racial and ethnic heritage of this country. 3. Bilingual/Bicultural Education must become a reality. 4. The implementation of Multi-Ethnic Studies at the college and university levels. Mimi, we have come a long way, and I am happy to say that all four of the above recommendations have been implemented and are now part of the Establishment across our country. For example, in 1975, the state of Texas approved the mandated Bilingual Education Program. Other reports from other task forces that were approved by the general assembly called for (a) the immediate United States withdrawal from Indochina, (b) the legalization of marijuana, and (c) an end to the draft as of June 30, 1971. The White House Conference on Youth was held at the height of the Vietnam War and amid growing youth dissatisfaction with the Nixon administration, so many of the task force recommendations opposed existing U.S. policies. Growing up in the Barrio El Azteca in Laredo where the temperatures are extremely hot all year round and no chance of ever getting snow, which I had never seen, a record-breaking blizzard suddenly fell for two whole days. None of us were prepared for this humongous avalanche. The U.S. Army came to our rescue by lending us military parkas. We covered our shoes with green plastic Glad bags to trudge through the snow to get to the different meeting places. Despite the annoying discomfort, the spectacular scenery of the mountains covered with snow made it all worthwhile. I stood in awe admiring the majestic beauty of God's marvelous creation. I went to the nearest pay phone and had enough quarters to call Mamá and Jo Emma and share my excitement. This was an unforgettable experience. At the plenary session on the last day of the conference, I was unanimously selected to a committee of ten members. Our task was to meet with key White House staff members in Washington, D.C., in about three weeks. All my traveling and all other expenses were paid for by the U.S. government. The flight to the nation's capital seemed like an eternity. The Boeing 727 landed in Arlington, Virginia, and from there I took the shuttle bus across the Potomac River. We met in an office next door to the Library of Congress and our responsibility was to brief these important bureaucrats on the findings and conclusions of the White House Conference on Youth. One day after the meeting, I took the under ground train to the Capitol Building to visit the Honorable Henry B. González. We did have some free time for some sightseeing. The Washington Monument was a sight to remember. Standing at the base of the Lincoln Memorial was an awe-inspiring sight. The following words were etched on the white marble wall above the 16th President who sits majestically and immortalized for generations to come: "In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever." There is no doubt in my mind that the trip and the meetings were a learning experience. The only lamentation I have is that I needed about two more weeks to visit the Smithsonian Institution and the other museums. Three years later and as a result of our task force recommendation to make Bilingual/Bicultural Education a reality, the Association of American Publishers sent me an invitation to give a talk at a two-day symposium on--"Bilingual/Bicultural Education: Current Status and Future Trends," at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, scheduled for Wednesday, October 23 and Thursday, October 24, 1974. The letter also mentioned that all my expenses were going to be paid, plus an honorarium. I was exuberant and looking forward to visiting the Big Apple for the first time. During the infancy of Bilingual Education in the early 1970s, none of the school textbooks were published in the United States. All of them came from Latin American countries. As the Director of the Bilingual Education Program in the South San Antonio Independent School District, I purchased all the Spanish textbooks for the elementary grades from Mexican publishing companies. At the symposium, the publishers wanted to know about this new market that was quickly spreading across the country. The colleges and universities were also caught unprepared to provide teacher certification classes in Bilingual Education. I walked inside the packed cavernous Terrace Room at the Plaza Hotel where I was scheduled to speak at 11:45. As I viewed the sea of eyes focused on me, I muttered a silent prayer—“The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want; The Lord is my shepherd I shall not fear.” After my presentation and the question and answer period, we had thirty minute before lunch to indulge in some cocktails in the Persian Room. John Molina, the National Director for Bilingual Education, pulled me aside, holding a dry martini in his right hand, and asked me if I wanted to work for him. He completely caught me off guard and I almost spilled my Cuba Libre. He continued to tell me about the advantages of working at the national level and with my experience in bilingual education, I would be an asset to his division. We exchanged business cards and I told him I needed to consult with my wife. I already knew the answer to his query--a definite "No". The Honorable Herman Badillo, from the House of Representatives, introduced the main speaker, John F. Vance, Executive Vice President for McGraw-Hill Book Company. Even though Central Park was located across the street from the Plaza Hotel, I did not do much sightseeing. Nevertheless, the experience was phenomenal. ~ Gilberto |
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| A few months after I returned from participating in the White House Conference on Youth and the follow-up meeting in Washington, D.C., my good friend and mentor Dr. Félix D. Almaráz Jr. gave me gainful employment in the recently federally-funded Title VII Bilingual-Bicultural Education Program of the South San Antonio Independent School District. He had taken a sabbatical leave from the University of Texas at Austin to become the director of the fledgling educational enterprise. In the attached photograph, taken in the early 1970s, the staff consisted of the following (L-R): Rosaura Villegas, Curriculum Development; Amparo Ortiz, Administrative Assistant; J. Gilberto Quezada, Internal Evaluator; Dolores Martínez, Administrative Assistant; and Dr. Félix D. Almaráz, Jr., Director. |
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Jovita Idar: Journalism Pioneer |
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La Crónica, a Spanish-language newspaper, probably began publication in Laredo in the 1890s. It became noted for its coverage of the economic and social condition of Texas Mexicans and for championing their cultural heritage and exposing racial exploitation. It also promoted economic development of the border region and included commentary and essays on philosophical, religious, literary, and political issues. The paper promoted the intellectual development and civil rights of Hispanics. It ran poetry columns, editorials against bigotry, and promotions of civic leagues. criticized anti-Mexican discrimination, lynching, and poor social conditions. The paper also supported the Mexican Revolution in Mexico that broke out in 1910. Idar later went to Mexico as a nurse to care for wounded revolutionary soldiers. In 1911 Idar became the first president of the League of Mexican Women to promote the education of poor children.
http://www.latinorebels.com/2016/03/04/latinahistorymonth-jovita-idar-journalism-pioneer/?utm_content=buf
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 Alicia Dickerson Montemayor was an American civil rights activist from Laredo, Texas, the first woman elected to a national office not specifically designated for women. She was also the first woman to serve as associate editor of the LULAC newspaper and the first to write a charter to fund a LULAC youth group. Montemayor urged the inclusion of girls and women into Latin American activism and also promoted the interests of middle-class Mexican Americans. |
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| In 1936, Montemayor helped to charter the women’s division of Laredo
LULAC. The council encouraged women to vote and to have aspirations to work outside the home. They supported abused children, raised funds for the Laredo orphanage and flood victims, bought school supplies for poor children, and sponsored a column in Laredo’s newspaper and in the published edition of LULAC news. A prolific writer, Montemayor wrote more articles for LULAC than any other woman in its history. In her writing she stressed the importance of independent thinking for adults and youth. |
A prolific writer, Montemayor wrote more articles for LULAC than any other woman in its history. In her writing she stressed the importance of independent thinking for adults and youth. Her first essay was “We Need More Ladies Councils,” where she called women to action to help reinvigorate inactive councils. She made public calls for women to join LULAC to empower themselves and help close the gender gap. She believed that women had common sense and: were able to see at a glance and penetrate into, in a second, what most men would not see with a searchlight or a telescope in an eternity. |
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| We salute you, Alicia Dickerson
Montemayor, on Womens History Month. To learn more about Alicia Dickerson
Montemayor, visit our friends at Intercultural Development Research Association. |
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G.I. Forum, LULAC |
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3, Fox News Latino A cemetery in a small Texas town has denied a woman's request to bury her husband there simply because he is Hispanic. In fact, the cemetery in Normanna, Texas says its policy does not allow any Hispanic or black people to be buried there."I love my husband with all my heart," Donna Barrera said of her deceased husband Pedro to Kiiitv 3 in South Texas. "That was 44 years with him and then all of a sudden this comes out of the woodwork." Donna asked the owner of the ironically Latino named San Domingo Cemetery if she could bury her husband's ashes there and the owner, rather emphatically, said no. "He wasn't supposed to be buried there, because he's a Mexican, or of Spanish descent, or whatever you want to say. That's what I told her and that's what we've been doing," said Jimmy Bradford, owner of the San Domingo Cemetery Association, to the South Texas Local Station. Friday Mar 4 | KIII G.I. Forum, LULAC Protesters showed up in Bee County Friday morning to support Dorothy Barrera's effort to have her Hispanic husband buried in the "whites only" Normanna Community Cemetery. Protesters were appalled that the grave of Santo Ramirez sits outside the fence of the cemetery. Comment? Related Topix: Bee County, txlulac2@swbell.net Monday Mar 7 | KIII |
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Youth Representatives (left to right): Mary Elena
Gonzalez, Roxana Vado, Yadira Dominguez, Estefania Martinez, Aniessa Marie Hermosillo and Marie Barake |
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NCLR will be providing these educators ongoing technical assistance, opportunities for professional development, and access to relevant positive femininity curricula as they implement the Entre Mujeres program in their schools and organization. Each educator will be responsible of guiding a cohort of 10–15 young women. Sent by Danny Rico
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G.I Forum, LULAC Protest "Whites Only" Police at Normanna |
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A cemetery in a small Texas town has denied a woman's request to bury her husband there simply because he is Hispanic. In fact, the cemetery in Normanna, Texas says its policy does not allow any Hispanic or black people to be buried there. "I love my husband with all my heart," Donna Barrera said of her deceased husband Pedro to Kiiitv 3 in South Texas. "That was 44 years with him and then all of a sudden this comes out of the woodwork." Donna asked the owner of the ironically Latino named San Domingo Cemetery if she could bury her husband's ashes there and the owner, rather emphatically, said no. "He wasn't supposed to be buried there, because he's a Mexican, or of Spanish descent, or whatever you want to say. That's what I told her and that's what we've been doing," said Jimmy Bradford, owner of the San Domingo Cemetery Association, to the South Texas Local Station. Bradford says the land belonged to his great, great grandfather who asked that it be used as a cemetery for the people of Normanna. When asked by a local reporter whether he would reconsider his decision, Bradford said, "Well, I guess if she tells Obama and he comes down here and tells me I guess I'd have to. Otherwise, No." Headstones show the names of American veterans who died in 1898. Donna's caregiver and friend – both of whom are Hispanic – were there when Bradford told Donna that she couldn't bury her husband at the cemetery because of his ethnicity. "I just heard him telling her that he had to be buried over there with the blacks," Alfredo Lopez said. "There shouldn't be no racism, at all. We are all one kind and for him to have said that to her – it’s horrible," the caregiver Amanda Brown told Kiiitv. This is the second time in as many months that the issue of a "Whites Only Cemetery" has come up in Texas. In February the city council of Denton unanimously approved an ordinance that renounced a 1933 deed requirement at a city cemetery that limited burial plots to white people. It is illegal to enforce a Whites Only Cemetery based on a 1948 Supreme Court case, Shelley v. Kraemer, which outlaws racial covenants on real estate. Brent Wilkes, national executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said he intends to refer the issue to the U.S. Department of Justice. "We intend to refer the issue to the department of justice. You can’t discriminate on the basis of race. It is completely illegal and against the constitution, and we intend to ensure that this cemetery is opened up,” Wilkes said. "It’s obviously very disturbing and disappointing I thought it was something we buried 50 years ago.” Sent by Wanda Garcia wanda.garcia@sbcglobal.net |
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Normanna
is approximately 32 miles away from Three Rivers Texas home of the
Felix Longoria refusal to bury him because it was a White
cemetery. At present the owner of Normanna graveyard refused to
have Dorothy's (who is white) husband Barrera buried in an all
white graveyard. Is racism is alive and well?
Protesters
showed up in Bee County Friday morning to support Dorothy
Barrera's effort to have her Hispanic husband buried in the
"whites only" Normanna Community Cemetery.
The
man who runs the place, Jimmy Bradford, seems to stand behind
their "whites only" policy. Kiii
News Reporter Michael Gibson was there Friday and came back with
the details.
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Protesters
were appalled that the grave of Santo Ramirez sits outside the
fence of the cemetery. Ramirez died in 1910 and the headstone
looks like it is from that time period, definitely well before the
fence was put up around the graveyard.
State
Senator Judith Zaffarini released a statement Friday in support of
Dorothy Barrera's efforts to have her husband's remains buried
there. State Representative J.M. Lozano contacted the State
Attorney General's Office and they are investigating.
Congressman
Filemon Vela is also working with LULAC to get all the facts and
turn those over to the U.S. Justice Department.
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| Sent
by Lucas Jasso Pezador
pezador@yahoo.com News video of the protest. http://www.kiiitv.com/story/31388523/gi-forum-lulac-protest-whites-only-police-at-normanna-cemetery |
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Meet the Charro Mexican Cowboys Fighting to Save the Lost Art and Traditions of Mexican Horsemanship by Antonio Gomez Texas Connection to the American Revolution, March 2, Meeting, Topic: SPAR, Spanish Presence in Americas Roots Colonial collection of the Durango municipal archive online |
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| Growing up in Mexico, Antonio Gomez practiced rope tricks with his friends. After living in the U.S. for many years, he returned recently to attend a wedding steeped in the Charro culture he’d left behind. His new series captures the drama of the sport best described as traditional Mexican horsemanship, but experienced as a deep connection between riders, animals, and God. For Polarr, Emily von Hoffmann speakers with Gomez: How did you become interested in a documentary project on Charreria? Are you or your family involved in it, for instance? Antonio Gomez: Ever since I can remember I have been interested in Charreria. As a little kid, in Mexico, I would practice rope tricks on the street with my friends. My dad was also a horse jockey and would take me to the races. My family was never involved in the actual sport, however, we had friends that practiced it. Image courtesy of Antonio Gomez. AG: One of those family friends had a 50th wedding anniversary and after taking a couple of images at their wedding I was reminded just how beautiful the Charro way of life was. Since I had been living in the U.S. for over 20 years there was a longing for this type of photography, as it reminded me of my roots and my old way of life. After that occasion I decided to do a series on Charreria. Image courtesy of Antonio Gomez. AG: When I discovered that there was a Charro association here in Vegas I immediately searched them out and now I know a lot of them through my photography. EvH: You wrote that “Charro, Portrait of a Way of Life,” is about “the struggle of many Mexican immigrants who make it their mission to pass on equestrian precision and human nobility to the next generation.” For our readers who may be unfamiliar, can you please describe what is so special about this tradition? What needs to be preserved? Why is it under threat? AG: Immigrants in the U.S. are often seen as outsiders?—?Donald Trump recently said that Mexico sends rapists and murderers to the USA. We are often marginalized and seen as a lower class. The Charro culture is one of the things that gives most Mexicans a sense of pride.
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Sent by Jerry Gibbons jerry@gibbons-advice.com |
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Texas Connection to the American Revolution March 2 meeting Petroleum Club, San Antonio:
Prissy Hancock, Vice President- TCARA Jack Cowan, Executive Director-TCARA
Ed Butler, Past President General-SAR Bob Hancock, President-TCARA Gary Foreman, Film Produce Corinne Staacke, Secretary-TCARA
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Judge Edward Butler is the author of
the book, |
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NPR Latino USA March 19th, 1697: Spanish priest and chronicler of Texas enters Franciscan order Gaspar de Portola de California, Olivdado Países que pertenecieron a "México" (Nueva España) Biography.com |
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NPR Latino USA |
| National Public Radio has archived radio
programs dedicated to Latino Subjects. Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.
Cover historic, current, and cultural as these two programs demonstrate. Do check them out. http://www.npr.org/programs/latino-usa/470976152/stereotyped Stereotyped: From the "Latin Lover" to the "Latina Bombshell" to the "Sleeping Mexican," Latino USA breaks down stereotypes. We also hear from listeners about how stereotypes have affected their lives. Hosted by: Maria Hinojosa The March 11 program was http://refusingtoforget.org/ concerning the violence of the 1910s. Especially strong testimony from Benita Albarado on the Porvenir Massacre: http://latinousa.org Sent by Juan Marinez marinezj@msu.edu |
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| March 19th, 1697 -- Spanish priest and
chronicler of Texas enters Franciscan order On this day in 1697, future Texas chronicler Isidro Félix de Espinosa was professed as a novice at the College of Santa Cruz de Querétaro, a Franciscan missionary institution in Mexico. He probably arrived in Texas in 1703. Espinosa's missionary activities in Texas included his participation in several expeditions. Dubbed the "Julius Caesar of the Faith in New Spain" because he worked by day and wrote all night, Espinosa left behind several works on early Texas, including a biography of his friend Antonio Margil de Jesús. Espinosa's Crónica de los colegios de propaganda fide de la Nueva España has been called the "most important contemporary account of the Franciscans in Texas." tshaonline@tshaonline.org |
March 26th, 1945 -- Battleship Texas continues outstanding service On this day in 1945, the battleship Texas supported the landings for the battle of Okinawa, the final great amphibious assault of World War II. The keel of the Texas, the second battleship to bear this name, was laid at Newport News, Virginia, on April 17, 1911. After serving in the Atlantic Fleet in the First World War, she supported the World War II landings in North Africa, Omaha Beach, southern France, and Iwo Jima. After more than thirty-four years of naval service she was retired and given to the state of Texas to be used as a memorial. She is permanently moored at the San Jacinto Monument off the Houston Ship Channel. |
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http://www.biography.com/page/about About Biography: Every life has a story. Biography.com captures the most gripping, surprising and fascinating stories about famous people. The last fateful day. The decision that changed everything. The moment of cheating death. The biggest break. The defining opportunity. The most shattering failure. The unexpected connection. With over 7,000 biographies and daily features that highlight newsworthy, compelling and surprising points-of-view, we are the digital source for true stories about people that matter. The Bio. website is great, with historic film
segments, photos and interviews with everyday people and
historians. The site is produced by A&E Television Networks,
LLC Say Entertainment, which accounts for the inclusion of outstanding
archival historic film segments. Thanks to Dorinda Moreno for this outstanding
find.
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Recommended by Dr. Carlos Campos y Escalante |
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| Gaspar de Portola de California, olivdado
Otro español olvidado... en la misma España.
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Países que pertenecieron a "México"
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Dr. Miguel Encinias: Combat Aviator, April 8th, 1923 - February 20, 2016 Jose Garcia Pantoja: Paleographer, November 1, 1927 - March 15, 2016 Sgt. Rudy Garcia: President, LA Chapter, 11th Airborne Division Assn. March 8, 2016 Daniel James Ramos: Social and Political Activist October 11, 1945 to March 11, 2016. |
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It was a great honor to give the Eulogy for Dr. Miguel Encinias - A
Legendary Aviator. He is most likely, the greatest combat Aviator in American history.
Ralph Arellanes |
 It is with a very heavy heart that we announce the
passing of Dr. Miguel Encinias. Dr. Miguel Encinias was born on April
8th, 1923 and he is often regarded as "New Mexico's most decorated
Veteran." Dr. Encinias was a Fighter Pilot and he flew 245 combat
missions in three wars - WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He is
only 1 of 5 American Aviators in American history to have flown combat
missions in threeseparate wars. He is the only Hispanic American to have accomplished this heroic feat in US history. His military service and his life is nothing short of legendary. Dr. Encinias logged over 5,000 flying hours in 15 different aircraft over a 33 year military career He flew 66 combat missions in WWII, 109 combat missions in the Korean War and 70 combat missions in the war in Vietnam. He was shot down by a German Base over Italy in 1944 and he served over 15 months in a Nazi Prison Camp until the end of WWII. He volunteered to fight in the Korean War and he was shot down again but this time he was rescued behind enemy lines before being captured by the North Koreans. He was awarded 2 Purple Heart Medals, 14 Air Medals and 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses. He was personally honored by President Eisenhower for flying heroics during the Korean War. 
In 1995, he was the first person appointed by President Clinton to serve
on the World War II Commission of a four member Commission. By the time
the WWII Memorial had been built in 2004, Dr. Encinias wasthe only living member of the Commission to see it completed. Through a letter he wrote to the White House in 1994 asking why a WWII Monument was not yet built, he became the inspiration to build the Memorial. Dr. Miguel Encinias is a family friend who grew on Montezuma Street with my father and uncles in Las Vegas, New Mexico. He attended all schools in Las Vegas until he joined the Army in 1939 at the age of 16. Dr. Encinias was honored by New Mexico LULAC in May of 2007 and by the Hispano Round Table of New Mexico in February of 2011. Soon after we honored Dr. Encinias, Las Vegas Officials named the local Armory in his honor - the Dr. Miguel Encinias Armory. Dr. Encinias services will be announced shortly. His funeral will be at the San Felipe de Neri Church in Old Town Albuquerque at 11:00am on Thursday February 25th. He will be buried at the Veterans National Cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico with full military honors on Friday. Regards, Ralph Arellanes ralphnmlulac@comcast.net Also sent by Paul Trejo PGBlueCoat@aol.com and Mercy Bautista Olvera scarlett_mbo@yahoo.com |
| One of New Mexico’s most decorated war veterans, Encinias served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War and was a former prisoner of war. He later helped oversee the creation of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. “He was a very quiet, humble man who didn’t speak much — unless he had to give a speech,” said Ralph Arellanes, whose father and uncles grew up with Encinias in Las Vegas in the 1930s. “He never spoke ill of the Germans or the Japanese or anybody he fought. As he said, ‘They were just defending their country and fighting for what they believed in.’” Encinias was born April 8, 1923, the youngest of 16 children. As a teen he delivered the Las Vegas Daily Optic newspaper and also boxed. His daughter, Isabel Encinias, said her father was a movie buff who would box for money and then use his winnings to go to the cinema. When the family’s fortunes declined during the tail end of the Great Depression, he joined the New Mexico National Guard in 1939 at the age of 16. He wasn’t alone — many of his peers did the same thing. “The reason for the rush to join was that the battalions were predominantly Hispanic … from Las Vegas, Albuquerque and Socorro … almost 100 percent Hispanic,” Encinias said in a 2001 interview for the University of Texas Voces Oral History Project. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Encinias, knowing there was a big demand for pilots, applied for the air cadet academy and was accepted. He recalled in that 2001 interview that “All the time I was in training I never met another pilot who was Hispanic.” After his plane was shot down over Northern Italy in 1944, he said, he also was the only Hispanic prisoner at Stalag Luft 1 in Barth, Germany. By that time he had flown some 40 missions against the Germans and shot down three enemy aircraft in combat. He and other prisoners used Red Cross rations to bribe the guards for radio parts which they used to build a radio and learn what was going on during the war. Encinias joked that because of that radio the prisoners knew about the invasion of Normandy before the Germans who held them. Encinias was interviewed about his 15 months of captivity at Stalag Luft 1 by Tom Brokaw, who profiled the New Mexican in The Greatest Generation Speaks, Brokaw’s sequel to his best-seller The Greatest Generation. The camp was liberated by Russian troops in April 1945. After the war, Encinias attended Georgetown University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. He later got the equivalent of a master’s degree at the Institute of Political Studies in Paris. Encinias was so proficient in French that he was asked to teach the language at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He married Jeanine Henrietta Blondel, a native of France, in 1963, and had one son and three daughters with her. When the Korean War broke out in 1950, Encinias served as an F-86 Sabre jet pilot and flew over 100 missions, once again getting shot down at least once. This time, however, an American helicopter crew rescued him from behind enemy lines. He remained in the Air Force and served as an adviser in Vietnam in the early 1960s, accompanying Vietnamese Air Force pilots on missions. He recalled once taking a Vietnamese soldier for a low-level flight along a swampy area where the passenger was “sitting in the back with a shotgun shooting Viet Cong.” Encinias retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel in 1971 and returned to New Mexico, where he earned a doctorate in Spanish literature at The University of New Mexico. He also wrote several books, including a novel based on the life of Spanish explorer Don Juan de Oñate. His daughter said he lived two lives: “One in the military and one afterward.” In a 2006 interview with The New Mexican, Encinias said he kept volunteering to fight “to prove something to myself. … I said to myself that I was only good enough for war, so I made a career out of it.” His son, Juan-Pablo Encinias, said his father realized “it was a very special cause he was fighting for. He felt very strongly about serving, especially in World War II, and felt it was a just cause no matter what the price. “He almost never spoke about his combat experience. My father really did not seem that scarred by the wars. He was a tough-minded person who kind of accepted that as part of life and was not taken aback by it.” Nevertheless, when Encinias was interviewed for the University of Texas Voces Oral History Project about his wartime experiences, he got choked up remembering the atrocities Russian soldiers committed against German women when the country was liberated from the Nazis. “They were so defenseless,” he said. In the mid-1990s, President Bill Clinton asked Encinias to serve on the World War II Memorial Advisory Board to help build the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. When that memorial finally opened in 2004, Encinias was the only living veteran on the board to attend the ceremony, where he spoke. In addition to his Distinguished Flying Cross honors, during his career Encinias was awarded two Purple Heart medals and 14 Air Medals, his children said. He is survived by his wife, two of his daughters, his son and four grandchildren. Burial in Santa Fe National Cemetery is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 26. Contact Robert Nott at 505-986-3021 Sent by Oscar Ramirez osramirez@sbcglobal.net |
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As Paleographer, Mr. Pantoja
volunteered for the city of |
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 1. While researching the original Pueblo Papers hosed by the history San José organization, Mr. Pantoja found 6,000 pages in a jumble and disorder. The early microfiches that had attempted to document to document these papers, recorded them not only out of chronological order but not even in whole sets. The various pages were quite of often separated into different microfiche catalogs because the Castilian language and handwriting styles had not been correctly interpreted. It made research exceptionally difficult and cumbersome. Mr. Pantoja became a stalwart volunteer in 1985 began to match the originals Pueblo Papers into complete documents and to cross-index both the Microfiches and the handwritten originals pages. He completed this task and his work has assisted professionals, academics, and community members in their investigations of early California.2. In 1992 during the remodeling of buildings in the History Museum campus, more boxes were found in an attic, additional pages of unknown original Pueblo papers Over several years, Mr. Pantoja organized, and cross-indexed, all of them including transcribing over 200 of the most historically significant documents; and in so doing very possibly became the number one expert in the history San José California’s first Pueblo.
3. During this same period, Mr. Pantoja volunteered for 18 years at the San José Latter Day Saints Genealogy Library where he assisted people to research their family roots in the Castilian and Spanish language archives.
Information below, Published in San Jose Mercury News/San
Mateo County Times on Mar. 17, 2016 - Born in Tuxcueca, Jalisco, México, José is survived by his loving wife, Rosario and his 4 daughters - Maria Pantoja, Bertha Zuzuárregui , Veronica De Luca, and Sylvia Bargas. José also leaves behind 9 grandchildren - José-Javier Ramirez, Rafael Zuzuárregui, Vanesa Zuzuárregui, Marcos Zuzuárregui, Andrea De Luca, Domenic De Luca, Darian Bargas, Devon Bargas, and Danika Bargas.
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Sgt. Rudy Garcia, Passed Away
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HAS PASSED AWAY THIS MORNING
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Daniel James
Ramos, |
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Daniel James Ramos born October 11, 1945 went to be with the Lord at
dawn on Friday, March 11th 2016, surrounded by his loved ones. A
graduate of Fox Tech class of 66', Mr. Ramos went on to enlist and serve
our country in the United States Air Force from 1964 to 1977 as a
reservist and active duty. He then served Civil Service and eventually joined the A.F.G.E. Union Chapter 1617 to where he proudly became Union President. After his years with the Union, Mr. Ramos began a life in what would be a myriad of different roles of public service. He at that time rose to power under the local L.U.L.A.C. and A.C.L.U. dedicating his time and effort to those whom had been discriminated against and to also be the voice of the voiceless. During this era he dedicated his extra time being assisting veterans with their benefits and making sure that they were never alone in making sure they had representation often without receiving a penny in return, that was Dan. In his remaining years he fought, supporting local politicians, by campaigning, and fighting for justice. Anytime that Dan saw the good in someone running for public office, he made sure they were put into action. He was a huge influence on many in the political arena and made sure that everyone knew importance of transparency. He funded, campaigned, block-walked, fundraised you name it, He did it all in the name of Democracy. Civil Rights were Dan's life, he may not have subscribed to all tenants, but made sure all tenants were given their fair representation. He served as Bexar County Democratic Party Chair.  He is survived by his beloved wife of 41 years, Rosa Eloisa, his children Alejandro, Noelia, Daniel Jesus. His grandchildren, Alex, Madeleine Claire, Ana Belle, Olivia Rose and coming soon Elijah James. He also leaves behind his parents Gerardo and L eonor, as well as brothers and sister, Andres, Leonor, Jerry, Thomas, and George. Daniel James Ramos always fought the good fight, we are glad to say that he is now at peace." Dan's Obituary Page can be found Here Sent by Walter Herbeck tejanos2010@gmail.com
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| Santiago Erevia, Medal of Honor Recipient
passed away Vietnam POWs . . . . 40 years later My Friend, Eugene (Gene) Treasrau by Jose M. Pena Living Through the Tet Offensive by Jose M. Pena |
| Wed, 23 Mar 2016
I
DEEPLY REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT..."OUR GOOD FRIEND AND
TRAVELING COMPANION MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT SANTIAGO EREVIA PASSED
AWAY YESTERDAY MORNING. WE ALL HAVE LOST A GOOD FRIEND AND BRAVE
AMERICAN....I WAS HONORED TO BE WITH HIM AT THE
"PENTAGON MEDAL OF HONOR CEREMONY ON MARCH 19TH, 2014"
GOD
BLESS' SANTIAGO EREVIA'...
Sincerely,
Rick
Leal, President
Hispanic
Medal of Honor Society.
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Thank you for sharing the notice of Santiago's death. I would have been honored to meet him. This briefly informs us about him:
Refugio Rochin rrochin@gmail.com
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Rick, et al,
I was personally saddened and unprepared to hear that
because Juanita and I spent a great week with him and his wife in L.A.
just a couple of years ago. It seems like only last
summer.
But Rick Leal gave Santiago the greatest recognition,
second only to President Obama's White House ceremony. You let
Santiago stand at the Pentagon and on a national stage at the NCLR
convention in Los Angeles where he got a standing ovation of over 5
minutes. After it subsided to a normal applause, they stood up
again and gave him second heartfelt standing ovation. He
dominated the entire banquet hall, just standing modestly on the
stage.
You and Cochran arranged a grand reception for his
arrival at the Los Angeles International Airport with fire trucks,
police escort, and a tumultuous applause with people standing up for
him as he walked through the concourse in the airport. Santiago
Erevia received the kind of coming home reception that he should have
had years ago and all of his life.
My one consolation about this great hero is that we got
to play a small part in giving him the recognition that he deserved as
a recipient of the Medal of Honor. I say hero because this man
fought in combat like the Hollywood actors couldn't dream of fighting.
I pasted in just a brief excerpt from his Medal of Honor Citation to
illustrate the courage that we commemorate in our hero.
Andres Tijerina, Ph.D.
Austin, Texas
On 21 May 1969 in the Republic of Vietnam, Specialist Erevia came under intense hostile fire from four enemy bunkers. In full view of the hostile gunners, he proceeded to crawl from one wounded comrade to another, gathering ammunition. Armed with two M-16 rifles and several hand grenades, he charged toward the enemy positions. He pulled the pin from a hand grenade and dropped the grenade into the bunker, destroying the fortification. He proceeded to eliminate the next two enemy positions, and exhausted his supply of hand grenades. Courageously charging forward behind the fire of his M-16 rifles, and arriving at the very edge of the fourth bunker, Specialist Erevia silenced the occupant within the fortification at point blank range. His heroic actions in the face of overwhelming danger was an inspiration to his entire company. For his conspicuous gallantry, extraordinary heroism above and beyond the call of duty, Specialist Erevia was awarded the nation’s highest award, the Medal of Honor.
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Refugio and friends,
I emailed and invited the Hispanic Medal of Honor
Society to be my show guest to highlight the organization and medal
recipients.
I welcome contact information, from the group, of
persons that should be highlighted via my podcast or webcast
programming.
Gracias, Armando F. Sanchez, CEO, broadcaster and author
Role Model podcast series at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/latino-role-models-success
Leadership, entrepreneurship and nonprofits
Facebook, LinkedIn: Armando F Sanchez
Twitter @ArmandoFSanchez
"Make Succeeding a Habit"
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Vietnam POWs . . . . 40 years
later
This is a great video of our military guys who were held in North Vietnam prisons. I had never seen this before and I had no idea how these guys felt all these years about Nixon. Why not share this magnificent video with your friends. Vietnam POWs - 40 years later. Very touching. Included is an interview with Everett Alvarez, who spent eight and a half years as a North Vietnam prisoner, the longest amount of time in the United States military history. http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=LemllfcAY8A&sns=em
Sent by Bill Carmena jcarm1724@gmail.com
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Today, I got another one of those dreadful telephone calls. This
time, it was about the death of another exceptional friends. In life,
his name was Eugene (Gene) Treasrau. Let me tell you a little about this
great friend.
I first met Gene in Vietnam in 1967 when we both worked for the Inspector
General of the U.S. Agency for International Development. We worked close
in the office, coordinated trips to the various villages, and lived in
the same apartment building complex. Gene met his future wife (Thu Lan)
in Saigon. We became life long friends during the "Tet
Offensive, " which took place as I was getting ready to leave
Vietnam and be transferred to Colombia; so, I had plenty of beer -- but
was extremely low on food supplies.
Although I had been to a village three days before and had been exposed to 9
possible Viet Cong, the Tet Offensive took us all by surprise. If it had
not been for Gene and Thu Lan, I might have gone on a hunger trip for more
than a week. Gene and Thu Lan (an exceptional lady and cook) fed me
during the time the Tet Offensive was in place. I remember that the
apartment complex got shot many times because there was a Vietnamese garrison
guarding it. We used to stand guard for the building, stay inside the
building all the time, go to the rooftop of the building, see the different
fire balls, some people killed, listen to the machine guns and
rumbles of the incursions, and other memorable sights that I will not
describe in this short e-mail. Nights were especially scary. In my case,
I found myself doing some napping (with a bottle of beer, of course) in my
kitchen (safest place) because of the constant machine gun fire outside.
After I left Vietnam and South Vietnam fell, Gene -- by then married to
Thu Lan -- and I worked together in the Washington Office. After that,
Gene and I were assigned to different countries. Both of us served in
the capacity of Deputy Regional Inspector Generals (and Acting Regional
Inspector Generals) -- he in Kenya; me in Egypt and Latin America. We
kept in touch and our friendship continued.
Our last tour together was in Kenya. We both retired after
this; but, our calls and chats with Gene and Thu Lan have been
a constant reminder of our great friendship. About three months
ago, Gene and Thu Lan and I talked over the phone. I sensed that he
might be very sick. The call from Thu Lan yesterday was
somewhat expected.
Gene was 88 years old. He was an exceptional professional, a good
person, a good husband, and I will dearly miss him. Thu Lan, please
accept my most sincere condolence and let's continue to keep in touch.
Rest in Peace my friend.
Jose M. Pena JMPENA@aol.com |
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Introduction:
A few days ago, I wrote an e-mail announcing the death of my friend,
Gene Treasrau. In it, I said that I had been exposed to 9 Viet
Cong a few days before the Tet Offensive. Some asked if I would
explain further what took place. By all means, I will gladly
give you a treat on this -- However, what follows in this e-mail comes
from a chapter in "my Memoirs" which I have started,
stopped, restarted, stopped, and restarted over the past four or five
years. The outline calls for 18 chapter. I have finished
7. One of them is on Vietnam.
The chapter on
Vietnam is a little long. So, this e-mail will only include
parts of it so that you can get an idea of some of the adventures that
took place in Vietnam. The story begins:
Transfer
to Vietnam.
My career with the U.S. Agency For International Development started in
1963 and I was first posted in Peru. After this assignment, I was
transferred to Ecuador. I was getting close to my two years
assignment in Ecuador, when the USAID sent an awfully nice proposal
which asked me if I was willing to become a Permanent Foreign Service
Officer. That was a nice
offer. However, the offer
came with some fine print; if I accepted, it meant that I could be
assigned anywhere in the world. By then, I had gotten used to the lifestyle and FSO work, been promoted to the next higher level, and liked Foreign Service very much. So, I accepted. Not a month went by and I received orders transferring to South Vietnam. (Note: Yes, you are right, I did not volunteer to go Vietnam -- it was just a very nice way for the Agency to force experienced people to go to Vietnam or quit the Foreign Service.) So, this is how I got to Vietnam.
My Chapter on Vietnam contains parts which describes our purchase of a home in Austin (in case I did not come back), our home leave, death of my father, my arrival in Vietnam, my meeting of Carlos R. Cabrera (he and his wife Carmencita have been like brother and sister to me), some history on Vietnam, description of some staff, some of the work we all did, etc. I will only describe some of the most interesting things.
By the time I got to Vietnam, I had had experience (Chief Auditor in Peru and Deputy and Chief Auditor in Ecuador). Therefore, I was appointed as the Deputy Director or Chief of the largest division (the Commodity Import Program) of the office. The Director of the section (Bob G.) and I shared a small office and became good friends. One fringe benefit that I got, as a deputy chief, was the assignment of an old 1946 open Jeep which had come from Excess Property. At work, I did all kinds of interesting plans (standard audit plans), reviews (of the National Bank of Vietnam), etc.
Life
In Vietnam.
Most of my tour in Vietnam was very tolerable and I could even describe
it as very nice. Saigon is a bustling metropolis. The
Vietnamese are very industrious and bright people. Because
of the way they eat and exercise, people tend to be slim and their
oriental feature extremely pretty. Back then, we would see the
people – mostly on bicycles, scooters, and motorcycles – riding
every which way. Traffic was always heavy. The
women and girls have beautiful faces, lovely figures, and with their
flowing “Au Dais” (Vietnamese dress) have a very sexy look. The Au
Dai is a very sexy combination of silk pants, a flowing top, and a very
pronounced “VPL” (Visible Panty Line). I enjoyed and
miss those sights very much. Since the country was at war
and the needs of the Vietnamese families restricted, there tended to be
a great deal of liaisons and inter-relationships between Americans and
the local girls in different forms – boy/girlfriend, friends with
two-way benefits, living arrangements, and there was also open
prostitution. In
any event, the usual sounds of a bustling metropolis were always
present. In addition, all of us could hear the U.S. Jets fly by
and feel the thuds, thunder, and the rumble of the earth as the bombs
hit the ground in the outlying jungle near Saigon. Carlos and I
got an excellent maid. Her name was Cse. She cooked for us
almost every day. On weekends, Carlos, I and friends would buy
some nice steaks, Bar B Que on the roof of the apartment building, have
a few beers, and almost become immune to the trembling and shaking of
the earth caused by the U.S. bombing. We alternated eating at the
apartment, in the roof, and in the excellent Vietnamese restaurants that
existed nearby. We liked going to a restaurant which specialized
in spicy crabs. At that time, Carlos was not used to eating hot
and spicy food; he would make funny noises and say “HAAAA! Ola Cheeta,
this is to spicy hot…” A few years after we left Vietnam, he
was the one that ate really hot Habaneros hot peppers and I was the one
making funny noises and saying “ola Cheeta, these are hot…”.
Those were good times; even now, I can still taste those hot, spicy, and
tasty crabs. As
mentioned earlier, Cse was an excellent maid/cook. Cse spoke very little
English. Nevertheless, we would give her money; she would buy the
food in the local market, cook – and everyday was a different feast.
One dish that we liked resembled “chicken-a-la-king.”
Cse would prepare it with crab meat rather than chicken. She
would cook the crab meat in a special way and place it on top of toast
– wow! What a treat. One
of Cse’s children had a strange accident or illness and lost one of
his eyes. Carlos and I financed his medical costs and a final
implant of an artificial eye. Cse was eternally grateful. We
bought beer, sodas, other items, and did a lot of our shopping in the PX
of the Air Base. We seldom drank the local “Bam-i-Bam (33)”
beer of Vietnam because it gave terrible hangovers. We
frequently went downtown Saigon but had to be extremely careful. A
number of USAID people – and some of our friends – got shot, in the
city, by motorcycle riding Vietcong. There were also a number of times
when the Viet Cong would go to restaurants, eat, place and leave timed
bombs and kill a great many people – Vietnamese and Foreigners.
I remember three events where Carlos and/or I felt we were in danger:
As
I said before, there are just too many people and too many interesting
stories – like Domenic N. Frank D. Richard B. Carl K, and others --
that I could tell about people I met in Vietnam. But, the above
will give a general feel for the different personalities that I
remember. Let
me now turn to the Vietnamese in our section. Most were top notch.
In my mind, I still see their faces, but do not remember their
names. Of
all the secretaries and assistants in the office, I remember my
Vietnamese secretary with great fondness. Van Nyugen was her name.
Invariably, Van always wore different Au Dais. She was really
beautiful, sweet, and top-notch. She always did her best at
everything she did. I sincerely hope that she, her mom, sister,
and rest of the family left Vietnam safely and are living in the U.S. I
also remember Mr. Huong. Mr. Huong must have been in his
mid-40’s – but looked older. He usually accompanied me on my
trips whenever I went to the outlying areas of Saigon or the boondocks.
During these trips, we discussed differences in our cultures and
philosophies of life:
Work
in the Office.
Because of its fast cycle time and quick economic impact, the Commodity
Import Program (CIP) was used extensively by the Government of Vietnam (GVN).
Some of the items being imported and/or financed through the CIP were:
Demurrage, tin plate, Petroleum Products, non-metallic minerals (cement,
clinker, other), ampule tubing, metallic minerals, printing presses,
etc. As
soon as I settled in the CIP Section B, I was asked to review the work
and draft reports covering 3 contract reviews. The draft reports
needed a great deal of work. I was able to finalize two reports.
The fieldwork for the third review was very poorly done and I returned
it to the person who had done the work; he was most upset, re-did it and
we finally issued a report. From
then on, I was busy supervising, doing, participating, writing, editing,
and/or consulting with auditors or inspection teams. Here are just
a few examples of reviews that were done during my time in Vietnam: A
Standard Program.
Although the CIP normally has a fairly uniform cycle and distinct
pattern, the audit staff had not developed a uniform basic program.
Each auditor developed a different program, did work independently, and
checked items in a haphazard manner. When commodities were being
sent beyond the boundaries of Saigon -- where there was danger -- he
often did no “end-use checks.” As a result, we could never be
sure if the items ordered, had come into the country, received and were
being used at the destination. I
was asked to write – and wrote – a basic uniform audit program that
everyone in our section would follow. The end-use-checks (for
cement, iron bars, etc.) continued to be sporadic and limited because
exposing our staff to the dangers of the war was out of the question.
The supervisors agreed that we would only do detailed end-checks in
areas that were close-by Saigon or the Regional Office areas. Procedures
of USAID and Bank of Vietnam (Audit Report (A/R) 67-55).
I did a survey of procedures used by the USAID Commercial Import
Division and the Bank of Vietnam to import goods through the CIP.
The review showed that (a) $5.1 million could be “de-obligated” and
used for other purposes; (b) records of USAID and GVN needed to be
reconciled; (c) the GVN needed to file prescribed reports, with USAID,
in a timely manner; and (d) items which had been transferred from
Cambodia needed to be accounted for and sold. Survey
of Regional Offices (A/R 67-73).
Since Vietnam was divided into a number of Regions, which covered the
many provinces, we made a survey of Region 3 to study the procedures
used in all phases of commodity importations: (a) commodity controls,
(b) inventory, (c) record keeping, (d) warehousing, (e) transportation
to end use, and (f) final end-use. We found a number of problem
areas. Demurrage
Costs. Because
of the size of the USAID assistance to, and the U.S. Military
requirements in South Vietnam, ship after ship would come into the Bay
near Saigon and remained unloaded for extended periods of time.
This period – when the ship has been chartered, sails from the U.S.,
arrives in Vietnam or a country, and cannot be unloaded (because of the
crowded port conditions) – is called “Demurrage Period.” The
party that charters the shipment incurs the Demurrage and must pay for
it. Since the U.S. Military had priority in unloading all arriving
shipments, USAID was the one that was charged with most Demurrage Costs.
As one can just imagine, there were ships galore in the Bay and USAID
was incurring exorbitant amounts of costs. Finding
a solution to this huge problem and cost was essential. All of us
were encouraged to submit ideas on how to resolve this problem.
Although I submitted three ideas, they proved impractical to implement.
Without success, teams and committees were assigned the task of finding
a resolution.
Needless
to say, Guy Two seemed to have cracked in the short time that he had
been in Vietnam. He was flown back to a U.S. Hospital and, I
guess, his employment terminated afterwards. I don’t think we
ever found an easy solution to the Demurrage Cost Problem. Trailer
Homes (A/R 68-13).
With the tremendous influx of USAID economic assistance and a
proportionate increase in technicians coming into the country, there was
a shortage of housing facilities in Saigon and the different Regions.
In mid-1967, the U.S. Military, in France, declared 345 house trailers
as Excess Property. Since we could use the house trailers in
Vietnam, USAID accepted the Excess Property and arranged – through
Procurement Actions -- to import all 345 of those house trailers. The
importation of the house trailers turned out to be a nightmare -- full
of pilferages, complicated problems, and unplanned costs. Here
were some problems: a)
when
the USAID inspected the 345 house trailers, in France, they were
occupied by the military and were found in almost perfect state; b)
the
345 house trailers were transported, by rail and/or trucks, to Antwerp,
Germany for shipment to Vietnam; c)
by
the time the trailers arrived in Frankfurt, almost all had been
basically stripped. They did not have refrigerators, toilets,
beds, sinks, floors, windows, etc.); d)
of
the 345 house trailers shipped, forty-five were deemed as total loss in
Europe. Some were cannibalized and the remainder were scrapped; e)
the
first shipment of 106 house trailers arrived in Vietnam. Once
again, they had been vandalized. Their windows had been broken and
their insides were once again stripped; f)
Of
the 106 houses that had arrived, 25 remained on the ship and sent to one
of the Regions. Another 10 were placed on barges waiting to be
unloaded; g)
The
10 house trailers, which had been placed on barges, were lost for a few
days. They were later found near a village about 3 miles down the
Saigon River. You guessed it: the door locks had been broken and
the insides completely ransacked. In sum, USAID wound up expending over $1.3 million in shipping and refurbishing costs. There had been pilferages in all phases of the shipments. Forty-five house trailers were declared a total loss in Germany. Many others arrived in Vietnam pilferage, extensively damaged, and/or damaged beyond repair. The furniture in the 10 house trailers in the barges probably wound up in homes or tunnels of the Viet Cong.
A
Personnel Officer Comes To Vietnam.
A team from the USAID Personnel Office came to Vietnam to do some sort
of study. Among the team was a good friend of mine. Her name
was Barbara W. Barbara W. (and her team) met with Carlos and me.
The team questioned the wisdom of assigning people, like Carlos and me
-- who were fluent in Spanish – to a country where our language skills
could not be maximized. Barbara asked us if we wanted to get a
transfer back to Latin America. We readily said yes. The
personnel team left. Transfer
of Carlos.
About a month went by and Frank K called both Carlos and me into
his office. He was perturbed. We soon found out why.
He had received a Cable advising him that Carlos was being transferred
to the Dominican Republic and that I was to be transferred to Colombia. Frank
K was really upset. In a paranoiac manner, he repeatedly
questioned the “strange coincidence” of both transfers. We
kept defending the Agency logic of re-assigning us to countries where
– with our Spanish capabilities – we could do the most good. Angrily,
Frank K. finally told us. “I am only going to transfer one of
you…the other one will stay here….which of you wants to let the
other one transfer…” Since my family was safe in the U.S. and
Carlos’ family was in the Philippines, I agreed to remain in Vietnam. On
the day that Carlos was to leave, ten of us gave him a big party.
We were all drunk. We took Carlos to the airport and “poured”
him into the plane….and he was gone. For me, it was a sad
parting. The
Tet Offensive.
USAID Personnel never withdrew my transfer from Vietnam to Colombia;
they just delayed it for about six months. So, between the time
Carlos left and my own transfer (maybe 6 months), I worked on different
CIP reviews and on finalizing different reports. I kept Cse as my
maid and cook. I would frequently have my many friends come over
and visit. One of my friends was Guadalupe (Lupe) R.
Lupe was born in Laredo, a few houses from my own; so, he was a longtime
friend. He was in the Air Force and was stationed in Tan Sanut Air
Base. He liked to visit me, eat my food, drink my beer, and chat.
I liked Lupe very much. He retired from the Air Force and I heard
he had passed on a number of years ago. Just
before the 1968 Tet Offensive, the situation in Vietnam had been very
quiet for at least 3 or 4 months. The Viet Cong did not seem to be
making any sizeable incursions or attacks anywhere in the country.
Their lack of attacks or incursions seemed extremely odd. Thus,
inside the country, we got mixed information on the progress of the war.
The armed forces radio announcer would give very optimistic statements
on the progress of the war; according to our military, the Viet Cong was
having extremely high casualties and losing the war. This seems to
account for the “lull” in the war. On the other hand, news
coming from the U.S. gave a different picture; casualties were high and
rising; Mohamed Ali (the Heavy Weight Boxer and Champion of the World)
did not support the war and had refused to be inducted into the Army;
demonstrations against the war were mounting; and, there were rumors
that Robert McNamara was on the way out (he quit February 29, 1968).
In any event, the U.S. bombing continued, and the Viet Cong remained
very silent….. Because
of my pending transfer, in February 1968, I was deliberately running low
on food. I did have plenty of beer and sodas. Shaking
The Hands of Viet Cong.
Around January 25, 1968, I was doing a review to determine why there was
such a heavy importation and losses of cement under the CIP. I
checked with the Security Office to see if I could go to 3 to 5 villages
about 10 to 15 miles outside Saigon to do the “end-use check.”
These villages seemed to get a great deal of cement. The Security
Office gave me the go ahead and the necessary documents. Mr Huong, a driver from the Motor Pool, and I – unarmed -- drove to towards the five villages. Although the unpaved road was dusty and rough, the scenery was just beautiful. The industrious Vietnamese, in their usual dress and bamboo hat, were busy planting their rice paddies. Our first village was about 5 miles from Saigon. Its location was about 1/2 mile off the main road. We found that it had received some, but not all the shipments of cement. The Elder showed their storage area (two bamboo shacks, the sides of which where covered with plastic to protect it against the rain.
We
then proceeded to the next village. Once again the village was
located about 1/2 mile off the main road. The jungle
covering felt somewhat eerie. It was a very small village.
The Elder met us in what seemed the center of the village. Since
there were no chairs, our meeting took place standing up. We began
talking to the village elder; he seemed quite nervous that we were
asking questions about the cement. He said that the shipments were
getting there, but that the warehouse was about 3 or 4 kilometers into
the jungle. Since the story sounded fishy, I continued -- in
a very nice and friendly manner -- to ask questions and Mr. Huong
continued to translate. All
of a sudden, three young Vietnamese men came out of nowhere and squatted
behind us. I said to myself: “oh wow, what is this?” While
one side of my brain kept asking questions of the elder, my other side
was ticking off the odd aspects I had seen of the three men.
The
back of my hair began to rise. Just a minute later, three more
young men came into the picture and once again, they squatted behind us.
Once again, I noted the same thing of the group – age, sharp, shaven,
clean, and orderly walk. One of the squatter asked a few questions
of the elder; the elder answered. The tone of the elder changed
and he became more authoritative. Mr Huong's body language told me
he was nervous. The
back of my hair continued to rise. Now very nervous, Mr Huong
began giving me desperate hints that we should leave. Then,
another group of 3 men came and we were now surrounded. By
then, the back of my hair was really standing up. I knew we had to
leave fast. Full of false smiles, I told Mr. Huong to thank the
elder and the others for his full cooperation, that he had answered all
the questions in a satisfactory manner, and that I appreciated his help. I
saw the driver get into the Jeep and start it. I then
shook his hand and the hands of most of the surrounding Vietnamese men
– and, we RUSHED from the area. We skipped the three other
villages. Pale
with fear, Mr. Huong and the driver, told me that those men were Viet
Cong and we had been in real danger. When we got back to
Saigon that afternoon, I gave a briefing to our office and Security.
They asked a number of questions. I was thanked by both
offices and that was the last I heard about my encounter with the 9
young people. As
we were to find out, on January 31, 1968, the Viet Cong had been quiet
for a number of months; in effect, they had been very actively planning
the 1968 surprise Tet Offensive. All this “quiet time,” they
had been gradually amassing soldiers, arms, ammunition, and equipment
around key cities. I believe that this is the reason why we -- Mr.
Huong, the driver, nor me -- were not captured or killed in that
village; the Viet Cong did not want to tip their plans. The
Tet celebrations in Vietnam are great affairs. There are
fireworks, dancing, firecrackers galore, etc. So, it was not
surprising to me that the celebrations would start on the night before
Tet. With Gene and Thu Lane, I had a few beers and went to sleep
somewhat early. Firecrackers
began to pop all around. They were loud and close to us.
Then, the rattling of what seemed like machine guns sounded. Some
things seemed to be hitting our building. I finally went to sleep. Since
it was a holiday and Cse was not coming and I did not have much food, I
got up in the morning, got dressed, got into the jeep, backed up from
the garage, and drove maybe half a block towards a U.S. operated
cafeteria. I got stopped by a U.S. Military Policeman who asked
me: “Where do you think you are going?” Annoyed that he, a
military, should question a civilian, like me, my response was curt and
snotty: “If you don’t mind, I am on my way to eat breakfast.”
He said “Don’t you know that Saigon is under attack by the Viet
Cong; there is shooting and killings all over; please return to your
apartment and stay there.” That is how I was introduced to the
“Tet Offensive.” You
have never seen a person, being so thankful, and drive so fast back to
the apartment. I went to the many apartments and warned all the
occupants. By then, we could hear the different explosions and the
shooting that was taking place. As
mentioned earlier, we had a squad of Vietnamese soldiers who guarded our
building; they were behind sandbags, and had a machine gun. They
were there all the time. Nevertheless, that afternoon, some
military men came over to the building gave us a few old rifles,
organized us, so that each of us – supported by a Vietnamese soldier
-- would stand guard duty, near the entrance of the building for about
four hours at a time. At the end of the four hours, we would
be relieved. My
tour of guard duty came around 7 or 8 PM. Per instructions, the
entire building was dark. The shooting rampage on the outside
continued. We placed a Sofa in front of the front door. The
young Vietnamese soldier, with his pistol, laid down on the sofa.
Since I did not know if I could trust him, I sat with my rifle on a
comfortable chair in front of him. He stretched and made himself
comfortable -- and I watched him (and that door). He
seemed to have gone to sleep – and I kept watching him (and the door).
He shifted positions – and I watched him. He seemed to snore –
and I watched him. He yawned and stretched – and I kept watching
every move (and the damn door). All
of a sudden, there was an explosion (like a grenade) and the outside
Vietnamese guards began firing the machine gun. A few shots hit
the building and seemed to have hit the front door. The Vietnamese
soldier who had been lying on the couch, jumped up, and took off into
the darker areas of the building. There I was all alone to defend
that damn front door. I got behind a cement pillar, took the
safety pin off the rifle, and pointed it at the front door. I made
up my mind that anyone that tried to come in was going to get shot. The
shooting on the outside continued for what seemed like a time; then it
subsided. Finally, it was my time to be relieved as the front-door
guard. I went to my apartment, the shooting re-started; I got away
from the window, went to the kitchen (the safest place in the
apartment), sat on the floor, and drank a couple of beers. During
the entire offensive, Gene and Thu Lan fed me – and I am grateful.
During the day and sometimes at night, we would go to the roof of the
apartment, see the bombing, and tracer bullets. We also saw some
dead bodies close to our building. We
finally got the all clear sign. Once the situation in Saigon had
been stabilized, Cse, Van, and others came to see if we were alright and
see when they could go back to work. I visited the Air Base at Tan
Sanut, checked on my friend Lupe, and saw that he was alright. He
told me that a few airmen had been killed. I also went around and took
some pictures. A few weeks later, Vice President Hubert Murphy and
General Westmorland gave us a nice talk. Here are some pictures:
The
first picture shows the bombing and fire that took place near the
apartment. The second picture shows a destroyed car near the U.S.
Embassy.
The
third picture shows the way a building, similar to the one we lived in,
were left after the Tet Offensive. The fourth picture shows Vice
President Hubert Humphrey, General Westmorland, the Ambassador, and
other high officials giving us a pep talk after the Tet Offensive. Concluding
Remarks.
I left Vietnam in February 1968, grateful for the experience, happy to
be alive and well, sad to leave both my American and Vietnamese friends,
looking forward to picking my family in Austin, and looking forward to
serving a nice few tours in a “peaceful” country like Colombia. As
I said before, from a Foreign Service Career and personal point-of-view,
my assignment, in Vietnam, was very decent and I could say nice. I
learned about Vietnamese history, culture, made many nice American and
Vietnamese friends, ate good food, and saw parts of a beautiful country.
On the other hand, the separation of the family was very difficult and
later contributed to long lasting marital problems. From
a professional (technical) point-of-view, Vietnam was probably
not the most satisfying assignments of my career, for several reasons:
(a) the nation was in an unpopular, protracted, guerilla-type, and
losing war which limited free travel through-out the country; (b) my
language limitations prevented me from freely communicating for
professional purposes and make friends with the Vietnamese population;
(c) the diversity, size, and postings of the U.S. population
in Vietnam prohibited the cross information between groups that I had
seen in Peru and Ecuador; ( d) my assignment to only one section – the
CIP -- limited my firsthand exposure to a very narrow segment of the
entire USAID Assistance Program; and, (e) my CIP Section assignment also
prevented me from making possible contributions and effecting influence
on broader-type policy issues.
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| April 2, 2016: Symposium in
Honor of Bernardo de Galvez, Rice University, Houston Albert Seguin Gonzales receives the Sam Houston Award The 'Other' European Ally of Continental Army, Part 1 of 3 by Hon. Edward F. Butler, Sr. |
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February 24, 2016 The
purpose of the symposium is to bring attention to the critical roles of
Bernardo de Gálvez and Spain in our war for independence.
Gálvez, who was Governor of Spanish Louisiana, clandestinely
provided supplies, intelligence and support to George Washington and the
American colonists from 1776 to 1779.
Later, when Spain declared war on Great Britain, Gálvez
recruited a diverse army of 7,500 men and successfully defeated the
British at Baton Rouge, Mobile, and Pensacola.
This kept the Gulf out of enemy hands, kept the Mississippi open
as a critical line of supply, and prevented attacks from the south.
Gálvez also organized cattle drives from Texas to feed his
troops and to help the Revolution. For his
great heroism, the United States Congress named Gálvez the eighth
honorary citizen of the United States in 2014, admitting him to the
ranks of Lafayette, Churchill and Mother Theresa.
They also made good on Congress’ commitment from 1790 to hang
his portrait in the National Capitol, where it is today.
This symposium is free and open
to the public, and it will feature outstanding speakers and scholars.
History teachers, and students are invited so they can then teach
others about this important aspect of American history.
Our goal is that the conference will instill pride and motivation
in Hispanic students to research and learn more about the important
support of our heritage and our forefathers in the birth of this great
nation. Please help us to get the word
out, and please join us on April 2, 2016 at Rice University for Bernardo
de Gálvez - Spain’s Hero of the American Revolution. Very truly yours, John Espinosa Governor Los Granaderos y Dámas de Gálvez
- Houston
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Press
Release – For
immediate release Symposium
in Honor of BERNARDO DE GÁLVEZ-
Spain’s Hero of the American Revolution Contact
persons: Mary
Anthony Startz, malstartz@outlook.com;
713-203-1931 John
Espinosa, john.esp123@gmail.com;
832-202-5040 Rice
University, BBVA Compass, the Consul General of Spain, the Consul
General of Mexico, La Casa de España of Houston, Institute of
Hispanic Culture and the Granaderos y Damas de Gálvez are proud to
present a half-day symposium focused on Bernardo de Gálvez and
Spain’s role in the war for American Independence.
What:
Gálvez Symposium, Conference and Reception 12:30
PM – Registration
1:00 PM - 5:30 PM – Conference
5:30 PM - Reception Where:
At Duncan Hall, Rice University, Houston
Free
and open to the public, but please register at http://galvezatrice.eventbrite.com For
questions contact galvezatrice@gmail.com Background
on Bernardo de Gálvez Bernardo
de Gálvez, Governor of Spanish Louisiana, provided supplies,
intelligence and support to George Washington and the American
colonists from 1776-1779. When
Spain declared war on Great Britain, Gálvez recruited a diverse army
of 7,500 men and successfully defeated the British at Baton Rouge,
Manchac, Mobile, Pensacola and the Bahamas. Galvez was later appointed
Viceroy of New Spain in Mexico City. In December of 2014, Bernardo de
Gálvez became the eighth honorary citizen of the United States and
his portrait now hangs in the National Capitol.
Speakers: The Honorable Miguel Angel Fernandez de Mazarambroz, Ambassador, Dr. Moramay Lopez-Alonso, Rice University, Dr. Carolina Castillo Crimm, Sam Houston State University, Dr. Gonzalo Quintero Saravia, Harvard and Dr. Thomas E. Chávez University of New Mexico. Sent
by Anthony Startz |
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Sam Houston Award presented to Albert Seguin Gonzales |
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By Hon. Edward F. Butler, Sr.
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No
one disputes the enormity of France’s contribution to American
independence. French involvement and heroics in the American Revolution,
and the sacrifices of the French soldiers, shall never be forgotten.
Notwithstanding, the Continental Army had more than one major European
ally. The other was Spain, a fact that is lost upon most standardized
texts of American history. Judge
Ed Butler of San Antonio, Texas, has produced a fascinating account of
Spain’s vast—if not largely unrecognized—aid to the American
colonists in the book, Galvez/Spain,
Our Forgotten Ally in the American Revolutionary War: A Concise Summary
of Spain’s Assistance.
The book is the result of his extensive travel, first-hand experience, and research of
primary and secondary resources. The ensuing article, based on the book,
illuminates various key aspects of Spain’s support for the Patriot
cause. Mr. Butler was assisted in his research
by Gerald Burkland of the Michigan SAR Society. The
author is a member of many patriotic and lineage societies, including
the SR. He is a past President of the Texas Society and past General
Vice President. In 2009-2010, he was President General of the NSSAR and
is the founder of the SAR’s Mexico Society and Spain Society,
respectively.—Ed.
In his own times, Carlos resented England for the outcome of the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1713), which ended three years before his birth. Even though the Treaty of Utrecht[ii] brought the Spanish Bourbons to the throne, starting with Carlos’ father, Philip V, it simultaneously reduced Spain’s power, glory, and influence across Europe. Spain lost much of her European territories, including the Spanish Netherlands (Belgium) and parts of Italy. Other pieces she lost were Minorca and Gibraltar, both of which were given to her grand nemesis, Great Britain.
Carlos III was just the opposite.[iv] Upon succeeding to the Spanish throne on 10 August 1759, Carlos instigated a period of “enlightened absolutism” or “benevolent absolutism,” which included several reforms and a build-up of the Spanish military. The forty-eight-year-old monarch was determined to take back Spanish pride. He expelled the Jesuits, and, in a move that wrecked his half-brother’s tradition of neutrality, rekindled the Bourbon Family Compact[v] with Louis XV of France.
Early
Spanish Involvement
European
Territories in America 1762-1763 - Source: users.humboldt.edu
[i]
de Tapia Ozcariz, Enrique. Carlos
III y su época: Biografía del Siglo XVIII (Aguilar, S. A. de Ediciones, Madrid) 1962 [iii]
Voltes Bou, Pedro. La vida y la época de Fernando VI (Editorial
Planeta, Barcelona) 1998 [iv]
Wertz, W.F. “Spain’s Carlos III and the American System—Spanish
Participation in the American Revolution,” Instit. Schiller,
Washington, D.C., 2001 [v]
Vaughan, Benjamin. Remarks on a
Dangerous Mistake Made as to the Eastern Boundary of Louisiana (J.T.
Buckingham, Boston) 1814 [vi]
1) Kite, Elizabeth S., Beaumarchais
and the War of American Independence (Gorham Press, Boston) 1918;
2) Rueda Soler, Natividad. La Compañía de Comercio Gardoqui e Hijo: 1770-1780.
Sus relaciones políticas y económicas con Norteamérica (Ediciones Gobierno Vasco, Vitoria) 1992. [vii]
Gartiez-Aurrecoa, Divar Javier. “El
embajador Don Diego María de Gardoqui y la Independencia de los EE.UU.,”
University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain, 2003 [viii]
Fernandez y Fernandez, Enrique. Spain’s
Contribution to the Independence of the United States
(Embassy of Spain, Washington, D.C.) 2000 [ix]
Thornhoff, Robert H. “Vital Contribución de España En el Triunfo de
la Revolución Americana,” Karnes, Texas, 2006 [x]
“American Independence: The Spanish Contribution,” Guidepost
(Madrid), July 1, 1994, pp. 6 –8. |
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Descendants of Joseph "Jose" de Urrutia, Juana de Dios de
Urrutia, & Ignacio Gonzalez Ynclan |
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Our Heritage, Vol. 57, Nos. 1 & 2 First Families of Bexar County, Texas Descendants of Joseph "Jose" de Urrutia, Juana de Dios de Urrutia, and Ignacio Gonzalez Ynclan Honoree # 91 Bernadette Inclan Honoree #92 Stephen Mark Coindreau Honoree #93 Brian Robert Coindreau By Larry W. Luckett |
Joseph "Jose" de Urrutia, Juana de Dios de Urrutia, and Ignacio Gonzalez YnelanjInelan were identified as early residents of Bexar when descendant John David Inelan was recognized in 2001 as First Families of Bexar County Honoree number 35. In 2015 we are pleased to recognize John David Inclan's sister, Bernadette Inelan, and her sons, Stephen Mark Coindreau and Brian Robert Coindreau, as First Families of Bexar County honorees. The complete lineage was previously published in Our Heritage; here we restate the information on the significant ancestors in the first and second generations and add the new descendants at generations nine and ten. FIRST GENERATION Joseph "Jose" de Urrutia was born about 1678 in Guipuzcoa Province, Kingdom of Spain, and died on 16 July 1741 at La Villa de San Fernando de Bexar, Viceroyalty of New Spain (Mexico).l He married (2) Rosa Flores de Valdez who was from Saltillo, Coahuila, New Spain.2 Among their children was a daughter, Juana. Jose de Urrutia came to America before 1691, when as a member of the Teran expedition he was left at the garrison established near the Neches River. When the soldiers withdrew in 1693, Urrutia met with an accident on the Colorado River and was forced to remain among the Indians for seven years, was made "captain general" of all the nations hostile to the Apaches, and conducted several extensive campaigns against the Apaches. He rejoined his countrymen shortly after the founding of Mission San Juan Bautista in 1700. By July 23, 1733, when Urrutia was made captain of San Antonio de Bexar Presidio, he hadforty years' experience with the Indians in Coahuila, Nuevo Le6n, and Texas, and was probably the best informed of all Spaniards on Indian affairs in Texas. In the winter of 1739 he led a campaign against the Apaches in the San Saba region. 3 SECOND GENERATION Juana de Dios de Urrutia was born on 25 July 1709 at Santiago Aspotal, Monclova, Coahuila, New Spain, and died at La Villa de San Fernando de Bexar.4 She married Ignacio Gonzalez YnclanjInclan about 1735 at Monclova, Coahuila.' He served as cashier to his father-in-law Captain Jose Urrutia at the San Antonio de Bexar Presidio during the period 1735 to 1741.6 Among their children was a son, Pedro. [See Our Heritage, Spring and Summer, 2001, volume 42, Numbers 3 and 4, pages 13 and 14 for third generation to seventh generation lineage] EIGHTH GENERATION Encarnation Esquivel Inclan was born on 8 December 1898 at Cavazos Ranch, Vallecillo, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, and he died on 19 April 1962 at Galveston, Galveston County, Texas? He married Viola Otilia Canales on 2 December 1937 at Texas City, Galveston County/' She was born on 29 December 1912, and she died on 17 September 1985.9 Among their children were a son, John David, and a daughter, Bernadette. NINTH GENERATION John David Inclan is First families of Bexar County Honoree Number 35. Bernadette Inclan was born on [DATE WITHHELD] at Galveston, Texas. She married Stephen Henry Coindreau on 27 December 1969 at Bexar County.r" Bernadette Inclan is First Families of Bexar County Honoree Number 91. Among her children were two sons, Stephen and Brian. Stephen Mark Coindreau was born on [DATE WITHHELD] at Bexar County, Texas. Stephen Coindreau is First Families of Bexar County Honoree Number 92. Brian Robert Coindreau was born on [DATE WITHHELD] at Bexar County, Texas. Brian Coindreau is First Families of Bexar County Honoree Number 93. ENDNOTES 1. Frederick Chabot, With the Makers of San Antonio, Genealoqies.ofthe Early Latin, Anglo-American and German Families with Occasional Biographies, Each Group Being Prefaced with a Brief Historical Sketch and Illustrations (San Antonio: Graphic Press, 1937), 16-19. 2. Chabot, With the Makers of San Antonio ... , 20. 3. "Urrutia, Jose de," Handbook of Texas Online (www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ fur03 : accessed 15 Jan. 2016), published by the Texas State Historical Association, Denton, Tex. 4. "Juana de Urrutia" is identified as a legitimate child in Helen Harrell, translator, "The Will of Joseph de Urrutia, 4 July 1740," The Canary Islands Descendants Newsletter," vol. 6, no. 3, p. 3. 5. (a) Chabot, With the Makers of San Antonio ... , 20. (b) "Don Ignacio de Ynclan, the husband of my daughter Dona Juana de Urritia ... " in Harrell, "Will ofJoseph de Urrutia;' p. 4. 6. Harrell, "Will of Joseph de Urrutia," p. 4. 7. "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," index and images, FamilySearch (familysearch.org : accessed 13 Jan. 2013), entry for Encarnacion Inclan, Galveston Co., 19 Apr. 1962; citing Death Cert. no. 22735 (1962), State Registrar Office, Austin. 8. Galveston Co., Tex., Certified Copy of Marriage Record (issued 1976), Encarnarcion [sic] lnclan- Miss Viola Otilia Canales, 5 Dec. 1937, citing Record Book No. 18, p. 206 License No. 15136, Co. Clerk's Office, Galveston. 9. Find A Grave, database and digital images (www.findagrave.com : accessed 13 Jan. 2016), headstone image for Viola Otilia Inclan, Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Galveston, Tex.; Memorial no. 101617665, submitted by Maria Dehner-Dill, 2 Dee. 2012. 10. Bexar Co. Tex., Marriage Book 164: 275, Stephen Henry Coindreau and Bernadette Inclan, Cert. No. 315617, Co. Clerk's Office, San Antonio. pg.46 |
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It was no accident that the brothers Juan and Vicente de Zaldívar were among the hopeful colonists of Juan de Oñate\'s expedition to New Mexico in 1598. They were, in the first place, related through both their parents to don Juan, the adelantado and organizer of the expedition. By the same chain of descent, they were also great nephews of Juan\'s father, Cristóbal de Oñate. And lastly, they were nephews of Captain Juan de Zaldívar who had served during the Coronado expedition to New Mexico nearly 60 years earlier. Young Juan and Vicente\'s interest in the Pueblo world along the Rio Grande, and indeed that of their uncle Juan de Oñate, was likely piqued by Captain Juan and Cristóbal, both of whom had knowledge of that region as a result of the Coronado entrada. Beyond stories from the family past, there had been a trickle of rumor about the Pueblos deriving from unauthorized prospecting and slave raiding expeditions that occurred after the Coronado entrada. Then, beginning in the 1580s, there had been a series of both official and illicit entries into New Mexico, each of which had left formal reports. Francisco Sánchez Chamuscado and fray Agustín Rodríguez had led a small expedition in 1581-82; Antonio de Espejo had led a follow-up to that entrada; then, in the early 1590s, Gaspar Castaño de Sosa attempted to transplant an entire colony to New Mexico. Veterans of each of these entradas served as living sources of information about the peoples of the Rio Grande. Juan and Vicente would have heard stories of all these expeditions in the home of their parents, Vicente de Zaldívar, the elder--first cousin of Juan de Oñate and brother of Captain Juan de Zaldívar--and Magdalena de Mendoza y Salazar--Oñate\'s half sister. This Zaldívar family resided in the mining center of Zacatecas, in existence for just over 20 years when Juan de Zaldívar, the younger, was born there in 1569. His brother Vicente was born into the booming mining town and regional center three years later. Also resident at Zacatecas was Cristóbal de Oñate, one of the four founders of the city and, like the Zaldívars, a Basque. Cristóbal\'s son Juan was also a native son of Zacatecas, born there about 1552. Since the discovery of silver at Zacatecas in 1546 by Cristóbal\'s partner Juan de Tolosa, the city had been at least temporary home to thousands of miners and practitioners of related occupations. After the return of Antonio de Espejo and his companions from New Mexico in 1583, King Felipe II directed Viceroy Pedro Moya de Contreras and his immediate successors to designate a leader for full-scale Spanish settlement of the Pueblo world. Several applicants were considered and rejected, and the process dragged on for the better part of two decades until at long last an agreement was concluded with mine owner and operator Juan de Oñate in September 1595. Oñate dispatched his nephew Vicente de Zaldívar, just 23 years old, to Mexico City to recruit colonists there. Meanwhile, don Juan did the same in Nueva Galicia. Within a matter of weeks, 500 recruits were ready to leave for New Mexico. But transition of power to a new viceroy in Mexico City put all plans on hold. The new viceroy, the conde de Monterrey, required that changes be made to Oñate\'s contract. After months required for the sending of petitions, in spring 1596, Santa Bárbara was designated as the point of departure of the colonists. Before they could reach Santa Bárbara, though, Oñate\'s authorization for colonization was suspended. Critics in Spain had sown doubt about Oñate\'s ability to lead an expedition to New Mexico. After toying with the possibility of another leader for the expedition, the king, however, reauthorized Oñate\'s project. The heavy cost of maintaining the expeditionaries during the lengthy suspension was borne by the brother-in-law of the two Zaldívars, Juan Guerra de Resa. A February 1597 inspection of the impatient expeditionaries showed Juan de Zaldívar, designated as maestre de campo, or field commander, and captain and sargento mayor Vicente de Zaldívar still at their uncle\'s disposal. Almost another 12 months was to elapse before all the formalities necessary for the departure were complete. But on January 26, 1598, Oñate, the Zaldívars, and 127 other men-at-arms, plus families and servants, finally set out. From the Río Conchos, which had served as the conduit of entrance to New Mexico for the Chamuscado-Rodríguez and Espejo expeditions, Oñate was persuaded to take a shortcut, angling cross country to the Rio Grande. Vicente de Zaldívar was detailed, with 16 men, to ride ahead and find a way across the barrens and sand dunes of what is now northern Chihuahua. In two separate scouting expeditions he and his party successfully guided the expedition of colonists to the Rio Grande a score of miles downstream from modern El Paso. After following the river upstream to the area of the Robledo Mountains above today\'s Las Cruces, Oñate and his advisors decided to split the expedition. A relatively small unit of 60 or so, including the governor and both Zaldívars would proceed ahead, making contact and initiating peaceful relations with the people of the pueblos. The Spaniards\' reception by the Pueblos varied from cautious gift exchange at Socorro to avoidance of contact entirely by flight of entire populations at most of the pueblos. Following a ceremony of submission and vassalage on July 7, 1598, at Santo Domingo Pueblo, participated in by a number of Pueblo leaders, Oñate and his party pushed on to Ohke, or San Juan Pueblo, which was their chosen destination. The reasons behind the choice of Ohke for the first Spanish settlement in New Mexico are not made clear in the surviving documents. One factor, however, may have been reports given by members of the Coronado expedition of possible silver in that area. While he awaited arrival of the main body of colonists, Oñate eagerly toured the Rio Grande region, examining pueblos and taking ore samples. Juan de Zaldívar finally reached Ohke with the lion\'s share of colonists on August 18. Within weeks, a church dedicated to San Juan Bautista had been erected and lodging within a pueblo had been assigned to the colonists. In September, a central Mexican Indian arrived at San Juan, who had been a member of an unauthorized expedition led by Francisco Leyva de Bonilla and Antonio Gutiérrez de Humaña five years earlier. This Indian, known as Jusepe to the Spaniards, told stories of the Great Plains and the innumerable bison that inhabited them. That was of keen interest to the colonists, who needed a significant source of meat to sustain their settlement. Taking Jusepe as guide, Vicente de Zaldívar and 60 men rode to the plains. During nearly two months of travel, the Zaldívar party killed scores of bison, prepared a great quantity of jerky, and even attempted unsuccessfully to capture bison alive. They also met and observed the semi-nomadic Apachean hunters who supported themselves almost entirely off the bison. During Vicente\'s absence, his brother Juan had been in charge at San Juan while the governor continued his reconnaissance of the Pueblo world. In the midst of that reconnaissance, Oñate sent a message to San Juan informing both Zaldívars that he had decided to go in search of the Mar del Sur, or Pacific Ocean. He instructed Vicente to take over leadership of the Spanish settlement and Juan to follow the governor with a party of reinforcements. Dutifully, the maestre de campo selected a group of 31 men-at-arms and departed from San Juan, in order to overtake Oñate. Unbeknownst to him, there was a faction among the people of Acoma Pueblo that urged war against the colonists. When the Zaldívar company reached Acoma, it sought to purchase corn flour there. The Acomas replied that it would take several days for them to grind as much flour as Zaldívar asked for. When the flour was ready, Zaldívar and nearly 20 others made the difficult ascent to the mesa top, where the pueblo stood, to receive the finished flour. As the Spanish party dispersed across the pueblo to collect the flour, the Acomas attacked, quickly killing most of the party, including Juan de Zaldívar. Under the command of Captain Gerónimo Márquez, the survivors returned in haste to San Juan. Meanwhile, the governor abandoned his plans to ride to the Pacific and returned to the settlement himself. On December 22, he convened the Franciscan friars to ask their opinion about what response should be made to the killings at Acoma. After hearing days of testimony from survivors of the fighting, the friars declared that if the people of Acoma would not submit voluntarily to Spanish rule, war without quarter against them was permissible. With that determination in mind, Vicente de Zaldívar, with a force of 72 men-at-arms, left San Juan shortly after the turn of the New Year, 1599. Arriving at Acoma, Zaldívar called for submission of its residents, a demand that was promptly refused. The Spaniards then launched an attack, using a diversionary tactic by which Zaldívar and 10 others were able to reach the mesa top undetected. After three days of fighting, the remaining people of Acoma surrendered. On February 9, 1599, the Acoma prisoners were put on trial at Santo Domingo. Three days later, a guilty verdict was delivered and a sentence was pronounced. The sentenced included cutting off one foot of each man from Acoma over 25 years of age. In recent years, there has been great controversy as to whether that sentence was actually carried out. Although it is possible that it was not, it seems more likely that it was. Some of the colonists saw that punishment as rightful retribution for the killing of Juan de Zaldívar and his companions. A year later, Vicente de Zaldívar led another foray toward the Pacific Ocean. During a three-month reconnaissance, he and his company got as far as what is now southwestern Arizona before turning back. In the spring of 1601 he led a punitive expedition against the Jumano pueblos east of the Rio Grande. In the resulting fighting Vicente was severely wounded and several hundred Pueblo people died. In June of that same year, Vicente was among the group Oñate led back onto the Great Plains in search of the same Quivira the Coronado expedition had sought. Just as 60 years before, it was fertile land and immense bison herds that the 1601 reconnaissance found. The governor and sargento mayor returned to San Juan to find it in deep turmoil. A large group of colonists had deserted, heading south to Santa Bárbara. Even many of those who remained were sullen and dissatisfied. Zaldívar was dispatched in pursuit of the mutineers, but they had too great a head start. They reached Santa Bárbara and gained the protection of the royal officials there. Zaldívar traveled on, first to Mexico City and then all the way to Spain, to press the case for further royal support for the beleaguered colony of New Mexico. He obtained little more than an order to the viceroy in Mexico City to study the matter. He returned to New Spain in 1603 almost empty handed. Finally, in the fall of 1606 Zaldívar returned to New Mexico, escorting a small party of new colonists. In a last desperate effort to save his enterprise, Oñate sent Zaldívar again toward the Mar del Sur. The results must have been disappointing, although no written record of the reconnaissance is known to survive. With all hope gone, the governor drafted a letter of resignation in August 1607. It took until late 1609 or early 1610 for a new governor of New Mexico, Pedro de Peralta, to be appointed and then make the long journey to his post. Soon after his arrival, though, don Juan, his son Cristóbal, and others close to him, including Vicente de Zaldívar departed from New Mexico, never to return. Vicente lived the remainder of his life in Zacatecas, where he married first Ana de Bañuelos and then María de Oñate, daughter of the former governor. About 1616 he and Ana donated 100,000 pesos toward the establishment of a Jesuit college there. They lived on a plaza in Zacatecas named the Plazuela del Maestre de Campo in Vicente\'s honor. Vicente carried on the family tradition of mining and became a very wealthy and generally respected citizen of his hometown. Few people owned estates larger than his. Evidently, both he and his uncle Juan de Oñate eventually received the honor of membership in the Order of Santiago. By 1650 he had died, leaving behind a much diminished estate. Sources Used: Bakewell, Peter. Silver Mining and Society in Colonial Mexico: Zacatecas, 1546-1700. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1971. Craddock, Jerry R. and John H.R. Polt. Zaldívar and the Cattle of Cíbola: Vicente de Zaldívar\'s Report of his Expedition to the Buffalo Plains in 1598. Dallas: William P. Clements Center for Southwest Studies, Southern Methodist University, 1999. Hammond, George P. and Agapito Rey. Don Juan de Oñate, Colonizer of New Mexico, 1595-1628. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1953. Simmons, Marc. The Last Conquistador: Juan de Oñate and the Settling of the Far Southwest. Norman and London: University of Oklahoma Press, 1991. Snow, David H., comp. New Mexico\'s First Colonists: the 1597-1600 Enlistments for New Mexico under Juan de Oñate, Adelante and Gobernador. Albuquerque: Hispanic Genealogical Research Center of New Mexico, 1998. Source: New Mexico History.org You can search any surname. Even if the
information is not specific to your surname of interest, you will
find related data that might be of value. http://newmexicohistory.org/people/juan-and-vicente-de-zaldivar |
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| [DNA] Chromosomes, Genes and Inheritance 101
[DNA] The majority of people in the British Isles are actually descended from the Spanish [DNA] Oldest ever human genome sequence may rewrite human history [DNA] The Races of Humanity by Richard McCulloch |
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A great website to explain the term " It's The Genes " Click
here: Chromosomes, Genes and Inheritance 101 - Google Search |
A team from Oxford University has discovered that the Celts, Britain's indigenous people, are descended from a tribe of Iberian fishermen who crossed the Bay of Biscay 6,000 years ago. DNA analysis reveals they have an almost identical genetic "fingerprint" to the inhabitants of coastal regions of Spain, whose own ancestors migrated north between 4,000 and 5,000BC. |
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The oldest ever human nuclear DNA to be reconstructed and sequenced reveals Neanderthals in the making – and the need for a possible rewrite of our own origins. The 430,000-year-old DNA comes from mysterious early human fossils found in Spain’s Sima de los Huesos, or “pit of bones”. The fossils look like they come from ancestors of the Neanderthals, which evolved some 100,000 years later. But a 2013 study found that their mitochondrial DNA is more similar to that of Denisovans (see video, below), who also lived later and thousands of kilometres away, in southern Siberia. So who were the Sima people – and how are they related to us? To find out, a team led by Matthias Meyer at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, pieced together parts of the hominin’s nuclear DNA from samples taken from a tooth and a thigh bone. The results suggest they are more closely related to ancestors of Neanderthals than those of Denisovans – meaning the two groups must have diverged by 430,000 years ago. This is much earlier than the geneticists had expected. It also alters our own timeline. We know that Denisovans and Neanderthals shared a common ancestor that had split from our modern human lineage. In light of the new nuclear DNA evidence, Meyer’s team suggests this split might have happened as early as 765,000 years ago. Previous DNA studies had dated this split to just 315,000 to 540,000 years ago, says Katerina Harvati-Papatheodorou at the University of Tubingen in Germany. But a date of 765,000 years ago actually brings the DNA evidence more in line with some recent fossil interpretations that also suggest an older divergence between modern humans and the ancestor of the Neanderthals and Denisovans. “I am very happy to see that ideas about the divergence based on ancient DNA and on anatomical studies of the fossil record seem to be converging,” says Aida Gómez-Robles at George Washington University in Washington DC, who was involved in the fossil research. Tree redrawn? But if such an ancient split is correct, we might have to redraw parts of our evolutionary tree. Conventional thinking is that modern humans, Neanderthals and Denisovans all evolved from an ancient hominin called Homo heidelbergensis. However, H. heidelbergensis didn’t evolve until 700,000 years ago – potentially 65,000 years after the split between modern humans and the Neanderthals and Denisovans. Instead, another, obscure species called Homo antecessor might now be in the frame as our common ancestor. This species first appeared more than a million years ago – and its face is very similar to that of modern humans, says Chris Stringer at the Natural History Museum in London. Further puzzles “Research must now refocus on fossils from 400,000 to 800,000 years ago to determine which ones might actually lie on the respective ancestral lineages of Neanderthals, Denisovans and modern humans,” he says. Another puzzle remains. The study confirmed a previous finding that the mitochondrial DNA of the Sima hominin is more similar to Denisovans than to Neanderthals – but no one knows why. Perhaps there was another unidentified lineage of hominins in Eurasia that interbred with the ancestors of both – but not with the particular group of hominins that evolved into the Neanderthals. Or, Meyer says, perhaps such mitochondrial DNA was typical of early Neanderthals and Denisovans, and it was only later that Neanderthals acquired different mitochondrial DNA from an African population of “proto-Homo sapiens“. Journal reference: Nature, DOI: 10.1038/nature17405 Find out more about the oldest human genome dug up in Spain’s pit of bones: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2080549-oldest-ever-human-genome-sequence-may-rewrite-human-history/
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The human species is blessed with great variety and diversity. Its rich diversity resulted from its global distribution, which caused the different populations of humanity to be geographically separated and thus reproductively isolated. Reproductive isolation enabled divergence -- the process of divergent evolution -- to occur, causing the isolated populations to evolve in different directions, developing their own distinct ensembles of genetic traits and characteristics. Divergent evolution is the process by which new life forms are created by the division and separation of life into different branches. Human evolution has seen its share of divergent branching. The generic name commonly used to refer to the genetically different populations, branches or divisions of humanity -- that share both a common biological ancestry and an ensemble of unique, genetically transmitted traits and characteristics which distinguish them from other populations -- is "race." But in the human species, as in any species enjoying a great degree of variety, the constant branching and dividing that characterizes the process of divergent evolution has created many different levels of branches and divisions, each of which possesses genetic traits which distinguish it from other branches or divisions at the same level. For purposes of taxonomic accuracy each of these levels should have its own specific name and definition. The first or highest level is called the species, and it is simply and objectively defined as including all those populations which are capable of interbreeding with each other and producing fully fertile offspring, and which do in fact interbreed under conditions of close and extensive contact. The term race is commonly used to refer to a branch or division of the species possessing genetically transmitted physical traits which distinguish it from other branches or divisions of the same level. Adding to this definition, it will here also be defined as including only those persons who are capable of reproduction with each other without the loss or significant diminishment or alteration of the racially-distinctive genetic traits of either parent stock. The genetically transmitted traits which distinguish a race from other divisions at the same level (i.e., other races) should not be diminished or lost by reproduction within the race. If racially-distinctive traits are lost or diminished by within-group reproduction then the population group is at a level of division too broad and inclusive to be accurately defined as a race. If it is too narrow to be defined as a species, as it does not include all those populations capable of interbreeding, then it is at a level between race and species, which will here be referred to as a subspecies. The closest living relative of humanity, the still-existing species most closely related to Homo sapiens, is the Chimpanzee, whose ancestral line separated and branched from the line leading to humans about 5.5 million years ago. Even after 5.5 million years of divergent evolution humans and chimpanzees still have over 98% of their genes in common, with only a 1.23% (Time, October 9, 2006) to 1.6% difference in their genome. The genus Homo originated with Homo habilis in the region of the Great Rift Valley in Kenya and Ethiopia in east Africa about two million years ago, where it continued to evolve, first as Homo ergaster and Homo erectus, then as Homo antecessor (750,000 years ago) and Homo heidelbergensis (600,000-250,000 years ago; believed to be the direct ancestor of Homo neanderthalensis in western Eurasia), and then as Homo sapiens idaltu, the earliest modern humans, with finds in Ethiopia dated to 195,000 and 160,000 years ago (Scientific American, Vol. 16, No. 2, 2006, p. 78). It
is generally agreed that there were at least three major migrations or
expansions of the genus Homo out of east Africa into Eurasia, either
crossing the Sinai peninsula from Egypt into the Levant (the coast of
what is now Israel, Lebanon and Syria), or crossing the southern
entrance of the Red Sea (the Bab el Mandeb) from Djibouti in Africa to
Yemen in Asia, from where they spread throughout most of Eurasia and
developed into a variety of regional "archaic" human
populations. The first of these major expansions out of east Africa into
Eurasia was about 1.8 million years ago, the second about 600,000 years
ago (associated with the spread of the Acheulean culture),
and the last shortly after 100,000 years ago. Beginning in 1987, based
on genetic studies showing that the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and the
Y-chromosome of all living humans is derived from the last of these
major expansions, the common view expressed in the popular press (called
"Out-of-Africa") has been that the modern humans of the final
migration completely replaced the regional archaic human populations
from the first two major expansions. The first dispersal of modern humans probably began soon after the emergence of Homo sapiens idaltu in east Africa about 195,000 years ago, with some populations heading west into the tropical forest of the Congo basin where they evolved into the Congoid subspecies (possibly with the assimilation of some local archaic elements), others remaining in east Africa where they evolved into the Capoid or Khoisanid (San-Bushmen) subspecies, and others moving north to the shores of the Red Sea, where they became the progenitors of the population that eventually migrated out of Africa and populated the rest of the world, possibly assimilating some of the regional archaic human populations they encountered in varying degrees, and evolving into the Australoid, Mongoloid and Caucasoid subspecies. By 130,000 years ago there were perhaps 10,000 modern humans living in different populations in different regions of Africa. About 120,000 years ago one of these modern human populations that had expanded up the Nile valley crossed the Sinai peninsula out of Africa into the Levant but got no further, and by 90,000 years ago its members had either returned to Africa or died out. The following account of the final major expansion out of east Africa into Eurasia, that of the modern humans shortly after 100,000 years ago, is based largely on the work of Stephen Oppenheimer as detailed in his book Out of Eden: The Peopling of the World (2004) which was also the basis for a Discovery Channel documentary titled The Real Eve. The migrating modern human population, probably numbering only a few hundred people at the beginning, crossed from Africa to Asia at the southern entrance of the Red Sea. From there they followed a beachcombing trek that took them along the coastline of the Arabian Sea. The descendants of this population gradually expanded and dispersed, with the initial expansion being along the southern coast of Asia. The where and when of these early human migrations was largely determined by geography, especially changes in climate and sea level. The first main split or division in the expansion occurred on the Iranian coast of the Persian Gulf, with some groups continuing to move east while others remained in southern Iran between the Zagros Mountains and the sea. The second main branching or division probably occurred in southeast Asia, with one group continuing to move eastward, reaching China by 68,000 years ago, and another group remaining in the Burma-Thailand region where it evolved into a proto-Australoid population and then expanded south through Malaysia and Indonesia, reaching New Guinea by 77,000 years ago and Australia by 65,000 years ago. The eruption, or explosion, of the Toba super-volcano in northern Sumatra circa 74,000 years ago, the largest such explosion in the last two million years, perhaps 100 times larger than the Krakatoa event off southern Sumatra in 1883, covered the entire Indian sub-continent in several meters of ash, probably destroying almost all life, including the early human population in the area. The populations to the east and south of the eruption were spared its catastrophic effects, but the population in southern Iran, and to a lesser extent the population in east Africa, probably suffered severe climate effects. The population in west Africa, protected by mountains to the east, was not as seriously effected. Within a few thousand years India was repopulated from the east by proto-Australoids. By 50,000 years ago the population that had remained in southern Iran had evolved into proto-Caucasoids and began to expand -- to the east into Pakistan and northern India; to the northwest up the Tigris-Euphrates valley to the Levant by 45,000 years ago; and to the northeast through Central Asia to Russia and the steppes of western Siberia, also by 45,000 years ago. From the Levant they expanded north into Anatolia, from there entering Europe through the Balkans and spreading the Aurignacian culture across southern Europe by 43,000 years ago. From Russia they moved westward into Europe, spreading the Gravettian culture, about 33,500 years ago. Shortly after this another Caucasoid group expanded from the Levant across North Africa. In this same time frame the population in Indochina and southern China had evolved into proto-Mongoloids and expanded northwards into the steppes of eastern Siberia, branching into southern and northern Mongoloid groups. Some northern Mongoloids migrated northeast to Berengia, a vast land between Siberia and Alaska that is now underwater, from where they subsequently moved south into the Americas. By 30,000 years ago the divergent evolutionary branching or dividing of the human species had produced five main lines or subspecies which are still extant -- the Congoid of West Africa; the Capoid of East and South Africa (later replaced in East Africa by the Congoid); the Australoid of India, Burma, Malaya, Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia; the Mongoloid of East Asia (later expanding to the southwest into Burma, Malaya and Indonesia, largely replacing the indigenous Australoids) and the Caucasoid of Europe, North Africa and West Asia (partly replacing the Mongoloids in the Americas after A.D. 1492 and the Australoids in Australia after A.D. 1788). These subspecies branched or divided in turn into separate races, and these races branched in their turn into subraces, as part of the continuing process of divergent evolution. Beginning about 20,000 years ago, when the global human population was perhaps a million, the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) pushed the population of northern Europe south to refuge areas in southern France, northern Spain, the Balkans and Ukraine, while the now fully-developed northern Mongoloid population in Siberia was also forced south to eastern and southern China. Both populations were greatly reduced in number during this period. (The expansion of the southern Mongoloids into Malaya and Indonesia, partly replacing and partly assimilating the native Australoids, probably occurred during this period.) When the Last Glacial Maximum began to recede about 15,000 years ago (13,000 B.C.) the survivors of these populations expanded northward again from their refuge areas, with Scandinavia being occupied by humans for the first time about 10,000 years ago, by which time the global human population had risen to about 10 million. Agriculture and the Neolithic period also began about 10,000 years ago in both the Middle East and China. The genetic ancestry of the native European population as a whole is about 80% from the original Upper Paleolithic inhabitants who survived the 5,000 years of the Last Glacial Maximum in southern refuge areas and then re-expanded and repopulated the central and northern regions of the continent, and 20% from the Neolithic farmers who expanded from Anatolia into Europe starting about 8,000 years ago, with the latter element concentrated primarily in the Mediterranean lands of southern Europe, indicating that the initial spread of agriculture into central and northern Europe was a process of cultural diffusion rather than a movement of people. The different races are often popularly defined and named (often inaccurately) by skin color, but as this system is based on only one genetic phenotypic difference, when hundreds are involved, it tends to distort the reality of race and racial differences. The diverse races of the human species outlined above all have their own geographical territory that has historically been exclusively their own, which may be referred to as their racial homeland, and is closely identified with the race that inhabits it. Between most of these exclusive homelands are clinal zones -- areas of contact between different racial territories. These racial borderlands are frequently areas of interracial contact and intermixture where adjacent races merge into one another, creating racially mixed or hybridized populations of intermediate type called racial clines. The Dravidic race of India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, created by the intermixture of the local Caucasoid (Indic or Nordindid) and Australoid (Veddoid) populations, and the Aethiopid race of Ethiopia and Somalia, created by the intermixture of the local Caucasoid (Mediterranid) and Congoid races, are two very ancient racial clines which have stabilized into distinct races of intermediate type. Racial clines of more recent formation, where the racial blends are not yet stabilized, include the populations of many Latin American and Caribbean countries, which were created over the last 500 years by the intermixture of various Caucasoid (mostly Mediterranid), Congoid and Amerindian elements. The population of Mexico, for example, is about 5% Caucasoid, 30% Amerindian and 65% Mestizo, the Spanish term for persons of mixed Amerindian-Caucasoid ancestry. (The same term is used in the Philippines for persons of mixed Filipino-Caucasoid ancestry.) The multiracialization of the populations of North America and, more recently, Europe, has begun to transform them into racial clines. As discussed in other essays on this site, this process of racial transformation will eventually cause the effective extinction or nonexistence of the European racial types in the affected areas unless adequate preservationist measures are taken to prevent it. For
the complete essay, which includes graphs and tables: http://www.racialcompact.com/racesofhumanity.html |
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FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH |
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Create a Family Keepstake Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Diccionario de Abreviaturas Novohispanas Vast FamilySearch.org Collection of Mexico Ancestor Records Continues to Grow |
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https://familysearch.org/campaign/keepsakes?cid=email-CNU_030916_CTA5 Presidente
de
la
Sociedad
Genealógica
y
de
Historia
Familiar
de
México |
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| If you are beginning to
search old Spanish documents, this will be a very helpful site for
deciphering the frequent use of abbreviations and the great
variation in the formation of letters. |
Nota
editorial Tipos de escritura Letras capitulares Glosario |
Índices Siglas y abreviaturas Bibliografía |
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| Sent by Benicio Samuel Sánchez García,
Presidente Sociedad Genealógica y de Historia Familiar de México Genealogista e Historiador Familiar samuelsanchez@genealogia.org.mx Website: http://www.Genealogia.org.mx Cell Phone: 811 191 6334
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| Salt Lake City, Utah, (January 22, 2016)-- FamilySearch International’s long-standing partnership with Ancestry.com has yielded another significant benefit to FamilySearch.org patrons in the form of more than 220 million newly searchable Mexican birth, marriage, and death records dating back to the 1500s. FamilySearch.org patrons with an Ancestry.com subscription can access these records through FamilySearch.org, directly on Ancestry.com, or for free at any of the more than 4,800 family history centers worldwide. “This announcement is about two things,” said FamilySearch International CEO, Stephen T. Rockwood. “First, it is a celebration of the joy of discovery now available to more of our patrons with Mexican heritage. Second, it is a recognition of our valued partnership with Ancestry.com and how working together has made these high impact collections searchable online much quicker for personal family history research.” The newly published records are the result of a collaborative microfilming effort over many years’ time between FamilySearch and various government and church entities within Mexico and Ancestry.com, which provided the indexing necessary to make the records searchable. Without Ancestry.com’s assistance, some estimates suggest it would have taken 20 years or more for volunteers to index the records and make them searchable. This new collection of civil registration records significantly increases the existing Mexican resources available on or through FamilySearch.org, which include more than 72 million Catholic Church and 1930 Federal Census records, and 90 million browse-only Mexican civil registration record images from 28 of the 31 Mexican states. Early Successes Patrons are already sharing their success using the new records. For many years Edgar Gomez and his family looked diligently for a marriage record that would connect his Italian immigrant third great-grandfather, Giuseppe Palmieri, with his Mexican-born third great-grandmother, Juana Mendoza. Even visiting archives and paying for research assistance failed to yield any clues. Then, just weeks ago while seated at his dining room table, he struck “pay dirt” with a simple search launched from his family tree on FamilySearch.org. “After years of searching, we suddenly discovered right in front of us the elusive marriage certificate we had been looking for,” he said. “The civil marriage had taken place when my great-great-grandparents were in their 50s, living in a suburb of Mexico City, hundreds of miles away from where they first met and 30 years after the dates we had been researching. Without indexed records, we probably would have never found this.” Edgar describes the newly published records as “a hidden gem and a powerful tool for anybody with Mexican roots.” He says he plans to continue using it to solve many more family mysteries. About FamilySearch FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch and its predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,813 family history centers in 130 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Jim Ericson Senior Product Manager, Member and Public Outreach Family History Department The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Office: +1.801.240.0087 FamilySearch.org |
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Growing Critically Conscious Teachers by Angela Valenzuela Dr. Cirenio Rodriguez shares life experiences that shaped him Latino Role Models Success, Lead Affiliate, blog and podcast in place
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 valenz@AUSTIN.UTEXAS.EDU |
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I
am happy to announce this edited volume, currently in press with
Teachers College Press and the National Latino/a Education Research and
Policy Project (co-pub.) with a Foreword by Dr. Sonia Nieto and an
Afterword by Christine Sleeter. It is titled, Growing
Critically Conscious Teachers: A
Social Justice Curriculum for Educators of Latino/a Youth. View the wonderful endorsements below by Antonia Darder and Linda Darling-Hammond. Thanks to all of the contributors (see Table of Contents below). This has truly been a labor of love. Many thanks, as well, to the gifted Latina artist, Tanya Torres, for her permission for me to use "Cacibayagua," this symbol of a Taino goddess, for the book cover. It represents well what this volume conveys, namely, that growing critically conscious teachers isn't simply about creating pathways for them into the teaching profession, but also about growing consciousness—or concienticazión, as expressed by the late Brazilian educator, Paolo Freire. Cacibayagua by Tanya Torres "From Cacibayagua came the majority of the people who settled the island." Fray Ramón Pané I thought the cave Cacibayagua, from which the Taínos are said to have come, might be a place of earth and river water from whose veins flows life. Cacibayagua is earth, and she is also water. Like the Black Virgin, she is the color of the Earth. Water, cave, virgin goddess, like the ancient Goddess, mother of all. |
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Contents
Foreword Sonia
Nieto
Acknowledgments
Preface:
Uses of the Handbook
1.
