Heroes

Latino Figures to Profile:

Here is a list of 10 Mexican Americans figures to profile as well a list covering additional branches of the Latino Family Tree.  Profiling them during Hispanic Heritage Month is a good start.

Mexican American Figures

Cesar Chavez:  The late Cesar Chavez should have a national holiday in his honor, and he should be a household name.  Dolores Huerta was the co-founder of the United Farm Workers Party.  She is very active throughout the nation. She too should be honored.

1.      Dr. Rodolfo Acuña his book OCCUPIED AMERICA: A HISTORY OF CHICANOS was one of the first 7 confiscated from Tucson class rooms. His work has been pivotal in the creation of Mexican American Studies programs as well as the cultivation of its leading scholars and activists. He is involved deeply in the crusade against Arizona’s Censorship movement.

2.      The late Dr. Hector Garcia, WWII veteran and founder of the GI Forum.

3.      Sanda Cisneros, author of HOUSE ON MANGO STREET-banned in Arizona. Genius Mac Arthur Grant recipient.

4.      Carment Tafolla, her books CURANDA is banned in Arizona. She is now the poet laureate of San Antonio, Texas.

5.      Lorna Dee Cervantespoet, banned in Arizona, published many of the leading writers of our time for the first time in her journal MANGO.

6.      Dagoberto Gilb, novelist and short story writer, banned in Arizona, Guggenheim recipient, and founder of Centro Victoria at the University of Houston-Victoria.

7.      Luis Rodriguez, poet and novelist, banned in Arizona, his book ALWAYS RUNNING explored the role of gang life in our community. He has now helped youth throughout the world to leave the gang life and embrace education.

8.      Rudolfo Anaya, wrote Bless Me, Ultima, a classic of Mexican American fiction, which is banned in Arizona, and is now a feature length film.

9.      Luis Urrea, has the most books on Arizona’s banned list, 6.

10.  Dr. Roberto Rodriguez, banned in Arizona, he is professor in Arizona, and a staunch activists for our culture at ground zero in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona.