H
ispanic
eritage
H
A Salute to Latino Americans
This instructional unit was prepared by:
CAROLL JORDAN HATCHER
President, CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Author / Editor
Publisher
CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Duvall, Washington 98019-1179
i
About the Author
CAROLL JORDAN HATCHER established CJHatcher & Associates, Inc., an educational consulting
and publishing company, in 1987 and is now publishing a line of Newspaper In Education
curriculum materials distributed throughout the United States and Canada. Prior to
publishing, she directed the Educational Services Department for The Houston Chronicle
Publishing Company (Houston, Texas). Before joining The Chronicle, she taught high school
social studies for ten years.
COPYRIGHT© 1998
CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Printed in the United States of America
ISBN 1-878871-00-8
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
transmitted, or utilized in any form or by any means without written permission from the
publisher. Permission is given to the individual classroom teacher to reproduce the student
activity pages for classroom use only. Reproduction of these materials for other teachers or for
an entire school system is strictly prohibited.
For information contact:
CJHatcher& Associates, Inc.
Publishing Division
P.O. Box 1179
Duvall, WA 98019-1179
Phone: (425) 788-3278
Fax:
(425) 788-2578
ii
This book was written in memory
of my students at MacArthur High School,
especially for Carlos Rios, Sylvia Torres,
and the graduating classes of
1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, and 1982.
INTRODUCTION
“No other modern nation has so varied a people as the American, yet in America the ingredients
in the ‘melting pot,’ do for the most part, blend.”
by Henry Steele Commager
Most other nations have homogeneous populations. The very essence of their nationalism is defined by
their ethnicity. America, on the contrary, is not one homogeneous population. Yet, we are one people. We
are an aggregation. Our roots are European, African, Asian, North and South American. We are tied together
geographically. We share a unique history, rich with folklore. Our legends, stories, symbols, ballads,
monuments, shrines, holidays, songs, and heroes give us one identity, “We the People.”
“We the People” are black, white, yellow, and brown. We are a blend of many nationalities, races, religions,
and creeds. Our rich, diverse heritage thriving under the structure of democracy has produced a society
unmatched by any other in the history of the world.
When describing the exclusive American population, an early Virginia poet wrote, “We have no ancestors,
we ourselves are ancestors.” It is my feeling that Americans should learn as much as possible about those
who came before us, and about today’s role models, who are tomorrow’s ancestors. HISPANIC HERITAGE: A
Salute To Latino Americans is the fourth in a series of books designed to focus on American history makers,
ancestors, and role models.
By the year 2000, Spanish-speaking people will be the largest single minority in the United States. And
before the middle of the twenty-first century, one out of three Americans will be of Hispanic or Latino
ancestry. Perhaps no other ethnic group in America is as diverse in its culture, appearance, and traditions as
Latinos. Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans, Dominicans, Spanish Americans, and Central
and South Americans are all part of the rich mosaic we’ve come to know as Latino, or Hispanic.
Hispanic American history began before 1325 A.D. The Latino national culture predates Columbus and
even European culture for, as we know, the “new” world is indeed much older than the “old” one. With
such a rich and diverse influence on the continent of North America, it is indeed appropriate that we teach
and celebrate Hispanic history!
There are sixty-seven activities in HISPANIC HERITAGE: A Salute To Latino Americans. Each activity begins
with the biography of a Hispanic American history maker. The Latinos featured in each of the twelve
sections represent hundreds of other outstanding and accomplished leaders in that particular field. Our
featured person may not be the “greatest” or most well known in his/her field, but instead, someone who
contributed in a unique or special way. Every biography is followed by a lesson using today’s newspaper.
Although the newspaper lesson is often unrelated to the section heading, it connects in a meaningful way
to the person or people featured. Each activity incorporates reading, writing, social studies, and critical
thinking skills.
It is my hope that the newspaper lessons in this book will provide a foundation for the student not only in
Hispanic American history and sociology, but also by opening the door to a lifetime of education through
a lifetime of newspaper reading.
CAROLL JORDAN HATCHER
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACTIVITY
FIELD
TRAILBLAZER
AREA OF INFLUENCE
PAGE
1
2
3
4
5
The Arts
The Arts
The Arts
The Arts
The Arts
Cesar Pelli
Marisol
Carlos Callejo
Evelyn Cisneros
Super-Stars (3)
Architect
Sculptor
Artist, Muralist
Prima Ballerina
In Design & Visual Arts
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Business
Business
Business
Business
Business
Joseph A. Unanue
Roberto Goizueta
Eduardo Aguirre, Jr.