True to Our Roots: NLERAP and the Grow Your Own Teacher Education
Institutes Initiative,
Angela Valenzuela
2. Teacher Capacities for Latino and Latina Youth, Carmen I. Mercado 3. Teaching for Critical Consciousness: Overarching Topics, Themes, Frameworks, and Instructional Activities Adele Arellano, José Cintrón, Barbara Flores, and Margarita Berta-Ávila 4. PAR Entremundos: A Practitioner’s Guide Julio Cammarota, Margarita Berta-Ávila, Jennifer Ayala, Melissa Rivera, and Louie Rodríguez 5. Social Justice Education Project (SJEP): A Case Example of PAR in a High School Classroom, Julio Cammarota 6. Conclusion: El Árbol/The Tree: Returning to the Root, Angela Valenzuela
Afterword Christine
Sleeter Endorsements:
Antonia
Darder
Linda
Darling-Hammond Growing
Critically Conscious Teachers: A Social Justice Curriculum for Educators
of Latino/a Youth |
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Dr. Cirenio Rodriguez shares life
experiences that shaped him |
| EL AIRE ACONDICIONADO/ AIR
CONDITION Many have asked how it was possible for me to obtain a PhD and worked as a professor at a major university, since I receive limited formal education in Mexico and did not attended elementary school in the USA. There are may factors that contributed to my success, my parents valued education and reinforced it every day; they had high expectations and sacrificed much for our success; I was a studious student and liked school. However, one particular event kept me going every time things got hard. Every summer (1960-1969), my family would go up north to Lodi California to pick cucumbers, tomatoes, chiles, plums etc. We lived at a family government operated labor camp, Harney Lane Labor Camp. One day after work my parents and I went to a government office, (welfare, edd, social security) I am not sure which office. It must have been 110 (F) degrees outside; but when we walked into the government office for the first time I experienced AIR CONDITION for the first time. We walked to a window and behind was a young man with a bow tie. I told myself this is the type of job I want. Every time, school assignments became difficult, I recalled the air condition incident and it gave me the desire (ganas) to continue studying and not give up. Cirenio A. Rodriguez cirenio_rodriguez@CSUS.EDU |
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Mike Acosta comments. . . mikea@WINFIRST.COM |
| Low expectations Cirenio, you might have already been more advanced in two regards than the barrio kids that questioned you. For instance your age 14 at the seventh grade indicates that maybe you were a bit more learning mature than those kids; in my case ,i had just turned eleven at that same grade level. and secondly, as you indicated a la George Spindler in a previous post, you and your family’s adaptive self was in harmony with its cultural self, whereas in the case of the young chicanos’ families there might have been conflict instead that produced an endangered self. whatever the reason, it seems you encountered firsthand the crux of the chicano experience rather than the symptom of low expectations- conflict in everyday existing between the cultural expectations of being a Mexican or a mainstream American; especially , the stress of being neither. schools nor chicano families are to blame... how does one blame the antagonistic history of two countries especially if this antagonism embeds itself like a two-prong thorn deep into the chicano psyche? Here’s what I’m talking about : “mental health treatment of latino youths soars”. Psychiatric hospitalizations of latino youths grew by 86% in California alone between 2007 and 2014(Kaiser Health News). I don’t see how anyone can honestly say they understand the chicano experience if their soul has never at one time or other wrestled with the wrenching conflicts of the chicano endangered self. Viva la raza ~ Mike Acosta mikea@WINFIRST.COM On Sun, Feb 21, 2016 Cirenio wrote: |
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| LOW EXPECTATIONS by Cirenio A. Rodriguez As indicated before, At age 14, I was enrolled in 7th grade at Washington Irving Junior High School. Since I did not speak English, they placed me in a series of classes along with mentally and physically challenged students. I was not the only immigrant non English speaking student placed in these Special Ed classes. There were other from other parts of the world. The only way to get out of these classes was to excel and obtain a C average. I spend the 7 and 8th grades in these classes but certainly by the 9th grade I was enrolled in so called “regular classes,” many of them vocational in nature. I took every voc ed course offered. I was getting D,s and C’s in most of them and this created problems with other students from the barrio (Toonerville) where I lived. One incident in particular stands out. My last period was PE and at the end of the semester, each student was given his report card in the Home Room class at the start of the day. Each student was to take its report card to each class and give it to the instructor for them to fill in the grade. During the last period, PE, we gave it to the instructor. |
At the end of the period , he asked us to form a line and proceeded to pass the report cards and we all saw what each student had obtained. I had mainly C’s and the Chicano students from the barrio had seen my grades. On the way home they began to question me because of my so called high grades. They had obtained D’s, F’s and U’s. They accused me of acting white. My relationship with most of them changed for the worst. At that moment, I did not understand what had occurred. However, as the years passed and I was enrolled in the doctoral program, I understood such dynamics. They had all internalized low expectations. The educational institutions had failed them; it expected them to fail and they did. It was the self fulfilling prophecy. There is an extensive body of research which documents the failure of the school system in the United States for students from low income and communities of color. These students are expected to fail and the educational institutions, broadly defined) reinforces such low expectation. Por eso estamos como estamos. por eso nunca progresamos. Source: LARED-L@LISTSERV.CYBERLATINA.NET |
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MY FIRST TEACHING JOB /MI PRIMER TRABAJO COMO MAESTRO |
I graduated from high school at the end of the 1965 Fall Semester and enrolled at Los Angeles Community College effective Spring 66. During the 1967 Summer, the family made the annual trip to Harney Lane Labor Camp. The camp manager found out I was a college student. He shared that they offered Adult and ESL Classes at the camp for the campesinos. and asked me if I wanted to be a Teacher’s Assistant. I said yes, since the classes were in the evening and did not interfered with my work in the fields as a campesino. Besides, it paid a good salary. The teacher was an Argentinian University of the Pacific graduate student. Well, he lasted two days and never came back. The classes were offered thru Migrant Education and the program administrator offered me the teaching job but I told him, he had to pay me the same hourly salary as the previous teacher. He agreed and I became an ESL teacher at age 20. I got hooked on teaching. During the next summers, I either taught ESL or was the Director of Harney Lane Labor Camp Rec. Center. However, I still continued to work in the fields up till the 1969 Summer. I have taught for 49 years and there are no signs of stopping. ~ Cirenio A. Rodriguez cirenio_rodriguez@csus.edu Join LARED-L, the fastest growing Latino/Hispanic Listserv Network in the country. It's Free and Easy to join. Just fill out the simple form below, and become part of our Cyber Community: (( La Voz del Pueblo)) http://listserv.cyberlatina.net/SCRIPTS/WA-CYBERL.EXE?SUBED1=lared-l&A=1 Roberto Vazquez rcv_5186@aol.com<mailto:rcv_5186@aol.com President, CEO http://www.lared-latina.com/bio.html |
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School of Many Cultures /Oxnard March 13, 2016 I was admitted to graduate school for the 1970 academic year. However, I only attended the Fall Quarter and took a leave for Winter and Spring 1971. A friend of mine (Marco Lizarraga) and I were offered teaching positions at what later became “School of Many Cultures” at la Colonia in Oxnard, California. It was an alternative High School run by the Neighborhood Youth Corps. It served new immigrants (limited English speaking students) and native born Chicano students that had been pushed out of high school. We taught ESL, English, Math, History and an elective . Marco and I had the afternoon program 1 to 5. The students were required to work 4 hours as paid interns and attend school for four hours. We never had any discipline problems. Most of the students, even those that had been pushed out, applied themselves. Many of them continued on and enrolled at the local community college and later a four year universities. However, we did have some casualties. One in particular stands out; one Monday morning, we found out that a really bright Chicano student had died of an overdose. Some time later, we also found out that some of the girls in our classes were turning tricks to support his drug habits. However, the great majority of the students were very successful. By the end of this year, I had taught Adult Ed, Sixth Grade and High School and I had a feeling that teaching adults was my call. Cirenio A. Rodriguez cirenio_rodriguez@CSUS.EDU |
This posting goes to show what many of us in the Chicano community have known all along. The great majority of our raza students do not dropout, they are pushed out. Here are a few examples: When I was a probation officer, I had about 40 Chicano students on my case load, who were constantly truant. They did not live in the same neighborhood and only saw each other at school, so there was no conspiracy as the principal alleged. When I took over the caseload I noticed that the students especially avoided a particular shop class like the plague. I asked the school principal and the vice principal what they had done to correct the problem. Their proud answer was:" We suspend them!" When I pointed out the incongruous and ineffective manner of dealing with the problem, they invited me to do what I could to correct the problem. It was really their responsibility, but I knew they were not interested, so I took on the responsibility. After interviewing the boys, I learned they avoided the class because the teacher was a racist who called the boys stupid and racist names, and he even hit them whenever he felt like it. I brought this to the attention of the authorities and when they refused to correct the problem, I organized the parents and we went to see my Tocayo, Ben Soria who was on the school board. Subsequently, the teacher was fired and replaced with sympathetic Chicano teacher. Santo Remedio, no more truancy. I once went to a conference on truancy and our session ended early, so I went next door to a another and sat in the back to listen to the speaker. There were 4 teachers in front of me who were busy discussing their plans for lunch. I suddenly heard one of them say "If the parents do not care about their children's, education, why should we." I was shocked and dismayed at their lack of professionalism and their obvious racists attitude. Even though I was not part of their group, I could not help myself and injected myself into their conversation. I told them, "If the parents do not care, which I doubt, that is all the more reason you should care. Needless to say my comments were not well received. How did I know that their parents cared? Whenever I got a Chicanito on my caseload, I always asked all the parents "What are your aspirations for your children?" Que es lo que quiere para sus hijos?" inevitably the answer was always the same from all the parents. "Queremos que estudien y obtengan una buena educacion para que no tengan que trabajar como burros como yo." We want our children to study and get a good education so they do not have to work so hard (like a donkey) as I have to. On another occasion, I was working in juvenile hall as an intake officer. My duties included booking the adolescents, reading police reports and deciding whether to file charges or not. Since the police officer had not brought in any police reports, I asked him what the charges were. They responded that they were in a gang fight at the local high school. I wanted to separate the boys that were fighting, so I asked the police officers who was fighting with whom. They then told me they had released all the other boys who all happened to be white. Why did they bring in only the Chicano students I asked. They became very annoyed and left without answering. Naturally I dismissed the charges and released the boys. I went to Garfield High school (of Stand and Deliver fame)which was about 80% Chicano. Later When in my master's program I decided to do research on the dropout problem , I learned the Board of Education regularly budgeted for only about 70% of the student body. When I asked the administrator why. His cavalier response was they are going to drop out anyway! Mar 15, 2016 Ben Alvillar benalvillar@outlook.com Ben, |
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Blog
Talk Radio (LEAD
Affiliate) -
In recognition of International Women's Day 2016 - Celebrating the
social, economic, cultural and political achievement of
women
.
A list of 21 leading women
sharing excellent advice in 7 "Latinas y Cafe"
podcast episodes, plus 23 outstanding Latina authors
on-demand podcasts.
I. - Armando F
Sanchez Production
ON-DEMAND "Latinas y Cafe" PODCAST EPISODES
June 2015, episode 1
"WHAT DO LATINAS NEED TO DO TO ACCELERATE THEIR
SUCCESS?"
NIDIA GARCIA-ERCEG, CEO Consulting Group
SONIA T RODRIGUEZ, Empowerment coach
LUPITA RUIZ-TOLENTO, Graduate studies, UC San Diego
July 2015, episode 2
"WHAT ARE THE VITAL SKILLS LATINAS NEED TO
STRENGTHEN IN ORDER TO SUCCEED?"
ANALISA FREITAS, Environmental Advocate
GILDA OCHOA, Ph.D., Pomona College
CONCEPCION M POWELL, US-Women Grocers Association
THELMA T REYNA, Ph.D., Author and poet
August 2015, episode 3
"INDULGE IN PASTRIES, CAFE Y SUCCESS: LATINAS
SUCCEEDING IN THE 21ST CENTURY ENVIRONMENT"
CHRISTINA R DIAZ,
Systems engineer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory/NASA
BELINDA FAUSTINOS, Executive
Officer, Rivers and Mountains Conservancy
LUIVETTE RESTO,
Author
September 2015, episode 4
"TURNING DREAMS OF SUCCESS INTO REALITY"
GUADALUPE BAÑALES, Mechanical engineer, GM
VIVIANA CARDOZA, Entrepreneur
TERESA GONZALEZ, Retired educator and school
administrator
TERESA SAMANIEGO, Director of Public Affairs, ABC7
October 2015, episode 5
"SUCCESS
TASTES LIKE PAN DULCE Y CAPPUCCINO;
DELICIOUS!"
GUADALUPE ARRIOLA, B.A., M.P.A., LA Plaza de
Cultura y Artes
ROBERTA H MARTINEZ, B.A., M.A., Historian and
independent scholar
OLIVIA ROSAS, B.A., M.A., CSU San Bernardino
January 2016, episode 6
"WHAT DIFFERENCE CAN A WOMEN PRESIDENT
MAKE?" (In any country)
LETICIA BENTLEY, The Moab Valley Multicultural
Center (confirmation pending)
MARIA G. HERNANDEZ, Ph.D., consultant
THELMA T. REYNA, author
February 2016, episode 7
"HOW TOP LATINAS BROKE BARRIERS"
ESTELA G. BALLON, Ph.D., Cal Poly Pomona
KATY M. PINTO, Ph.D., CSU Dominguez Hills
JACQUELINE ARROYO-ROMANO, Ph.D., Bilingual/ESL
Education
II. - Armando
F Sanchez Production
ON-DEMAND Programs Highlighting 23 Outstanding
Women Authors and Writers
Future authors &
writers, educators and students can access the programs
worldwide. Be inspired by their stories, writings and
outstanding literary works!
ESTELA GODINEZ BALLÓN, Ph.D.
JACQUELINE CAMACHO-RUIZ
VIVIANA CARDOZO
Podcast-Spanish: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/latino-role-models-success/2015/09/23/viviana-cardozo-escritora
YASMIN DAVIDDS, Ph.D.
DEBORAH DERAS, M.S., C.R.C.
ANJANETTE DELGADO
Webcast: http://youtu.be/i5vCuOasaNA
LOURDES FERRER, Ph.D.
PATRICIA GÁNDARA, Ph.D. & FRANCES CONTRERAS, Ph.D.
LESLEE GOODMAN
REYNA GRANDE
MARIA G HERNANDEZ, Ph.D.
MARCELA LANDRES
ZULMARA MARIA, Ph.D. (Series available)
VIRIDIANA BERENICE MARTINEZ
YOLANDA NAVA
ANA NOGALES, Ph.D.
ROXANNA OCAMPO
GILDA OCHOA, Ph.D.
MONICA PALACIOS
THELMA T REYNA, Ph.D.
CARIDAD SCORDATO
CARMEN TAFOLLA
ANA CELIA ZENTELLA, Ph.D.
Thank
you - Gracias, Executive Director, LATINO EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY DAYS (LEAD) ORGANIZATION President, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CONSORTIUM OF HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS College
of Education San
Bernardino, CA 92407-2397 email: emurillo@csusb.edu home web page: http://emurillo.org/
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Television host Johnny Canales will receive recognition this summer with his own star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars, according to a post from the official Facebook page of El Show De Jonny Y Nora Canales. “Johnny Canales, who grew up picking cotton, shining shoes in Robstown, TX., was notified by the President of Las Vegas walk Of Stars committee, whom voted unanimously! To place his STAR, on THE WALK OF STARS,” the show posted on Saturday (March 5). “God has blessed me,” Canales said about the recognition. “This star belongs to Jesus Christ, my father Esteban Canales, my mother Maria H. Canales and also to my wife Nora Canales and my two daughters, Seleste Canales, Miroslava Canales, and to all the millions of fans, friends and to the Hispanic People. I also thank all my fellow Veterans of all races who served, fought, and died for our country, and too all who are still serving. This Star will be dedicated to all of them.” The ceremony will take place August 6, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. in front of the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. Canales’ star will be next to other famous stars, including Elvis Presley, Jose Jose, Vicente Fernandez, Julio Iglesias, Engelbert Humperdink and many more. Canales is a former Tejano singer and is best known and host of The Johnny Canales Show, which debuted in 1983. The show is credited with showcasing emerging bands from the United States and Mexico, including Selena Y Los Dinos, La Sombra, La Mafia, Mazz,Intocable, Jennifer Pena and many more. Margarito Garcia, Ph.D. aicragjm1205@aol.com http://tejanonation.net/2016/03/06/johnny-canales-to-receive-star-on-las-vegas-walk-of-stars/ |
I remember him as a kid. I was 15 years old when we moved to Lansing, MI from Corpus Christi, TX in 1972. I remember watching him on TV. But I'm foggy- I think he appeared on Domingo Pena show frequently. That is wonderful that he is getting a Star, On the Walk of Stars. Congratulations Johnny Canales. Maria Starr |
This only thing I have to say about this entertainer is perseverance. He had his own band during the big band era. For some reason his music did not make a huge impact. I was in high school when he left for the service. Many years later I worked with him in radio. He never stopped entertaining on TV. Quitting was not in his
vocabulary... Lucas Jasso pezador@yahoo.com |
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The Mexican Revolution Corridas,
1910-1920 |
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Bought this yrs ago. . .excellent collection. . .comes with 178 pg book. Their website: www.arhoolie.com/about-us.html . The Arhoolie Foundation and UCLA received a 3-yr $265,000 grant to digitally preserve and create access to the Frontera Collection of Mex and MexAm Recordings. . .. 17,000- 78 rpm discs have been digitized. Sent by Albert Vela, Ph.D. cristorey38@comcast.net
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Sent by Albert Vela, Ph.D. cristorey38@comcast.net |
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| Many of us Mexicana/os,
Chicana/os are familiar with this phrase. In the USA, it is meant to
mock those that pretend not to be Mexican or Chicano. However, I
also heard such phrase back in my village in Michoacan and it
applied to those that denied their indigenismo and wanted to be
consider white. I often wonder about the the origin of this phrase.
Here is a possible explanation. The cactus is a symbol of Mexican
identity. It is found in the Mexican flag. It is also the symbol (an
eagle on top of a cactus) that Huitzilopchtli gave to the Aztecs/Mexicas
as the sacred place to build their permanent home. The name given to
this place was Tenochtitlan (el lugar donde crecen los nopales y
tunas entre las rocas). The inhabitants of this city (Aztecas/Mexicas),
were also known as Tenochcas (la gente de Tenochtitlan). Tenoch, one
of nine Aztec tribal leaders to whom were revealed the place where
the Aztecs could receive the support of the forces of nature, likely
in our year A. D. 1325. He wears the white robe of authority. He
sits on the reed mat of rulership. And his name glyph is the cactus
growing on a stone. The name glyph is "te"(stone)-"noch"(fruit
of the prickly pear nopalli cactus). It seem that Tenoch has the
nopal en la frente or at least on top of his head. Is it possible
that the same glyph identified a Tenochca and later (after the Espñoles
arrived) became an identity of our indigenismo? One thing that we
can not deny is that the nopal is symbol of our indegenismo and it
is a part of our diet and well being. El Corazon de Copil (Luis Leal, 2002) The cactus found int he Mexican flag has a very interesting origin. Copil was a nephew of Huitzilochtli and had promised his mother to revenge the trick that his uncle had played on his mother and swore to find and destroy him. Huitzilopochtli became aware of his intentions and had him captured and killed. Copil's heart was buried in a stony patch on an island in the center of Lake Texcoco. From the heart of Copil came forth prickly pears (un tunal-nopales con tunas). It is in this place that the eagle appeared. Del corazon de Copli nacio el nopal que se encuentra como escudo en la bandera Mexicana. Source: LARED-L@LISTSERV.CYBERLATINA.NET |
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WHO AM I? WISDOM FROM THE BONES
Featuring
Author/Poet Luis Javier Rodriguez
Official Poet Laureate of Los Angeles,
A
New Film Release by Multi Award-Winning Indie Filmmaker Bob Bryan
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BWP
PRESS - Los Angeles, CA. February 2016 - GV28
WHO AM I? Wisdom From The Bones explores
the complex psyche' of a flawed but incredibly talented and prolific
poet / artist Luis J. Rodriguez in an intimate no-holds-barred
one-on-one interview format conducted by filmmaker Bob Bryan.
Integrated into this special presentation is Rodriguez’s dramatic
reading of his unforgettable poetic works, performed in emotionally
evocative settings.
"GV28
WHO AM I? WISDOM FROM THE BONES directed
by Bob Bryan is
a powerful, well-conceived and executed piece of work"
admits the documentary subject Luis Javier Rodriguez. Adding
that, "WHO
AM I? is
a singularly unique and artful documentary on my poetry and key
aspects of my life."
Writer
Davyd McCoy had this to share, “GV28 clearly
shows Luis' complex and unique personal history, his strength,
indomitable will and his desire to know who he is. This sharing
takes form and expression in his love for creative writing. Only
he knows the demons and secrets that dwell within and that he'll
silently carry to the grave. Job well done Mr. Bryan and
congratulations to author Luis J. Rodriguez.”
“Although
I feel for him having endured such mental and physical abuse in his
life; he is blessed with the gift of expression that most people
only dream about. His pain and triumphs are clearly conveyed to
the audience in such an extravagant, yet humble way, so as not to
belittle the masses. This
guy is TRUTH in
every sense of the word.” -
Matthew Moppins, Educator
In
1993, Luis J. Rodriguez exploded onto the National Literary Scene with
the release of his memoir "ALWAYS
RUNNING, Living La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A." Based
entirely on true events in his furious life ALWAYS
RUNNING is a Literary "must-read" selection
that has sold over half-a-million copies to date. Currently,
Luis is serving as the Official Poet Laureate of Los Angeles,
California and has authored over 21 novels, memoirs and poetry books.
He is the recipient of the prestigious Carl Sandburg Literary Award
for non-fiction and many other National Literary Awards.
“Luis
Rodriguez's books bring us into the turbulent vortex of gang life
in all it's bitter complexity... By expressing the pain of those most
destroyed, Rodriguez never lets us forget where we need to go
together.” -
Fred Whitehead, The National Catholic Reporter
According
to Filmmaker Bob Bryan, WISDOM
FROM THE BONES succeeds
because Luis speaks eloquently and truthfully about his dark journey
from "Trauma
to Transformation." Describing in details the
difficulties he endured in confronting his inner demons and
insecurities, his deep, debilitating fears, his apprehensions and
psychological blindness which all drove him at the tender age of 12
years old to seek out the communion of Death Cults called “Gangs.”
These groups coveted the idea of 'Homicide
and Suicide' as an unconscious theme in their reckless
activities and angry lives. When you factor in heroin and alcohol use,
it's no wonder that few survive this vicious negative urban cycle.
It's an important story that needs to be told, and Luis is the perfect
messenger.
But
that's not the whole story... the amazing transformation of this
survivor who emerged from the darkness to claim his life and discover
his spiritual and ethnic roots, to emerge as a healer, mentor and
cultural transformational leader and cultural force is truly
inspirational. How do you carve out a loving identity
forged from pain, suffering and denial? It is Art that has
that Power!
GV28
WHO AM I? is Filmmaker
Bob Bryan's 28th Docu-Series Film exploring the eclectic lives of
talented denizens from the vast Urban Diaspora and beyond. The GV
Docu-Series directed, shot, edited and Executive Produced by Mr. Bryan
has garnered over 140 World-wide Awards and Festival honors to date,
including the prestigious Alfred I. Dupont Columbia Awards,
several CINE Golden Eagles, National Media Network: "First
Place Golden Apple Awards," LA Cinema Festival of
Hollywood: "Best
Documentary," Telluride Festival: "Best
Documentary," AVC: "Silver
CINDY Awards," etc. etc.
For more information: bryworld@aol.com
Ms.
Loida Mariano, Account Executive
BRYAN
WORLD PRODUCTIONS
P.O.
Box 74033 Los Angeles, CA 90004
Tel.
No.: 323 / 856-9256
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Latino Reads, Inspiring Conversations ~ Great Authors &
Leaders Daily Good News that Inspires Libros para Latinos: Int'l Latino Book Awards Somos en Escritos Boulder County Latino History Project Raza Rising, Chicanos in North Texas by Richard J. Gonzales We Have Not Been Moved: Resisting Racism and Militarism in 21st Century America |
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| Each week we will feature Award Winning Authors and other great information for anyone who loves to read. This weekly show is available on iTunes as Podcast and on YouTube. Marie Elena Cortés has worked hard on this show and we hope you enjoy it. Click here: Latino Reads YOUTube - Google Search Sent by Kirk Whisler kirk@whisler.com Marketing 101. Phone 760-579-1696 Latino Print Network, 3445 Catalina Dr., Carlsbad, CA 92010 Editor Mimi: I just watched the
interview with Josefina Lopez best known for authoring the play and co-authoring the 2002
Sundance Award Winning movie, Real Women Have Curves.
It was a real pleasure to hear the philosophy and thoughts behind
Lopez' plays and creative works, surely thoughtful
inspiration. |
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DailyGood is a portal that shares inspiring quotes and news stories that focus on the "good" we can find in our world daily along with a simple action to continue that goodness. Since 1999, it has delivered positive news to subscriber inboxes for free by volunteers every day. http://www.dailygood.org/ |
The International Latino Book Awards has grown over
the last 18 years to become the largest Latino literary and cultural
awards in the USA. Over the years 1,914 authors and publishers have
been honored for their work with Children's, Young Adult,
Nonfiction, Fiction, eBooks, Design, Translation, and Best First
Books. The books have been in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and
bilingual formats. The deadline for entering the 2016 Awards is that
your books must be in the mail by March 18th. Go to www.Award.News
for complete information.
The Awards are produced by Latino Literacy Now, a
501(c)(3) not for profit organization, was co-founded in 1997 by
Edward James Olmos. Latino Literacy Now has also produced 58 Latino
Book & Family Festivals around the USA with a combined
attendance of over 900,000; the Latino Books into Movies Awards; the
International Society of Latino Authors; and the upcoming Latino
Reads weekly video podcast.
Winners of the International Latino Book Awards have
included many of the best-known Latino authors including Rodolfo
Acuña,
Alma Flor Ada, Isabel Allende, Rudy Anaya, José Antonio Burciaga,
Denise Chavéz, Paulo Coelho, Dr. Camilo Cruz, Gabriel García
Márquez,
Reyna Grande, Oscar Hijuelos, Edna Iturralde, Mario Vargas Llosa,
Josefina López, Pablo Neruda, Ana Nogales, Jose Luis Orozco, Alisa
Valdes, and Victor Villaseñor. The current U.S. Poet Laureate Juan
Felipe Herrera, the Texas Poet Laureate Carmen Tafolla, and the Los
Angeles Poet Laureate Luis Rodriguez are also all past winners.
Winners have also included well-known figures from other professions
including Entertainers like Celia Cruz, Gloria Estefan, Cheech
Marin, Rick Najera, Jenni Rivera, Linda Ronstadt and Carlos Santana;
Sports notables Oscar de la Hoya and Jorge Posada; Media figures
like Martín Llorens, Jorge Ramos, Teresa Rodríguez, Ray Suarez,
and Lilliana Vasquez; Public notables like Henry Cisneros and
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor; and Chefs like Paulina
Abascal, José Garcés, Pati Jinich, Chef Lala, and Daisy Martinez.
Amazingly, sales of books by past ILBA winning authors have totaled
more than 200 million copies!
Winners have been from across the USA and at least 16
countries in Latin America, Spain and elsewhere. Every year we get
authors asking us if self-published books can enter the Awards. The
short answer is YES. We looked at the entries we'd received from the
last two years and found that roughly a third came from major
publishers, a little over a third came from medium sized publishers,
and the final slightly under one third of the entries came from very
small publishers (1-2 books per year) or were self published. The
interesting thing our research found was that the winners were at
roughly the same percentage each year in these three groupings. The
bottom line is yes, we welcome all books that qualify into the
Awards - and our judges do a great job of finding quality, no matter
who the publisher is.
Finalist will be announced June 2nd and the Awards
Ceremony will be held September 8th in Los Angeles at CSUDH's
Dominguez Ballroom. All finalists are promoted at a wide variety of
key book industry trade events, educational conferences, Latino
community and other events.
For more information, please contact Kirk Whisler,
Latino Literacy Now, 760-579-1696, kirk@whisler.com
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| From the brink of life and death to the very foundations of this present generation of Latino activism, the writings to be found in Somos en escrito Magazine so far for 2016 touch on an impressive range of genre: Essays on writing and language, novels about love and opportunity lost, poetry and art, stories for young readers, the Mexican connection to the Harlem Renaissance, and a rip-roaring science fiction novel. www.somosenescrito.com Where There Had Once Been Cuba By Phillippe Diederich A first novel by a Haitian-born photojournalist recounts the flavor and texture of Cuba, stirring up a mixture of social and political ingredients and a love affair, like a tasty serving of sofrito. On the brink of Life, and Death By Cristina García The first chapter of a novel in progress that suggests the life of a volcanologist caught up in revolutions—Cuba, Chile—and dismal love affairs, now an old man about to die in Berlin. Scooting Back into Tejano History -- The Alamo By Armando Rendón An adventure novel, the first of four-book series based on major Chicano events linked to the author’s roots in 1950s San Antonio; in English and Spanish for middle and high school readers. What is Magic? What Is Reality? By Rosa Martha Villarreal An essay of literary critique on the elusive and illusive subject of Magical Realism by an author who has enhanced the concept in her own works. Two weeks, two days, two minutes, it’s all the same By Francisco X. Stork A mesmerizing story that plunges the reader into the mind of a teenage Latina suffering the effects of depression and how she finds a way out from rock bottom. Assassin -- Exacting Justice in a Dystopian Future By Frank Lechuga Follows a warrior Chicano anti-hero into a not so distant future where humanity and technology seem to merge, with devastating results. Mature Sci-Fi/Spec Lit. Afro-Hispanic Writer Anita Scott Coleman & Harlem Renaissance West By Felipe Ortego y Gasca Reveals the Mexican origins of Anita Scott Coleman, one of the noted proponents of the Harlem Renaissance on this side of the continent. Pieces of memory, Guatemala, a river, the howling of women Pedazos de memoria: Guatemala, un río, mujeres aullando. By Claudia Hernandez Poems in Spanish and English which stir up disturbing memories of her homeland are mirrored in the author’s ceramic artworks. When español becomes a political futbol By Joe Lopez A Tejano historian and columnist takes the offensive in showing the significance of the Spanish language in U.S. history of the USA. They laid the foundation for this generation By Anthony Quiroz The biographical essays of 13 Mexican American social and political leaders from the early 1900s shows how they laid the foundations for Chicano activism that began in the 1960s. Armando Rendón, Editor Somos en Escrito Magazine www.somosenescrito.com 510-219-9139 |
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Boulder County Latino History Project |
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Based on articles written for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, author Richard J. Gonzales draws on his educational, inner-city and professional life experiences to weave eyewitness testimony into issues facing Chicanos, including economic, health, education, criminal justice, politics, immigration, and cultural issues. Raza Rising offers first-hand observations, supported by well-documented scholarly research, of Chicanos’ growth and subsequent struggles to participate fully in North Texas’ political and economic life. Raza Rising takes the reader to the organization of an immigration reform march, to the actual march with 20,000 people, to a protest demonstration of the City of Farmers Branch’s attempt to prohibit renting to the undocumented immigrant, to the author’s awakening in Chicago on the importance of learning, and to his poignant experience as a guest speaker in a Fort Worth public school classroom. “Raza Rising is clearly a passionate discussion of the many complex issues affecting the
well being of Chicanos in North Texas. It does not treat Chicanos in North Texas as isolated from the broader historical and political dynamics of the nation, but rather as directly affected by national movements and attitudes. Gonzales does an excellent job of connecting North Texas to the national scene.”—David Maldonado, Jr., author of Crossing Guadalupe Street: Growing Up Hispanic and Protestant Finally, it demonstrates the significance of the Chicano movement and the post-2006 immigrant rights struggle as key sites in which Mexican-origin residents of North Texas are remaking the region in their image. Raza Rising reminds us gringos that it is past time to get to know and embrace this fast-growing community, because their future will also be our own.”—Dr. Max
Krochmal, Director, Civil Rights in Black and Brown Oral History Project, Texas Christian University
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| About Author: RICHARD J. GONZALES wrote for six years about Chicanos as a Fort Worth Star-Telegram weekly guest columnist. He has published short stories in The Americas Review, a Hispanic literary journal of the University of Houston, and has worked in, observed, and researched the Chicano community from the 1970s to the present. Review: “Gonzales’s account as a history is of great significance because he documents important events and views in the recent history of Mexicans in Dallas and Texas, and he does it with the authority of a first-hand observer. His keen understanding of the Mexican American history that he has lived gives the narrative a high level of originality.”—Emilio Zamora, author of The World of the Mexican Worker in Texas, University of Texas at Austin. “In Raza Rising, Richard J. Gonzales beautifully weaves together years of research and writing from his years as a columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The result is a panoramic portrait of a forgotten but hugely significant community, the Chicanos and Latinos of North Texas. Gonzales meticulously details the many challenges facing young Chicanos and Chicano families in the schools and in the larger region, moving beyond a deficit-based approach (of what Chicanos themselves lack) to also explore the role of white privilege and the dangerous consequences of many Texans’ lack of cultural competency. Raza Rising also stays true to its title, examining the forgotten roots of the Chicano community in Texas, a story that spans from indigenous Mexico to recent Chicano heroes in the US.
