Differences’ between Latino’s

  

Latinos are the fastest growing minority group in the U.S., and represent a diverse variety of ethnic groups with unique heritages. Yet research often analyzes this group combined and misses the fact that there are factors that divide the Latino population between the varieties of Latino groups. In these articles I have read, it talks about how the Latino groups are different from one another by nationality, language, skin complexion, citizenship, and generation.

One of the articles: The Census 2000, it talks about their differences in nationality. The Latino population is asked to identify themselves of their type of origin (nationality). They are given specific categories which they mark to answer the question in the combined Latinos categories. There are a lot of groups to identify, so to make it easier they have a category under other for the Latinos to be as specific.

Nationality is a big difference in the Latino population and in the charts in this article; it shows how different things affect each nationality for example education, occupation, and poverty. In Census 2000 shows that the highest nationalities to have a high school diploma or higher education is the Spaniards with the South Americans compare to the least nationality Mexicans with Central Americans. In figure 11 on pg 13 the chart shows the deferent percentage of nationalities occupation by sex.  Latino men are highest percentage on doing transportation and material moving compare to the 20 percent of the rest of the world. Latino women have the highest percentage in sales in office compare to all women in the world....        

March Madness w/ a Splash of Ignorance

 I've said it before and ill say it again, I'm a huge basketball fan so indeed Im watching college basketball and super excited about the final four left. Go Kansas!!!! 


Anyway, I'm not here to talk about my love for the game or which team I'm going for but instead about something that happen during a game. 

While Kansas State was playing the University of Southern Mississippi the band decided to chant ‘where’s your green card?’   After Angel Rodriguez was fouled and was shooting from the line. 


I was shocked to be hearing the actual band from the University chanting this. But I was really confused too, because the player comes from Puerto Rico where he doesn't need a damn green card. Couldn't believe people could be this ignorant. As a Latina, I was mad but felt sad for the band and that school because I'm not sure what type of education they are getting that they don't know much about Puerto Rico. Or the fact that it is an unincorporated territory of the United States and a commonwealth of the U.S.

Heres the video of Angel Rodriguez getting fouled and the chant starting right away


http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/college-basketball/NCAA-Tournament-Spectators-heckle-player-1103218


<div><iframe frameborder="0" width="576" height="324" src="http://d.yimg.com/nl/rivals/site/player.html#shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Frivals.yahoo.com%2Fvideo%2Fcollege-basketball%2FNCAA-Tournament-Spectators-heckle-player-1103218&vid=28628645"></iframe></div>
(doesn't work)


To make matters worse the Southern Miss president Martha Saunders quickly apologized for the incident but  misspelled angels last name wrong showing that they just did it to look good instead of taking their time to get all the information right to make it seem sincere and show that they do not tolerate that type of behavior and were really sorry.  

"We deeply regret the remarks made by a few students at today's game," she wrote in a statement issued two hours after the game. "The words of these individuals do not represent the sentiments of our pep band, athletic department or university. We apologize to Mr. Rodriquez (sic) and will take quick and appropriate disciplinary action against the students involved in this isolated incident."

Which then was fixed quickly after the backlashes started


But overall, that didn't stop Kansas State from winning which made me feel better about that whole situation and can't wait to see them play in the final four in New Orleans.  

Famous Latina Artist

After doing some volunteer hours at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts I decided to talk to you guys about one particular artist, Gina M. Contreras. She's a local artist who lives in San Francisco and received her BFA in printmaking from the San Francisco Art Institute. They have many women artist displaying their art at the MCCLA, but seeing the love she has for elderly grab my attention.

I'm not sure if it has to do with me growing up respecting my elders that there is this bond to her art. Or the fact that I like seeing elderly people in love and always trying to figure out their stories when they were young.

Her art deals with documenting the unspoken and ambiguous nature of love and lust in the elderly. She brings to light the endearing and passionate behavior that the elderly recover and develop as time goes by.
Gina states, "I'm in love with the idea of finding that special person at an age and time where any form of friendship, kindness and subtle sexuality becomes necessary."


 -SOLO MUJERES 2012 Exhibition, March 17-May 5
Opening Reception: March 21, 6:30-9:30pm

You guys should check it out, it’s pretty amazing!!!

