Latino Americans

Spanish-speaking people dominated the New World of America for three centuries, covering much of modern-day Texas, New Mexico, and California. But when early American explorers and settlers headed west, seeking to fulfill a "Manifest Destiny” (also attracted by the prospect of gold and the desire to spread Christianity), a collision course was set that would inevitably lead to conflict. Narrated by Benjamin Bratt, this six-part PBS-aired series from filmmakers David Belton and Sonia Fritz traces the history of Hispanics in America, from early struggles with being treated as second class citizens, to more recent assertions of political power and cultural pride. Hispanics have always been a hybrid culture with a conflicted identity, as members tried to figure out where they fit into the larger society. Some Spaniards rushed to join Anglos in defending the Alamo, only to be quickly marginalized. Interviewees here talk about the experiences of ancestors who were suddenly cast as a "foreigner in my own land." Combining personal anecdotes with historical profiles, the series looks at revolution in Mexico and Central America, followed by the influx of Cubans and Puerto Ricans, who fled from economic depression and Communism. World War II offered some economic opportunities and witnessed a demonstration of Hispanic patriotism, but old patterns of segregation and discrimination remained. Change came with Cesar Chavez and "la causa" (the move to unionize migrant farm workers), renewed efforts to assert Chicano identity and pride, and the Latin pop explosion of the 1980s (interviewees include actress Rita Moreno and singer Gloria Estefan, among many others). More recent topics covered include the immigration wars, the growth of Spanish language media networks, bilingualism, and a rise to political power. With numbers exceeding 50 million, a young and growing Hispanic population rightfully demands to be heard. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)