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Elizabeth Betita Martínez We Have Not Been Moved: Resisting Racism and Militarism in 21st Century America Editors: Elizabeth Betita Martínez, Mandy Carter & Matt Meyer with an Introduction by Cornel West and Afterwords/poems by Alice Walker & Sonia Sanchez |
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Elizabeth Betita Martínez is a Chicana feminist and a long-time community organizer, activist, author, and educator. She has written numerous books and articles on different topics relating to social movements in the Americas. Her best-known work is the bilingual 500 Years of Chicano History in Pictures, which later formed the basis for the educational video ¡Viva la Causa! 500 Years of Chicano History. Her work has been hailed by Angela Y. Davis as comprising "one of the most important living histories of progressive activism in the contemporary era ... [Martínez is] inimitable...irrepressible...indefatigable." Martínez began her political work in the early 1950s. She worked in New York for the United Nations Secretariat as a researcher on colonialism and decolonization in Africa. During the 1960s, Martínez served full-time in the civil rights movement with the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in the South and as a coordinator of its New York office. In 1968, she moved to New Mexico to start a newspaper to support the Alianza Federal de Mercedes. Along with lawyer Beverly Axelrod, Martínez founded the bilingual movement newspaper El Grito del Norte, and co-founded and directed the Chicano Communications Center, a barrio-based organizing and education project. Since moving to the Bay Area in 1976, Martínez has organized around Latino community issues, taught women’s studies, conducted anti-racist training workshops, and worked with youth groups. She ran for governor of California on the Peace & Freedom Party ticket in 1982 and has received many awards from student, community, and academic organizations, including Scholar of the Year 2000 by the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies. She is the author of De Colores Means All of Us: Latina Views for a Multi-Colored Century (1998), and editor of SNCC’s Letters From Mississippi (1964). In 1997, she and Phil Hutchings co-founded the Institute for MultiRacial Justice, which "aims to strengthen the struggle against white supremacy by serving as a resource center to help build alliances among peoples of color and combat divisions." We Have Not Been Moved is a compendium addressing the two leading pillars of U.S. Empire. Inspired by the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who called for a “true revolution of values” against the racism, militarism, and materialism which he saw as the heart of a society “approaching spiritual death,” this book recognizes that—for the most part—the traditional peace movement has not been moved far beyond the half-century old call for a deepening critique of its own prejudices. While reviewing the major points of intersection between white supremacy and the war machine through both historic and contemporary articles from a diverse range of scholars and activists, the editors emphasize what needs to be done now to move forward for lasting social change. Produced in collaboration with the War Resisters League, the book also examines the strategic and tactic possibilities of radical transformation through revolutionary nonviolence. Amongst the historic texts included are rarely-seen writings by anti-racist icons such as Anne Braden, Barbara Deming, and Audre Lorde, as well as a dialogue between Dr. King, revolutionary nationalist Robert F. Williams, Dave Dellinger, and Dorothy Day. Never-before-published pieces appear from civil rights and gay rights organizer Bayard Rustin and from celebrated U.S. pacifist supporter of Puerto Rican sovereignty Ruth Reynolds. Additional articles making their debut in this collection include new essays by and interviews with Fred Ho, Jose Lopez, Joel Kovel, Francesca Fiorentini and Clare Bayard, David McReynolds, Greg Payton, Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons, Ellen Barfield, Jon Cohen, Suzanne Ross, Sachio Ko-Yin, Edward Hasbrouck, Dean Johnson, and Dan Berger. Other contributions include work by Andrea Dworkin, Mumia Abu-Jamal, Starhawk, Andrea Smith, John Stoltenberg, Vincent Harding, Liz McAlister, Victor Lewis, Matthew Lyons, Tim Wise, Dorothy Cotton, Ruth Wilson Gilmore, Kenyon Farrow, Frida Berrigan, David Gilbert, Chris Crass, and many others. Peppered throughout the anthology are original and new poems by Chrystos, Dylcia Pagan, Malkia M’Buzi Moore, Sarah Husein, Mary Jane Sullivan, Liz Roberts, and the late Marilyn Buck. Praise: “When we sang out ‘We Shall Not Be Moved’ in Montgomery and Selma, we were committed to our unshakeable unity against segregation and violence. This important book continues in that struggle—suggesting ways in which we need to do better, and actions we must take against war and continued racism today. If the human race is still here in 2111, the War Resisters League will be one of the reasons why!” —Pete Seeger, folk singer and activist “The rich and still evolving tradition of revolutionary pacifism, effectively sampled in these thoughtful and penetrating essays, offers the best hope we have for overcoming threats that are imminent and grim, and for moving on to create a society that is more just and free. These outstanding contributions should be carefully pondered, and taken to heart as a call for action.” —Noam Chomsky, professor emeritus of linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; philosopher, cognitive scientist, and activist “One of the biggest stumbling blocks to building a successful movement against war has been our inability to cross racial and cultural lines, bridging the divides created and maintained by the powers that be. Since the 1960s, there have been some hopeful signs—in grassroots groups and in educational efforts—but the road forward is still long and difficult. The contributors to We Have Not Been Moved, with extraordinary scope and vision, have given us an indispensable tool to fight oppression, resist war and injustice, and create powerful new coalitions for lasting social change. This volume should be required reading—alongside of Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States—in every sociology and political science class.” —Connie Hogarth, life-long peace and justice activist and inspiration for Manhattanville College’s Connie Hogarth Center for Social Action; co-founder and former executive director of the Westchester People’s Action Coalition. PM Press | ISBN: 978-1-60486-480-9
| Pub July 2012 | Format: Paperback
|Size: 9 by 6 | Page count: 576
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April 9th: SHHAR, Dr. Vicki Ruiz, "Empire of
Dreams" Cesar Chavez Sculpture Installation at Santiago Canyon College Education of Mexican Education of Mexican Students in OC by Simon Ludwig Treff Saturday Hours Planned for Orange County Courthouses Sara Guerrero is OC Theater's Breath of Fire |
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| Dr. Vicki Ruiz is Professor of
Chicano Studies at the University of California, Irvine.
This title is part of the PBS documentary on Latino Americans that
covers the immigration period 1880 to 1942. The topic covers
a formative period in California.
LATINO AMERICANS is the first major documentary series for television to chronicle the rich and varied history and experiences of Latinos, who have helped shape North America over the last 500-plus years and have become, with more than 50 million people, the largest minority group in the U.S. The changing and yet repeating context of American history provides a backdrop for the drama of individual lives. It is a story of immigration and redemption, of anguish and celebration, of the gradual construction of a new American identity that connects and empowers millions of people today. It aired nationally on PBS in the fall of 2013. http://www.pbs.org/latino-americans/en/ 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Hands-on Computer Assistance for Genealogical Research.10:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Welcome and Introductions 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Speaker and/or Special Workshop All SHHAR monthly meetings are held at the Orange Family History Center, 674 S. Yorba St., Orange, CA, 92863 For more information, contact President Letty Rodella, lettyr@sbcglobal.net
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A STORY TO TELL: Family History Fair! The annual Family History Fair for 2016 will be held on April 16. Pre-registration is once again online . . . Click here to visit the Fair home page. |
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Who Are We?We are an extension of the world famous Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah and one of 15 such regional genealogy libraries located throughout the western United States. Why come to our library? We have thousands of films, books, classes and other resources you cannot get at home, as well as free access to many premium genealogy websites. Plus we have friendly staff to answer questions!Think of us as your tour guide to more than two billion names of deceased people and records from more than 100 countries, covering everything from 14th century English church records to African oral histories.Come Visit Us! Best of all, access to the FamilySearch Library is free! The Library is located at rear of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at 674 South Yorba Street, in the City of Orange, California. Entrance is from the parking lot in the back. |
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Cesar Chavez Sculpture Installation at Santiago Canyon College |
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| As you know, every year I promote Cesar Chavez Day celebrations in Orange County. This year, I’d like to invite you to join me for a wonderful event to commemorate the day at Santiago Canyon College. 9 am - 1 pm Cesar Chavez Day Activities 1 pm - 2 pm Santa Ana High School Mariachi Entertainment 2 pm Sculpture Installation Program Where: Santiago Canyon College, 8045 East Chapman Ave., Orange, CA. Strenger Plaza located in front of E-building. Jose Solorio Trustree, Rancho Santiago Community College District jose@josesolorio.com |
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The Education of Mexican Education of Mexican
Students in Orange County |
SATURDAY
HOURS PLANNED for The Clerk-Recorder Department open its doors to the public once-a-month Saturday hours. The department’s branch offices in Fullerton, Laguna Hills and the Old County Courthouse will be open from 10 am to 3 pm. Customers will be able to obtain marriage licenses, have marriage ceremonies performed, submit passport applications, purchase passport photos and obtain vital and official records. The Orange County Archives will also be open from 10 am to 3 pm. The Archives are located in the basement of the Old County Courthouse in Santa Ana. For more information go to: http://ocrecorder.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=27441
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Sara Guerrero |
| Thirteen years ago, Sara Guerrero began a theater company so she could see her plays staged. She's still waiting.
It's not as if Guerrero, the artistic director of Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble, feels her plays are unworthy. It's that she has learned to embrace something essential about the familial nature of a theater company: Someone has to be the mother. "I absolutely adore my son, but I wouldn't say I have that mother 'personality,'" admits the Santa Ana native. "But when it comes to theater, I have a nurturing energy. Theater is my family. I'm really passionate about it; it's why I get up in the morning. I love my child and my partner, but they know that if I didn't have this in my life, it would be hard to be." Guerrero's theatrical vision isn't just a collaboration of artists; it's about collaborating with the community. That's why, after taking a break a couple of years ago, Breath of Fire (which isn't the only theater endeavor Guerrero is involved in—trust us) revisited its purpose last year and decided to shift from mounting full productions to focusing on community-theater writing workshops. "We'd been production-based before, but since coming back, it's been more about making theater more accessible to the community," she says. "And that's given us the opportunity to re-imagine what theater is to a community, about going deeper and sharing skills and to show them what it means to be a storyteller." Guerrero, who graduated from Century High School with no real plan, wrote her first play in the fifth grade. But as a foreign-exchange student in South America, she heard Federico García Lorca's plays presented in Spanish, and a fire was ignited. She worked as a stagehand and actress at Rancho Santiago (now Santa Ana) College before attending Cal Arts, graduating in 1999. But while she did the auditioning thing, she found herself drawn to community-based nonprofits, such as Plaza de la Raza, a Latino cultural center in Lincoln Heights. She moved back to Santa Ana and eventually hooked up with Pablo Rivera's Teatro Indigena, an OC-based, by-the-bootstraps Chicano theater troupe, one of only a handful of Latino companies in the county's history. That company didn't last, so Guerrero and several of the people she'd worked with over the years decided to launch Breath of Fire in November 2003. They began working on a compilation of stories told by the county's Latino community that coalesced into The Mexican OC, first produced in 2006 (and directed by Guerrero). Since then, the troupe has produced about 25 full productions and readings, before taking a slight break in 2012, resurfacing last year with its new, reinvigorated purpose. "I don't know if we have filled a void [for Latino theater in OC], but we have offered our community access," she says. "Theater is part of our community in other performances, like dance or music, but for the majority, theater is not a regular part of their lives. And even when we had our own space, we did the work, and then the show ended, but no one really walked out wanting to do it. So the challenge was how to get people really interested, to get theater to thrive. That's what we're trying to do now. Instead of trying to get the community to come to the theater, we're bringing theater to the community." http://www.ocweekly.com/arts/sara-guerrero-is-oc-theaters-breath-of-fire-7045490 |
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East LA, Ellis Island of the West |
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Los Angeles, Someone once referred to East LA. as the ellis island of the west.
newly
arrived jews, russians, Japanese, Mexicans and a few other groups of
people
initially stayed there as a place holder; after a while they moved on to
more affluent parts of los angeles; that is, except chicanos and Mexicans
who remained. Our family and many members of our extended family moved to east l.a. from El Paso, Texas just before the outbreak of world war II; our families also brought the word Chicano with them; it was a word of self-identification that they and others of Mexican background used since the twenties thru out various barrios in El Paso ; the family barrios primarily included "el barrio de las chivas" and "el barrio del Diablo". In East LA. we found residence in the various public housing projects; We also found that Chicanos and people that preferred to call themselves mejicanos didn't readily mingle with each other socially. this social divide surfaced sharply during the 60's when the war on poverty brought needed employment training programs and other resources to places like East LA. Gabachos administered several of the larger community programs. A few chicanos were hired as community assistants. |
Some of these administrators issued a
caveat
that the word Chicano was not to be used during program working hours. A
group of mejicanos found the word Chicano demeaning and went to these
gabacho authorities demanding that this word not be used. Chicano employees
caught using this word were either reprimanded or terminated. I along with
several "camaradas" organized other chicanos from throughout East LA
and
put an end to this discrimination against raza. We forced the removal of
all program administrators behind this anti-chicano caveat , replacing them
with Chicanos and Spanish speaking Latinos that identified with chicanos. And as for the group of Mejicanos that opposed us, we made them an offer they couldn't refuse that eventually led to a better mutual understanding for all of us. And when the movimiento hit, seemingly overnight the word Chicano became respectable, bringing many out of the closet; individuals I knew that had never considered themselves Chicanos, saw the light and instantly became Chicano activists, some even became brown beret leaders. a new game soon ensued until this day about who was more Chicano than the other. |
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We mortals view our lives with an odd sense of vague certainty. We know nothing of what tomorrow will bring, only that we will be a part of it. The Aragón family was about to experience life’s uncertainty, its ugliness, and cruelty. Life’s certainty was to be ripped from them. Michael’s strength, cunning, intelligence, and control would soon be lost to that mist which transcends time and space. Anna was to return to a lost world of days gone by. Benjamin and Christina would be left to pursue their own lives. Kenny was to inherit the mantle of Eme power. The three Uncles the Priest, César, and Rolf would all find themselves set adrift in a universe free of Aragón. You can read the book in its fullness on your I-Pad
at:http://www.amazon.it/The-House-Aragon-English-Edition-ebook/dp/B008PK2E3S |
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19th Annual International Women's Day and Women's Herstory Month Celebration One: Mind, Body, Spirit, Mujeros de Maiz Event held Sunday, March 6, 2016, Concert/Live Art Show at Self Help Graphics 1300 E. First Street, Los Angeles (Boyle Heights), CA 90033 LOS ANGELES, CA, March 4th, 2016 - The collective Mujeres de Maiz presents "Mujeres de Maiz 2016: One: Mind, Body, Spirit" a season-long series of intercultural, intergenerational, and interdisciplinary art events celebrating their 19th Anniversary in honor of International Women's Day and Women's Herstory month; With various events, including a live art show and performance event (March 6th), an art exhibition, workshops in writing and holistic health and more happening now through May 2016. Mujeres de Maiz has grown from a one day event to a season of events and now year around programming. Throughout the month of programming, emerging and veteran women of color artists, community leaders, and activists will be highlighting themes including women's artistry, spirituality, Indigenous traditions, their relation to the earth, and their urban political and spiritual reality. Interviews with the artists or organizers, as well as more photos are available. Music samples, mp3's and videos are also available. For more information on the event(s), please contact Felicia Montes at (323) 359-6288 or email felicia@mujeresdemaiz.com |
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| Segment Aired: 11/25/14, Finding Your Roots, Henry Louis Gates, 3:13 minutes. Jessica Alba, a Mexican-American with roots in California, learns more about the life her ancestors made for themselves after immigrating to the United State. In 1929, her grandfather helped to set up a Mexican School in Los Angeles County, in the city of Claremont. The school curriculum included teaching the children to read in Spanish and also the history of Mexico. Inspiring . . . . http://www.pbs.org/video/2365372100/s |
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Migrant kids often had to leave school early and in the
fall start late. We did this for years. Luckily, some of
us were able to catch up and even excel. But no thanks to the
schools. Below is an excerpt from a chapter that I published in
a book that Kenneth Gonzalez and I co-edited. The name of the
book is Doing the Public Good. In this
excerpt, the text in italics is my recollection while the text that
follows in regular type shows my comments on the recollection.
Several years after we arrived in the United States, our family joined the stream of migrant workers who, like salmon about to spawn, found their way back to the fields of the great Midwest. The migrants left behind the hot and dusty border towns of south Texas as they moved northward in small and large trucks covered with canvas tarps or in used cars with small trailers behind them. For us, the destination was Michigan and every state in between. One of the inevitable consequences of this peripatetic lifestyle was that often we would have to leave school early or start school late. And so it was one fateful year when I transitioned from the relatively safe enclave of Allison Elementary School to the big junior high school outside of our familiar barrio. I started several weeks late into the first grading period. But as usual, I approached my studies energetically so that I could catch up as quickly as possible. But this time, in seventh grade, everything was really different. The school had a number of large pecan trees on its property. As it turned out, harvesting the fruit of these trees was a fund raising activity for the school. But then somebody had to pick the pecans, a labor intensive activity if there ever was one. The solution was to allow various classes to go out and pick pecans for a class period instead of attending to their regular studies. To give things a semblance of non coercion, the teacher of the designated class would ask the students if they preferred to do class work or pick pecans for that class period. Naturally, almost all of the students eagerly consented to pick pecans. But not me. What an absurdity! I had been picking crops all summer long. I had missed school. And now that I was desperately trying to catch up on missed school work I was supposed to go out and pick pecans instead! So I raised my hand and told the teacher no. Not only that, I told her that I was in school to learn and that picking pecans was not my idea of learning. Well, that was it for the twenty-something White school teacher who I am convinced must have believed that what we Mexicans needed most was strong discipline. She ran her class like a boot camp. Since we had already had a similar difference of opinion before, she was convinced that I was a trouble maker and sent me off to the principal’s office. I had never been to a principal’s office before on a disciplinary matter. But there I was. The principal was an ex-navy man who looked remarkably like a bulldog. He wore his hair in a flat top, as was popular in those days. Even though he was still young, his cheeks and jowls hung from his face as in someone who has had plenty to eat. But it also gave him the look of an attack dog, something he might even have cultivated with the students. I think that he too must have believed that discipline is what Mexicans needed most. He gave me a severe tongue lashing and threatened me with a belt whipping if I did not straighten out. I was not afraid of him. But I was beside myself with fury and an absolute feeling of impotence. I did not really hear what he had to say. Tears streamed from my eyes, not out of fear, but from the sheer rage, helplessness, and even shame that I was feeling for being talked to that way. It was an involuntary reaction. And all the while I could see myself, the situation I was in, and my reaction to it as if I were an observer watching a scene. Needless to say, it was a perfect example of a lesson learned organically. From the school’s point of view, I am sure that having the students pick pecans instead of doing class work was a contribution to the public good of the school. But for me, at that moment, picking pecans instead of attending to my studies was a severe deprivation of my private good -- of my desire to learn and do well in school, and of my dream to make something of myself. In promoting the public good, it is necessary to look carefully to see whose ox is being gored in the interest of the greater good. For the public good can not really be promoted at the expense of competing and legitimate public or private interests. Those whose oxen are gored for the public good should at least expect to receive some compensation for their losses. Like everything else, the public good is almost always based on someone’s frame of reference. This frame of reference can include unearned privileges and unfair exclusions. So we ought not just resort to the belt to sanction the public good. We ought to consider that the private good is not always insolent or evil. In the pecan story, my private good of doing well in school was overwhelmed by the public good of raising money for the school. It was my desire to become an educated person that received a thrashing that day. But underneath it all, it was my objection, my public protest that upset the young teacher. Even though we were very young, some of us already knew that things were not right with our education. We also were willing to stand up and challenge the system. Normally, it is the parents’ role to challenge the system on behalf of their children. In our case, our parents did indeed speak for us but they spoke for us through our very own mouths and tongues. They did so because of the organic lessons they had taught us about what is right and wrong. Meanwhile our erstwhile teachers and principals must have sensed that something was afoot. What they were sensing were the very early stirrings of El Movimiento. Some dozen years later, Chicana/o students, facing similar neglect by the schools, took to the streets, boycotted schools, and demanded a quality education. Their individual desires for a good education and a better life had somehow morphed into a public good. The instrument for vindicating that public good was El Movimiento, the Chicano Movement. Regards, Ray Padilla rvpadilla1@gmail.com Source: LARED-L@LISTSERV.CYBERLATINA.NET |
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| In Spring 1966, I enrolled at Los
Angeles Community College. I had been in this country for about
a little bit more than 5 years and my English was still a
little limited, certainly the academic vocabulary and concepts.
The college administered a placement test for every student and a group
of us, mainly Latino/Chicano students were place in special
classes. The only way to get out of it was to obtain a C in all
classes. I did it after the first semester and then Fall 66, I enrolled
in the university transfer category with a Spanish major. I
never saw a counselor nor anyone advised me as to academic possibilities
that I could pursue. I spend 5 semesters (two and half years) at
LACC, where I became active in student politics and became an activist
student. A small group Mexican American students formed (either
Fall 66 or Spring 67) the Mexican American Student Association (MASA)
and a smaller group of students from Latin American
countries formed the Latin American Student Association (LASA).
Most of the Mexican American Students had not yet used the term Chicano,
with its political cultural and social identity. Such change
occurred shortly thereafter. The term Latino Americano was an
appropriate one since the students that formed LASA were from many
different Latin American countries (Mexico, Argentina, El Salvador,
Nicaragua, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela etc.). I belonged to both
groups. The Latino American students were very progressive and in
LASA meetings we would discussed the Cuban Revolution and the US
interventions in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala etc. I received a
very good education at this meetings. The initial meetings at MASA dealt
with cultural and social activities and some discussions about identity
issues. However, a drastic transformation occurred due to a few
events. A student friend of some of the MASA members invited us to
her house for a fundraiser and the main speaker was Cesar Chavez.
We walked out of that event with a mission to help the striking farm
workers in Delano, California, and HUELGA y LA CAUSA became part
of our vocabulary and actions. Another event was the 1967 Summer
uprising in Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico led by Reis Lopez Tijerina,
and the Alianza de Pueblos Libres in Northern New Mexico. La
Alianza was fighting to recoup land grants that, according to
them, was stolen by the US Federal Government. Alianza members had
recently taken over the court house in Tierra Amarilla. MASA and
LASA in collaboration with student government at Los Angeles City
College sponsored a presentation/lecture by Tijerina who was on a
speaking tour of California colleges and universities and we were on
those colleges. After the talk by Tijerina, the Chicano and Latino
student leadership met privately with Mr. TiJerina. He shared the
purpose of the Alianza and the struggles faced by this organization in
Northern New Mexico. The third event was the 1968 Student Blowouts
in East Los Angeles High Schools. One of the MASA leaders brought
a Cal State LA student member of United Mexican American Students (UMAS)
to the MASA meeting. He shared with us that they needed college students
to help high school students who were having difficulties with the
respective schools. Well, I volunteered and found my self
days later right in the middle of the historic 1968 Chicano Student
Blowouts These events became part of the 1960’s and 70’s
Chicano Movement. At that time, I and many of the other students
were completely unaware of the historical significance of these
events. However, now I realized that we as student college
activists and leaders were also part of these important historical
episodes. Cirenio A. Rodriguez Source: LARED-L@LISTSERV.CYBERLATINA.NET |
| 1968 The 1968 was year full of significant events. Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated, students in Mexico City went on strike and many were massacred in the Plaza de Las Tres Culturas in Tlatelolco, and the hunger strike by Cesar Chavez. In Europe, students also rebelled and people in this country and world wide were speaking and demonstrating against the Viet Nam War. Back at home students and a large segment of the community was opposed to the Vietnam War. In Los Angles, Chicano students walked out classes in protest for the lack of culturally relevant curriculum /staff and the negative manner that Chicano students were treated by school authorities. I graduated at the end of the 1968 Spring Semester from Los Angels City College. For the first time during the decade of the 60’ I did not work in the fields since I found employment close to home. My experience with the 1968 Spring East LA Student Blowouts brought me into contact with Rene Nuñez who offered me a job (summer 68) as a counselor/outreach for “Talent Search” a federally funded program that worked to place high school senior students at colleges and universities. I helped place over 40 Chicana/o students at several universities during the 1968 summer. We visited several universities along with students. One of the campuses we visited was the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB). Two EOP Counselors greeted us. While at this institution, I recalled the advise by the Mexican American Student Association Faculty Advisor. He had encouraged us to continue our education at four year institution and pursue a Bachelors Degree. He also shared that UCSB was recruiting Chicano and Black students. While visiting this campus, I applied for admissions and financial aids. A few weeks later, I was admitted for Fall 68. Summer 68, the LA County Sheriffs and LAPD arrested several of the Chicano Student Blowout leaders. During the day, I was busy working at Los Angles Educational Clearing House helping high school students apply to colleges and universities and attending community meetings due to the arrest of Chicano leaders. At night and weekends, I spent with some of my cousins, Ramon Ayala, Silvestre Bernal, Jaime Bernal, Eliberto Vargas, to name a few. None knew any English nor had jobs; I was their only contact in a foreign country. I provided food and shelter for all of them until they found employment, but it was a great time. I spend some wonderful moments catching up with them recalling our adventures as young men in the rancho. playing cards, drinking beer and just having a good time. One thing is for certain that as soon as I walked in to the house after work, I became one of them. My speech and identity changed. I reverted back to the enduring self of my youth in my small village. They took me out of the rancho but never the rancho out of me. Cirenio A. Rodriguez cirenio_rodriguez@CSUS.EDU Source: LARED-L@LISTSERV.CYBERLATINA.NET |
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Saturday April 16th, 213th Anniversary of the Battle of San Diego
Bay. Time to put Balboa on a pedestal by Logan Jenkins Tracing America’s borderlands history along the Anza Trail Tapia, California Family Pride by Lorraine Ruiz Frain Felipa Yorba Farias born 1871 Life at Harney Lane by Cirenio A. Rodriguez April 23: La Purisima Mission State Park, Sheep Shearing Day Baja California |
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Welcome
to the 213th Anniversary Of
the Battle
of San Diego Bay Master
of Ceremonies:
Ms. Evangelina Yguerabide
Vice
President, House of Spain,
Casa
de España, San Diego Flags
of 1803 raised by:
Ambassador Javier Vallaure
Consul
General of Spain in Los Angeles
Capt.
Howard Warner, III
Commanding Officer
Naval Base, Point Loma National
Anthems:
United
States & Spain
U.S. Navy Band Benediction
by:
Lt.
Steven M. Walker
Chaplain of Naval Base Point Loma Introduction
by:
Capt.
Howard Warner, III
Commanding Officer
Naval Base Point Loma Keynote
Speaker:
Capt.
Howard Warner, III
Commanding Officer
Naval Base Point Loma Capt.
Howard C. Warner, III is a native of San Diego, California and
attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1989 with a
Bachelor of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering. He subsequently
earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from George
Washington University (2002) and a Master of Science in National
Security Strategy from the National War College, National Defense
University (2005). Following
command at sea, he served as the Branch Head for Submarine and Nuclear
Assignments (PER-403) and Navy Personnel Command and most recently, as
the Deputy Commander for Training at COMSUBRON 16. Capt. Warner
assumed command of Naval Base Point Loma in August 2014. Capt.
Warner’s awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious
Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Navy
Commendation Medal (six awards), Navy Achievement Medal (two awards),
and several other unit and personal decorations. Organizations
participating in this event:
Cabrillo
National Monument (San Diego)
Explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo
Maritime Museum of San Diego
Galleon San Salvador
San Diego/Alcalá Sister City
Don
Quijote de la Mancha
Group Order of Santiago
Medival Organization
The Heritage Discovery Center
Importance of Horses in the Encounter
House
of Spain, Casa de España in San Diego
Contributions to the American Independence
Statue
of Vasco Núñez de Balboa
Real Fuerte de San Joaquín de Punta Guijarros
The
Spanish Presence in Americas Roots (SPAR)
Naval Base Point Loma
Maps of Spain & Extremadura Autonomy
Crafts for children
CALL ME DOWN WHEN YOU ARE READY FOR THE CORRECTION TO BE MADE.
Following
command at sea, he served as the Branch Head for Submarine and Nuclear
Assignments (PER-403) and Navy Personnel Command and most recently, as
the Deputy Commander for Training at COMSUBRON 16. Capt. Warner
assumed command of Naval Base Point Loma in August 2014. Capt.
Warner’s awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious
Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Navy
Commendation Medal (six awards), Navy Achievement Medal (two awards),
and several other unit and personal decorations. Organizations
participating in this event:
Cabrillo
National Monument (San Diego)
Explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo
Maritime Museum of San Diego
Galleon San Salvador
San Diego/Alcalá Sister City
Don
Quijote de la Mancha
Group Order of Santiago
Medival Organization
The Heritage Discovery
Center
Importance of
Horses in the Encounter
House
of Spain, Casa de España in San Diego
Contributions to the American Independence
Statue
of Vasco Núñez de Balboa
Real Fuerte de San Joaquín de Punta Guijarros
The
Spanish Presence in America´s Roots (SPAR)
Naval Base Point Loma
Maps of Spain & Extremadura Autonomy
Crafts for children |
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SPAR DISPLAY BY ROBIN COLLINS,
DIRECTOR, |
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I am writing this letter in an urgent request for aid in the
conservation of this unique genetic resource, which is on
the brink of extinction. For over twenty five years, I
have personally, with great sacrifice, conserved, loved, and
cared for these special horses, my friends, my ponies
whose DNA is traceable to the original Spanish horses brought in
by the Spanish over 500 years ago..
However due to the extreme drought which California
has experienced and the related increases in both feed
costs and veterinary expenses, I have depleted
all my financial resources. Sadly, I find I
can no longer support and sustain these horses.
Unfortunately without financial assistance, there will be no recourse. With great pain, I will have to disband this very rare and unusual genetic global resource. The strength and purity of the genetic lines of these marvelous horses is amazing. The Wilbur-Cruce horse is unique, 500 years of intimate connection with their riders have made them extremely sensitive and capable of a very deep emotional connection with people. It is that very connection with people which has resulted in their great success in educational and therapeutic work.
It is critical that we immediate support to continue
to perpetuate this precious living legacy. I achieved
a 501 C3 status with the purpose of saving
the herd. You have the opportunity to help conserve an integral
part of America’s story, bring the history of Colonial
California to the youth of California.
Rancho del Sueno is entirely maintained by volunteers,
who for room/board care for these unusual, spirited animals, with
the devotion that they deserve. Neither myself, nor
the staff will receive any monies from your donations.
Ninety-nine,( 98%) will go specifically for the care
of the herd, food, water, shelter, and medical needs,
and two (2%) for promoting them. No funds will be used
for staff salaries.
Please help us preserve these remarkable historic horses,
living proof of Spain's involvement in the formation of our
country, and assist us in continuing to develop
methodology for educational and therapeutic work with the
Colonial Spanish Wilbur-Cruce horses at Rancho del Sueno..
. To learn more about our RDS programs, please visit our website at www.ranchodelsueno.com. Thank you so very much, Robin Lea Collins President/Founder of Heritage Discovery Center and Rancho Del Sueno, equine division of HDC Heritage Discovery Center, Inc. 40222 Millstream Lane Madera, California 93636 559 868-8681 559 868- 8682 fax www.ranchodelsueno.com HDCranchodelsueno@gmail.com The Heritage Discover Center is a registered 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, and your gifts are tax deductible. We thank you and appreciate your support beyond words. Please send your gift today.
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NAVAL BASE POINT LOMA |
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WHAT: Naval Base Point Loma will host the Battle of the San Diego Bay Anniversary Celebration is in cooperation with the House of Spain, Casa de España in San Diego. This event commemorates the only Pacific Coast, ship-to-shore battle between an American ship the "Lelia Bryd" and Spain's "Fort Guijarros" located on Naval Base Point Loma. WHEN: Saturday, April 16, 11:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. WHERE: Naval Base Point Loma, Smuggler's Cove VISUALS: The Ceremony begins at 12 p.m. with a flag raising ceremony, accompanied by Spain and U.S. national anthems. The keynote speaker will be Capt. Howard C. Warner III, Commanding Officer, Naval Base Point Loma. Following the ceremony there will be a Spanish dance performances; historical, cultural and maritime displays; historical costumes; children's craft activities, bounce house, and food and beverage services to include paella, tapas, desserts, beer, wine and Sangria. HOW TO COVER: Contact Sharon StephensonPino, Public Affairs Office, Naval Base Point Loma 619-553-0090, sharon.stephensonpin@navy.mil NAVAL BASE POINT LOMA |
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Time to put Balboa on a pedestal |
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The statue of El Cid is often assumed to be a likeness of Balboa, the Spanish explorer for whom Balboa Park is named. The House of Spain and others are trying to win approval for a statue of the first European to glimpse the Pacific Ocean. The statue of El Cid is often assumed to be a likeness of Balboa, the Spanish explorer for whom Balboa Park is named. The House of Spain and others are trying to win approval for a statue of the first European to glimpse the Pacific Ocean. — Eduardo Contreras Balboa Park is short on heroic statues, life-like sculptures with stories behind them.
New York’s Central Park has 22 of the heavy-metal
memorials, I gather, including one of a dog, but our larger central
park a mere five.
Given the glaring absence of a likeness of Spanish
explorer Vasco Nuñez de Balboa, it’s a wonder children don’t
assume the park is named after the Italian Stallion, Rocky Balboa.
To make matters worse, El Cid, the medieval Spanish
soldier who never set foot in the New World, rides his horse outside
the Museum of Art, leading visitors to wrongly infer that the 1930
statue represents the park’s namesake. Qué lástima.
On Sept. 26, 1913, The San Diego Union reported that
the upcoming Panama-California Exposition in 1915 would feature “a
monument to Balboa costing $15,000 at the east end of El Prado that
would be surrounded by a semicircle of columns.”
More than a century later, Balboa still waits for his
bronze close-up. Not to sidestep the obvious, Balboa was a
conquistador in today’s Panama. To some modern
sensibilities, that job title by definition disqualifies
Balboa from an adulatory statue.
[Editor Mimi: But who is giving him that title? He was an Adelantado.]
What’s more, if you click on Wikipedia, you’ll read
that Balboa reportedly fed 40 homosexual Indians to a pack of dogs. It’s
a salacious story, but it’s also untrue, says Iris Engstrand, San
Diego’s historian emeritus who’s helping lead the fight
for a Balboa statue. She ascribes the apocryphal narrative to the “Black
Legend,” propaganda against the Spanish Empire.
In fact, Engstrand tells me, Balboa was executed
because he was too friendly to Indians. Balboa had written to the
Spanish king to warn him of a governor’s harsh treatment. The rival
in charge condemned the whistleblower to death.
In Panama, his tropical stomping ground, Balboa’s
name is on national currency and beer. His statue, holding a flag and
a sword, is a symbol of national pride that overlooks Panama Bay.
Balboa, as we should learn early, was the first
European to lay eyes on the Pacific Ocean. Four days later, on Sept.
29, 1513, he planted the Spanish flag in the ocean, claiming all the
lands touched by the “South Sea” for Spain, surely the most
far-flung property claim ever recorded.
The historical profile of Balboa, which should be
viewed through the dark prism of colonization, is just one of the
stumbling blocks for the two-year Balboa statue campaign initiated by
the House of Spain to commemorate last year’s centennial.
In several workshop presentations, Balboa Park’s
official guardians have offered a range of objections to a Balboa
statue, Engstrand reports. Somebody doesn’t like historic statues.
Another doesn’t care for bronze as a material. Another thinks it’s
beneath the park’s dignity to have a replica from Balboa’s
hometown statue in Spain, as was originally planned. (El Cid, it
should be noted, is itself a copy of an original created by Anna Hyatt
Huntington.)
“We never get anywhere with these committees,”
Engstrand, a USD history professor, tells me. “You have to wonder
what’s going on.”
However, a formidable bloc has lined up in support of
the Balboa statue, including the San Diego History Center, the Natural
History Museum and Save Our Heritage Organization.
“Honoring public figures through statues is a
fundamental part of our culture,” Thomas Workman, retired
superintendent of the Cabrillo National Monument, wrote Mayor
Faulconer a few weeks ago.
“Cultures identify themselves and separate themselves
from other nations through history. Specifically, the statue can
strengthen our ongoing ties with both Spain and Panama. It should be
approved without reservation.”
Armando Hinojosa, a well-known Texas sculptor, has
agreed to craft a 9-foot-high statue costing $325,000, which would be
paid by an anonymous donor, Engstrand says. If ultimately approved by
the Park and Recreation and other boards, the statue would be
installed with a plaque near the entrance to the Natural History
Museum.
The proposed statue of Balboa, at least in the
renderings I’ve seen, doesn’t glorify military conquest. He’s a
soldier in armor shading his eyes, looking into the distance.
The guardians of Balboa Park (and, my goodness, there
are a host of them) should help Balboa climb up on his bronze
pedestal.
In 1910, one San Diegan wrote in defense of the City
Park’s new, and much-debated, name. His summary should go on the
plaque:
Balboa, he reminded, was the fellow “who beat the
real estate men to the Pacific Ocean.”
Sent by Maria Angeles O'Donnell Olson
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Tracing America’s borderlands history along the Anza Trail |
| This article by Sarah Tory first appeared in the March 7, 2016 issue of High Country News with the title “Tracing borderlands history on the Anza Trail.”
To read the full article, you must log in or subscribe. Enter your email address: National Park Service 2 comments I am lost before I’ve even started. It’s December and I’m in Nogales, Arizona, determined to re-trace the footsteps of the first Spanish colonizing expedition across what is now the border between the United States and Mexico. Nearly 250 years ago, in 1775, a young Spanish commander led a group of mostly poor villagers — men, women and children — together with more than 1,000 horses and cattle from the Mexican state of Sinaloa northwards across a vast desert to the far reaches of the Empire in what was then called Alta California. Like Yosemite or Yellowstone, or the Oregon Trail, the expedition’s route is part of the national park system. It should be easy to find. But the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail has no official starting point — at least not one that’s marked. Instead, there is a giant steel fence equipped with motion sensors, and the ever-vigilant eyes of the U.S. Border Patrol. Anza actually began his journey 600 miles south of here, in the town of Culiacán, Mexico. But the route managed by the National Park Service begins on this side of the border, and heads north, then west, a loosely connected corridor of dirt paths, protected areas and ruins that “connect history, culture, and outdoor recreation from Nogales, Arizona, to the San Francisco Bay Area.” But here in downtown Nogales, with its stream of honking cars and people waiting to cross the wall that divides the city, I can find no remnants of the original route, nor any modern markers that commemorate it. The border, it seems, erases history. At least that’s how Teresa Leal, a petite 66-year-old anthropologist with a pixie haircut and a mischievous smile, sees it. She belongs to the Anza Society, established to help commemorate the expedition’s history in both Mexico and the U.S. and works as the director of the Pimeria Alta Museum, a stone’s throw from the Nogales portion of the border wall. Leal’s ancestors were Opata, once the most numerous people in what is now the border region of northeastern Sonora and southern Arizona. Anza, she explains, did not actually blaze the trail that today bears his name, but rather followed in the footsteps of the area’s indigenous people, whose ancient paths created the first migration routes through the modern-day borderlands. As a person whose history spans the border itself, Leal is bothered by the lack of commemoration. There are Anza Trail markers in Sonora and farther north in Santa Cruz County, but along the border, nothing. Long ago, she says, we stopped defining this place as interesting — as land worth preserving. Why? She gestures at the wall that rises just behind the museum: Because it is the border. “There is something unreal about it.” Comments about this article Kent Matowitz Subscribe, Mar 08, 2016 Although there were several entradas by the Spanish prior to 1600, which were primarily attempts to recreate the plunder for mineral wealth they had already inflicted on Latin America, Spanish colonization of what was to become the U.S. didn't begin until the founding of Santa Fe in 1610. Anza paved the way for the creation of the Mission system in California, which was basically an institution for forcing indigenous people to labor for the Spanish without pay and adapt the religion of their oppressors. There is a movement in California to no longer celebrate the instigators of this form of cultural genocide. Andrew Fitzpatrick Subscriber Mar 08, 2016 Having worked on public interpretation of the Anza Trail, one element of this story needs correction. The men of the expedition were not villagers, they were Spanish soldiers. This was a military expedition. These men brought their families, but they were well armed frontier troops first and foremost. In fact Anza scouted the whole route prior to taking the colonists north. This smaller scouting expedition was almost entirely made up of soldiers and they ended up getting drafted into ruthlessly suppressing revolts by native people against the Spanish missions on the coast. Let's not romanticize the Anza story too much. Sent by Dorinda Moreno pueblosenmovimientonorte@gmail.com Source: Gil Chavez barrioguy@yahoo.com |
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| Dear Family,
On a warm, sunny day last November, 2015, my granddaughter, Margaret, drove her children, her Mother, Magdaline, and yours truly, to the beach at San Gregorio for a photo shoot. To get there, We took La Honda Road from Los Altos Hills all the way to the beach, stopping for snacks at the little market and U.S.Post office in San Gregorio. It was a nice place to sit and rest, after having driven through the endless winding road. The countryside was still wide open country, and cattle were grazing in the green meadows. It has been over two hundred years ago that our Tapia ancestors owned and managed these lands and now at last I'm learning about it. |
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Now that I am a retiree, working on my family tree gives me a sense of pleasure and accomplishment. A few weeks ago I received a "Hint" from
Ancestry.com regarding the "Buelna" family. I was unfamiliar with that family name, but I went ahead anyway and added the new information to Joseph Antonio Buelna. Joseph Antonio Buelna (1754-1821) was the husband of Maria Antonia Tapia (1762-1830), daughter of Felipe Santiago Tapia (1740-1811). Felipe Santiago Tapia is my 5th great grandfather. Felipe and his nine children and second wife, Juana Cardenas, came with the Juan Bautista De Anza Expedition to Alta California in 1775-1776. During the time the members of the expedition had taken a break in Monterey before moving on to found the San Francisco Presidio and Mission Dolores, Maria Antonia Tapia and Joseph Antonio Buelna were married by Fr. Juniper Serra at Mission San Carlos de Borrmeo, Carmel, Monterey, on 26 May 1776.