This is some of her work

After seeing one of her pieces I started to think about how art is changing, especially for the Latino community. Many believe that Latino art should be focused on bright colors and Aztec dancers. But in today’s world many artist like Gina M. Contreras, are doing Modern Art. Many might think that her pieces (shown above) are just photos and there is no art to them. But in fact that is a form of art. Each piece tells a story you just have to look deep into them.

First Day Volunteering at The Mission Cultural Center for Latinos

I'm starting my new internship at the Mission Cultural Center today and im so excited.

"The Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts (MCCLA) was established in 1977 by artists and community activists with a shared vision to promote, preserve and develop the Latino cultural arts that reflect the living tradition and experiences of the Chicano, Central and South American, and Caribbean people. MCCLA makes the arts accessible as an essential element to the community's development and well-being."

I've always attended events here before but never got to see the process of how things are set up so it should be complicated but fun.I will be working with the art director and mainly in the gallery. I will be getting introduce to new Latino art and what art looks like in today's main stream.

When I went for the interview the director Murizio asked me what I thought art was? I said everything. He was intrigued.  Walking down from where I live to the mission cultural center is only about 5 blocks. And in those block I explained there was art everywhere. From graffiti to murals to simple signs at local restaurants grabbing your attention with daily deals.


He asked me why out of the list of places I chose the Mission Cultural center?  I chose the Mission Cultural Center because I've grown up going to events there, meeting local people who are interested in the same stuff I am, and I always have a good time. 


So on my first day I started Tuesday at 2:30 right after class so I made my way over from SF STATE. I was super excited to start working with the gallery. When I got there the gallery people weren't there they were out. So I had to go to their main office and check in. Come to find out, I wasn't needed at the gallery at all because they were under operation take down, meaning they had to start taking down their prior gallery exhibition. Since the paintings cost a lot of money they didn't want volunteers helping who had no idea on how the process went. Which got me a little bummed because I actually do know a little about the process since I worked at the downtown campus and had to help the art crew out with the paintings displayed inside the campus. I learned quite a bit and felt i could help out but decided to not say anything instead and go about my business. 


They had me calling people about events that are going to happen in the near future which was really boring to do on your first day. But at least the people I talked to on the phone were nice and weren't hanging up on me like I would if it was telemarketer. 


Then they had me head upstairs to the Mission Grafica which is "the Mission Cultural Center’s (MCC) Graphics department, Our name is a melding of meanings: Mission in English, is an undertaking and a political commitment to social change, and Gráfica in Castilian, establishes a Latino identity, and defends our roots and values."  As stated on their website.


Where I met Mission Gráfica Coordinator Marsha Shaw who is a nice lady and explained how things worked up there. It interested me so much that I can't wait to sign up for one of her classes so I can learn more about printmaking and make my own design. 

harden stereotypes

I recently stumbled upon this article on 

Linsanity for the Latino Community

MARCH 8, 2012 

BY BRIAN BENCOMO

The article starts off by talking about who as an athlete is Latino, for example Carmelo Anthony a basketball player many believe is African America but is of mixed descent - Puerto Rican. 

Melo

Then it goes into wanting to find some similar source of ethnic pride for the Latino community as a result of the excitement among the Asian Community sparked by Jeremy Lin. 

Lin

But what it really focuses on is, why aren’t there more Latinos in the NBA? Is it that, like white men, Latinos can’t jump? Are we not tall enough? The answer is probably fairly complicated, involving numerous factors beyond physical attributes — the most significant of which is, I believe, culture.

Culture seems to play a big role on why there is not an expectation among Latino families that their kids could grow up to be professional athletes. Latinos are not a monolithic group. Whereas Mexican families may not see any sport — except maybe soccer — as a viable career option. They feel that one shouldn't wast time in sports and get a real job to support the family. 

This is precisely the reason that the Latino community will probably never witness its own version of Linsanity.


After reading this article it dawned on me that culture and traditions do shape you into what we call stereotypes. We seem to get mad when people shout out stereotypes at us but in reality we are making them stand out by our bias act. But it becomes an issue when the stereotypes become negative. 


Stereotyping can turn into discrimination if we misinterpret a bias act in a negative manner.

Note: combine march madness post!