By now, this past Early California history was coming together for me and I remembered that I have a book, "Pride of Place: Tales of Two Adobes", by
Julianne Burton Carvajal, written in 2004. I pulled the book off the shelf
and read parts of the book again--there it was--the history of the Buelna family of Monterey, Alta California. The story is about two adobes, Casa
Buelna and Casa Boronda. Casa Buelna was built by Joseph Antonio Buelna in
about 1818, and is open to the public. Casa Boronda was built by Jose Manuel Boronda (1750-1826) in 1817 and is open to the public. |
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Plaque-Casa de Tableta (Portola Valley)
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| In 1839, Gov. Juan Alvarado granted Ranchos San Francisquito and San Gregorio to Antonio Jose Buelna (1780-1842), son of Joseph Antonio Buelna
and Maria Antonia Tapia de Buelna. Antonio Jose then built La Honda Road to connect his two ranchos. Rancho San Francisquito encompasses present
-day western Me1nlo Park and the northern part of Stanford University campus. Rancho San Gregorio goes all the way to the beach and is in
present-day San Mateo County. The descendants of Felipe Santiago Tapia and his first wife, Filomena Hernandez (1740-1775), and Felipe's second wife, Juana Cardenas, have contributed greatly to make California a fine place to call home. My sincere thanks to everyone who inspired me to write about this small piece of history concerning our ancestors. Blessings and Love, Lorraine Ruiz Frain lorrilocks@sbcglobal.net |
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Felipa Yorba Farias born 1871, Yorba Rancho. Org. Co. daughter of O. Vicente Yorba, Bernardo's son/ Mother. Marrianna Manrigues Peralta, daughter of Rafael Peralta. Married in Org C.O. to Juan
Farias,CA, son of Tomasa Talamantes, CA. Jose D. Farias.Chile, Lived in Culver City. CA. area, La Ballona Landgrant owners. Felipa lived to be 97. Had 11 Children. Died 1968. La Ballona area. Sent by Eva Booher EVABOOHER@aol.com |
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Founded in 1787, the La Purisima Mission land holdings once covered nearly 470 square miles. Bordered by the Santa Maria River in the North and the Gaviota coastline in the South, the land was home to the Chumash people and Spanish settlers. The mission was best known for its hides and blankets, and at its peak inhabitants herded as many as 24,000 cattle and sheep. Today, history lives at La Purisima. The most extensively restored mission in the state, La Purisima hosts over 200,000 visitors each year for recreation and a chance to explore California's heritage. |
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We are open nearly every day for self-guided tours, and frequently the park provides a re-creation of life here during the 1820's, when the residents engaged in weaving, pottery making, candle making, blacksmithing, livestock production, and leatherwork. In addition to the restored original buildings, the nearly 2,000 acre park is home to 25 miles of hiking trails, a modern Visitor Center and Exhibit Hall, and livestock. This website is presented by Prelado de los Tesoros de la Purisima. Our name, loosely translated, means "Keepers of the Treasures of La Purisima." http://www.lapurisimamission.org/ We invite you to explore the website's four main areas: Visit, Learn, Join and Shop. The Visit menu explains how best to experience the mission for yourself, including driving directions, building maps, and an extensive photo gallery. The audience for the Learn menu is students and teachers. Each year we are a destination for thousands of children as part of our Student Learning History Days program. The Join menu explains how you can become part of the Mission experience. Mision La Purisima Concepcion de Maria Santisima was founded on December 8, 1787 by Franciscan Padre Presidente Fermin Francisco Lasuen. La Purisima was the eleventh mission of the twenty-one Spanish Missions established in what later became the state of California. Video: A Place in Time: The Story of La Misión de la Purisima Concepcion (with subtitles) La Purisima Mission State Historic Park - 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436 Copyright © 2009-2015, Prelado de los Tesoros de la Purisima. All rights reserved. Contact Us For Teachers: Apply for SLHD today! Details -- Dates! 2016 Calendar Brochure Prelado is a non-profit, volunteer organization that assists the staff at La Purisima Mission State Historic Park preserve history and provide quality educational programs for park visitors. |
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Benito Juárez y la Península de Baja California
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 Jacob Primer
Leese, casado con Rosalía Vallejo, hija de Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, fue uno de los primeros beneficiados con concesiones para el deslinde de tierras en Baja California.La “Lower California Company” se formó para recibir la concesión del gobierno mexicano, y que comprendía todo lo que se abarcaba en la península, entre los paralelos 24 grados veinte minutos y los 31 grados latitud norte. La superficie concedida era 46 800 millas cuadradas, ya que las concesiones previas hechas por el gobierno mexicano se habían cancelado por incumplimiento de contrato según decreto fechado el 14 de marzo de 1861. Originalmente la concesión se hizo a capitalistas norteamericanos de California representados por Jacob P. Leese, de San Francisco, pero al no cumplir con las condiciones fijadas dentro del plazo prescrito, durante el gobierno del presidente Benito Juárez, se transfirió la concesión a la compañía extranjera mencionada, según decreto del 4 de agosto de 1866.
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INTRODUCTION: Although it has long been recognized that non-European Spaniards played a significant part in the colonization of California, the extent of their participation remains poorly understood and underestimated. It is the object of this paper to demonstrate, on the basis of texts, that the vast majority of soldiers and settlers who came to California during the Spanish period were indigenous to the American continent. Close examination of civil, military, and religious documents from the northern frontier will establish that the different usage of race and caste terminology in the region obscured the true racial composition of the population. By the middle of the seventeenth century, the population of New Spain consisted of approximately equal numbers of whites, mestizos, and mulattoes the sum of which was outnumbered five to one by the indigenous majority.1 Or, stated another way, of fifteen individuals, one would be white, two would be of mixed race, and twelve would be indigenous. This had come about because, given the conditions of social coexistence and high male-to-female-immigrant ratio, miscegenation had resulted in a large multiracial population. Since three races can produce three new combinations in the first generation, twelve in the second, and thirty-nine by the third, the multiracial element was extremely diverse, resulting in a continuous spectrum of types. Social stratification by well-defined races being impossible, the concept of castes was adapted to the New World.2 This more-flexible structure was appropriate to the reality of a situation where a given individual could fit in more than one caste. From as early as the sixteenth century, a mestizo of legitimate birth and social position could be accepted as an upper-caste espanol, while one with the same racial proportions born in poverty and out of wedlock would probably be considered a mestizo. By the end of that century, it was even possible under certain conditions for mestizos to purchase from the crown a certificate classifying them as espanoles, a practice which, in the following century, was also extended to mulatos. The series of eighteenth-century "casta paintings" attempting to portray all possible racial combinations and identify them as morisco (3/4 white, l/4 black); castizo (3/4 white, 1/4 Indian); albino (7/8 white, 1/8 black); cuarteró (1/4 white, 3/4 black); lobo (1/2 black, 1/2 Indian); coyote (l/4 white, 3/4 Indian); etc., illustrates the difficulty of a rigid racial classification.4 These categories were neither scientific nor official nor standardized, and their usage was limited. In practice, society was layered into the three original races and at least two easily identifiable mixtures. Thus, in addition to the primary espaňol y indio, and negro, the terms mestizo, to designate white-indigenous mixtures, and mulato, for white-black combinations, came into early use. Although originally intended for first-generation or fifty-fifty mixtures, their mean ing quickly spread to the same racial mix over more than one generation regardless of proportions. Other possible terms for second-generation mixtures were, in the case of three-parts European to one-part Indian, castizo, and in the case of three-parts European to one-part African, cuarteró. However, as can be seen by their total absence from the California census of 1790, if these had ever been in use, by the end of the eighteenth century castizo and cuarteró had been replaced, at least in California, by mestizo and mulato. With time, both mestizo and mulato also came to be used for European-Indian-African or African-Indian combinations. In short, the terminology of caste was related to racial composition in an imprecise and inconsistent way, reflecting the fact that social position depended as much on socioeconomic and geographic factors as it did on race. |
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| A casta painting from New Spain in the late eighteenth century titled "De India y Zambaigo, Albarazado" depicts a family in which the mother is Indian and the father is Zambaigo, a term for a mix of Indian and African heritage. The children of such a union are termed Albarazados. Castas paintings, visually defining racial combinations for census and social purposes, formed a significant genre in colonial New Spain. This painting - oil on copper, artist unknown - was a gift to the Southwest Museum from Charles F. Lummis. Southwest Museum of the American Indian, Autry National Center of the American West, Los Angeles; |
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In addition to the five labels marking the hierarchy (espaňol,
mestizo, mulato, negro, and indio), the collective term gente
de razó, or people of reason, was in frequent use. Adult
Indians in their natural state had been originally considered
children, i.e., without use of reason (sin uso de razó), but
through hispanicization, they could acquire the legal status of
adult- hood, or gente de razó. Thus, the term was
originally applied to those Indians who, through baptism and
acculturation, had become part of colonial society, and it served
to distinguish them from those who had not.5 The term, therefore,
was not applicable to Europeans, where use of reason (the
prerequisite to citizenship) was considered to be inherent in
adult- hood. Mixed-race individuals naturally fell into this
group, but an Indian with little European exposure did not.
Sufficiently hispanicized, however, a full-blooded Indian in the
frontier could be a soldier, settler, tradesman, servant, etc.,
and as such, he would be a person of reason, or gente de razó,
instead of an indio. Textual Sources
The 1790 census and the two collections complement and reinforce each other well In the census, respondents use specific caste terminology such as mestizo, mulato, indio, etc., in an erratic and inconsistent manner, and half of them fail to identify themselves by such terms at all. This is indicative that such social classification had little significance in the frontier.
On the other hand, the report on the Yuma Rebellion offers many
examples of a simplified race and caste terminology, where gente
de razó is an umbrella term for all the castes and is used
interchangeably with espaňol This simplified terminology is
also used by the missionaries in the Preguntas y Respuestas.
Thus, together, the two document collections illustrate why the
respondents to the 1790 California census had forgotten the
original significance of the caste terminology and failed to use
it accordingly. Documentary Evidence The following text is the title of a document issued in 1780 by Teodoro de Croix, commander general of the Internal Provinces, giving instructions for two settlements along the Colorado River. It illustrates the political meaning of espaňol without reference to race.
The parallel use of "Spaniards" and "Indians"
to identify, on one side, the subjects of the king (regardless of
race or origin) and, on the other, the members of the Yuma Nation,
illustrates the political use of espaňol to designate
citizenship. Later in the same document, we learn that the
"Spanish" population of each town would consist of ten
soldiers (soldados de cuera) from the presidios of Tucson, Altar,
and Buenavista; ten settlers (vecinos de razó); and six
laborers to be recruited in Sonora. The description of the
settlers as "vecinos (townspeople) de razó? as
explained earlier, indicates their non-European origin. And the
same applies to the soldados de cuera, which were colonial
units recruited among the gente de razó in the frontier. These soldados
de cuera, or presidial troops, stood in contrast with European
troops such as the Catalonian Volunteers formed in Spain but,
after extended deployment, open to European Spaniards recruited in
America.10
And after identifying by name each one of the women and children rescued, Fages concludes,
There are two observations to be drawn from this passage: first, "espaňólas"
is equivalent to "[mujeres] de razó" and,
second, the local native Christian women who chose to remain with
the Yuma are also considered "gente de razó"
even though they chose not to be rescued- Thus, on the frontier,
the gente de razó, even natives of local tribes (if
culturally hispanicized), were espaňles.
It is interesting to note here the choice of terms by different
speakers. Although espanol and gente de razó were used
interchangeably, because of an implicit bias in the term gente
de razó, it is used more often by Europeans to refer to the
castes than by the latter, such as Reyes Pacheco, to identify
themselves. Conscious of the predominant hierarchy in New Spain,
these non-Europeans, considering themselves both Spanish subjects
and culturally Spanish, would tend to identify themselves as espaňles
in a caste sense as well, even when out of context.15 |
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Reply of Mission San Gabriel, 28 June 1814, to the Carvajal Questionnaire. Preguntas y Respuestas. |
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The same can be said of the even-more-remote Alta California as late as the first quarter of the nineteenth century, as will be seen from the following examples from the Preguntas y Respuestas. In response to the 1812 survey, the first question of which concerned the castes of the population, the missionaries of San Gabriel wrote,16
And the reply from Mission San Buenaventura, which compiled and summarized all others:
It is interesting to note how the terminology is used (by Fray
JoséSeňá, president of the California Missions) in this
reply. The Franciscan priests are either "Europeans"
(from Spain) or "Americans ." But the soldiers assigned
to guard each mission are neither- They are "Spanish,"
and, grouped with mestizos and mulattoes; he adds, "they are
all known as people of reason." At the same time, Seňá,
with a hint of disapproval, suggests that in this province where
there are no castes and very few Europeans, the gente de razó
fancy themselves "conquistadors." He seems to be
suggesting that in the absence of a European presence, these New
World Spaniards of Indian and mixed-race origins are presumptuous
to claim the status of their adopted culture.
The second reply illustrates the simplified three-caste hierarchy of the region, the racial exclusivity of the first and third castes, and the mixture and integration of the second. The priests and the one corporal, described as Europeans (not Spaniards) to emphasize that they are white, make up the first caste. The presidial soldiers assigned to escort duty at the mission, whom he calls American Spaniards (predominantly full-blooded Indians or mestizos) and identified in the documents we have seen as the gente de razóy make up the second caste. And the "Indians native to our district," gentiles [i.e., Indians outside the mission system] and neophytes, make up the third.
The exceptional nature of a European in the second caste, for
example among the Colorado River settlers, is illustrated in a
letter from Pedro Fages to Fray Juan Agustin Morfi, dated Pitic de
Caborca, 12 February 1782, which includes lists of all those killed
or captured during the Yuma uprising.18 Of a population numbering
178 gente de razó, only one, a ransomed captive, is identified as a
European Spaniard: "Angela Castro, viuda de Jossef Estevan de
Espana" (Angela Castro, widow of Jossef Estevan of Spain).
Although Jossef Estevan is not found in any of the other lists in
the letter, he is named by José Reyes Pacheco as one of the
settlers killed during the uprising.19 While it was well known (and
expected) that the commander, Santiago Islas, and the four
missionaries were European, the soldiers and settlers recruited in
Sonora were assumed to be gente de razó. That one of them was a
European was unusual enough to warrant this fact being singled
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| Sketch of Monterey Presidio, 1791-1792, by Spanish artist José Cardero. In the fore- ground, hispanized Indian laborers in simple clothing are hanging laundry and building an adobe wall. In the left corner, following eighteenth-century conventions, an enlight- ened European is explaining things to scantily clad gentile Indians who appear raptly attentive. Courtesy of The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley. |
It will come as a surprise to many that the gente de razó were not all native speakers of Spanish and that for at least some, the mastery of Castilian (Spanish) as a second language was rudimentary. Furthermore, the inability to communicate in it at even a minimum level (medianamente) could jeopardize their status as gente de razó. That this is the situation after three centuries of Spanish contact tells us that at least some of the soldiers and/or their families were not multi-generational hispanicized mestizos but recently assimilated Indians from Sonora or Sinaloa- Furthermore, that this was the rule rather than the exception is established by another example from 1800 written at Mission La Purisima Concepción in response to an inquiry from the governor of the Californias, Diego de Bóica.21 Asked about the language used for religious instruction and whether the Indian neophytes were forced to speak Spanish, the missionary Fray Gregorio Fernandez replied,
That the spoken language of the soldados de cuera at the turn of the nineteenth century was not the Spanish in which all the documents were written but a mixture of Mexican (Spanish) and several Indian languages of New Spain is an indication of the significant not-fully hispanicized indigenous Mexican presence among the presidial troops. The Census of
1790 |
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| Painting of San Gabriel Mission by the German artist and naturalist Ferdinand Deppe, 1832. In this painting near the end of the mission period, an Indian family in a traditional jacal on mission property speaks with a man in military garb. While the hispanized women are clothed, the Indian men wear traditional loin cloths. In the left corner a mission priest converses with a man in white trousers, perhaps a visiting seaman or Deppe himself. Courtesy of the Santa Barbara Mission Archive and Library. |
There are several points worth observing in this passage. The missionaries, responding to the question of what the "caste composition of the population" is, reply that there are only local Indians as the people of reason who make up the mission escort, consisting of six men who are either: a) mulattoes (a white-black mixture); b) mestizos of mulatto and Indian parentage (a white, black, and Indian mixture); or c) a Spaniard (in this case described as a white-Indian mixture).23 From the structure of the answer, it is obvious that the respondents are not dividing the people of reason according to the metropolitan caste system. Had they wanted to do so, their reply would have been, as requested, a list of the four castes named, and it would not have equated the local Indians and the gente de razó as counterparts. From the Preguntas y Respuestas answers (of missions San Carlos, San Antonio, San Buenaventura, and others) that we have seen, California at this time was a three-tier society in which the people of reason, regardless of origin, were one caste. However, the fact that these respondents in addition chose to mention the racial (or caste) composition of the group is perhaps a reflection of the fact that they were conscious the local social structure was exceptional. It was not that of the metropolis or that of those who originated the questionnaire. It is also interesting to notice the ambiguities implied in the statement, "except for one who is a Spaniard, the son of a European man and a neophyte woman from San Carlos Mission." If the authors are using "Spanish" as a caste, they are negating the local system. However, as Europeans writing to their European superiors, this may be their intent. On the other hand, they may be using "Spaniard" in a racial sense to convey the "whiteness" of this individual who is half European in a population consisting almost entirely of hispanicized Indians. This extended meaning of the term would be consistent with the extended sense with which they use the racial term mestizo in mestizos de mulato e indio. In short, this passage is a clear illustration of the ambiguities in the use of the terminology brought about by the simplification of the caste system in California. In his excellent study on the census of 1790, William Mason comments, as other scholars have done, on the "tendency to change caste through time, usually to a lighter caste "24 While stating that in 1790 "the population of California's colonials was about 1,00ο"25 and that, of these, only "some 463 adults are listed with caste designations in the census,"26 he does not comment on why approximately half of the population failed to assign itself a caste at all. And, in addition, he makes the following observation:
While Mason obviously recognized that the meanings of the terms had changed - if espaňol was intended to mean a white European, then it should have been interchangeable with europeo and, if we knew why "there was a differential," it would tell us what "the term espaňl had come to mean ... on the frontier" - he did not attempt to explain the difference. Taking these points together: (1) that almost half of the population (463 of approximately 1,000) failed to identify themselves by the usual caste designations and (2) that half (232 of 462) of those who did used the term espaňol to describe themselves, whether or not they would have been considered espanoles in the metropolis, it is evident that the caste terminology and the hierarchy it reflected were not in use in the frontier. Mason himself appears to have recognized this when he states, "What seems to have mattered, as far as the colonists on the northern frontier were concerned, was whether one was or was not gente de razó."18 Yet, lacking the evidence that has been presented in this paper, Mason continued to assume that because the census called for caste identifications, the system was as relevant in the frontier as elsewhere in New Spain. Conclusion It is in light of the borderlands society and class system revealed by the evidence analyzed in this paper that we can understand the omissions and caste changes noted in the 1790 census. Alta California was a community where stratification had been reduced from five or more castes to two. It first consisting
of a multiracial, multiethnic population sharing the language,
religion, and culture of Spain and the other consisting of a local
indigenous society. The remote isolation and the preponderance of
the hispanicized Indians and racially mixed (Indian, African, and
European) over the pure- white segment of the "Spanish"
community resulted in this group, which made up 90 to 95 percent of
the colonials, being the heart of the colony. Since, in 1790 Alta
California, the Indians outnumbered the Spaniards eight to one, the
combined community was a microcosm of what Spain had been in
"Mexico" two centuries before.29 But at the turn of the
nineteenth century, the Spanish of California were not the
conquistadors of the sixteenth. They were a new breed, the result of
two and a half centuries of racial miscegenation and cultural
assimilation of the indigenous and the European Spaniards.
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| Notes 1 The racial composition and total population of New Spain at the time is approximated from J. I. Israel, Razas, clases sociales y vida políica en el Méico colonial, 1610-1670 (Méico, Fondo de cultura econóica, 1980), 31, and from Colin McEvedy, The Penguin Atlas of North American History (New York, Viking Penguin, 1988), 52. 2 The concept of caste designates a social group having a distinct identity within the society of which it is a part. Caste may be partially determined by race, but race is not the primary determinant of a caste identity. The concepts of caste and race, although frequently designated by the same terms, are not interchange- able. According to Améico Castro, "ГПпе word casta (caste) originated in Spain and was used to desig- nate the people of three different religions who comprised its population." Améico Castro, The Spaniards, An Introduction to Their History (Berkeley, Los Angeles, and London: University of California Press, 1971), 542. In New Spain, caste identity was used to designate a group's rank or position within society. 3 John H. Elliott, Empires of the Atlantic World: Britain and Spain in America, 1492-1830 (New Haven, CT, and London: Yale University Press, 2006), 171-72. 4 Ilona Katzew, Casta Painting: Images of Race in EighteenthOentury Mexico (New Haven, CT, and London: Yale University Press, 2004). This is an excellent presentation of casta painting collections. 5 Gloria E. Miranda, "Racial and Cultural Dimensions of 'Gente de razó' Status in Spanish and Mexican California," Southern California Quarterly 70 (Fall 1988): 265. 6 Archivo de ídias, Audiêcia de Guadalajara 517 (104-6-19). 7 William M. Mason, The Census of 1790: A Demographic History of Colonial California (Menlo Park, CA: Ballena Press, 1998). 8 The examples used are taken from the original manuscripts identified as the Preguntas y Respuestas col- lection at Santa Barbara Mission Archive Library and translated by the author. The collection has been published in English. Maynard Geiger, O.F.M., As the Padres Saw Them: California Indian Life and Cus* toms as Reported by the Franciscan Missionaries, 1813-1815 (Santa Barbara, CA: Santa Barbara Mission Archive Library, 1976). 9 RYR. Order issued by Teodora de Croix, Arizpe, 4 March 1780. 10 "The policy prescribed that new recruits hopefully would be Catalonians, but that 'should this not be possible, Europeans of good standing, age, health and disposition' ought to be considered." Joseph P. San- chez, Spanish Bluecoats: the Catalonian Volunteers in Northwestern New Spain, 1767-1810 (Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1990), 103. 11 RYR. Letter, Pedro Fages to Teodora de Croix, Sonoitac, 20 December 1 781. 12 In this and subsequent examples, I have translated the passage in the context of the document from which it originates. In some instances, this results in apparent errors of translation. For example, although Fages states that "las famíias rescatadas ... son las úicas espanolas . . . etc.," I know from the document that the list to which he is referring includes not only families but individuals (seven females and one male) as well. To be grammatically correct, then, Fages should have used the masculine "los úicos espaňles" rather than "las úicas espaňlas," making it dear that the antecedent is not only "families" but "families and individuals, both male and female." Thus, my translation reads, "the only living Spaniards then held . . ." rather than "the only living Spanish families then held." 13 RYR. Letter, Pedro Fages to Teodoro de Croix, Sonoitac, 20 December 1781. 14 RYR. Dedaraciones de los cautivos liberados por Palma. Report by Pedro Fages to Teodoro de Croix, Sonoitac, 20 December 1781. 15 A parallel preference can be observed today among the Afro-Cuban immigrants in the US. Having ear- lier identified themselves as mulatos or negros in their own environment, when confronted by American society they favor a national rather than racial identity and choose to be identified onlv as Cubans. 16 The phrasing of the question was, "Se expresará en cuantas castas estádividida la població, esto es si americanos, europeos, Ídios, mestizos, negros, etc., sin omisió ninguna." (The caste composition of the population should be stated, that is, if Americans, Europeans, Indians, mestizos, blacks, etc., without any omissions.) 17 Reply of Mission San Gabriel, 28 June 1814, to the Carvajal Questionnaire. Preguntas y Respuestas col- lection at Santa Barbara Mission Archive and Library. 18 unam 4-03, Universidad Nacional Autóoma de Méico. Copy obtained from Holt-Atherton Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library, Stockton, CA. 19 RYR. Dechraciones de hs cautivos liberados por Palma. Report by Pedro Fages to Teodoro de Croix, Sonoitac, 20 December 1781. 20 Included as part of the Preguntas y Respuestas collection at Santa Barbara Mission Archive Library, Santa Barbara, CA, San Carlos Mission, 3 February 1814. 21 Although the original of this document was found among the Preguntas y Respuestas collection at Santa Barbara Mission Archive Library, it does not belong to the same series. It is dated December 1800 (twelve years before the Preguntas y Respuestas questionnaire) and replies to a different set of questions from a different source. 22 Reply from Mission San Luis Obispo, 20 February 1814. Preguntas y Respuestas collection at Santa Barbara Mission Archive and Library. 23 See note 16 for the phrasing of the question. 24 Mason, Census of 1790, 50. 25 Ibid., 44. 26 Ibid., 47. 27 Ibid. 28 Mason, Census of 1790, 62. 29 "In 1790 there were about 8,000 Indians in the mission registers, baptized and enrolled within the mission communities, which at the time numbered 11 ..." Mason, Census of 1790, 2.
Caste, Race, and Class in Spanish California Author : Vladimir Guerrero Source: Southern California Quarterly, Vol. 92, No. 1 (Spring 2010), pp. 1-18 Published by: University of California Press on behalf of the Historical Society of Southern California Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41172505 University of California Press and Historical Society of Southern California are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Southern California Quarterly. http://www.jstor.org . This content downloaded from 169.237.215.179 on Thu, 19 Feb 2015 Permission obtained by Somos Primos.
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Attempting to Capture the magnitude of the Grand Canyon Pioneer Families of the Presidio San Agustin del Tucson, 1775-1856 by J. Homer Thiel Tucson Presidio Museum Tracing America’s borderlands history along the Anza Trail Damaris Giron, Researcher in Ciudad Juarez |
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| Solo 48 años después de la llegada de Colón al Nuevo
Mundo, y apenas 19 años después de la conquista de México, los exploradores españoles aún trataban de conocer la dimensión de América del
Norte. En otra muestra más de su esfuerzo por crear una imaginería de la historia que España no ha sabido siempre reivindicar como debía, el pintor de
batallas, Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau, acaba de terminar un lienzo dedicado al descubrimiento español del cañón del Colorado, asesorado por el historiador David Nievas Muñoz. Tras la misión de Hernando de Soto que partió de Florida y atravesó territorio que hoy pertenece a diez Estados, Francisco Vázquez de Coronado parte en 1540 de Compostela (hoy Jalisco, en México) y tras pisar Arizona y Nuevo México decidió enviar pequeñas partidas exploratorias, en busca de las míticas «siete ciudades de Cíbola». Un puñado de españoles, bajo el mando de García López de Cárdenas, se encontró con indios hopi, que les hablaron de un gran río, al que llamaron Tizón, según recuerda Nievas Muñoz. Pronto llegaron a un paisaje inhóspito, según sus notas: «Vimos una gran barranca», y el río al fondo, que a esa distancia adivinaban pequeño. Ese es el momento que recoge el cuadro de Ferrer-Dalmau, de técnica magistral. Desafiando al sol abrasador, los españoles quisieron bajar para abastecerse de agua, pero cuanto más bajaban, más sed, debido a la temperatura hirviente que se agudiza en el fondo del Cañón. Solo entonces supieron la verdadera dimensión de la hondonada, y el caudal del río, que era para ellos «como el Gualdalquivir». Fracasaron en su intento, hubieron de regresar sin lograr beber, asombrados por la profundidad del tajo que el río había hecho en el paraje. Meses más tarde, Fernando de Alarcón, de la expedición de Coronado, remontaría el río, llegando a California. Los españoles dibujaban el mundo, a cada paso. http://www.abc.es/cultura/arte/abci-ferrer-dalmau-pinta-descubrimiento-espanol-canon-colorado-201603182024_noticia.html Sent by Dr. C. Campos y Escalante campce@gmail.com |
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In March 1856 the Mexican
military packed up Tucson’s civil, military, and church records,
taking these documents south to the town of Imuris, in Sonora, Mexico.
One of the soldiers later claimed that some of the records were torn up
to make cigarette rolling papers. Whether this is true remains unknown.
Some records were found in a closet of a church in Imuris by Louis
Pinart in 1879 and now reside at the Huntington Library in Berkeley,
California. The church records for the Tucson Presidio and the San
Agustin Mission have never been found, and this made researching family
history difficult for the thousands of people descended from the people
who lived at the Presidio San Agustin del Tucson in the Spanish and
Mexican periods.
J. Homer Thiel became interested in researching Presidio families in 1999, as a result of the archaeological excavations he conducted at the Leon farmstead. Over the next few years he combed through the surviving records located in Arizona, Mexico, and California. He found previously unknown documents in Spain. He compiled information on several thousand people who lived in the Tucson Presidio between 1776 and 1856. His research ended with the individuals born up to 1856. This book contains all the information Thiel has compiled in the form of biographical sketches of the soldiers, the settlers, and their families, including female members of the family and their spouses, along with complete source citations. The book can be purchased at the Presidio San Agustin del Tucson Museum Gift Shop, 196 N. Court Avenue, Tucson (Wed.-Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm); online at www.TucsonPresidio.org; or by phone or mail from the Tucson Presidio Trust for Historic Preservation, 196 N. Court Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701, (520) 837-8119.
Homer Thiel, is an archeologist and current president
of the Tucson Presidio. |
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FREE DAY - AUGUST 20th: The Museum is free and open to the public on August 20th, Tucson's birthday. The public is welcome to attend the annual birthday celebration presented by the Tucson-Pima County Historical Commission. See our calendar page for details. |
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APRIL EVENTS AT THE TUCSON PRESIDIO |
| Saturday APRIL 2: SALON AND SALOON Albrecht Classen, PhD: "Daily Life in early Sonora and Arizona, The German Speaking Jesuits in 18th Century Sonora and their personal perspectives 2:00 p.m. at the Dusty Monk Pub (across the street from the Presidio) 201 N. Court Avenue Price: $5 at the door No-host drinks and food available. Sunday APRIL 3rd: La Merienda Presented by Las Doña’s de los Descendientes de Tucson. Honoring Danielle DeConcini Thu 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Tickets $50 per person. For tickets please contact Kristen at 520-237-3566 or kalmquistaz@mindspring.com. This year La Merienda will be held at the Presidio. We are honored to announce that proceeds from this year's event will also directly benefit the Presidio San Agustin Museum. Keynote speaker: Presidio archaeologist and Tucson Presidio Trust Board President, Homer Thiel. APRIL 4th: Field trip to Mission Garden and the site of the Mission San Agustin Lead by archaeologists Homer Thiel and Gayle Hartmann. 9 a.m. until about noon. Meet at the Presidio We will visit the newly created Mission Garden at the base of “A” Mtn., visit the site of the Mission San Agustín and related structures, visit the remains of Warner’s Mill, and take a quick look at the Solomon Warner home. After the trip, if there is interest, we can stop at the Mercado for a quick lunch. This trip will be fun and educational, especially for docents, since we talk about the Mission San Agustin, etc., on our docent tours of the Presidio. Price: This local field trip is free to all members and docents are especially invited. Non-members may purchase membership at the door in advance of the outing. $30 Individual Membership, $40 Family Membership APRIL 9th: Living History-Old and New World Foods 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. What foods were brought from Europe and what was cultivated here? Come to the Presidio and learn! Price: Regular admission of $3 applies.  APRIL 24th: THE ANNUAL MEETING: ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AND COCKTAILS 2:30 p.m Join the Board of the Tucson Presidio Trust in celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Turquoise Trail and the 1st Anniversary of the Trust's management of the Presidio. Wine, beer, finger food and homemade pies and cakes will be served. Tickets: $15 at the door. If you have not yet renewed your membership for 2016 you may renew online now. Thank you! |
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Tracing America’s borderlands history along the Anza Trail |
| This article by Sarah Tory first appeared in the March 7, 2016 issue of High Country News with the title “Tracing borderlands history on the Anza Trail.”
To read the full article, you must log in or subscribe. Enter your email address: National Park Service 2 comments I am lost before I’ve even started. It’s December and I’m in Nogales, Arizona, determined to re-trace the footsteps of the first Spanish colonizing expedition across what is now the border between the United States and Mexico. Nearly 250 years ago, in 1775, a young Spanish commander led a group of mostly poor villagers — men, women and children — together with more than 1,000 horses and cattle from the Mexican state of Sinaloa northwards across a vast desert to the far reaches of the Empire in what was then called Alta California. Like Yosemite or Yellowstone, or the Oregon Trail, the expedition’s route is part of the national park system. It should be easy to find. But the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail has no official starting point — at least not one that’s marked. Instead, there is a giant steel fence equipped with motion sensors, and the ever-vigilant eyes of the U.S. Border Patrol. Anza actually began his journey 600 miles south of here, in the town of Culiacán, Mexico. But the route managed by the National Park Service begins on this side of the border, and heads north, then west, a loosely connected corridor of dirt paths, protected areas and ruins that “connect history, culture, and outdoor recreation from Nogales, Arizona, to the San Francisco Bay Area.” But here in downtown Nogales, with its stream of honking cars and people waiting to cross the wall that divides the city, I can find no remnants of the original route, nor any modern markers that commemorate it. The border, it seems, erases history. At least that’s how Teresa Leal, a petite 66-year-old anthropologist with a pixie haircut and a mischievous smile, sees it. She belongs to the Anza Society, established to help commemorate the expedition’s history in both Mexico and the U.S. and works as the director of the Pimeria Alta Museum, a stone’s throw from the Nogales portion of the border wall. Leal’s ancestors were Opata, once the most numerous people in what is now the border region of northeastern Sonora and southern Arizona. Anza, she explains, did not actually blaze the trail that today bears his name, but rather followed in the footsteps of the area’s indigenous people, whose ancient paths created the first migration routes through the modern-day borderlands. As a person whose history spans the border itself, Leal is bothered by the lack of commemoration. There are Anza Trail markers in Sonora and farther north in Santa Cruz County, but along the border, nothing. Long ago, she says, we stopped defining this place as interesting — as land worth preserving. Why? She gestures at the wall that rises just behind the museum: Because it is the border. “There is something unreal about it.” Sent by Dorinda Moreno pueblosenmovimientonorte@gmail.com Source: Gil Chavez barrioguy@yahoo.com |
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| My
name is Damaris Giron, and I am a student at The University of Texas
at El Paso, and I also work at the Media & Microform Department
which is where we keep the microfilms from old documents.
In the past month I did some research for a man named Vincent Ramirez, from Oregon, he is very interested in Genealogy, as I am too. Mr. Ramirez told me to email you and let you know that we have access to many archives from Ciudad Juarez including the archives from the Cathedral which contain marriage records, baptisms, confirmations and many others. The microfilm collection covers from 1671 to 1893 and we have about 25 rolls. Since the Media & Microform Department does not provide the service of doing research or gathering specific documents for people, I sometimes take the requests and work on them on my own for a small fee ($10 per hour). I just wanted to let you know, I am available to work on any research requests you or anyone you know might have involving these documents or any others that we keep here in the library. Please feel free to contact me at any time. This
is the link containing the information about the Archives of the
Cathedral of Ciudad Juarez http://encore.utep.edu/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1755227__Scatedral__Ff%3Afacet Thank
you very much, Damaris
Giron
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April 2-3, 2016,
Team TSHA On this Day in Texas First Civil Government in Texas and Alcaldes of San Antonio, from 1731 to 1836 by Rueben M. Perez Texas declares independence from Mexico, March 2nd, 1836 Mexican Army captures San Antonio; Republic of Texas totters, March 5th, 1842 April 9: San Jacinto Symposium: African-Americans in Texas History Canary Islands Descendants Association, March 9, 1731 180th anniversary of Texas Independence Dedication of Historic Santo Nino Cemetery in Duval County Drama & Conflict: The Texas Saga of 1776, co-authors, Robert S. Weddle and Robert H. Thonhoff Original Land Grantees and groups of their descendants |
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On April 2-3, 2016, Team TSHA will compete again in the Texas Independence Relay to benefit the Handbook of Texas. Running day and night, the team will cover 200 grueling miles as they retrace the route of the Texas Revolution from its beginning in Gonzales to its end at San Jacinto. Why are they running? To raise funds for the Handbook of Texas, the most comprehensive encyclopedia of Texas history and culture. Last year alone, the Handbook received over 8 million page views from 233 countries. Keeping the Handbook updated, comprehensive, and freely available to millions requires sustained support. And so the fourteen members of Team TSHA have committed to running 200 miles in only 28 hours in order to raise needed funds for the Handbook. We need your support! To learn more about the race, follow the team, and pledge your support, please visit the Team TSHA website: www.SupportTeamTSHA.com Texas State Historical Association 3001 Lake Austin Blvd. Suite 3.116 Austin, TX 78703 Sent by bbolinger@tshaonline.org http://tshaonline.us7.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=9ac611cecaa72c69cecc26cb8&id=c36775fdb9&e=3967c4da92 http://tshaonline.us7.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=9ac611cecaa72c69cecc26cb8&id=e9fe59e9f2&e=3967c4da92 |
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| March 2nd, 1836: Texas declares
independence from Mexico On this day in 1836, Texas became a republic. On March 1 delegates from the seventeen Mexican municipalities of Texas and the settlement of Pecan Point met at Washington-on-the-Brazos to consider independence from Mexico. George C. Childress presented a resolution calling for independence, and the chairman of the convention appointed Childress to head a committee of five to draft a declaration of independence. In the early morning hours of March 2, the convention voted unanimously to accept the resolution. After fifty-eight members signed the document, Texas became the Republic of Texas. The change remained to be demonstrated to Mexico. March 5th, 1842: Mexican Army captures San Antonio; Republic of Texas totters |
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ALCALDES OF
SAN ANTONIO FROM 1731 TO 1836 |
| The first civil government in Texas was started in the villa of San Fernando de Béxar,
known today as San Antonio, Texas. In June of 1730, twenty-five Canary Islanders or Isleños
had reached Cuba under the instruction of the King of Spain to populate the province of Texas.
Ten families traveled on to Veracruz before an order from Spain was issued to stop them, but
it was too late. Under the leadership of Juan Leal Goraz, the Isleños traveled overland to the
presidio of San Antonio de Béxar. The group increased to fifty-six persons and fifteen families
and on March 9, 1731 they entered the military settlement of the presidio, which had been in
existence since 1718. The newly arrived settlers formed the nucleus of the villa of San
Fernando de Béxar and started the first organized civil government in Texas. Many families
today can trace their descent to the original Canary Island colonists. The names on the list of Alcaldes from 1731 to 1836 are the names of individuals involved in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government of early San Antonio de Béxar. The term alcalde refers to the most important official in a Spanish municipality whose responsibilities included judge of minor cases and head of the ayuntamiento or town council. Interchangeable with the term ayuntamiento is the word cabildo referring to the building that housed the town council or meeting, but often would refer to the council itself. The alcalde served in the capacity of chief officer of the ayuntamiento but his authority extended beyond the other regidores or councilmen. The alcalde had authority to issue laws, arrest and punish those who violated the city ordinances, and served as link between other parts of the governor and city officials. The alcalde mayor, also known as the justicia mayor, assisted the governor in the administration of the town or district. Today, the responsibilities of the mayor and city council of San Antonio have changed dramatically. The alcalde and ayuntamento (cabildo) during early Spanish colonial form of government was the precursor of the present-day form of San Antonio’s government. Many citizens of San Antonio will recognize names of their ancestors on the list of Alcaldes of San Antonio from 1731 to 1836. Source: La Granada, publication of the Granaderos
y Damas de Galvez, San Antonio Chapter, March 2016 |
San Jacinto Battleground Conservancy
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Canary Islands Descendants
Association, March 9, 1731 |
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It was March 2, 1836, when 59 delegates met in Washington, Texas to make a formal declaration of independence from Mexico. From 1836 until 1846, the Republic of Texas proudly existed as a separate nation. To
commemorate the 180th anniversary of Texas Independence, the three
entities that administer and support this site — Texas Parks &
Wildlife Depatment, Blinn College and Washington on the Brazos State
Park Association — are planning Texas-sized celebrations.
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Santo Niño Cemetery Large number of families turnout for dedication of historic Santo Nino Cemetery in Duval County Despite a downpour the night before and threatening skies, a large crowd turned out to commemorate the unveiling of a Historic Texas Cemetery marker at the Santo Nino Cemetery in Duval County on April 18. The day was dedicated to the memory of Jose Noe Martinez for his “commitment and care” of the cemetery. |
| Sent by John Inclan fromgalveston@yahoo.com Source: Margaret Garcia margaretgarcia161@yahoo.com Posted By: alfredo@mcmbooks.com April 19, 2015 |
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Coauthored
by Robert S. Weddle and Robert H. Thonhoff; Published
by Madrona Press, Austin, Texas, 1976 Background
Bob and I became close friends, who would make it a point to
meet and share a banquet table at each annual meeting of the Texas
State Historical Association.
While at the annual TSHA meeting in 1972, Bob leaned over the
banquet table and said, “Bob (which was my nickname, too), I’ve
been thinking of something. How about you and I writing a book about
Texas in 1776 in honor of the forthcoming American Bicentennial in
1976?”
I replied that I would feel honored to do so, and on piece of
paper, we outlined what we thought should be included in the book.
Bob Weddle chose the parts that he had interest and knowledge in,
and I did the same. Both of us went to work to do research (mainly
in the Béxar Archives at the University of Texas Library in Austin)
and to write our subjects for the next three years. It was something
like putting two and two together to add up to four. The writing was
synthesized by Bob and published by Madrona Press, a firm he was
associated with at that time in Austin, Texas. The book was
published and put on the market in April 1976. Fifteen
hundred copies of the book were printed and bound, of which I sold
over fourteen hundred copies myself. The book was sold out by the
end of 1979 and has become quite scarce. Today, copies of the book
are available in some university and public libraries and can
occasionally be found on the internet.
The book was superbly illustrated by Marvin L. Jeffreys and
was dedicated to our mutual friend, R. Henderson Shuffler, the first
executive director of the Institute of Texan Cultures in San
Antonio, who had recently passed away.
Generally, the book describes life and times in Texas at the
time of the American Revolution, beginning with the year 1776 and
continuing till 1783.
The book is organized with a table of contents having nine
chapters, a bibliographical essay, and an index, 210 pages in all. Following
is a brief description of each chapter. There are many
illustrations, including a map of the Béxar-La Bahía ranches and a
map of Defense Line of the Interior Provinces of New Spain in the
end papers. Chapter
1 : A Haughty Spirit
The first chapter focuses on three disparately-tempered men,
who shared the responsibility of administering the northern frontier
province of New Spain officially called
la Provincia de Tejas
ó las Nuevas Filipinas at the time of the American Revolution,
1776-1783: 1.
Juan María Vicencio,
Barón de Ripperdá was the Governor of the Province of Texas,
1770-1778. During
his administration, Ripperdá faced many challenges and
difficulties, especially with hostile Indians. One of his special
achievements was the construction of the tiny fort called El
Fuerte de Santa Cruz del Cíbolo as an outpost to protect the
ranches between Béxar and La Bahía. On
February 4, 1770, the baron assumed his new charge at the San
Antonio de Béxar Presidio, where he and his wife decided to
establish residence in the casas
reales or government buildings, on the east side of the Plaza
de las Islas, opposite the church of San Fernando. Six children were
born to them there. In 1773, as a result of the Royal Regulations of
1772, the capital of the province of Texas was officially moved from
Los Adaes, where it had been since 1722, to San Antonio.
Although
appointed governor of Comayuga (Honduras) in 1776, Ripperdá and his
family remained in Texas until 1778.
Governor
Ripperdá was succeded by Governor Domingo Cabello y Robles. 2.
Hugo Oconór was
the commandant inspector of presidios on the northern frontier,
1773-1777, with headquarters in Chihuahua. He and Texas Governor
Ripperdá did not agree on government policy in many matters. Being
in poor health, Oconór requested a less taxing assignment and was
reassigned 1777 as the governor and captain general of Yucatan. He
was replaced by Teodoro de Croix. 3.
Antonio
María Bucareli y Ursúa served as Viceroy
of New Spain for eight years, 1771-1779.
He administered from the viceregal palace in Mexico City. His
tenure coincided with significant changes on the northern frontier,
which included the Province of Texas. He was replaced by Viceroy
Martín de Mayorga.
Charged with implementing the New Regulations of 1772, these
men, though hundreds of miles apart, did
not always see eye-to-eye and often disagreed with one another; hence,
the title of the book, Drama
& Conflict . Chapter
2: The King’s Vassals; Chapter 3: Provincia de Texas; and
Chapter 4: La Vida
A codified body of laws called the Laws of the Indies
regulated in detail the lives of Spanish citizens all over the
Spanish empire, including Texas. In
the Province of Texas during the American Revolution period were
five missions at San Antonio and two missions at La Bahia. There was
a presidio at San Antonio de Béxar, a presidio at La Bahía (now
Goliad), and a little fort between them called El Fuerte del Cíbolo.
There were but three civil settlements in Texas during this period:
the Villa de San Fernando de Béxar (now San Antonio), established
by the Canary Islanders in 1731; the settlement that developed
around Presidio La Bahía; and the temporary settlement for
displaced Adaesanos called the Villa de Bucareli (1774-1779), near
present Antioch in Madison County, which was moved in 1779 to become
the Villa de Nacogdoches. The total population was about 2500
persons. These three chapters describe their everyday lives. Chapter
5: Bastions of the Borderlands
The institutions used by Spain in its colonization efforts
along the frontier of northern New Spain were the presidio (fort)
for protection, the mission for Christianization of native tribes,
the villa for civil settlements,
and the rancho to sustain them.
In
the latter half of the eighteenth century, frontier conditions in
northern New Spain had deteriorated to such an extent that the
Spanish crown found it necessary to order an examination of the
entire frontier with the view of relocating presidios and making
whatever other adjustments might be necessary to prevent further
abandonment of the frontier settlements.
Accordingly, in 1764-1765
King Carlos III of Spain appointed the Marqués de Rubí and
José de Gálvez to perform inspection tours of northern New Spain.
[Interestingly, José de Gálvez brought along his young nephew,
Bernardo de Gálvez, with him to New Spain, where Bernardo was
commissioned in 1769 to go to the northern frontier of New Spain and
soon became commandant of military forces in Nueva Vizcaya and
Sonora.]
As Visitador-General,
José de Gálvez inspected colonial administration practices, mainly
in California. The Marqués de Rubí, on the other hand, made a
7,000-mile inspection tour of northern New Spain from California to
Los Adaes, then the capital of the Province of Texas. José de Gálvez’s
recommendations resulted in the implementation of the Provincias
Internas, which
moved the capital of the Province of Texas from Los Adaes to
San Antonio in 1773. The Marqués de Rubí began his
investigation in 1766. Royal engineers Nicolás de la Fora and
Joseph de Urrutia assisted Rubí by drawing plans of presidios and
drafting maps of the area traversed. Rubí’s recommendations
resulted in the Reglamento e instrucción para los presidios que se
han de formar en la linea de frontera de la Nueva España, commonly
referred to as the New Regulations of 1772.
As a result of the Rubí recommendations, issued on September
10, 1772, a new line of defense was established, uniform
fortification plans were prescribed, and numerous changes were made
in regulations governing military personnel. The new line of
fortifications was to be composed of some fifteen presidios situated
about 40 leagues (or 120 miles) apart in a zigzag line that extended
from the Gulf of California on the west to the Gulf of México on
the east along what is now approximately the northern boundary of México.
As is illustrated in the map in the endpapers by artist
Marvin L. Jeffreys, the Presidios in the Line were: Altar;
Tucson;
Terrenate;
Fronteras; Janos; Paso
del Norte; San Eleazario; El
Principe; La Junta;
San Carlos; San
Vicente; Aguaverde;
Monclova;
San Juan Bautista;
and La Bahía del Espíritu
Santo, which
was the last and easternmost Presidio in the Line.
The chapter goes on to describe the numerous Spanish
campaigns against their Indian enemies along the northern frontier
and the armament and daily life of the presidial soldiers. Chapter
6: Frontier Diplomat
This chapter is largely about and extraordinary
Frenchman-turned-Spaniard by the name of Athanase de Mézières, who
succeeded in forming alliances with the once-dreaded Nations of the
North, which eluded the Spaniards. In 1746 he married Marie
Petronille Feliciane, daughter of Louis Juchereau de St Denis, who
had inspired the Spanish reoccupation of East Texas in 1716 and
directed affairs in western Louisiana for more than a quarter of a
century. In 1769, De Mézières was chosen to serve as lieutenant
governor of the Natchitoches district of the Spanish province of
Louisiana.
De Mézières was no ordinary frontier officer. Besides his
native language, he had a ready command of Spanish, Latin, and some
Indian tongues. He was thoroughly knowledgeable of Indians, with
whom he dealt sympathetically and successfully. He pursued frontier
diplomacy and was able to keep peace with northern tribes and to
make trade agreements with them. His abilities were recognized by
Spanish officials, and upon the transfer of Governor Ripperdá in
1778, De Mézières was tendered the position on Lieutenant Governor
of Texas, but, unfortunately, he died from a serious accident on a
horse before that could take place, and Domingo Cabello succeeded
Ripperdá. Chapter
7: For God and King
The mission, as it operated in New Spain, was a frontier
institution that served both the church and the state. Missionaries
were to assist in extending, holding, and civilizing the frontiers
in addition to converting the Indians into useful Spanish subjects
as well as Christians.
By 1776, Franciscan missionaries had been at work
Christianizing and civilizing native tribes in present Texas for
almost a century. To accomplish this, the friars used the
institution of missions, which were eventually established across
what is now Texas at El Paso, La Junta, San Antonio, La Bahía, and
Nacogdoches. This chapter traces the footsteps of some of the more
notable missionaries of the period such as Fray Antonio Margil de
Jesús, Fray Isidro Félix Espinosa, and Fray Juan Agustín Morfi. Chapter
8: Birth of a Tradition
The institutions used by Spain in its colonization efforts
along the frontier of northern New Spain were the presidio for
protection, the mission for Christianization of native tribes, the
villa for civil settlements, and the rancho to sustain them. In the
American Southwest region colonized by Spain—Texas, New Mexico,
Arizona, and California—the North American “Cattle Kingdom”
was born. The Spaniard, having introduced cattle, horses, donkeys,
mules, sheep, and goats to the continent, also left a legacy of
ranching techniques, technology, and terminology still used
today This chapter describes
the development of the institution of ranching
in what is now the State of Texas.
By 1776, Spanish ranching was approaching its zenith and
extended intermittently across what is now Texas from El Paso to the
Sabine River. Volume after
volume of the Béxar Archives deal with these ranches. Although they
relate mainly to the Béxar-La Bahía region—aptly described as
the wellspring of the cattle industry—the documents show that
farming and ranching extended from El Paso to Los Adaes, the
erstwhile western Louisiana capital of the Province of Texas.
Chapter 8 has a section for each of the following ranch regions
Texas: ·
Ranches
of Béjar ·
Ranches
of La Bahía ·
Ranches
of Los Adaes and Bucareli ·
Ranches
of Nuevo Santander ·
Ranches
of Coahuila ·
Ranches
of La Junta and El Paso
The chapter ends by briefly relating “that more than 13,000
head of Texas cattle were trailed legally from Texas to Louisiana
and Coahuila while the American Revolution was in its final
stages,” thus assisting in the birth of the American nation. [See
page 171.] Chapter
9: The Valedictory
Each of the three leaders charged with the affairs of Texas
during the years of the American Revolution left for posterity a
summary view of conditions in the Province of Texas. Taken together,
these three documents serve as a “last will and testament” of
those three men whose service to Spain and Texas was nearing an end,
which is described in this concluding chapter.
It would not be long until the ideological seeds of
individual human freedom gained during the American Revolution would
be dispersed and germinated elsewhere in the world.
France and then México would have their revolutions, which
resulted in the end of the Spanish empire in North and South
America. Coupled with the idea of Manifest
Destiny, México soon lost much of its possessions.
This last chapter in the book, Drama
& Conflict, concludes with the following paragraph:
In their quest for freedom, México and the United States
have taken entirely separate paths. Yet in large areas of the two
nations, their cultures are fused in a way that adds a richness to
both. The dominant strain in the heritage of the northern republic
is Anglo-Saxon. But while homage is paid the legacy of the thirteen
English colonies, surely there’s room for an appreciation of that
which derives from Spain. Postscript
As radio commentator Paul
Harvey would often say, “ . . . and now for the rest of the
story:”
As far as I know, my coauthor Robert S. Weddle, who passed
away last October 16, 2015, was
one of the first historians—if not the first historian—to
perceive that the purpose of the thousands of head of cattle trailed
from the ranches of Béxar and La Bahía to Louisiana from 1779 till
1782 was to supply beef for the Spanish forces of General Bernardo
de Gálvez during his campaign against the British along the Gulf
Coast during the American Revolution, which assisted the thirteen
American colonies in winning their independence [See page 171.]. I
simply could not leave that exciting historical event alone and
spent the next five years researching and writing (in my spare time)
my book titled The Texas
Connection with the American Revolution, which was published by
Eakin Press in 1981. The book won the prestigious Presidio La Bahía
Award, which is given annually for best books on Spanish colonial
Texas history, and the Texas Historical Commission Best Regional
History Award, which was personally presented to me by Texas
Governor William C. “Bill” Clements. The book has been
well-received by the public and continues to be printed. In the year
2006, a new organization, called The Texas Connection with the
American Revolution Association, whose acronym is TCARA, was formed
to tell the story of the book.
Additionally, I was inspired in 2006 to elaborate upon the
story of my book with new information by writing a Quadrilogy
of Essays in English and Spanish about the vital contribution of
Spain, including Texas, in the winning of the American Revolution,
which can be accessed on www.granaderos.org
.
Briefly summarized, The
Texas Connection with the American Revolution and
the Quadrilogy of Essays
relate the amazing story of how some ten to fifteen thousand head of
Texas cattle from mission and private ranches were trailed by Tejano
ranchers, vaqueros, soldiers, and mission Indians to the Spanish
forces in Louisiana under General Bernardo de Gálvez, who took to
the field and defeated the British in battles at Manchac, Baton
Rouge, Natchez, Mobile, and Pensacola, thereby contributing to the
winning of the American Revolution, from which Americans gained the
freedom and opportunity that we still enjoy—and defend—today.
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Comment by Ms. Fowler: The following list is a composite of all original land grantees and groups of their descendants represented by my law offices. Status: http://texaslandgrants.com/admin/courtcases/_files/court_status_for_all_cases.pdf Land Grants, May 2015 Barrera, Manuel Group1 “La Tinaja de Lara”, Jim Wells County Benavides, Jesus Group 1 “El Pedernal”, Zapata County Benavides, Ysidro Porcion 22, Zapata County Borrego, Jose Vasquez “Hacienda de Dolores”, Webb & Group Zapata Counties: Six groups. Cavazos, Andres Porcion 24 Chapa, Joaquin Porcion 58, Starr County: 8 groups. Cuellar, Bartolome Porcion 37, Zapata County: 11? groups Cuellar, Joaquin Group Porcion 36, Zapata County Cuellar, Jose Antonio Group “Palo Blanquito”, Duval County: 4 groups. Farias, Francisco Ygnacio “Santa Cruz”, Hidalgo & Starr Counties Farias, Manuel “Paso Ancho de Arriba”, Jim Wells, Kleberg and Nueces Counties Fuentes, Valentin De Las “Alberca de Arriba”, Webb and Zapata Counties Galan, Joaquin “Balconcitos”, Dimmit & Webb Counties “Palafox”, Webb County Group: 14 groups. Garcia, Juan de Dios Porcion 59, Starr County Garcia y Garcia, Nicolas “Las Animas”, Jim Hogg County Garcia, Rafael “Santa Isabel”, Cameron County “Agua Dulce”, Jim Wells & Nueces Counties Garza, Francisco de la - Ballesteros Porciones 78 & 111, Starr County: 8 groups. Garza, Francisco de la - Cantu Porcion 57, Hidalgo County Garza, Francisco de la - Martinez Porciones 80 & 81, Starr County Garza, Francisco de la - Villarreal Porcion 71, Starr County Garza Falcon, Juan Jose Garza, Manuel Porcion 58, Webb & Zapata Counties Gonzalez, Jose Domingo “Las Pintas”, Webb County Gonzalez, Margarita Porcion 103, Starr County: 10 groups Gonzalez, Ramon Porcion 70, Starr County Guerra, Francisco Antonio Porcion 66, Starr County Guerra, Juan Jose “El Tule” or “Charco Redondo”, Brooks County Gutierrez, Antonio Martinez “Blas Maria”, Zapata County Gutierrez, Bartolome Porcion 16, Zapata County Gutierrez, Bernardo (Bernave) Porcion 14, Zapata County: 8 groups Gutierrez, Clemente Porciones 15 & 41, Zapata County: 8 groups Longoria, Matias Porcion 93, Starr County Group: 12 groups Longoria, Pedro Porcion 94, Starr County: 16 groups Longoria, Vicente Porcion 93, Starr County: 16 groups Mendiola, Pablo Porcion 59, Webb & Zapata Counties, 2 groups Montalvo, Eduardo “Las Viboritas”, Jim Hogg County Pena, Felipe de la “Las Animas” or “Alberca de Abajo”: 4 groups. Pena, Jacinto de la Porcion 25, Zapata County Perez, Miguel Porcion 106, Starr County Ramirez, Cristobal Porcion 17, Zapata County, 25 groups Ramirez, Jose Antonio Porcion 67, Starr County Ramirez, Jose Miguel “Agua Nueva de Arriba”, Jim Hogg County Rivas, Ygnacio “San Rafael & La Blanca”, Jim Hogg, Brooks and Starr Counties Saenz, Miguel Porcion 73, Starr County: 2 groups Salinas, Antonio Canales “Sacatosa” Starr County Sanchez, Eugenio Porcion 42, Webb County Solis, Juan Jose Porcion 107, Starr County Trevino, Bartolome Porcion 97, Starr County: 10 groups. Trevino, Juan Jose “Agostadero del Gato”, Hidalgo County Vela, Gregorio Group “Santa Teresa”, Jim Hogg & Starr Counties Vela, Lazaro Porcion 57, Starr County: 18 groups. Vela, Pedro Group Porcion 34, Zapata County, Porcion 90 Starr County: 18 groups Vidaurri, Juan Antonio Porciones 39 & 40, Zapata County Ynojosa, Diego Porcion 68, Starr County, 3 groups Ynojosa, Jose Marcelo “Palo Blanco”, Brooks, Duval & Jim Hogg Counties: 8 counties Ynojosa, Vital “La Anima Sola”, Duval & Jim Wells Counties Ysaguirre, Juan Pantaleon Porcion 56, Zapata County: 2 groups Zapata, Antonio Sent by Walter Herbeck tejanos2010@gmail.com |
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Nazi submarine discovered at the bottom of Lake Ontario. |
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Niagara Falls| Divers
from the U.S coast guard took part in a delicate wreck
recovery operation to bring to the surface a Nazi submarine at the bottom of Lake Ontario.
3/8/16
The
U-boat was spotted for the first time by amateur scuba divers in
late January and they had contacted the authorities.
Archaeologists associated with Niagara University of and
master divers from the U.S Coast Guard were mobilized on site to
determine what it was, and they soon realized that they were
dealing with a German submarine that sank during World War II. A wreck recovery vessel of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society was mandated to refloat the ship and bring it back to Niagara Falls, where it must be restored before becoming a museum ship. The delicate recovery operation took nearly 30 hours to complete, but the submarine was finally brought down on the bank with relative ease. |
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The
submarine was identified as the UX-791, a unique experimental
German submarine, based on the U-1200 model, and known to have
participated in the “Battle of the St. Lawrence”. It
was reported missing in 1943 and was believed to have been sunk
near the Canadian coast. Professor
Mark Carpenter, who leads the team of archaeologists, believes
that the U-boat could have traveled up the St-Lawrence River,
all the way to the Great Lakes, where it intended to disturb the
American economy. A
report from the dated from February 1943 suggests, that the ship
could have attacked and destroyed three cargo ships and two
fishing vessels, even damaging the USS Sable (IX-81), an
aircraft carrier of the U.S. navy that was used for training in
the Great Lakes, before finally being sunk by anti-sub grenades
launched by a Canadian frigate. “We
have known for a long time that the Nazis had sent some of their
U-boats in the St-Lawrence River, but this is the first proof
that they actually reached the Great Lakes,” Professor
Carpenter told reporters. “This could explain the mysterious
ship disappearances that took place in the region in 1943, and
the reported “Battle of Niagara Falls” which had always been
dismissed as a collective hallucination caused by fear.” The restoration of the submarine could take more than two years, but once completed, the museum ship is expected to become one of the major tourist attractions of the region. The divers of the U.S. Coast guard braved the frigid water temperature to go attach cables to the wreck for the recovery operation. |
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A report from the dated from February 1943 suggests, that the
ship could have attacked and destroyed three cargo ships and two
fishing vessels, even damaging the USS Sable (IX-81), an
aircraft carrier of the U.S. navy that was used for training in
the Great Lakes, before finally being sunk by anti-sub grenades
launched by a Canadian frigate. The restoration of the submarine could take more than two years, but once completed, the museum ship is expected to become one of the major tourist attractions of the region. USA:
Mysterious Nazi submarine from WWII discovered in Great |
Navy officer Paul Trejo, serving as a Commander on a submarine commented on the submarine article. We had shipyards on the Great Lakes that built destroyers, submarines, and destroyer escorts during WW-2, and sent them to sea by way of the rivers to New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico. One yard was at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and it is now a part of the Newport News/Electric Boat Complex, and currently building Destroyer Types. They must have found human remains inside this boat, but nowhere is it mentioned.
August 17, 1966, Proud father
swears son Les into the Navy. |
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APRIL 13, 2016,
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Saludos (Greetings) Borinqueneers Community: The following are updates to the APRIL 13, 2016, Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony in Washington D.C. Our aim is to ensure EVERYONE that is interested in attending the DC ceremony is informed. Therefore, we truly apologize if you have received this information in duplicate. 1. Gold Medal Ceremony Date & Bronze Medal Replica 2. Instructions for 65th Inf. Veterans wanting to attend medal ceremony 3. Projected Schedule of Events 4. Borinqueneers Lodging Sponsorship Initiative 5. Calling All Legally Blinded 65th Infantry Veterans 6. Be Inducted in the "Borinqueneers Hall of Fame" Please check our Facebook page for up-to-the-minute updates on the CGM ceremony: www.facebook.com/BorinqueneersCGMAlliance So sit back, relax, get some popcorn as you read these updates :) 1. Gold Medal Ceremony Date - The Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony HAS BEEN CONFIRMED for this coming APRIL 13, 2016 at the Emancipation Hall, Capitol Visitors Center, Washington D.C.. The congressional resolution authorizing the date and location was approved this past March 9th. View resolution by clicking here: Borinqueneers CGM Ceremony Resolution For all information related to the CGM Ceremony, related activities AND before you coordinate for any travel arrangements, please contact the Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony Committee. Please go to their website to read the latest updates and information on the ceremony details: www.bcgmceremony.org Sometime after the Medal presentation on April 13th, bronze replicas of the Congressional Gold Medal will probably be available for public purchase at the US Mint website here: http://catalog.usmint.gov/medals/military/ This is only the information we know at this time regarding the the bronze medal replicas and more definitive information will publicized when the time is appropriate. 2. Instructions for 65th Infantry Veterans wanting to attend medal ceremony - Mi Gente, We have received an incredibly high volume of phone calls with inquires/questions on the medal ceremony. We gladly welcome the great enthusiast and energy for our Borinqueneer veterans and the CGM ceremony!!! We will continue to point those who call us in the right direction and to inform them as best as we can. However, please understand that the situation is very dynamic and fluid for those who are coordinating the ceremony and related activities. Furthermore, there are limited resources. We are confident that definitive information will be publicized soon in order to manage the expectations of the 65th Infantry veterans, their accompanying family members/care takers and also for those 65th Infantry descendants. We will do our best to broadcast this information through all of our communications channels. Please bear in mind that our organization's (Borinqueneers CGM Alliance) primary focus is to facilitate ONLY those LIVING 65th Infantry veterans and their ACCOMPANIED family member/caretaker who wish to attend the ceremony. We understand they are lot of descendants of deceased 65th Infantry veterans and of living 65th Infantry veterans (in which the living 65th Inf. veteran cannot attend) who want to participate in the ceremony. However, the physical space at the ceremony hall simply cannot accommodate the vast number of descendants from all veterans of the regiment spanning from 1899 to 1956. The LIVING 65th Infantry veterans need to be our priority in having them experience this once in a lifetime, unparalleled event. Everyone else needs to yield to them. This is something the community will have to understand and accept. If you are a descendant of a 65th Infantry veteran and have the following mentality: "Well, why I am going to DC with my father and not even be part of the ceremony but my father is... What is the point in going to DC?" We will tell you that this is the wrong attitude to have. You should be grateful that your father is part of a military unit receiving the nation's highest civilian honor and you should be waiting jubilantly for him outside of the ceremony hall door throwing rice grains at him in victory celebration. No exceptions. There will be an overflow room adjacent to the ceremony which will be transmitting a live broadcast of the medal ceremony via Closed-Circuit TV. There will also be public activities in the morning and time between events to allow your father to fraternize and network with other Borinqueneer veterans to established an eternal brotherhood and make your and his time worthwhile. We challenge you to seize this opportunity to make this an unforgettable experience for your father and family!! To this end, we have mailed off an information page to all of the 65th Infantry veterans around the WORLD on our list with specific guidance and instructions on the upcoming ceremony. The 65th Infantry veteran should have received this information page in the mail today or will receive it in the next couple of days. Basically, two things need to happen ASAP, ONLY IF you are a LIVING 65th Infantry veteran or accompanying descendant/caretaker: A. Need to contact the Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony Committee and express interest in attending the medal ceremony by going to this website here: www.bcgmceremony.org/contact-us.html You may download the Registry Form Request that a member of the committee contact you. If you do not receive a response, please try calling the phone number published in their FaceBook page here: https://www.facebook.com/BCGMCNationalCommittee B. Need to submit the Borinqueneers Registry Form ASAP!!!! If you are a living 65th Infantry veteran or a family member, please print, fill out, and mail (or email) the Borinqueneers Registry Form ASAP ! La Oficina del Procurador del Veterano de Puerto Rico (Veterans Advocate Office of Puerto Rico) is the proponent organization for this form and will be accepting these forms. You will need to attach to the form the veteran's military records reflecting participation with the 65th Infantry Regiment and/or its supporting military units. NOTE: If you were part of the 295th and 296th Infantry Regiments of the PR National Guard, please submit documentation indicating so. These two units relieved elements of the 65th Infantry Regiment during the Korean War. As an additional measure to ensure receipt of your form/military records, please digitally scan and email your paperwork to this address: borinqueneersassociation@gmail.com The registry form is currently in Spanish but if you need translation OR an English version of the form OR assistance in completing the Borinqueneers Registry For OR have any other general questions/inquiries, please contact us: email: 65thcgm@gmail.com or call: 239-530-8075. Please complete Steps A & B ASAP as this will aid in the ceremony committee finalize the complete list of Borinqueneer veterans attending the medal ceremony. If you have completed steps A & B, excellent! Make sure someone from the ceremony committee has contacted you. You should be receiving an invitation in the mail along with more detailed instructions. NOTE: We do not make the decision on what 65th Infantry veteran and/or caretaker attends the medal ceremony. You will have to contact the ceremony committee for this information. On another note: As a result of the Veteran's Advocate Office being understaffed with volunteers, it has been brought to our attention that many 65th Infantry veteran descendants have been experienced severe customer service issues with the Veterans Advocate Office in PR. From not responding to phone calls, not verifying receipt of forms, to lack of professionalism. This is unfortunate, unacceptable and overall regrettable We are trying our best to address this matter with the responsible parties as promptly as possible. Please bare with us during this situation. The 65th Infantry Regiment veterans and their descendants deserve nothing less than top notch customer service. If you have any customer service issues and/or your inquiry has not been properly and timely addressed, please contact us with your concerns emailing us here: 65thcgm@gmail.com Additionally, the following is a communications release from Mr. Javier Morales, Ceremony Committee Member in Puerto Rico which is posted on their 65th Infantry Association FaceBook page. The information published here may shed more light on the medal ceremony: https://m.facebook.com/groups/258001828800?view=permalink&id=10153691290818801 3. Projected Schedule of Events - We have learned the the following are a projected schedule of events for April 13th. Please note that you will be receiving detailed information from the ceremony committee or responsible on these events: Morning Time-frame – Wreath Laying Ceremonies at the Korean War Memorial, WWII Memorial, and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery. These events are open to the public. 3:00 pm – Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony in Emancipation Hall, Capital Visitors Center, Washington D.C. Priority for the ceremony will be for the living veterans and tickets are required for admission. 7:00pm – Borinqueneers Awards Reception. The awards reception is by invitation only and there will be a cost for non-65th Infantry veterans. 4 . Borinqueneers Lodging Sponsorship Initiative - In order to help alleviate the travel costs for the Borinqueneers, we are launching a pilot initiative to pair 65th Infantry veterans and families with residents in D.C. and outlying areas nearby that are willing to kindly furnish adequate lodging for the veterans and family members so they can attend the medal ceremony and activities. If you live in the D.C., Northern Virginia, and Maryland areas relatively close to Capitol Hill, please contact us immediately if you are interested in hosting a Borinqueneer veteran and their family for a couple of nights in your residence so they can attend the ceremony and activities. Your generosity will yield huge dividends in facilitating our Borinqueneer veterans and family members participate in one of the most historic and landmark events of our nation and our veterans' history. Please circulate this solicitation to others in your region who may be interested in aiding this initiative. Please bare with us as we try to solidify this initiative. More detailed information will be revealed. As an alternative, if you would like assistance in knowing what hotels to reserve in the DC area, please contact us. 5. CALLING ALL LEGALLY BLIND 65th INFANTRY VETERANS!!! - If you know of a 65th Infantry Regiment veteran who is legally blind (20/200 vision or worse), please contact us immediately. We are currently working with the Blinded Veterans Association so the organization can consider sponsoring the lodging/travel expenses for a verified legally blind 65th Infantry veteran to attend the upcoming Gold Medal Ceremony in D.C. Please contact us for more details here: 65thcgm@gmail.com 6. BE INDUCTED INTO THE BORINQUENEERS HALL OF FAME !!! - Be inducted in the first ever Borinqueneers “Hall of Fame” as an Honorary “Borinqueneers Guardian” by pledging to directly cover or retroactively reimburse a 65th Infantry veteran’s plus accompanied caretaker's flight and lodging expenses to DC for two nights to attend the Gold Medal ceremony. For your Borinqueneers Guardian pledge, you will receive the following complimentary packet: 1. Inducted as a charter member, First-Ever Borinqueneers “Hall of Fame” as a “Honorary Borinqueneers Guardian” on our website 2. Certificate of Appreciation from the National Chair, BCGMA 3. Receive a BCGMA Polo Shirt 4. Receive a BCGMA Patch 5. Receive a BCGMA Sticker 6. Honorable Mention in our social media channels (FB, Twitter) We challenge you to participate in this one of a kind initiative! In closing, we will conduct our full diligence to ensure that NO 65th INFANTRY VETERAN WISHING TO ATTEND THE MEDAL CEREMONY WILL BE LEFT BEHIND !!! Anyone currently or formerly in the Armed Forces will wholeheartedly understand this timeless bedrock military principle. The Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Crusade began because we did not want the Borinqueneers left behind and likewise, the medal ceremony will not violate this most time honored tenet. We are communicating to you what we know for sure. We also understand that there are a lot of unknowns and gaps of information. Please bare with the ceremony committee as they are extremely busy coordinating and finalizing the schedule of events and invitations. I stand in solidarity with anyone that wants to help this most important phase of the mission and we gladly welcome all constructive recommendations/comments. Hasta Luego!!! (Until Next Time!!!) Honor y Fidelidad! Frank Medina, National Chair Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Alliance 239-530-8075 “Like” our Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/BorinqueneersCGMAlliance FOLLOW US on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CGMBorinqueneer Visit our Website: http://www.65thCGM.org Sponsored by: You Are Strong! Center on Veterans Health and Human Services www.youarestrong.org |
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Black Students Who Are Taught Racial Pride, Do Better In School [DNA] Tracing Your Roots: I Expected African DNA Results. Why are Mine Chinese? |
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| Remember how good you felt when Black History Month rolled around and you finally got to learn and talk about significant African American historical figures in school? Well, according to new research published in the Journal of Child Development, affirming a black child's desire to learn about their race does more than just give them a personal boost, it helps them academically as well. The study, conducted by Ming-Te Wang and James P. Huguley of the University of Pittsburg and Harvard University respectively, found that "racial socialization"- teaching kids about their culture and involving them in activities that promote racial pride and connection-helps to offset the discrimination and racial prejudices children face by the outside world. Wang explains: "Our findings challenge the notion that 'race blindness' is a universally ideal parenting approach, especially since previous research has shown that racially conscious parenting strategies at either extreme-either 'race blindness' or promoting mistrust of other races-are associated with negative outcomes for African American youth. "When African American parents instill a proud, informed, and sober perspective of race in their sons and daughters, these children are more likely to experience increased academic success." Wang's study surveyed 630 adolescents from middle class backgrounds to explore how racial discrimination and prejudice in school affects their G.P.A., educational goals, and future aspirations. They found racial pride to be the single most important factor in guarding against racial discrimination, and discovered it had a direct impact on the students' grades, future goals, and cognitive engagement.Despite fewer instances of multicultural and inclusive learning in school and the increased frequency in which black students are treated more harshly than their peers, Wang's study shows that teaching kids, especially black children, to take pride in their culture is an integral part of their success. Wang sums it up: "Our study provides empirical evidence that the longstanding practice in the African American community of cultivating racial pride and preparing children to face racial bias in society should be considered among appropriate and beneficial practices in parenting Black children."
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Tracing
Your Roots: I Expected African DNA Results. Why are Mine Chinese? |
While DNA testing is a way to continue to trace your ancestry back when the paper trail is lacking, sometimes unexpected results can raise more questions than answers. “I used AfricanAncestry.com to trace my matrilineal and patrilineal DNA. Through my brother, Keiffer Mitchell, Jr., the patrilineal results were traced to the people of China. We were amused by the result, and somewhat disappointed, given that we expected results from Africa. I took the maternal DNA test and it traced to the Ibo of Nigeria. Please explain the most likely linkage to China. My father always claimed that his lineage was primarily from East Africa. Could this be the reason?” —Kathleen Mitchell Two Possible Explanations for Your Results There are a few potential reasons for this unexpected result. First, it is possible that you do have a direct male ancestor from China. In early-19th-century America, there was a rapid growth in Chinese immigrants who were put to work doing hard labor, many of them building railroads. Both African Americans and Chinese immigrants performed backbreaking work to build the infrastructure for America’s westward expansion. Similar to African Americans, the Chinese were treated as second-class citizens and faced discrimination. Given these similar experiences and the proximity, unions between Chinese men and African-American women are not surprising. Another possibility is that these results are an indication of Native American ancestry. Native Americans are closely related genetically to East Asians and can show up as Asian in test results. |
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March 16th, 1758 -- Indians attack San Sabá mission DNA links Native Americans with Europeans by Rasmus Kragh Jakobsen America’s Other Original Sin By Rebecca Onion The Bureau of Indian Education |
March 16th, 1758 -- Indians attack San Sabá mission
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this day in 1758, some 2,000 Comanches and allied North Texas
Indians descended on Mission Santa Cruz de San Sabá, on the San
Saba River near the present site of Menard. The mission had been
established the previous year to Christianize the eastern Apaches.
The attackers killed two priests, Fray Alonso Giraldo de Terreros
and Fray José de Santiesteban Aberín, and six others, then looted
and set fire to the log stockade. In late summer 1759 Col. Diego
Ortiz Parrilla, commander of the nearby Presidio San Luis de las
Amarillas, undertook a military campaign to punish the Norteños
but suffered an ignominious defeat near the site of present-day
Spanish Fort. With French firearms and Spanish horses, the northern tribes now constituted a stronger force than the Spaniards themselves could muster. The attack on the mission marked the beginning of warfare in Texas between the Comanches and the Europeans and signaled retreat for the Spanish frontier. In
1762, Mexican mining magnate Pedro Romero de Terreros, who had
financed the ill-fated mission with the stipulation that his cousin
Alonso de Terreros be placed in charge, commissioned a huge painting
to honor the memory of his martyred cousin. Source: Texas State Historical Association Editor Mimi: The original text read "Comanches and the European
invaders. . . . I did not see the need for using the very
emotionally packed word, invaders, which given the historic
content . . not needed and simply edited to Europeans.
Interesting, the attack on the Mission was "With French
firearms and Spanish horses . . "
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Ancient DNA reveals that the ancestors of modern-day Native Americans had European roots. The discovery sheds new light on European prehistory and also solves old mysteries concerning the colonisation of America. Lake Baikal in south-central Siberia, where the village of Mal’ta is situated. The genome of the MA-1 revealed that an Upper Palaeolithic population from this region admixed with ancestors of present-day East Asians, giving rise to the First American gene pool. (Photo: Niobe Thompson) A Danish-led international research team has mapped the hitherto oldest genome of an anatomically modern human: the genome of a boy buried at Mal’ta near Lake Baikal in south-central Siberia some 24,000 years ago. Surprisingly, the genetic material reveals that the boy was European, which means that a European culture reached all the way east to Lake Baikal. The really sensational news, however, is that a large proportion (about a third) of all living Native Americans are descendants of the Mal’ta people. In other words, Native Americans have partly European ancestry. ”This is incredibly surprising. At first I didn’t believe it,” says team leader Professor Eske Willerslev of the University of Copenhagen. ’Jaw-dropping’ discovery The results reveal that Native Americans are a mixture between Western Europeans who reached Siberia and an East Asian population. This paints a new picture of Native Americans and at the same time solves a number of puzzles regarding the colonization of America. ”For American archaeology, this is a really, really big thing,” says Willerslev. The study has just been published in the journal Nature; however, the results started to leak out about a month ago, after Willerslev spoke about the discovery at a conference in the US. Burial of the MA-1 Mal'ta child redrawn from Gerasimov (1935), with photos of the plaque and swan from the burial and a representative Venus figurine from the excavation. (Photo: Kelly E. Graf) Here, geneticist Connie Muligan of the University of Gainesville described the discovery as ‘jaw-dropping’. The colonisation of America has for decades been a hotly debated topic among researchers, with one of the big questions being who the first Americans were and where they came from. Very few skeletons from the right time and location Genetic analyses can help find the answers in two ways: Either by mapping the genetic traces of living people and reconstructing how our geographical distribution may have taken place. Or by going directly to the genetic material from prehistoric remains to identify their relations. The first method has the advantage that it is easy to get hold of samples, but the analysis is more complex. The second method provides definitive answers, but very few skeletons from the right place and location are available. It was one of these skeletons that in 2009 prompted WIllerslev to go to Saint Petersburg in Russia together with American archaeologist Kelly Graf. They wanted to find out who the first Americans were, and they were familiar with the find in Mal’ta. If they were lucky, the boy skeleton (named MA-1) could be an individual from the tribal community that wandered into America across the Bering Strait some 16,000 years ago. ”It was a bit of a long shot, but the age was just right,” says Willerslev. Sequencing the Siberian genome He remembers how a Russian archaeologist, Svetlana Demeshchenko, opened up the door to a huge building complex, which was originally the Tzar’s palace but which today is the famous Hermitage Museum. A cross section through the MA-1 individual’s humerus. The central void is the medullary cavity. (Photo: Thomas W. Stafford, Jr.) Demeshchenko's office was located far away from the polished floors of the Tzar’s stately halls in a tumbledown part of the building where the walls were covered with faded posters from old archaeological expeditions. She found a small wooden box containing bones from the boy, and after a few days Willerslev was allowed to take samples from the upper arm bone. He also took samples from the femur of another, roughly 17,000-year-old skeleton excavated in Afontova Gora in the same region. Back in the US and in Denmark, the researchers confirmed the dating using modern technology and started sequencing the genetic material. The professor was disappointed at first because the preliminary examination revealed that the mitochondrial DNA, which is only inherited in the female line, had a distinctively European profile known as haplotype U. ”I thought, ’This can’t be right. Surely there must have been some contamination by archaeologists who have been in contact with the bones’,” he says. They had expected to find an east-Asian haplotype, as studies have shown that 97 percent of living Native Americans have one of four mitochondrial haplotypes called A, B, C and D, which outside of America are found in eastern Asia. (The remaining 3 percent is the mysterious exception known as haplotype X, which we shall get back to). The project was resumed instantly To make a long story short, the project was put on low speed for more than a year, until the study’s first author, Maanasa Raghavan, also from the University of Copenhagen, sequenced more genetic material and suddenly could see details of the boy’s sex chromosome Y. These details revealed a very old and basal lineage dating back to before the Y chromosomes of living Europeans and West Asians. For American archaeology, this is a really, really big thing.Eske Willerslev This prompted the researchers to take another look at the mitochondrial haplotype, and it soon became clear that they had found a special haplotype U, which is closest to what is found in the first hunter-gatherers in Europe. Having sequenced the Siberian genome, the oldest human genome sequenced to date, the researchers now had enough material to start analysing kinship. It is clear that the boy is of the same lineage as living Europeans, and the archaeological finds, which include Venus figurines, thus represent a culture that has been far more extensive than previously assumed. Europeans and East Asian start to mingle However, the big breakthrough didn’t come until Pontus Skoglund, a bioinformatician from Uppsala University in Sweden, revealed in his analyses a close connection to American Indians, but none to East Asians. According to the researchers’ calculations, 14-39 percent of the Native American genetic material comes from Mal’ta. ”That really is a lot,” says Willerslev. “It shows us that Europeans and East Asians met and had lots of sex, and that’s what created the Native Americans.” Two branches of modern man The analyses show that Native Americans carry about one-third European genes and two-thirds East Asian. This reveals a meeting between two branches of modern man: one branch that followed the east coast of Asia, and one that travelled east from Europe to the steppes of Asia. Europeans and East Asians met and had lots of sex, and that’s what created the Native Americans.Eske Willerslev The researchers cannot at this point say with any certainty exactly where the two branches coverged, but they estimate that they met after the East-Asian lineage split into distinct groups in the high northeast at the gate to America in the vast land area between Siberia and Alaska, known as Beringia. Here, it is conceivable that there has been some sort of a nesting box from which various genetic lineages of Native Americans originate. The discovery also shows that the European traces that have so far been explained as a mixture between Indians and Europeans after Columbus discovered America in 1492 goes much further back in history. It also provides a logical explanations to many archaeological finds that have puzzled the researchers. Head shape more similar to Eastern Europeans than East Asians Many skulls from the earliest American Indians, such as the 9,500-year old Kennewick Man, have a head shape that is more similar to that of Eastern Europeans than East Asians. And then there is the so-called haplotype X mystery, where some tribes of Native Americans today carry a large proportion of the mitochondrial lineage X, which is otherwise only known from Europe. This means that there is a big hole in Asia with no haplotype X, which has made it difficult to reconcile it with the idea that the Native Americans’ ancestors wandered in from Asia. Together with the discovery of some stone points that resemble spikes that are only known from the Solutré region of France, these puzzles have given rise to some pretty wild theories that the first Americans actually reached America by crossing the Atlantic Ocean. The Mal’ta find now puts an end to such speculation, and it appears that the researchers can now say with certainty that man entered America through Asia. Primitive hunter-gatherers may have survived the Ice Age Up to now, most researchers have agreed that the road to America was closed, so to speak, during the Ice Age, and that the Beringia gate did not open up until the huge ice sheets started to retreat. There are no particularly good arguments to prove that the first humans should not have reached America earlier, even much earlier.Eske Willerslev However, the other 17,000-year-old skeleton from Afontova Gora may overturn this view. It turns out that it has the exact same genetic lineage as the MA-1. In other words, this area is very likely to have been inhabited by the same people throughout the period. This may not sound like a big deal, but some 20,000 years ago the Earth underwent the harshest period of the last Ice Age, and no-one has thought that primitive hunter-gatherers could have survived the cold Siberian temperatures that far north. The Beringia is situated even further north than this, but in 2004 researchers found 30,000-year-old spears and stone tools from hunter-gatherers up by the Yana Rivers at a latitude of 65 degrees north. So although the evidence is inconclusive, there is increasing evidence that man arrived in America much earlier than 16,000 years ago, as previously thought. ”There are no particularly good arguments to prove that the first humans should not have reached America earlier, even much earlier,” says Eske Willerslev. http://sciencenordic.com/dna-links-native-americans-europeans Sent by John Inclan
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Here are three scenes from the history of slavery in
North America.
In 1637, a group of Pequot Indians, men and boys, having risen up against English colonists in Connecticut and been defeated, were sold to plantations in the West Indies in exchange for African slaves, allowing the colonists to remove a resistant element from their midst. (The tribe’s women were pressed into service in white homes in New England, where domestic workers were sorely lacking.) In 1741, an 800-foot-long coffle of recently enslaved Sioux Indians, procured by a group of Cree, Assiniboine, and Monsoni warriors, arrived in Montreal, ready for sale to French colonists hungry for domestic and agricultural labor. And in 1837, Cherokee Joseph Vann, expelled from his land in Georgia during the era of Indian removal, took at least 48 enslaved black people along with him to Indian Territory. By the 1840s, Vann was said to have owned hundreds of enslaved black laborers, as well as racehorses and a side-wheeler steamboat.
A reductive view of the American past might note two
major, centuries-long historical sins: the enslavement of stolen
Africans and the displacement of Native Americans. In recent years, a
new wave of historians of American slavery has been directing
attention to the ways these sins overlapped. The stories they have
uncovered throw African slavery—still the narrative that dominates
our national memory—into a different light, revealing that the seeds
of that system were sown in earlier attempts to exploit Native labor.
The record of Native enslavement also shows how the white desire to
put workers in bondage intensified the chaos of contact, disrupting
intertribal politics and creating uncertainty and instability among
people already struggling to adapt to a radically new balance of
power.
Before looking at the way Native enslavement happened
on the local level (really the only way to approach a history this
fragmented and various), it helps to appreciate the sweep of the
phenomenon. How common was it for Indians to be enslaved by
Euro-Americans? Counting can be difficult, because many instances of
Native enslavement in the Colonial period were illegal or ad hoc and
left no paper trail. But historians have tried. A few of their
estimates: Thousands of Indians were enslaved in Colonial New England,
according to Margaret Ellen Newell. Alan Gallay writes that between
1670 and 1715, more Indians were exported into slavery through Charles
Town (now Charleston, South Carolina) than Africans were imported.
Brett Rushforth recently attempted a tally of the total numbers of
enslaved, and he told me that he thinks 2 million to 4 million
indigenous people in the Americas, North and South, may have been
enslaved over the centuries that the practice prevailed—a much
larger number than had previously been thought. “It’s not on the
level of the African slave trade,” which brought 10 million people
to the Americas, but the earliest history of the European colonies in
the Americas is marked by Native bondage. “If you go up to about
1680 or 1690 there still, by that period, had been more enslaved
Indians than enslaved Africans in the Americas.”
Between 1670 and 1715, more Indians were exported into
slavery through Charles Town than Africans were imported.
The practice dates back to the earliest history of the European colonies in the future United States. Take the example of the Pequot who were enslaved in 1637 after clashing with the English. As Newell writes in a new book, Brethren by Nature: New England Indians, Colonists, and the Origins of American Slavery, by the time the ship Desire transported the defeated Pequot men and boys to the Caribbean, colonists in New England, desperate for bodies and hands to supplement their own meager workforce, had spent years trying out various strategies of binding Native labor.
During the Pequot War, which was initially instigated
by struggles over trade and land among the Europeans, the Pequot, and
rival tribes, colonists explicitly named the procurement of captives
as one of their goals. Soldiers sent groups of captured Pequot to
Boston and other cities for distribution, while claiming particular
captured people as their own. Soldier Israel Stoughton wrote to John
Winthrop, having sent “48 or 50 women and Children” to the
governor to distribute as he pleased:
Ther is one … that is the fairest and largest that I
saw amongst them to whome I have given a coate to cloath her: It is my
desire to have her for a servant … There is a little Squa that
Stewart Calaot desireth … Lifetennant Davenport allso desireth one,
to witt a tall one that hath 3 stroakes upon her stummach …
A few years after the conclusion of the war, in 1641, the colonists of Massachusetts Bay passed the first formal law regulating slavery in English America, in a section of the longer document known as the Body of Liberties. The section’s language allowed enslavement of “those lawfull Captives taken in just warres, and such strangers as willingly selle themselves or are sold to us,” and left room for legal bondage of others the authorities might deem enslaved in the future. The Body of Liberties codified the colonists’ possession of Native workers and opened the door for the expansion of African enslavement.
Europeans did not introduce slavery to this continent.
Many, though not all, of the Native groups in the land that later
became the United States and Canada practiced slavery before Europeans
arrived. Native tribes, in their diversity, did not have a uniform
approach to enslavement (given Americans’ propensity to collapse all
Native people together, this bears reiterating). Many of those
traditions also changed when tribes began to contend with the European
presence. “There are many slaveries, and colonialism brings
different slaveries into contact with one another,” historian
Christina Snyder, who wrote a history of Native slavery in the
Southeast, told me. Contact pushed Native practices to change over
time, as tribes contested, or adapted to, European demands. But,
broadly speaking, Native types of enslavement were often about
kinship, reproductive labor, and diplomacy, rather than solely the
extraction of agricultural or domestic labor. The difference between
these slaveries and European bondage of Africans was great.
Historian Pekka Hämäläinen, in his 2009 book The
Comanche Empire, writes of Comanche uses of slavery during their
period of dominance of the American Southwest between 1750 and 1850.
The Comanche exercised hegemony in part by numerical superiority, and
enslavement was part of that strategy. Hämäläinen writes that
Comanches put captives through a rigorous process of enslavement—a
dehumanizing initiation that brought a non-Comanche captive into the
tribe through renaming, tattooing, beating, whipping, mutilation, and
starvation—but stipulates that once a person was enslaved, there
were varying degrees of freedom and privilege she or he could attain.
Male captives might be made blood bondsmen with their owners,
protecting them from ill treatment and casual sale; women might be
married into the tribe, after which time they became, as Hämäläinen
puts it, “full-fledged tribal members”; younger, more
impressionable children might be adopted outright. After a period of
trauma, captives could, quite possibly, attain quasi-free status;
their own children would be Comanches.
160115_HIST_Sioux-02
Photo illustration by Lisa Larson-Walker. Photos via Library of Congress & Wikimedia Commons.
In his book Bonds of Alliance: Indigenous and Atlantic
Slaveries in New France, Brett Rushforth writes about a similar
tradition of “natal alienation” practiced by enslaving tribes in
the Pays d’en Haut (the French name for the Great Lakes region and
the land west of Montreal) in order to strip a captive of his or her
old identity and life. Rushforth does not sell short the awfulness of
these processes; still, he pointed out: “Rather than a closed slave
system designed to move slaves ‘up and out’—excluding slaves and
their descendants from full participation in their masters’ society,
even when freed—indigenous slavery moved captives ‘up and in’
toward full, if forced, assimilation.” This was more than Africans
enslaved by Europeans could hope for, after the legal codification of
hereditary chattel slavery in the 17th and early 18th centuries.
Native American Slaves in New France
As many as 10,000 Indians were enslaved between
1660–1760. Here are the names we know.
The disconnect between Native uses of slavery and European understandings of the practice often made for miscommunication. In some places, ironically enough, Native groups themselves initiated the trade in captives to the Europeans. In the Pays d’en Haut, Rushforth found in his research, Indian groups believed in “a diplomatic function of captive-taking.” Early in their time in the area, French officials found themselves offered Native slaves as tokens of trust, peace, and friendship. “When the French embedded themselves in these Native systems of alliance and trade and diplomacy, they found themselves engaged in these captive exchanges—not unwillingly, of course,” Rushforth told me. “At the same time, the French were trading African slaves in the Caribbean and South America, so it’s not like the Indians forced this upon the French. The French found the diplomatic function of it to be kind of confusing. They didn’t know what to make of it at first, and then they sort of manipulated it to their own advantage.”
In some places, Native groups themselves initiated the
trade in captives to the Europeans.
Rushforth notes that the political equilibrium that prevailed before the arrival of Europeans had kept the Native slave trade minimal. “If you’re a Native group in the Midwest and it’s hunting season, you have to make a choice,” he said. “ ‘Are we going to go after an enemy, or are we going to stock up on meat and hides and other things?’ It’s either hunting or captive-raiding. And so that created these disincentives to go after captives, because there were all kinds of reasons you wanted to have peace, all kinds of reasons you wanted to have your economy running.”
Soon, however, French officials, desiring more slaves,
began to incentivize Native people to take captives by promising
desirable goods in return. Nearby tribes began to raid one another in
earnest, often venturing far into the interior of the present-day
United States to grab Pawnee and other Plains Indians. With French
traders now offering goods and comestibles in exchange for captives,
the old political balance was disrupted. “If you can go raid your
enemies and trade them, for food and cloth and other things, you can
actually sort of collapse those two choices into one,” Rushforth
said. “That means the choice to raid for captives was much less
costly for them. And so they actually did it much more often.” The
French, wanting to be secure from violence in Montreal, made rules
that pushed the chaos of raiding farther away—circumscribing the
sale of Native slaves from nearby tribes, for example. “So they can
create all of this extractive force,” Rushforth noted, “and it
just makes everything chaotic and destructive out there.”
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As in the Pays d’en Haut, so in the American South, where the demand for Indian slaves changed the political relationships between tribes. “Once Europeans showed up and they demanded that the supply of Native slaves amp up to meet the demand, Native practices regarding slaves changed,” Snyder said. “So people who might once have been adopted or killed now became slaves.” Europeans didn’t just displace Native Americans—they enslaved them, and encouraged tribes to participate in the slave trade, on a scale historians are only beginning to fathom.
Captives experienced enslavement by 17th-century
Europeans in a much different way than enslavement by another Indian
tribe. If a Native person was made captive by a rival tribe, a set
of relatively predictable traditions governed his or her treatment.
But after a Native captor sold a captive to a European, the person
was swept into a global system. She, or he, was now a commodity. In
the South, Snyder said, “[Natives] basically became slaves in a
really similar way to African slaves, who were also arriving at the
same time in South Carolina.” Reduced to a source of labor, and
caught up in a wide-reaching web of exchange, the Native slave could
be sold very far away. Rushforth points to instances of Apaches and
other Plains peoples being sold, through Quebec, to the Caribbean.
“There were Plains Apaches who showed up on sugar plantations in
Martinique,” he said.
While the histories of Native enslavement and
enslaving might seem to be separate spheres of study, they too are
intertwined. Tribal groups could find themselves shifting from
enslavers to enslaved, as their relationships to Euro-Americans, and
with other tribes, changed over time. To illustrate this concept,
Snyder points to the story of the Westo Indians, a group originally
from around Lake Erie, who spoke an Iroquoian language. They left
the North in the middle of the 17th century, Snyder says,
“probably because of Iroquois competition over guns and
slaving,” and moved to the Southeast, where they enslaved local
Indians for sale to colonists. “But then the colonists got
anxious, or they were afraid that this group was too powerful,”
Snyder said; in 1680, a group of Carolinians armed the Savannah
Indians and empowered them to break the Westos’ strength in the
area. The remaining Westos were, themselves, sold to the Caribbean
as slaves.
In the late-18th-century Southeast, the Native relationship to slavery took a surprising turn. There, a relatively small group of Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, and Chickasaws held Africans in bondage. Historian Tiya Miles has written two histories of Cherokee slaveholding. Miles places the number of enslaved people held by Cherokees at around 600 at the start of the 19th century and around 1,500 at the time of westward removal in 1838-9. (Creeks, Choctaws, and Chickasaws, she said, held around 3,500 slaves, across the three nations, as the 19th century began.) “Slavery inched its way slowly into Cherokee life,” Miles told me. “When a white man moved into a Native location, usually to work as a trader or as an Indian agent, he would own [African] slaves.” If such a person also had a child with a Native woman, as was not uncommon, the half-European, half-Native child would inherit the enslaved people (and their children) under white law, as well as the right to use tribal lands under tribal law. This combination put such people in a position to expand their wealth, eventually operating large farms and plantations. This was the story of James Vann, the father of Joseph, the steamboat owner; the elder Vann’s mother was Cherokee, while his father was white.
Apaches and other Plains peoples were sold, through
Quebec, to the Caribbean.
In the second and third decades of the 19th century, the Cherokee strategy to keep the American government from taking their land was to prove their own sovereignty as a “civilized” people. They were trying, Miles said, “to form a Cherokee government that looked like the U.S. government, to publish laws, establish a Supreme Court, establish a principal city, to create a police force, to create a newspaper.” These efforts were concurrent with the growth of slavery, another adopted tradition that would show that Cherokees were truly assimilating.
160115_HIST_Cherokee-02
Photo illustration by Lisa Larson-Walker. Photos via Library of Congress & Wikimedia Commons.
The United States government—Congress considered
itself in charge of Indian affairs and, starting in the 1780s,
established a series of governmental structures meant to manage
tribal relations—“had really clear ideas about what it meant to
be civilized,” Miles said. “That included a different gendered
differentiation of labor, so men were supposed to stop hunting; they
were supposed to come back and farm. Women were supposed to be in
the household. And enslaved people were supposed to be out in those
fields, helping to produce even more crops and eventually allowing
the native man to have more of a supervisory role.” Indian
agents—white men appointed by Congress to liaise with the
tribes—would report to their supervisors on the degree to which
Cherokee slaveholders were fulfilling the expectations of white
observers. Some white onlookers thought James Vann far too lenient
in the way he socialized with the (by one count) 70 enslaved
Africans who worked on his plantation. Still, he prospered,
eventually owning 400 to 800 acres of land, a store, a tavern, and a
trading post.
The material success of slaveholders such as Vann did
not, in the end, save the Cherokees from removal. While some Native
slaveowners in the South may have been “temporarily enriched” by
slaveholding, historian Claudio Saunt argues, “as the demand for
captives rose, it destabilized the entire region. The dehumanization
of non-Europeans ultimately allowed white colonists to justify the
killing of Southeastern Indians and the appropriation of their
lands.” The explicitly racist underpinnings of slavery in the
South left Native people there, even slaveholders who participated
in the system, vulnerable. When white demand for land prevailed, the
Native population would inevitably lose.
During removal, some wealthy Cherokees were able to
take their enslaved people along. Many walked the Trail of Tears,
along with the Natives who held them in bondage. “If you were rich
in the Southeast, you got to basically start over again with a
captive labor force,” Miles said. “Which doesn’t mean that
removal wasn’t awful; it was still awful. But it meant that you
had a leg up in rebuilding your wealth.”
Slave narratives—there are Works Progress
Administration oral histories given by black slaves who were once
owned by Cherokees and other tribes—report favorably on the
experience of being held by Natives. Miles told me that she thought
the historian should take these narratives with a grain of salt,
pointing out that there are also many stories of Native slaveholders
selling or punishing their black bondsmen. “There were more ways
to have a margin of autonomy in Native American contexts. There are
examples of Native people freeing their slaves and marrying them,”
she said. “But at the same time there are many instances of very
violent behavior that tended to take place on the larger
plantations. … So it depended on where you were enslaved and who
you were enslaved by.” Some Native people who held Africans on
small farms, where they might “eat out of the same pot as the
master” (as Miles put it), treated them as a kind of family. In
her first book, however, Miles wrote about a Cherokee farmer who
enslaved an African woman, lived with her for decades, and never
freed her, despite her bearing his children. In that particular
case, years of intimacy did not lead to emancipation.
* * *
The historians I spoke with said that they found this
history challenging to talk about in moral terms—perhaps more so
than the history of African slavery. “I think popular history
likes to talk about good guys and bad guys,” Snyder told me. The
complexities of the history of Native enslavement leave such clear
distinctions behind. “Some may think that I do not philosophize
enough,” Alan Gallay writes in the introduction to his book,
“that I have the responsibility of always separating good from
evil, of creating a parable from which the moral of the story may
easily be drawn. I wish that it were so simple.”
The fact that Native people so often assisted in the
enslavement of people from other tribes makes this story a
complicated one. Yes, Europeans did have Native assistance in
implementing their ends; they were also the ones who put Native
tribes under the existential pressures that forced many Indians to
sell fellow Natives into slavery. This tragedy does not make for so
clear-cut a narrative as, say, the bravery of the fugitive African
Americans who took the Underground Railroad to freedom. Yet it is a
tragedy nonetheless.
The many stories of Native slavery force us to think
about the strategies Native people used to respond to the relentless
European desire for labor. Some, like the Yamasee—who, with their
allies, rose up to challenge British colonists in South Carolina in
1715-16—fought enslavement with violent resistance. Some, like the
warriors who brought the long coffle of Sioux to Montreal in 1741,
or the Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, and Choctaw who took their
African slaves to Indian Country in the 1830s, tried to adapt by
becoming part of the system.
Later, some worked within European law to challenge a
tradition of Indian enslavement. In 1739, a Native man known only as
“Caesar” sued for his own freedom in New London, Connecticut. He
argued that his mother, Betty, who had surrendered during King
Philip’s War in 1676, should have been set free after 10 years of
servitude, rather than enslaved, and that he himself should have
been born a free man. More than a few second- and third-generation
Native slaves brought such cases in New England in the 1730s and
1740s, and in so doing, writes Margaret Ellen Newell, they fueled
New England’s growing abolitionism, forcing men in power to
reconsider the legal basis for enslavement. Natives were thus part
of the history of American slavery at its beginning, and at its end.
* * *
Further Reading
New England:
Margaret Ellen Newell: Brethren by Nature: New
England Indians, Colonists, and the Origins of American Slavery
The Southwest:
James F. Brooks, Captives and Cousins: Slavery,
Kinship, and Community in the Southwest Borderlands
Pekka Hämäläinen, The Comanche Empire
Andrés Reséndez, The Other Slavery: The Uncovered
Story of Indian Enslavement in America
The Midwest:
Carl J. Ekberg: Stealing Indian Women: Native Slavery
in the Illinois Country
The Great Lakes:
Brett Rushforth: Bonds of Alliance: Indigenous and
Atlantic Slaveries in New France
The Pacific Northwest:
Leland Donald: Aboriginal Slavery on the Northwest
Coast of North America
Robert H. Ruby and John A. Brown, Indian Slavery in
the Pacific Northwest
Indian Territory:
Barbara Krauthamer, Black Slaves, Indian Masters:
Slavery, Emancipation, and Citizenship in the Native American South
Tiya Miles, Ties That Bind: The Story of an
Afro-Cherokee Family in Slavery and Freedom
Celia Naylor, African Cherokees in Indian Territory:
From Chattel to Citizens
Fay Yarbrough, Race and the Cherokee Nation
Gary Zellar, African Creeks: Estelvste and the Creek
Nation
The Southeast:
Robbie Ethridge and Sheri M. Shuck-Hall, eds, Mapping
the Mississippian Shatter Zone: The Colonial Indian Slave Trade and
Regional Instability in the American South
Alan Gallay, The Indian Slave Trade: The Rise of the
English Empire in the American South, 1670-1717
Alan Gallay, ed., Indian Slavery in Colonial America
Tiya Miles, The House on Diamond Hill: A Cherokee
Plantation Story
Claudio Saunt, Black, White, and Indian: Race and the
Unmaking of an American Family
Christina Snyder, Slavery in Indian Country: The
Changing Face of Captivity in Early America
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| The Bureau of
Indian Education Mission, as described in Title 25 CFR Part 32.3, is to provide high quality
education opportunities from early childhood through life in accordance with a tribe’s
needs for cultural and economic well-being. In performing this mission, the BIE takes into account the spiritual, mental, physical, and cultural aspects of school-aged children within their family and tribal community. The BIE, under the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs, in the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), is headed by a Director, who ensures the mission is achieved. There are 183 BIE-funded schools, located on 64 reservations in 23 states, serving approximately 48,000 American Indian students. Of these, 126 are tribally-controlled under Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act (P.L. 93-638) contracts or Tribally Controlled Schools Act (P.L. 100-297) grants, and 57 are Federal schools operated by the BIE. BIE funds or operates off-reservation boarding schools and peripheral dormitories near reservations for students attending public schools, and oversees two postsecondary schools: Haskell Indian Nations University and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute. http://www.bie.edu/cs/groups/xbie/documents/document/idc1-030931.pdf |
"Charles Roessel, Director of the US Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), said that even without a federal truth and reconciliation process, federal Indian schools are seeking to address the past by establishing schools for Indian students that build culture, language learning and tribal sovereignty into the curriculums. Of the $130 million proposed for the BIE's 2016 budget, Roessel said there would be a significant increase for tribal language programs." "Indian education has a dark history, but now is not the time to dwell on it because it's an exciting time," he said. "We're redefining what education is and what success means for Indian students. We're ensuring the Indian voice is heard, and that the culture and history is taught and respected," Roessel insisted. For Small, her fight for the children of Chemawa is also inextricably tied to the modern struggles of Native people. An Oregon Department of Transportation plan to build a cloverleaf exchange at an Interstate 5 exit would be less than a football field from the cemetery and could potentially disturb the remains of the Chemawa children, she said. "There needs to be a voice for a children, they
need to have the prayers and ceremony to go to the next camp,"
Small said. "But people act like the cultural genocide never
happened, but as long as this get swept under the rug, it will
continue."
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[DNA] Chinese women with Jewish roots to make Aliyah [DNA] Study Shows 20 Percent of Spaniards Have Jewish Ancestors [DNA] Evidence for Common Jewish Origin and Maintenance of the Ancestral Genetic Profile [DNA] The History of the Jews in Syria |
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Chinese women with Jewish roots to make ALIYAH
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| The 5 women have studied Hebrew and Judaism in preparation for their immigration to Israel; they are from Kaifeng where a Jewish community is believed to have been founded by Iraqi or Persian Jews in the 8th or 9th century ACE. Five Chinese women, descended from the medieval Jewish community of Kaifeng, are set to arrive in Israel on Monday. The women, Gao Yichen (“Weiwei”), Yue Ting, Li Jing, Li Yuan, and Li Chengjin (“Lulu”), have studied Hebrew and Judaism to prepare themselves for their journey, as they return to the heritage of their ancestors. Upon their arrival, the five women will visit the Western Wall before making their way to Midreshet Nishmat – The Jeanie Schottenstein Center for Advanced Torah Study for Women, where they will prepare for their official conversion to Judaism under the auspices of Israel’s Chief Rabbinate. The women will live in the seminary until the completion of their conversion, after which they will receive Israeli citizenship. Kaifeng’s Jewish community is believed to have been founded by Iraqi or Persian Jewish merchants in the eighth or ninth century. A synagogue was erected there in 1163 that still stands today. According to estimates, the community consisted of up to 5,000 Jews during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) but decreased to 500-1000 due to wide-scale assimilation and intermarriage. According to Michael Freund, chairman of the Shavei Israel organization responsible for bringing the women to Israel, the Kaifeng community was similar to other Jewish communities except that it did not suffer anti-Semitism. “As a result, beginning perhaps in the 18th century, a process of assimilation and intermarriage began to settle in. Then, the last rabbi of Kaifeng passed away 200 years ago, and the synagogue was rendered unfit for use when a series of floods struck the city in the 19th century,” Freund told Tazpit Press Service (TPS). However, Freund said that close to 1,000 remain who are identifiable as descendants of the Jewish community and who have shown increasing interest in learning about Judaism and their heritage. Such interest has enabled Freund’s organization to bring many Chinese to Israel, the last group of seven men arriving in October 2009. Freund further explained that around 25 years ago, Jews were given the option of registering either as regular Han Chinese or, for unknown reasons, as Muslims. “Many opted to register as Muslims since this enabled them to have more than one child, but they are still identifiable as descendants of Jews even if some of them have nothing to do with Judaism,” Freund said. “Being part of the Jewish people is an honor because of the heritage and wisdom,” said Li Jing, who on a previous visit put a note of prayer in the Kotel asking to return and live in Israel. “Now, my prayer has been answered,” she said. Source: Israel News, editors: Dr. Ruchama Weiss
and Rabbi Levi Brackman |
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The study is said to conform with history of mass conversions of Sephardic Jews and Muslims to Catholicism in the 15th and 16th centuries. Twenty percent of the population of the Iberian Peninsula has Sephardic Jewish ancestry and 11 percent have Arab or Berber ancestors, geneticists have found. The genetic signatures of people in Spain and Portugal provide "new and explicit evidence of the mass conversions of Sephardic Jews and Muslims to Catholicism in the 15th and 16th centuries," following the expulsion of the Jews and Muslims from that country. The research was carried out by a team of geneticists and published in a report by the American Journal of Human Genetics and the International Herald Tribune (IHT). The Alhambra Decree The findings have a bearing on the question of how many Jews converted to Christianity and how many chose to remain Jewish and be expelled, when King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella signed the Alhambra Decree ordering Jews out of Spain in 1492. According to Dr. Jonathan Ray, a professor of Jewish studies at Georgetown University, there is a dispute between historians on the debt owed by modern Spanish civilization to Jews and Judaism. Ray says that according to some historians, Spanish civilization is Catholic and other influences are foreign, while other historians see Spain as having been enriched by drawing from all three of its historic cultures: Catholic, Jewish and Muslim. The study, based on an analysis of Y chromosomes, was conducted by a team of biologists led by Mark Jobling of the University of Leicester in England and Dr. Francesc Calafell of the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona. They developed a Y chromosome signature for Sephardic Jewish men by studying Sephardic Jewish communities in places where Jews migrated after being expelled from Spain in 1492. They also characterized the Y chromosomes of the Arab and Berber army that invaded Spain in 711 A.D. from data on people living in Morocco and Western Sahara. Jews Were City Dwellers Because most of the Y chromosome remains unchanged from father to son, the proportions of Sephardic and Moorish ancestry detected in the present population are probably the same as those just after the 1492 expulsions. A high proportion of people with Sephardic ancestry was to be expected, Ray told IHT, because "Jews formed a very large part of the urban population up until the great conversions." Spanish Jewry once constituted one of the largest and most prosperous Jewish communities under Muslim and Christian rule in Spain, before the Jews were expelled in 1492. Today, a few thousand Jews live in Spain, but the descendants of Spanish and Portuguese Jews still make up around a tenth of the global Jewish population. The term "Sephardic" is often used in a wider sense, however, to include most Jews of Asian and African origin, who use a Sephardic style of liturgy. Sent by John Inclan Fromgalveston@yahoo.com |
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| Recently published research in the field of molecular genetics – the study of DNA sequences – indicates that Jewish populations of the various Diaspora communities have retained their genetic identity throughout the exile. Despite large geographic distances between the communities and the passage of thousands of years, far removed Jewish communities share a similar genetic profile. This research confirms the common ancestry and common geographical origin of world Jewry. Jewish men from communities which developed in the Near East – Iran / Iraq, Kurds, Yemenites, Roman Jews, and Ashkenazim / European Jews – have very similar, almost identical genetic profiles. "Despite their long-term residence in different countries and isolation from one another, most Jewish populations were not significantly different from one another at the genetic level. The results support the hypothesis that the paternal gene pools of Jewish communities from Europe, North Africa and the Middle East descended from a common Middle Eastern ancestral population, and suggest that most Jewish communities have remained relatively isolated from neighboring non-Jewish communities during and after the Diaspora." (M.F. Hammer, Proc. Nat'l Academy of Science, June 9, 2000) The basis of this new field of population research is the study of the Y-chromosome, which is passed virtually unchanged from father to son. The rare mutations – which are changes in the non-coding portion of its DNA – can serve as markers which can distinguish peoples. By studying the genetic signatures of various groups, comparisons can be made to determine the genetic relationships between the groups. Y-chromosome research of the Jewish people began as an outgrowth of the study of Cohanim – the Jewish priestly family. These studies showed a very high genetic affinity among present-day Kohanim – indicating that they do have a common paternal ancestor, estimated to have lived some 3,000 years ago. (See: DNA Chain of Tradition – The Discovery of the "Cohen Gene") This genetic research consists of obtaining DNA samples, and doing laboratory analysis and comparison of the DNA markers on the Y-chromosome – which is passed from father to son, and the on mtDNA – which is passed intact from mother to son and daughter. This genetic anthropology promises to be particularly informative for tracking the history of Jewish populations, and helping to resolve the debate on the origins and migrations of Jewish communities in the Diaspora. The researchers proposed to answer the question whether the scattered groups of modern Jews are really the modified descendants of the ancient Hebrews of the Bible, or are some groups of modern Jews instead converted non-Jews and other groups so diluted by intermarriage that little remains of their "Jewish genes." The complex recorded history of dispersal from the land of Israel and subsequent residence in and movements between various countries in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East is expected to produce a complex pattern of genetic relationships among Jewish populations and between them and the non-Jewish peoples among whom they lived. The research was basd on samples from 29 populations, 7 Jewish, categorized into five major divisons: Jews, Middle-Eastern non-Jews, Europeans, North Africans, and sub-Saharan Africans. The findings were that most Jewish communities, long separated from one another in Europe, North Africa, the Near East and the Arabian peninsula do indeed seem to be genetically similar and closely related to one another, sharing a common geographical origin. These Jewish communities are more closely related to each other and to other Middle Eastern Semitic populations – Palestinians, Syrians, and Druze, than to their neighboring non-Jewish populations in the Diaspora. The results also indicate a low level of admixture (intermarriage, conversion, rape, etc.) into the gene pool of these various Jewish communities. Among the Jewish communities sampled, North Africans (Morrocans, etc.) were most closely related to Babylonian (Iraqi) Jews. These populations may best represent the paternal gene pool of the ancient Jewish / Hebrew population dating back to the First Temple period, before the Babylonian exile (approx. 2,500 years ago). The Y-chromosome signatures of the Yemenite Jews are also similar to those of other Jewish and Semitic populations. In contrast, the paternal gene pool of Ethiopian Jews more closely resembles that of non-Jewish Ethiopian men. Although the Ashkenazi (European) community separated from their Mediterranean ancestors some 1,200 years ago and lived among Central and Eastern European gentiles, their paternal gene pool still resembles that of other Jewish and Semitic groups, originating in the Middle East. A low rate of intermarriage between Diaspora Jews and local gentiles was the key reason for this continuity. Since the Jews first settled in Europe more than 50 generations ago, the intermarriage rate was estimated to be only about 0.5% in each generation. The Ashkenazi paternal gene pool does not appear to be similar to that of present-day Turkish speakers. This finding opposes the suggestion that Ashkenazim are descended from the Kuzars, a Turkish-Asian empire that converted to Judaism en masse in or about the 8th century C.E. The researchers are continuing and expanding their studies particularly of the Ashkenazi community. They are hoping that by examining the DNA markers in Jewish populations from different parts of Europe, they will be able to infer the major historical and demographic patterns in Ashkenazi populations. In addition to questions of medical interest, there are many interesting possibilities concerning the origin of Ashkenazi populations and how they migrated in Europe. It seems likely that Jews began to arrive in Eastern Europe perhaps 1,000-1,200 years ago, when settlement was already sufficiently developed to provide them with opportunities to make a living. One theory claims that the Jews of Eastern Europe derive predominantly from Jewish migrants from the Rhineland or from Italy, being fairly direct descendants of the original ancient Jewish / Hebrew populations. A second theory suggests a northerly migration from the Balkans or from Central Asia, with the possibility of large scale conversions of Slavs and/or Kuzars to Judiasm. This argument parallels the controversy over the origin and development of Yiddish – the language of Eastern European Jews. One theory proposes that Jews migrating from the Rhineland and neighboring regions spoke an old form of German which was to provide the basis of Yiddish. Other scholars reject the German origin of Yiddish. These linguists see Yiddish grammar as fundamentally Slavonic, with modern Yiddish developed by incorporating large numbers of German and Hebrew words into the context of a basically Slavic grammar and syntax. There has not been enough historical evidence to decide between such theories. Now, with the newly developed genetic methods, it is possible to test these ideas, for example to see if there was a significant Slavic contribution to modern Ashkenazic Jewry. Early indications from this study seem to support the "Mediterranean – To Europe – To Eastern European" pattern. The researchers plan to continue their research by investigating genetic variation in populations that can trace their Jewish ancestry to localized communities of Europe, in order to better understand the history and development of Ashkenazic Jewry. These genetic research findings support Jewish tradition – both written and oral. After over one thousand years of history in the Land of Israel, Jews dispersed to many and distant locations throughout the world. Some Jewish exile communities were relatively stable for two millenia – such as in Babylonia (Iraq) and Persia (Iran). Others developed centuries later, following successive migrations to North Africa and Europe. All of these communities maintained their Jewish customs and religious observance despite prolonged periods of persecution. Jews remained generally culturally isolated from their host communities. These genetic studies are a testimony to Jewish family faithfulness. Only the Jewish people in the history of mankind has retained its genetic identity for over 100 generations while being spread throughout the world – truly unique and inspiring. Perhaps, even more unique and inspiring, is that this most unlikely scenario was a prophecy and a promise. "And G-d shall scatter you among all the peoples from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth…" Devorim 28:64 "And G-d shall return your captivity and be merciful to you, and will return and gather you from all the nations whither G-d has scattered you." Devorim 30:3 "As the natural laws are set before Me, so shall the seed of Israel never cease from being a nation before Me, forever." Yirmiyahu 31:36 Jewish Genes & Genealogy http://www.cohen-levi.org/jewish_genes_and_genealogy/jewish_genes_-_dna_evidence.htm Sent by John Inclan Fromgalveston@yahoo.com
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| Mimi, My own Jewish roots are found in Syria! My Y DNA tested results listed me as ethnic Jew, not Native American. My markers included Bosque, Celtic, Visigoth, and Polish. Don Ignacio Gonzales de Inclan came to San Antonio via Milan, Italy. In the early 1700's, Milan was part of the Spanish Empire. The INCLAN surname is Visigoth/Germanic in origin. |
Syrian Jews derive their origin from two groups: those who inhabited Syria from early times and the Sephardim who fled to Syria after the expulsion of the Jews from Spain (1492 AD). There were large communities in Aleppo, Damascus, and Qamishli for centuries. In the early 20th century, a large percentage of Syrian Jews immigrated to the U.S., Central and South America and Israel. |
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Syria |
| Editor Mimi: John's DNA
is particularly interesting. John Inclan has been involved in
researching South Texas/Northern Mexico limes for years and is
related to most of us who are descendents of that area. John has compiled extensive pedigrees on each of the following: They are available and searchable on http://www.somosprimos.com/inclan/inclan.htm |
| Lieutenant Vicente de Alderete and Dona Maria Josefa Garcia de Rivera y Camacho Dõn Francisco Javier de Alcorta Dõn Francisco Joseph de Arocha and Dona Juana Ramirez Curbelo Umpierre Captain Francisco Baez de Benavides and Dona Isabel Martinez Guajardo Captain Juan Esteban de Ballesteros Dõn Nicolas Balli Perez II and Dona Josefa Manuela Guerra de la Garza Alcalde Mayor Fernando del Bosque Almendariz Captain Pedro Botello de Morales Dõn Juan Canales Captain Alberto del Canto Dõn Juan de Caliz and Dona Catalina Gomez de Coy (Santos Coy) The Descendents of Captain Bernabe de las Casas And Dona Maria Beatriz Navarro Rodriguez (Part 1: Generations 1-5) (Part 2: Generation 6) (Part 3: Generation 7) (Part 4: Generation 8) (Part 5: Generation 9) (Part 6: Generation 10) Dõn Juan Cavazos del Campo and Dona Elena de la Garza Falcon Descendents of Dõn Juan Bautista Cavazos Fernandez Dõn Juan Bautista Chapa and Dona Beatriz Olivares de Trevino Dõn Pedro Duran y Chavez and Dona Isabel de Baca Descendants of Christopher Columbus Dõn Antonio de Ecay y Muzquiz and Dona Vicenta Vera General Pedro de Elizondo Dõn Alonso de Estrada Dõn Juan Fernandez de Jauregui and Dona Isauel de Aldama General Antonio Fernandez y Vallejo Pedro Flores- de-Abrego Dõn Juan Galindo Morales And Dona Melchora Sanchez Navarro Dõn Blas Maria de la Garza yFalcon and Dona Beatriz Gonzalez Hidalgo Captain Pedro de la Garza Falcon y Trevino Lord Pedro Gonzalez de Mendoza And Lady Aldonza Lopez de Ayala Dõn Miguel de Gortari Dõn Jose Manuel de Goseascochea and Dona Maria Francisca Xaviera de la Garza y de la Garza Dõn Jose Bartolome Inclan Cabrera Dõn Jose Luis Jasso &Dona Maria Nicolasa de Luna Jean Juchereau, Sieur de More Captain Antonio Ladron de Guevara Descendents of Captain Pedro Lozano Urquizu & Dona Marianna de la Garza y Rocha Dõn Juan Francisco Martinez Guajardo and Dona Ursula Ines Catarina Navarro Rodriguez Descendents of Don Pedro Miguel Mendez Captain Francisco de Mier Noriega Dõn Juan Perez de Onate and Dona Osana Martinez de Gonzalez Dõn J Clemente Perez-de-Ancira-Gonzalez-de-Paredes Dõn Francisco Perez de Escamilla and Dona Leonor de Ayala Dõn Lorenzo Perez and Dona Adriana de Leon Dõn Joseph de Plaza and Dona Cathalina de Urrutia y Flores de Valdez Major Diego Ramon Gonzalo de Reina and Catarina Gumendio y de la Garza Captain Antonio Rodriguez de Quiroga Dõn Manuel de Sada Dõn Pedro de Salazar Dõn Francisco Sanchez de la Barrera and Dona Maria Duran de Vzcanga Dõn Joseph-Antonio Seguin and Dona Geronima Flores de Abrego Descendents of Dõn Juan Alonso de Sosa Descendents of Don Martin Sosa y Bravo Chief Constable Vicente Travieso Alvarez Dõn Joseph Diego de Tremino y Quintanilla Dõn Pedro Uribe y Vergara and Dona Ana Lenor Tovar Dõn San Juan de Urrutia y Allende and Dona Casilda Retes y Retes Dõn Joseph de Urrutia y Escurta and Dona Francisca Nicolasa Javiera Fernandez de la Garza Descendents of Don Andress de Valdivielsso Dõn Gutierre Vasquez de la Cueva and Dona Francisca de Carvajal Dõn Pedro Fernandez de Velasco, 1st Count of Haro Dõn Martin de Veramendi and Dona Benita de Olagrie Descendents of Don Juan Ignacio de Verridi Villarreal Lineage: Franciso (1st generation), Diego (2nd) Diego (3) Juan (4th) : Alferez Diego de Villarreal and Dona Beatriz de las Casas y Navarro Captain Diego de Villarreal-de-las-Casas and Ines de Renteria Descendants of Juan de Villarreal-de-las-Casas Jose-Benito Zambrano Dõn Nicolas Zambrano-Tresalvo Suggestion: Do an edit-mode search on any surname of interest |
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Shipwreck believed to be part of Vasco da Gama's fleet
[DNA] Where do Neanderthals come from? Oldest DNA reveals clues Theory of First Americans Places Stone Age Europeans in Delmarva 20,000 Years Ago |
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Shipwreck believed to be part of Vasco da Gama's fleet |
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Story highlights: Artifacts found underwater and the wreckage location helped researchers identify the ship The wreck was initially discovered in 1998 (CNN)A shipwreck discovered years ago off the coast Oman is believed to be part of the fleet of 16th century Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, according to a recent study. The wreckage was first discovered in 1998 off the coast of Al Hallaniyah Island in the Arabian Sea, but an archaeological excavation to reveal more about the sunken ship has taken place over the last three years, an interim report published in the International Journal of Nautical Archaeology says. Researchers think that what they found is the remains of the Esmeralda, a ship from the famous explorer's second voyage to India that is believed to have been destroyed in a storm. "The bay where the site is located was almost a perfect geographical match for where the ships' [the Esmeralda and the São Pedro, another ship in the fleet] wrecked," the study says. Evidence grows that shipwreck is Civil War blockade runner The artifacts found at the wreck site -- including incredibly rare coins -- also helped to determine the nationality and date of the wreckage. Editor Mimi: View the short video and be amazed that anything could be found in the wreckage, sand, and moving water. ttp://www.cnn.com/2016/03/15/middleeast/oman-vasco-da-gama-shipwreck/index.html Sent by John Inclan fromgalveston@yahoo.com |
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| Researchers have sequenced the oldest Neanderthal DNA yet discovered, adding another layer of complexity to an emerging understanding of these ancient humans. The DNA comes from 28 individuals found inside a Spanish cave, which anthropologists believe is home to a 400,000-year-old burial site. The researchers' findings from the site, called Sima de los Huesos, appeared Monday in the journal Nature. “Sima de los Huesos is currently the only non-permafrost site that allow[s] us to study DNA sequences from the Middle Pleistocene, the time period preceding 125,000 years ago,” Matthias Meyer of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and lead author said in a press release. Dr. Meyer praised the care taken in removing the samples from the cave, as technology had not yet advanced sufficiently for the limited DNA to be sequenced. The analysis of their mitochondrial DNA, obtained from a tooth, shoulder blade, and femur, revealed a relationship between the individuals and the Denisovans, an extinct Neanderthal group in Asia, wrote Ewen Callaway in an accompanying commentary. “It’s fascinating and keeps us all on our toes trying to make sense of it all,” Chris Stringer, a palaeoanthropologist at the Natural History Museum in London, told Nature. “Instead of just being stuck with trying to resolve the last 100,000 years, we can really start to put some dates from DNA further down the human tree.” The study sheds light on where different lineages may have diverged – and how long ago such divergences may have occurred. "DNA sequences of the [Sima de los Huesos] hominins diverged more than twice as far back along the lineage from the Altai Neanderthal genome to its ancestor shared with the Denisovan genome than DNA sequences of the Late Pleistocene Neanderthals from Europe and the Caucasus," according to the study. This study deepens understanding of Neanderthal history, but it also comes amid a growing shift in anthropological thought. A series of such finds are leading scientists to reject their original view that Neanderthals were very primitive ancestral humans. "The evidence for cognitive inferiority is simply not there," Paola Villa, Colorado University-Boulder researcher and co-author of a 2014 paper on the cognitive abilities of Neanderthals, said in a press release. "What we are saying is that the conventional view of Neanderthals is not true." Anthropologists are shifting our popular stereotype of an underdeveloped, even crass, Neanderthal as they discover more about these ancient humans' capabilities, Sudeshna Chowdhury wrote for The Christian Science Monitor: Microfossils found in their teeth show that Neanderthals had a diverse diet that included aquatic foods, small and fast game such as birds and rabbits, date palms, and grass seeds. Recent information available on "Neandertal use of ochre and manganese as well as on Neandertal production of pitch, the presence of transported and ochre-smeared shells, of ornaments such as eagle claws and perhaps bird feathers," goes to show that they had cultural rituals. The earliest efforts to sequence the Neanderthal genome concluded in 2010 and suggested, as The Christian Science Monitor's Pete Spotts wrote, "We have met Neanderthals, and they are us – or about 1 to 4 percent of each of us." The genome, then only 60 percent complete, provided evidence that Neanderthals mated with human ancestors, thus preserving parts of the same genome that researchers found in a state of ancient preservation in Sima de los Huesos, Spain. Since then, scientists have suggested that Neanderthals' intelligence led them to create art. Controversial evidence emerged in 2012 that paintings in another Spanish cave were too old to be the product of ancient Homo sapiens, Seth Borenstein wrote for the Associated Press. Although conflict exists among researchers, Neanderthals may have even created sculpture. Such paintings are "one of the most exquisite examples of human symbolic behavior," Joao Zilhao, an anthropologist at the University of Barcelona, told the AP. "And that, that's what makes us human." Sent by John Inclan fromgalveston@yahoo.com |
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When the crew of the Virginia scallop trawler Cinmar hauled a mastodon tusk onto the deck in 1970, another oddity dropped out of the net: a dark, tapered stone blade, nearly eight inches long and still sharp. Forty years later, this rediscovered prehistoric slasher has reopened debate on a radical theory about who the first Americans were and when they got here. Archaeologists have long held that North America remained unpopulated until about 15,000 years ago, when Siberian people walked or boated into Alaska and then moved down the West Coast. But the mastodon relic found near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay turned out to be 22,000 years old, suggesting that the blade was just as ancient. Whoever fashioned that blade was not supposed to be here. Its makers probably paddled from Europe and arrived in America thousands of years ahead of the western migration, making them the first Americans, argues Smithsonian Institution anthropologist Dennis Stanford. “I think it’s feasible,” said Tom Dillehay, a prominent archaeologist at Vanderbilt University. “The evidence is building up, and it certainly warrants discussion.” At the height of the last ice age, Stanford says, mysterious Stone Age European people known as the Solutreans paddled along an ice cap jutting into the North Atlantic. They lived like Inuits, harvesting seals and seabirds. The Solutreans eventually spread across North America, Stanford says, hauling their distinctive blades with them and giving birth to the later Clovis culture, which emerged some 13,000 years ago. When Stanford proposed this “Solutrean hypothesis” in 1999, colleagues roundly rejected it. One prominent archaeologist suggested that Stanford was throwing his career away. But now, 13 years later, Stanford and Bruce Bradley, an archaeologist at England’s University of Exeter, lay out a detailed case—bolstered by the curious blade and other stone tools recently found in the mid-Atlantic—in a new book, “Across Atlantic Ice.” At the core of Stanford’s case are stone tools recovered from five mid-Atlantic sites. Two sites lie on Chesapeake Bay islands, suggesting that the Solutreans settled Delmarva early on. Smithsonian research associate Darrin Lowery found blades, anvils and other tools found stuck in soil at least 20,000 years old. Further, the Eastern Shore blades strongly resemble those found at dozens of Solutrean sites from the Stone Age in Spain and France, Stanford says. “We can match each one of 18 styles up to the sites in Europe.” In 2007, Lowery, who also teaches at the University of Delaware, was hired by a landowner to survey property on Tilghman Island, Md., at a place called Miles Point. Almost immediately, Lowery saw a chunk of quarzite jutting out of a shore bank. It was an anvil, heavily marked from repeated beatings, a clear sign that it was used to make stone tools. Lowery dated the soil layer holding the anvil and other stone tools with two methods, radiocarbon dating and a newer technique, optical stimulated luminescence. Both returned an age of at least 21,000 years. “We were like, geez .?.?. what the hell is going on here?” Lowery said. Another site, 10 miles south, Oyster Cove, yielded more Stone Age artifacts. Those too, came out of soil more than 21,000 years old. Lowery published the finds in 2010 in Quaternary Science Reviews, but the report made nary a ripple in the conservative world of archaeology, where new ideas tend to progress at a glacial pace. “People are going to think we’ve clearly gone off our rocker here,” Lowery remembers musing. Stone tools recovered from two other mid-Atlantic sites—Cactus Hills, Va., 45 miles south of Richmond, and Meadowcroft Rockshelter, in southern Pennsylvania—date to at least 16,000 years ago. Those tools, too, strongly resemble blades found in Europe. Little is known about the Solutrean people. They lived in Spain, Portugal and southern France beginning about 25,000 years ago. No skeletons have been found, so no DNA is available to study. [SMU archeologist David] Meltzer is among those still skeptical of the Solutrean hypothesis, citing the scant evidence. “If Solutrean boat people washed up on our shores, they suffered cultural amnesia, genetic amnesia, dental amnesia, linguistic amnesia and skeletal amnesia. Basically, all of the signals are pointing to Asia” as the origin of the first Americans. Since the 1930s, archaeologists have favored a single migration from Siberia to Alaska as the epic event that peopled the Americas about 13,000 years ago. Stone tools found at Clovis, N.M., and elsewhere, suggested that a single culture spread across much of the continent. This “Clovis first” idea became entrenched. “People learned it in college and built careers on ‘Clovis first,’?” Collins said. “They’re unwilling to turn it loose.” But now they might have to adopt Stanford’s Europe-first slogan: “Iberia, not Siberia.” However, Stanford acknowledges that his evidence is scant. He calls the Solutrean hypothesis “a skeletal idea.” And he worries that a rising sea might have washed away compelling evidence. Posted March 2, 2016 http://www.amren.com/news/2012/03/radical-theory-of-first-americans-places-stone-age-europeans-in-delmarva-20000-years-ago/ Sent by
John Inclan
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Personajes que llegaron a México por el Puerto de Veracruz Fray Jacobo Daciano Mi estimado y fino amigo Noble Caballero Don Fernando Muñoz Altea. Anselmo Vidales Torres, telegraph decoder and/or spy in Mexican Revolution by Pedro Olivares 1914: Daños a la Escuela Naval de Veracruz En Recuerdo y Honor de los Hèroes Olvidados de las páginas de la Historia, 12 y 13 de Marzo ” Mexican Exodus: Emigrants, Exiles, and Refugees of the Cristero War by Julia G. Young Mariano Gonzalez-Leal’s “Retoños de España en la Nueva Galicia. Teniente Coronel Antonio González Dávila, Héroe de Nuevo León Matrimonio de D. Adulfo Pedraza Valdèz y Da. Marìa Garza Zozaya Matrimonio de Don Francisco de Sada y Doña Maria Tomasa Esparza Matrimonio de Don Francisco Gil de Leyba y Doña Marìa Rosa de Sada Testigos al ver casar dicho Dn. Po. Godoy, fueron Nicolas Farìas y Diego Flores. |
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Fray Jacobo Daciano Copenhague, Dinamarca,
ca. 1484 — Tarécuato, Nueva
España, 1566 |
 Desde joven ingresó a la Orden Franciscana, donde recibiría una educación de alta calidad en danés y alemán, sus lenguas maternas, además de aprender latín, griego y hebreo. En los años anteriores a la reforma protestante, vivió en un convento en la ciudad de Malmö. Durante la guerra civil danesa conocida como la Guerra del Conde y tras el establecimiento del rey protestante Cristián III, los monjes franciscanos abandonaron el país, mudándose principalmente a las zonas católicas del Sacro Imperio Romano Germánico. Jacobo permaneció en Malmö —último bastión del rey católico Cristián II— hasta que la ciudad fue tomada en 1536. Escribió la Crónica de la expulsión de los frailes franciscanos, que tenía el objetivo de servir de evidencia para posteriormente reinvindicar la posesión de los conventos, que nunca se concretó.
[Note Fray Jacobo Daciano was Danish and spoke five
languages.]
En 1542, fray Jacobo llegó a Veracruz, para
permenecer en la Nueva España por el resto de su vida. Permaneció
tres años en el Colegio de la Santa Cruz de Tlatelolco; ahí
estudió náhuatl antes de ser enviado a Michoacán, donde
realizaría la mayor parte de sus actividades misioneras.
Aprendió el purépecha, fundó varios conventos,
también fundo el ahora municipio de Zacapu Michoacàn, atendiendo
una disposición dada por el Virrey Antonio de Mendoza, también
trabajó a favor de los derechos de los indígenas, lo que en
ocasiones le generó conflictos con las autoridades civiles y
eclesiásticas. Escribió un tratado, la Declaración del pueblo bárbaro
de los indios, que habiendo recibido el bautismo, desean recibir
los demás sacramentos, en la que además, defendía el derecho de
los indígenas a ser ordenados como sacerdotes; fray Jacobo
argumentaba que negar a los nativos ese derecho era equivalente a
cometer herejía. Esta posición hizo que Jacobo fuera castigado
por el obispo de Michoacán, Vasco de Quiroga, y tuviera que
realizar penitencia.
 Murió en el convento de Tarecuato en 1566. Sus reliquias, actualmente perdidas, fueron conservadas por los habitantes del lugar durante mucho tiempo. En la década de 1990 comenzaron a aparecer intentos para canonizarlo.
Daciano o Jacobo de Dacia (Copenhague,
Dinamarca, ca. 1484 — Tarécuato, Nueva España, 1566) fue un
monje franciscano danés, misionero en México. Existe la
posibilidad de que fuera hijo del rey Juan I de Dinamarca.
Sent by Dr. Carlos Campo y Escalante
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On Dec. 6, 1914,this infamous photo was taken in
Mexico City, DF.
Villa is on the right and Zapata is on the left.
Behind the Mexican Presidential Chair is a man with a Texas style hat. His name is Anselmo Vidales Torres. He was my mother's father or my grandfather. Next to my grandfather is Ceferino Garduno, also a telegraph decoder. He has dark hair and is standing between Villa and Zapata.
His involvement in the Mexican Revolution was as
telegraph decoder and/or spy. Anselmo
Vidales Torres managed to make it through the Mexican Revolution
until January 8, 1928. He was ambushed/assassinated in Monterrey,
NL, Mexico.
The killer was caught and he faced a firing squad
of Villistas. Mexico at this time was ending the Cristero
Movement. My grandfather never was involved with the Cristeros.
I found about my grandfather involvement in December 28, 2010. My
cousins still have the hat and maybe some of the old Revolutionary
artifacts.
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In this painting my grandfather is attacking with
Villa's men in Ciudad Juarez.
You will see Anselmo to Villa's far right, Villa in
the center and Dorados to Villa's left.
The painting is in Monterrey, NL, Mexico. My
cousins and I have copies.
The Infamous picture of Dec. 6, 1914 was possible
due to Villa and a Wells Fargo Bank Silver
and Gold transaction. Villa took the cash and bought Carabinas
30/30 with ammunition to defeat the Federales. Well Fargo Bank did
have something to do with Villa's success. General Pershing sold
the Carabinas 30/30 and Villa even bought some military uniforms.
Later, Gen. Pershing went after villa with no
success.
Gen Pershing was recalled to fight in Europe.
I hope that this information adds more to the
History of the Mexican Revolution and the USA involvement.
Pedro Olivares pedro.olivares5@sbcglobal.net
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The Biography website is great, with historic film segments and interviews with historians. You may not agree with the historians assessments, but the information is outstanding. The segment on Pancho Villa has a three or four filmed segment on his assassination. Apparently the site is produced by A&E Television Networks, LLC Say Entertainment which accounts for the film segments and quality of the site. |
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Visita de los primos anglos a México
en 1914
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El 19 de abril de 1897 por iniciativa del Brigadier José María de la Vega, el gobierno del General porfirio Díaz se dispone la creación de una Escuela Naval en Veracruz. Se inician las actividades del plantel el 1 de julio de 1897, en laComandancia Militar de la Plaza. En 1898 se inicia la construcción del edificio, terminandose en 1903. En 1914, durante la invasión de Estados Unidos, el edificio es bombardeado por ser uno de los principales puntos de resistencia a la invasión. El edificio sufre es fuertemente dañado, por lo que al terminar la invasión no reabrio su puertas inmediatamente, sino hasta 1919, con el nombre de Academia Naval Militar. El edificio fue reparado por los mismos militares estadounidenses, como se puede comprobar con la última foto de esta serie. En 1952, el edificio de la Escuela Naval fue clausurado, y la Esuela se trasladó al poblado de Antón Lizardo. De 1953 a 1993 este edificio albergo al Centro de Capacitación de la Armada. Desde el 1 de julio de 1997, cuando fue inaugurado oficialmente, el edificio alberga el Museo Histórico Naval.
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Fuente de datos: Catalogo del Museo Histórico Naval de Veracruz, Tomo I, México: Secretaria de Marina Armada de México, 2010. |
Vista
general de la fachada de la Escuela Naval en 1914,
desde la
actual calle de Mariano Arista.
Daños en la parte derecha de la fachada de la Escuela Naval.
Vista
de la parte central de la fachada con las perforaciones
ocasionadas por las bombs americanas en 1914.
La inscripción
en la foto indica la fecha “21 de abril”
lo que no es
correcto, la foto fue tomada varios días después.
Daños
en la parte izquierda de la fachada de la Escuela Naval en
1914,
en el extremo derecho se alcanza a ver el acceso
principal del edificio.
Destrozos en una Sala de la planta baja, a la derecha del acceso principal.
Sala
del segundo nivel cas en la esquina con la calle Arista.
Ambas
fotos son la misma toma solo que tienen
distinto recorte
mostando detalles diferentes.
Otra de las salas con daños ocasionados por el bombardeo.
La
foto de la izquierda muestra los daños el segundo nivel del
patio,
con la cubierta de lámina destrozada. La foto
de la
derecha corresponde a una sala del
segundo nivel del lado
izquierdo de la Escual Naval.
Ambas
fotos corresponden al mismo lugar del patio de la Escuela
Naval,
solo tienen distinto ángulo.
Ambas
fotos corresponden al mismo lugar del patio de la Escuela
Naval,
solo tienen distinto ángulo.
Incineración de los enseres de la Escuela Naval.
Grupo de militares estadounidenses en una sala de la Escuela Naval.
Grupo
de corresponsales de guerra que cubrieron la intervencion
americana frente a la Escuela Naval de Veracruz:
1. Jimmie
Hare 2. Jack London 3. Frederick Palmer 4. R. H. Davis.
La
foto fue tomada por W. Hadsell. Fuente de foto: Getty Museum.
Vista
general de la fachada de la Escuela Naval ocupada por los
militares
estadounidenses y con un campamento enfrente de ella.
Es de hacer notar que fue medio reparada porque
ya no se ven
los grandes boquetes en la fachada.
| Notas relacionadas: Estados Unidos invadió Veracruz en 1914 (Resumen) 1914: Edificios dañados en Veracruz por invasión de EE.UU. 1914: Primeras fotos aéreas de Veracruz. 1914: Juegos y distracciones de los americanos en la invasión a Veracruz Veracruz: Fotos reales del enfrentamiento armado en 1914. |
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Investigaciòn que efectuè del Teniente Coronel Don Antonio Gonzàlez
Dàvila, originario de Monterrey, N.L. hijo legìtimo de Don Joseph Antonio Gonzàlez y de Doña Maria Petra
Dàvila, y falleció de fiebre el 22 de Octubre de 1855 en la misma
Cd. donde nació, a los 50 años de edad dejando viuda a Doña Petra de la Garza. |
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Con el grado de Capitàn del 4º Regimiento de Infanterìa Permanente. Los días 24 y 25 de Marzo de 1840 à las òrdenes del Exmo. General Don Mariano Arista combatió contra los Rebeldes Separatistas acaudillados por el General y lic. Antonio Canales Rosillo ( originario de Monterrey, N.L. ) y Antonio Zapata ( originario de Revilla, Tamps. Hoy Cd. Guerrero ), quienes pretendìan desmembrar el territorio nacional y formar la Repùblica de Rìo Grande con los estados fronterizos de Nuevo Leòn, Coahuila y Tamaulipas, los que fueron derrotados después de sufrir muchas bajas en Santa Rita, escapando el Gral. Canales y parte de los rebeldes y tomado prisionero Don Antonio Zapata, a quien se le formò juicio siendo ejecutado y decapitado, enviándose su cabeza como escarmiento a Cd. Guerrero para ser sepultada. Por esta acción se le graduò de Teniente Coronel y se le concedió una Cruz de Honor. En Julio de 1842, el Teniente Coronel graduado Capitàn de Cazadores Gonzàlez Dàvila combatió contra los rebeldes Texanos en Lipantitlàn, Tex. Habiendo recogido la Banderola de los Invencibles. Por lo que se le concedió un Escudo. Comabtiò en distintas épocas en cuatro de acciones de guerra contra los Indios Bàrbaros. Durante la Guerra de Intervenciòn Norteamericana 1846-1848. Estuvo en la Defensa de la Cd. de Matamoros, Tamps. à las òrdenes del General Don Francisco Mejìa; Sitio y Defensa de la Cd. de Monterrey, N.L. el mes de Septiembre de 1846 y en la Batalla de la Angostura los dìas 22 y 23 de Febrero de 1847. “ HONOR A QUIEN HONOR MERECE “. Fuentes de los reg. de matrimonios, bautismos y defunciones. Family Search. Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los últimos Dìas. Informaciòn Militar. Dir. Gral. Arch. e Hist. S.DN. Investigò.:Tte. Corl. Intdte. Ret. Ricardo R. Palmerìn Cordero. duardos43@hotmail.com M.H. Sociedad Genealògica y de Historia Familiar de Mèxico y de la Sociedad de Genealogìa de Nuevo Leòn. Del Patronato del Museo de la Batalla de la Angostura, A.C. de Saltillo, Coah., de Amigos de la Batalla de Monterrey de 1846 y de la Asociaciòn de Cronistas e Historiadores de Coahuila, A.C. |
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Let me intro you to this awesome book by Julia G Young: Mexican Exodus: Emigrants, Exiles, and Refugees of the Cristero War (2015). The Cristero War (1926-29) is little known and much less understood not only in Mexico, but everywhere. Julia Young has done a fabulous job of researching the archives in Mexico and the United States . . . not a stone unturned! Albert V. Vela, Ph.D. cristorey38@comcast.net |
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More photos: Click here: Julia G Young: Mexican Exodus: Emigrants, Exiles, and Refugees of the Cristero War (2015). - Google Search |
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Estimados amigos Historiadores y Genealogistas. Doña Marìa Garza Zozaya era hija de DOÑA MARÌA JOSEFA ZOZAYA LA HEROÍNA DE LA BATALLA DE MONTERREY DE 1846, el nombre de esta heroica Dama ha pasado a la Historia, puès durante la Batalla recorrìa las filas Mexicanas, entre el humo y la sangre, repartìa refrescos y comestibles a la tropa, animàndola al combate con delirante entusiasmo y Patriotismo. Veiasele en las azoteas, yendo a dar de beber a los mas esforzados combatientes, reanimando a los que extenuaba la fàtiga, consolando a los heridos, prodigando vino, pan y carnes a los bravos, sin cesar de repetir con acento vibrante y argentino.” FUEGO MUCHACHOS. FUEGO. BUENA PUNTERÌA. A ELLOS. VIVA MÈXICO. ALLÀ VOY. UN MOMENTO ALLÀ VOY. NO DESPERDICIAR UN SOLO TIRO. VIVA LA PATRIA. VIVA MONTERREY. Fuentes. Episodios Militares Mexicanos. Heriberto Frìas. “En la Yglesia Parroquial de la Ciudad de S. Felipe de Linares, a seis de Febrero de mil ochocientos ochenta y siete, practicadas las diligencias matrimoniales, solicitada y obtenida la dispensa de las tres moniciones que deben preceder al matrimonio, la cual fue otorgada por el Yllmo. Sr. Obispo de Linares Sr. Dr. Jacinto Lopez y no haber resultado ningún canónico impedimento que obste al matrimonio. Yo el Canònigo honorario Dn. Darìo de Jesus Suàrez Cura propio de dicha Ciudad, casè y velè de madrugada infacie eclesiae a D. Adulfo Pedraza, soltero, preceptor de veintiocho años de edad, originario y vecino de Hualahuises, hijo legitimo de D. Cresencio Pedraza y Da. Maria de Jesus Valdès, ya difuntos; con Da. Marìa Garza, cèlibe de veintiocho años de edad, originaria de Matamoros y desde su infancia vecina de esta Ciudad, hija legitima de los difuntos D. Juan Martin Garza y Da. Josefa Zozaya. Fueron testigos de su matrimonio D. Pedro Garza Cordova y D. Francisco Medellìn. Doy fè. Dr. Darìo de J. Suàrez”. Fuentes. Family Search. Iglesia de Jesucristo de
los Santos de los últimos Dìas.
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Matrimonio de Don Francisco de Sada y Doña Maria Tomasa Esparza |
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Les envìo las imagenes del registro eclesiástico del
matrimonio de Don Francisco de Sada y Doña Maria Tomasa Esparza
efectuado en la Iglesia de San Juan Bautista de la Villa de Lampazos,
N.L. Febrero de 1806. Dn. Fco. de
Sada. Español. Casado con Da. Ma. Tomasa
Esparza. Española.
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Investigò: Tte. Corl. Intdte.
Ret. Ricardo R. Palmerìn Cordero.
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Matrimonio de Don Francisco Gil de Leyba y Doña Marìa Rosa de Sada |
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Envìo la imagen del registro eclesiástico del matrimonio de Don Francisco Gil de Leyba y Doña Marìa Rosa de Sada efectuado en la Ciudad de
Montemorelos, N.L. el 8 de Abril de 1837. No.17. Abl. 1837. El Ciudno. Francisco Gil de Leyba con Da. Maria Rosa de Sada. “En esta Parroquia de Montemorelos en ocho de Abril de mil ochocientos treinta y siete, después del examen de la Doctrina Christiana, practicadas según derecho las diligencias matrimoniales, aseguradas en el Archivo de mi cargo las dispensas de las tres amonestaciones por el Sr. Govr. de esta Sagrada Mitra Br. Dn. Josè Ygnacio Sanchez Navarro, el Presbº. Dn. Josè Guadalupe Morales mi Teniente casò y velò al Ciudno. Dn. Francº. Gil de Leyba, soltero, originario y vecino de esta Ciudad hijo legmo. de Dn. Rafael Gil de Leyba y de Da. Ma. Josefa de la Garza Falcon, difta., con Da. Ma. Rosa de Sada, originaria del Presidio de la Punta de Lampazos y desde su muy corta edad vecina de esta Ciudad è hija legma. de Dn. Francisco de Sada y de Da. Tomasa Esparza, diftos. Fueron sus padrinos Dn. Vicente de la Garza y Da. Ma. Trinidad Morales, y testigos los mismos padrinos y Dn. Rafael Gil de Leyba. Y para que conste lo firmè. Br. Diego Dìaz de Mendivil.” |
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| Fuentes. Family Search. Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los últimos Dìas. Investigò: Tte. Corl. Intdte. Ret. Ricardo R. Palmerìn Cordero. duardos43@hotmail.com M.H. Sociedad Genealògica y de Historia Familiar de Mèxico y de la Sociedad de Genealogìa de Nuevo Leòn. |
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Testigos al
ver casar dicho Dn. Po. Godoy, fueron Nicolas Farìas y Diego
Flores. |
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Quiero agradecer a nuestro
primo y amigo el Distinguido Genealogista Sr. John D. Inclan por
haber enviado los datos para localizar este registro, el cual
busquè, imprimì y en seguida transcribo como està escrito. Fuentes. Family Search.
Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los últimos Dìas. Màrgen izq. Testigos al
ver casar dicho Dn. Po. Godoy, fueron Nicolas Farìas y Diego
Flores. En la Yglesia Parrochial de la
Villa de Santiago del Saltillo en primero del mes de henero de mil
setecientos veynte y quatro años, abiendo precedido ynformacion
de libertad y soltura licencia de ultramarino del muy Ylustre Sr.
Marques de Uluapa Visconde deStrada, provisor y Vicario general de
este Obispado, y licencia del Cura Beneficiado de Voca de Leones
Dn. Po. Balthasar Flores por lo que a el tocò. y las tres
moniciones prescriptas por el Santo Concilio de Trento que se
hicieron en esta Yglesia Parrochia el dìa diez y seis veynte y
tres treinta de henero deste presente año case en las casas de su
morado à Dn. Po. Godoy originario de la ciudad de Namur en los
estados de Flandes de los reynos de Castillo, hijo lexitimo de
Claudo Godoy y de Bernarda Roberta, con Da. Rosa Michaela de
Urrutia hija lexitima de Dn. Joseph de Urrutia y Da. Rosa Flores y
Valdes vecinos de esta Villa, amonesteles según el Santo ritual
romano, manda. Y porque conste firme. Vt. Supra. Luis Joseph
de Aguirre. |
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Tte. Corl. Intdte. Ret. Ricardo R. Palmerìn Cordero.M.H. Sociedad Genealògica y de Historia Familiar de Mèxico y de la Sociedad de Genealogìa de Nuevo Leòn. Enviado desde Correo para Windows 10
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Royal Spanish Academy, San Juan, Puerto Rico conference Historia de Puerto Rico: Movimiento Reunificación con España An Unknown Latino Tuskegee Airman Has Been Discovered |
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King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain arrived at the Royal Spanish Academy's weeklong conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, March 15, 2016. The royal couple joined more than 200 writers, academics and experts who traveled to the U.S. territory to discuss in part the challenges the Spanish language faces. The organization meets every three years and regulates a language spoken by more than 500 million people. The use of Spanish has grown by 800 percent in the past decade, and King Felipe VI noted that it is the most studied foreign language. He also said the United States is expected to become a Spanish-speaking country by the year 2050. For the full article: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2016/03/16/selfie-or-auto-foto-spanish-language-event-in-puerto-rico-will-decide/ Sent by John Inclan fromgalveston@yahoo.com |
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Un día como hoy hace 99 años, el 2 de marzo de 1917 el
congreso de los Estados Unidos nos impuso la ciudadanía "americana"
en contra de la voluntad de la Cámara de Delegados electa por los
puertorriqueños. Prohibido Olvidar! Fuente de todas las imágenes: La
página de Facebook de este movimiento que no quiere perder su identidad
cultural histórica.? |
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| Editor Mimi: This is a new heritage movement of
which I was totally unaware. For more considerable more historical information, please go to: https://www.facebook.com/reunificacionpuertorico/photos/a.426022077521366. 1073741828.424986567624917/869788446478058/?type=3&theater Sent by Dr. Carlos Campos y Escalante campce@gmail.com |
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An Unknown Latino Tuskegee Airman Has Been Discovered |
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An exhibit that opened Wednesday at the City College of New York pays tribute to Dominicans who served in the U.S. armed forces during World War II. Among the honorees will be Esteban Hotesse, a Dominican native who immigrated to the country as a child, enlisted during World War II, and served in the lauded Tuskegee Airmen brigade. A determined academic, Edward De Jesus, made the discovery during a three-year research mission into the role of Dominican servicemen and women “who made significant contributions to the war effort or who made significant contributions to society” says De Jesus, a research associate at the Dominican Studies Institute at CUNY.
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| Latin American Lawmakers support Israel Unequivocally La Monja Alférez, Catalina Erauso y Pérez Galarraga Esto en Los Virreinatos 100 años antes de que llegaran los primeros colonos a EEUUA |
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The
resolution the Latin American lawmakers signed states, in Spanish,
that they “unequivocally declare, personally, our support for
the Jewish people to live in peace, safety and security in the
Land of Israel,” and that “strong relations between the
Western Hemisphere and Israel are crucial to the spread of
freedom, democracy and justice around the world.”
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Catalina Erauso y Pérez Galarraga (San
Sebastián, Guipúzcoa, España,1585 - Cotaxtla, cerca de Orizaba, Nueva
España, 1650?), popularmente conocida como la Monja Alférez, fue una militar y monja y uno de los personajes más legendarios y controvertidos del Siglo de Oro
español. |
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 Sent by Dr. Carlos Campos y Escalante campce@gmail.com |
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https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=995028587202355&set=a.137537799618109.19713.100000856704877&type=3&theater
Sent by Dr. Carlos Campos y Escalante
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100 años antes de que llegaran los primeros colonos a
EEUUA |
1 Benito Perojo / Argentina/ 1945. Una de los pocos acercamientos del cine local al tema de la conquista es esta película de Benito Perojo, realizador español con una decena de películas hechas en Argentina. Relata la llegada de un grupo de colonizadores para fundar la población que da el nombre de la película y se encuentra en territorio paraguayo. El personaje central es una muchacha, interpretada por Silvana Roth, quien ha abandonado su tierra natal decidida a encontrar el amor en suelo americano. En un principio sólo habrá sinsabores, pero de a poco ella y el resto de los colonos irán edificando su nuevo hogar. Filme destinado tanto al público argentino como al español (en España fue estrenada como La carabela de la ilusión), que más allá de su didactismo pro-colonizador busca poner en el centro de la historia la epopeya de hombres y mujeres que una vez llegados a América fueron abandonados tanto por la cruz como por la espada. Ver ficha. 2 Alba de América Juan de Orduña/España/1951. Bien podría haberse llamado El descubrimiento de América según el generalísimo Franco. La realización de esta superproducción española fue motivada por el estreno de La verdadera historia de Cristóbal Colón, película británica protagonizada por Fredric March en 1949. Frases como “España será una única nación con un solo idioma y con la verdadera religión" o la omnipresencia de la palabra “Dios” dan cuenta de la participación en el guion de Luis Carrero Blanco, aquel delfín de Franco asesinado por la ETA en 1973. Pero la falta de rigor histórico no se debe a errores inocentes sino más bien a un intento de la España franquista por apropiarse de un episodio central en la historia de Occidente. El cine español, con el tiempo, tendría la oportunidad de abordar las cosas de un modo diferente. La presencia de Alba de América en esta lista sirve para confirmar que las películas históricas hablan más sobre la política del presente que sobre los hechos referidos. Ver ficha. La mayoría de las escenas fue rodada en el actual balneario de Benidorm, España. 3 La araucana Julio Coll/Chile – España - Italia/1971. Chile, fértil Provincia, y señalada / En la región Antártica famosa, / De remotas Naciones respetada, / Por fuerte, principal y poderosa / La Gente que produce, es tan granada/ Tan soberbia, gallarda, y belicosa/ Que no ha sido por Rey jamás regida/ Ni al extranjero dominio sometida.Este es el pasaje más famoso de “La araucana”, poema épico de Alonso de Ercilla que narra el enfrentamiento entre Pedro de Valdivia y los araucanos en el actual Chile. De esta fuente se sirvieron los creadores de esta al menos curiosa película que toma tópicos del western de conquista y del cine de aventuras. Como el cine chileno es ajeno a las grandes producciones, intervinieron capitales italianos y españoles, reservando los protagónicos para actores europeos. Ellos son Pedro de Valdivia, mostrado como un sanguinario conquistador, y su amante Doña Inés de Suarez, una viuda aventurera. Violenta, bien narrada, pero severamente entorpecida por flojas caracterizaciones, sobre todo de los araucanos que parecen haber sido seleccionados en un campamento hippie. Finalmente,La araucana decepcionó a chilenos y europeos y es hoy un filme casi olvidado que, de todos modos, fue uno de los contados casos en los que el cine de sudamericano intentó recrear los tiempos de la conquista. Ver ficha. Película. 4 Aguirre, la ira de Dios Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes/Werner Herzog/Alemania/ 1972. Una de las legendarias películas del binomio Werner Herzog-Klaus Kinski, y sin dudas la visión más aterradora de la empresa conquistadora. El director alemán se basó en los testimonios de fray Ginés de Carbajal, quien narró hasta donde pudo el derrotero de Lope de Aguirre, explorador vasco que intentó llegar a la mítica ciudad de El dorado. Partiendo de los Andes peruanos navega río abajo el Amazonas, en un viaje a través de la selva que se convertirá en una travesía demencial y absurda a bordo de una balsa rudimentaria. A cada dificultad que se le presente la expedición irá mermando y Aguirre responderá cada vez con más crueldad hasta que lo que en principio iba a ser uno de los tantos capítulos de la conquista se convierta en un proyecto personal. Pero a Aguirre lo acompañan un grupo de soldados tan despiadados como él, un fraile ambicioso, un pusilánime representante de la Corona, un grupo de indios y la hija del conquistador a quien querrá desposar para prolongar su linaje en estas tierras. Todo un bestiario de los personajes que protagonizaron la conquista. Ver ficha. Fragmento. 5 De la misteriosa Buenos Aires Alberto Fischerman, Oscar BarneyFinn, Ricardo Wullicher / Argentina / 1981. Tres de los relatos que integran el libro Misteriosa Buenos Aires de Manuel Mujica Lainez fueron versionados en esta película. El primero de ellos es “El hambre”, impresionante descripción de la frustrada primera fundación de la actual Ciudad de Buenos Aires por parte del adelantado Pedro de Mendoza. Cercados por los indios y abandonados por el grueso de la expedición, unos pocos hombres sobreviven miserablemente en un territorio lejano y hostil y están a un paso practicar el canibalismo. Este segmento fue dirigido por Alberto Fischerman y protagonizado por José María Gutierrez como un moribundo Pedro de Mendoza, Patricio Contreras, Pablo Brichta y Edda Bustamante, entro otros. Ver ficha. Película. 6 El Dorado Carlos Saura / España / 1988. Nuevamente Lope de Aguirre, el mismo personaje que encarnó Klaus Kinski en Aguirre la ira de Dios, pero delineado de un modo totalmente diferente por Omero Antonutti. Esta película de Carlos Saura, en ese momento la producción más cara del cine español, recrea la expedición encabezada por Pedro de Ursúa, en busca de El dorado, al frente de un numeroso contingente de soldados españoles, esclavos negros y servidores indígenas. Entre ellos estaba Lope de Aguirre quien, a diferencia de la versión Herzog – Kinski, es mostrado como un personaje frío y calculador, y que a fuerza de confabulaciones y asesinatos va a convertir la empresa en un proyecto personal. Aun así, la Corona lo siguió respaldando. En este punto, la película de Saura guarda rigor histórico y según sus propias palabras se trata de “españoles que se matan entre ellos”. Como ya sabemos, la expedición fue un desastre. Algo similar sucedió con la película que estuvo muy lejos de lograr la repercusión que se esperaba. El costoso rodaje se realizó en Costa Rica, patrocinado por el estado español mediante la Sociedad Quinto Centenario. Ver ficha. Trailer. 7 Cabeza de Vaca Nicolás Echavarría/México/1991. Por contar con una vigorosa industria cinematográfica y ser escenario de varios de los episodios más importantes de la conquista, México ha sido el país latinoamericano que más películas rodó alrededor de esta temática. De las mejores es esta crónica de uno de los personajes más fascinantes de la época: Álvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca y su escrito Naufragios, en el cual relata la malograda expedición capitaneada por Pánfilo de Narváez a través del actual estado norteamericano de Florida. Cabeza de Vaca, uno de los pocos sobrevivientes de las desgracias expedicionarias, fue tomado como sirviente por los indios, adoptó sus costumbres y luego emprendió una nueva expedición por el actual territorio de Sinaloa, México. Hasta aquí llega la película, pero vale la pena recordar que en un segundo viaje al nuevo mundo fue el primer europeo en contemplar las cataratas del Iguazú. Recomendable entonces esta película mexicana, un singular abordaje del personaje del conquistador cuyas motivaciones no son sólo la ambición y el espíritu aventurero sino también su propio misticismo, que llega a su punto más alto cuando a partir de su contacto con los indios practica convencido el chamanismo. Ver ficha. Escena inicial. 8 Manto Negro The black robe/ Bruce Beresford/Canadá/1991. Está claro que el período de la conquista no constituye siquiera un sub género dentro del cine histórico. El cine estadounidense lo ha abordado en muy contadas ocasiones, entre las que cabe citar El nuevo mundo, dirigida por Terence Malick en 1995. Para esta lista elegimos una película menos conocida, que narra el viaje de un jesuita francés por el norte de Canadá con la misión de evangelizar a los nativos de la región. Pero a medida que se va introduciendo en aquellos monumentales paisajes, este enviado de Dios irá notando que los infieles se las arreglan bastante bien con sus costumbres y sus creencias y no están demasiado interesados en evangelizarse. Manto negro es un filme acerca de otro descubrimiento: el de los costados más frágiles de la fe religiosa, que tiene sus puntos en común, aunque con un tratamiento más sobrio, con la mucho más famosaLa misión. Ver ficha. Trailer. 91492, la conquista del Paraíso 1492: The Conquest of Paradise/Ridley Scott / Gran Bretaña – Francia / 1992. Por peso propio, esta superproducción franco-británica se posicionó como la película oficial del quinto centenario de la llegada de Cristóbal Colón a tierras americanas, muy por encima de aquel engendro cinematográfico en el que Marlon Brando hace las veces del inquisidor Torquemada. Gerard Depardieu interpretó al navegante genovés, convencido de que había una ruta aún inexplorada para llegar a las Indias. La mayor parte del relato se sitúa en Europa, con Colón haciendo gestiones para financiar su viaje hasta que por fin llega a entrevistarse con Isabel la Católica (Sigourney Weaver). No es difícil encontrar un discurso anti español en esta película: se subraya el origen no hispano de Colón y de aquellos que lo apoyaron y casi faltaría decir que Colón descubrió América pese a los españoles. Claro que ese sentimiento anti hispánico no cuestionará jamás la naturaleza de la conquista. 1492 es un entretenido filme de proezas y aventuras con cierto rigor histórico pero, sobre todo, el punto de vista de dos países que se llevaron su tajada en el reparto de las colonias que continuó a la conquista.Ver ficha. Trailer. 10 La otra conquista Salvador Carrasco/México/1998. La llegada de Hernán Cortés y el inicio de la conquista del actual México relatada desde el punto de vista de los aztecas. La historia central es la de Topiltzin, hijo del emperador Moctezuma, que se resiste a la invasión española. Es en el plano religioso en donde se desata el conflicto, resuelto por la sangre más que por la palabra. En esa línea argumental, el director no ha ahorrado en escenas de violencia, con torturas y ejecuciones bajo la cruz. México, como ya dijimos, ha sido el país americano que más veces abordó la conquista, en una filmografía que pasó de los filmes de inspiración católica (muchos de ellos sobre la evangelización y la virgen de Guadalupe) a la revisión histórica con Cabeza de vaca (puesto 7) y El jardín de la tía Isabel. La otra conquista figura dentro de este último grupo. Fue estrenada en 1998 y reestrenada en 2006 aprovechando el suceso deApocalypto, de Mel Gisbson. Ver ficha. Película. 11 Bis: También la lluvia Iciair Bolliain/España/2010. Antes el oro, hoy el agua. Cinco siglos después de la llegada de Colón a tierras americanas esta película de Iciair Bolliain, con guion de Paul Laverty (frecuente colaborador de Ken Loach), cuenta la historia de un director (García Bernal) y un productor (Luis Tosar) que llegan a Bolivia para rodar una película de escaso presupuesto sobre Cristóbal Colón. Rápidamente las jornadas de rodaje se ven afectadas por la guerra del agua, aquella protesta popular desatada en Cochabamba en 2001 cuando el gobierno privatizó el servicio de agua mediante un contrato insólito que hasta le garantizaba a una empresa trasnacional derechos exclusivos sobre el agua de lluvia. La historia que van rodando los cineastas y toda reflexión posible acerca de la conquista se traslada de un modo brutal hacia el presente. Desde un Colón visionario, aventurero e instaurador del esclavismo, sobre el cual se edificó el colonialismo en América, hasta el neoliberalismo contemporáneo, esta vez rechazado con firmeza por el pueblo. Ver ficha. Saludos, Dr. C. Campos y Escalante campce@gmail.com |
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| ALASKA Y EL VIRREINATO DE LA NUEVA ESPAÑA: POR LUIS OZDEN |
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Mientras la diplomacia española e inglesa negociaban la salida de aquella situación, siempre con los ingleses con la sartén por el mango por su superioridad naval, desde Nueva España se volvía a enviar otra expedición al Norte compuesta por cincos naves. Entre los componentes de aquella expedición figuraba la Primera Compañía Franca de Voluntarios de Cataluña (cuerpo del ejército colonial español formado por voluntarios catalanes creado en 1767) que ya había participado en la exploración de California. Parte de esta Compañía se quedó fortificando la isla de Nutka y el resto se repartió entre los barcos para seguir explorando: fundaronCordova (topónimo hispano más al Norte en la actualidad) y tomaron posesión de otras tierras.
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Tras la firma de los tratados de San Lorenzo, los españoles debían devolver todo lo capturado a Inglaterra, se les concedía el comercio en el Pacífico Norte y, además, se fijaban los límites de las posesiones españolas más al Sur. Castellanos, extremeños, gallegos, catalanes… sufrieron las duras condiciones climatológicas de Alaska y el acoso de rusos e ingleses, pero aguantaron en sus posiciones y mantuvieron las posesiones conquistadas. Todo lo que consiguieron juntos, se perdió por los políticos… ¿Os suena? De las barretinas que se citan en el título, tenemos constancia por las anotaciones de la expedición de en 1791 llegó a Nutka.
Es de notar que los marinos de todas las expediciones salidas de San Blas eran neo-gallegos, actualmente diríamos que “jalicienses”.
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CITA (1): El marino Juan de la Bodega y Cuadra era peruano nacido en la ciudad de Lima, hizo su carrera en España y el Rey Carlos III le encomendó la exploración de Alaska y tomar posesión y fundación de los puertos necesarios, donde existían antiguas pesquerías de indios aliados con España. Y dibujar el Mapa de la costa del litoral del Pacífico desde el Puerto del Callao hasta Acapulco, San Blas, San Francisco California, Nutka y Alaska hasta el paralelo 70º de latitud norte. Juan de la Bodega y Cuadra murió en el Puerto de San Blas, ya entrado el siglo XIX. INFORMACIÓN: José Mariano Mociño; “Noticias de Nutka y la lengua de los nutkenses” Alberto Ma. Carreño; “Noticias del Bachiller Mociño” Juan de la Bodega y Cuadra; “Apuntes de viaje”
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Sent by
Dr. Carlos Campos y Escalante
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| The US and Philippine Presidential Elections in 2016 Tratado de París Año 1898 |
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| This year is an election day for President along with other top and local elected offices for both the United States and the Philippines. Both countries have female presidential candidates. November 8, 2016 is the election day for the USA and May 9, 2016 for the Philippines. The Philippines has already had a slate of presidential candidates chosen or declared by their respective parties as the election in the Philippines is a month from now. But the US has yet to choose its party presidential nominee be it Democratic or Republic as the election is still 7 months from now. For the year 2016 we are witnessing a female candidate for the US presidency in the person of Hillary Clinton, the wife of former President Bill Clinton. She is the leading contender for the Democratic Party nomination for the presidency and Donald Trump for the Republican Party. In the year 2008, Mrs. Clinton ran as presidential nominee for the the Democratic Party, but the Party chose the current president Barack Obama, then US Senator from Illinois, as the party's nominee. The USA has always been a two party system --the Democratic and Republican parties. We are again awaiting who will be the presidential candidates for both Democratic and the Republican Parties for this coming election. In the case of the Philippines there are 5 presidential candidates representing 5 different parties and two of them are females. We also have 6 candidates vying for the vice-president posts from 6 parties and one of them is a woman. The names of the presidential candidates in alphabetical order are: Jejomar Binay; Rodrigo Duterte; (Ms) Grace Poe; Mar Rojas; and (Ms) Miriam Defensor Santiago. The vice-presidential candidates are: Alan Peter Cayetano; Francis Escudero; Gregorio Honasan; Ferdinand Marcos, Jr; (Ms) Leni Robledo; and Antonio Trillanes. The Philippines, like the USA, used to be a two party system of government. But it has multiplied since then, and we are seeing it in the 2016 election. Also the US presidential election does not have a separate vice-presidential race as the latter is included in the party's presidential nominee. So a vote for the US presidential candidate is also a vote for the vice-president. This is not so in Philippines even if the vice-presidential candidate is attached to the presidential nominee. In the Philippines, votes for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates are counted separately and therefore the counts for them vary. It is therefore not uncommon to see a president elected from one party and the vice-president in another. Also a prospective vice-presidential candidate in the Philippines unlike his/her counterpart in the USA can run alone without having a presidential candidate partner in election. You can see that we have for the 2016 election 6 vice-presidential and only 5 presidential candidates. In the 1998 presidential election, we elected a president in the name of Joseph Estrada belonging from one party and then Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, belonging to a separate party, won the vice-presidency. The term of office for a Philippine president is for six years and the law only allows one term of office. President Joseph Estrada could not finish his six year term of office and so on January 20, 2001 Vice-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo became the president of the Philippines. As I already mentioned we have six candidates coming from six different parties who are running for the vice-presidential position and one of them is a woman. Some of the vice-presidential candidates in this 2016 election are attached to the presidential nominees, but others are not and they again are running independent of the presidential nominees. Just to note here that former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ran as Vice President in the 1998 Philippine presidential election with presidential candidate Joseph de Venecia, Jr. who was the Speaker of the Philippines House of Representatives. The presidency was won by Joseph Estrada. Former Presidents Estrada and Arroyo again did not belong to the same party when they ran for the top-notch elected offices in the Philippines. The common political observation we have about the Philippines and the USA is that despite the advancement of civil rights especially for women, the latter has not had a female president while the Philippines has had two female presidents. And again two female presidential candidates will be in the ballot when the Philippine voters come to the election polls on May 9, 2016. Other countries including those that are officially noted as democratic but not 100% democratic in reality have had female chief executive officers. I noted this matter in my January, 2013 article in the Somos Primos Magazine -- http://somosprimos.com/sp2013/spjan13/spjan13.htm#THE PHILIPPINES entitled A Female President of the USA in the Year 2016? The Philippines has a unitary system of government while the US is a federal government. So the provinces which comprise the Philippines do not enact local or provincial laws like the US states and also that of the Canadian provinces as Canada has also a federal form government. Last, I would like to wish that the best candidates for both the US and Philippine 2016 elections win which include not only the President and Vice President but the members of congress and candidates of different localities. |
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| Editor Mimi: Dr.
Carlos Campos y Escalante sent the article below. I asked
Eddie Calderon, of Filipino heritage and education to comment on the
article. España nunca vendió Filipinas tuvo que cederlas a EEUU a la fuerza y bajo amenazas de llevar la guerra a la peninsula y los territorios africanos si España se oponía a sus reclamaciones, EEUU sólo aceptó conceder a España una indemnización de 20 millones de dólares por la pérdida de los territorios. Treaty of Paris Year 1898. Spain never sold the Philippines. It had to cede the latter and the other African territories over to the USA under the threat of force and war if Spain refused to do it. The USA only agreed to only agreed to indemnify Spain the sum of $20 million for the loss of its territories. Mimi: The real story is that Spain lost the war against the USA when the USA took over Puerto Rico and liberated Cuba which later became independent. Spain even lost the war in the Philippines when the Filipinos successfully revolted against Spain. My people celebrated the victory by officially proclaiming independence in Kawit, Cavite, Philippines on June 12, 1898. However, my people were unable to retain its short lived independence, as its forces lost, in its war against the USA, and my country became a colony of the USA. Eddie Calderon, Ph.D. eddieaaa@hotmail.com https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tratado_de_Par%C3%ADs_(1898) El Tratado de París de 1898 —firmado el 10 de diciembre de 1898— terminó la Guerra hispano-estadounidense y mediante el cual, España abandonó sus demandas sobre Cuba, que declaró su independencia. Filipinas, Guam y Puerto Rico fueron oficialmente entregadas a los Estados Unidos por 20 millones de dólares. Aunque durante las negociaciones España intentó incluir numerosas enmiendas, finalmente no tuvo más remedio que aceptar todas y cada una de las imposiciones estadounidenses, puesto que había perdido la guerra y era consciente de que el superior poderío armamentístico estadounidense podría poner en peligro otras posesiones españolas en Europa y África. 
El tratado se firmó sin la presencia de los representantes de los territorios invadidos por Estados
Unidos, lo que provocó un gran descontento entre la población de esas
excolonias, especialmente en el caso de Filipinas, que acabaría enfrentándose contra los Estados Unidos en la guerra Filipino-Americana. |
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España estuvo allí - Los españoles en la costa atlántica antes de 1607 List of Counts of Spain: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Counts_of_Spain |
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España
estuvo allí - Los españoles en
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| This is a website with links to a series
of historical videos on the topic of Spain's early presence in the
United States. The videos are very well done, quite enjoyable, dramatic
Hollywood style, each program seems to be 50 minutes. It suggests
they were prepared for airing on television in Spain. http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/espana-estuvo-alli/espana-estuvo-alli-espanoles-costa-atlantica-antes-1607/2395404/ Sent by Dr. Carlos Campos y Escalante campce@gmail.com |
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Sharia Law or One Law for All? |
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Sharia Law or One Law for All? |
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| As millions of Muslims flow into Europe, some from Syria, others from as far away as Afghanistan or sub-Saharan Africa, several countries are already experiencing high levels of social breakdown. Several articles have chronicled the challenges posed in countries such as Sweden and Germany. Such challenges are socio-economic in nature: how to accommodate such a large influx of migrants; the rising costs of providing them with housing, food, and benefits, and the expenses incurred by increased levels of policing in the face of growing lawlessness in some areas. If migrants continue to enter European Union countries at the current rate, these costs are likely to rise steeply; some countries, such as Hungary, have already seen how greatly counterproductive and self-destructive Europe's reception of almost anyone who reaches its borders has been. The immediate impact, however, of these new arrivals is not likely to be a simple challenge, something that may be remedied by increasing restrictions on numbers, deportations of illegal migrants, or building fences. During the past several decades, some European countries -- notably Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, and Denmark -- have received large numbers of Muslim immigrants, most of them through legal channels. According to a Pew report in 2010, there were over 44 million Muslims in Europe overall, a figure expected to rise to over 58 million by 2030. Unless reform enters the thinking of the Muslim clergy, Salafi Islam will continue to beckon Muslims to the past. Under strict sharia, the question remains: what is to become of the growing millions of newcomers for whom Western law codes are of secondary value -- for whom they are, perhaps, just an obstacle in the path towards an ultimate goal of total separation from host societies?
In Sharia
Law or One Law for All, I drew attention to another level
of sharia rulings that provide fatwas for numbers of British
Muslims, in particular of the younger generation. These are online
sites: "fatwa banks." Individuals or couples send
questions to the muftis who run the sites, and receive answers in
the form of fatwas that are considered authoritative. The
questions and answers are preserved in galleries of rulings, which
can be browsed by anyone seeking advice. The sites are by no means
consistent, differing from one scholar to another. But they do
provide an insight into the kinds of rulings that may be given in
the sharia councils. For example:
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| Some of these fatwas advise illegal
actions and others transgress human rights standards as they are
applied by British courts. They show vividly just how questionable
it is to permit a parallel system of law within a single national
system. Sent by Odell Harwell odell.harwell74@att.net Source: For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml |
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Bible Knowledge to Ponder |
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Learn from me, for I am mild-tempered and lowly in
heart.—Matt. 11:29. New World Translation |
| The Eucharistic Miracle of Buenos Aires In 1996, a local priest in Buenos Aires, Argentina noticed that a fragment of the Holy Eucharist miraculously turned into flesh. Archbishop Bergoglio, (now Pope Francis) had the sample photographed and scientifically analysed in New York City where it was determined it was of heart muscle and "...remain an inexplicable mystery to science." https://www.youtube.com/embed/3gPAbD43fTI Sent by Oscar Ramirez osramirez@sbcglobal.net You will read comments debunking the miracle. I say watch the video and the scientific testing that the tissue was subjected to. Ask yourself, would the scientists involved allow their names and reputations to be associated with the report. I believe in miracles and the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind. It is in HIS name that I trust and have peace. Praise the Lord. ~ Mimi |
04/01/2016 07:28 AM
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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UNITED STATES
EARLY LATINO PATRIOTS
ORANGE COUNTY, CA
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
MEXICO
CARIBBEAN REGION
SPAIN
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04/01/2016 07:28 AM
The
Gen. Sam Houston award was presented to Albert Seguin Gonzales a
Galveston County resident.
Una copia del contrato quedó en manos del secretario de estado
norteamericano, con el propósito de que, si el gobierno reconocido de México fuera suplantado por
otro, la compañía pudiera solicitar al gobierno de los Estados Unidos la protección de sus intereses en la concesión. Algunas cláusulas del contrato eran las
siguientes: 7ma. Dentro del término de 5 años, contados desde el día de aprobación de este proyecto de colonización, los empresarios introducirán en el territorio doscientas familias de colonos cuando
menos….. 8va. Las salinas Ojo de Liebre y San Quintín, que al presente son rentadas por el
gobierno, cuando el contrato presente haya expirado, serán rentadas a dicha colonia por el término de 20 años, con la condición de que serán pagados al gobierno 20 reales por tonelada de sal que sea
exportada….. 10mo. Los colonos serán independientes en su administración municipal, en virtud de lo cual se les otorgará el poder para poder organizar libremente todas las instituciones que consideren
adecuadas….. 16vo. El empresario adelantará la suma de cien mil dólares a cuenta del precio de las tierras que van a
colonizar, entregando, al término de ciento veinte días después de firmarse el
acuerdo, la dicha suma de oro mexicano en San Francisco, California, al cónsul mexicano en ese
puerto.
Se
exilió primeramente en Mecklemburgo, donde recibió la protección
del duque Alberto VII, quien había luchado en el bando católico
durante la guerra civil. Ahí fue nombrado como el último líder
de la provincia franciscana de Dacia (Dinamarca), de donde le
viene el sobrenombre de "Daciano". Posteriormente se
trasladó a España, donde estudió árabe y el emperador Carlos V
lo envió como misionero a la Nueva España.