Mary Rodas
Super-Stars (4)
President of Goya Foods
Chairman & CEO, Coca-Cola Co.
Banking Executive
Business Consultant
In the Business World
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Civil Rights
Civil Rights
Civil Rights
Civil Rights
Civil Rights
Cesar Chavez
Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales
Delores Huerta
Jose Gutierrez
Linda Chavez
Union/Labor Rights Pioneer
Poet, Playright, Activist
Chicana Activist
Student Leader, Judge, Professor
Political Activist
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Education
Education
Education
Education
Education
Louis Fuertes
Americo Paredes
Ramon Cortines
Elizabeth Martinez
Super-Stars (7)
Professor, Master Illustrator
Teacher, Writer, Folklorist
Superintendent, Public Official
Librarian
In Education Today
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Entertainment
Entertainment
Entertainment
Entertainment
Entertainment
Walt Disney
Anthony Quinn
Rita Moreno
Gloria Estefan
Super-Stars (5)
Animator, Movie Producer
Actor
Actress, Dancer, Singer
Singer, Composer, Dancer
In Entertainment
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Government
Government
Government
Government
Government
Octaviano A. Larrazolo
Joseph M. Montoya
Antonia C. Novello
Henry B. Gonzalez
Federico F. Pena
Governor, Congressman, Senator
Congressman, Senator
U.S. Surgeon General, Professor
Congressman
Mayor, U.S. Secretary
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
Literature
Literature
Literature
Literature
Literature
Nicholasa Mohr
Richard Rodriquez
Oscar Hijuelos
Gary Soto
Cristina Garcia
Author, Illustrator
Journalist, Author
Novelist, Pulitzer Prize Winner
Poet, Author, Professor
Journalist, Novelist
31
32
33
34
35
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACTIVITY
FIELD
TRAILBLAZER
AREA OF INFLUENCE
PAGE
36
37
38
39
40
Military
Military
Military
Military
Military
Santos Benavides
Elwood Quesada
Horacio Rivero
Everett Alvarez, Jr.
Hispanic Heroes (6)
Confederate Military Officer
WWII Veteran, Aviation Pioneer
Admiral, NATO Commander
Vietnam POW, Civic Leader
Spanning the Decades
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
Music
Music
Music
Music
Music
Ritchie Valens
Jose Feliciano
Joan Baez
Selena
Super-Stars (7)
Rock & Roll Singer
Singer, Guitarist
American Folksinger
Tejano Singer
Influential Latino Musicians
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
Politics
Politics
Politics
Politics
Politics
Jose M. Hernandez
Miguel A. Otero
Edward R. Roybal
Henry G. Cisneros
Political Leaders (13)
Mayor, Congressional Delegate
Congressional Delegate, Businessman
Congressman
Mayor, U.S. Secretary
Of the Past 25 Years
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
Sci. & Tech.
Sci. & Tech.
Sci. & Tech.
Sci. & Tech.
Sci. & Tech.
Luis Alvarez
Richard Tapia
Elroy Rodriguez
Ellen Ochoa
Super-Stars (4)
Physicist, Nobel Prize Winner
Mathematician, Professor
Biochemist
Engineer, Astronaut
Today’s Influential Scientists
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
Sports
Sports
Sports
Sports
Sports
Sports
Sports
Roberto Clemente
Angel Cordero
Jim Plunkett
Nancy Lopez
Baseball Greats (14)
Super-Stars (11)
More Super-Stars (4)
Professional Baseball
Jockey, Trainer
Professional Football
Professional Golf
”The Boys of Summer”
Football, Golf, Tennis
Basketball, Boxing, Skating, Track
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
INTERNET EXTENSION SECTION
63
64
65
66
67
Business
Education
Entertainment
Government
Sci. & Tech.
Oscar De La Renta
Jaime Escalante
Desi Arnaz
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Severo Ochoa
Fashion Designer
Mathematician, Teacher
Actor, Musician, TV Producer
Congresswoman
Biochemist, Nobel Prize Winner
v
64
65
66
67
68
NEWSPAPER IN EDUCATION:
A Critical Thinking Experience
Any thoughtful analysis of current domestic or international issues inherently involves making
decisions and solving problems. A variety of models are available for leading students through
this process. Such a model is provided for you below.
PROBLEM-SOLVING / DECISION-MAKING MODEL
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Identify situations where a decision is required or a problem must be defined.
Identify likely sources of information about the issue(s).
Collect relevant information.
Classify, interpret, analyze, summarize, synthesize, and evaluate the information.
Recognize values related to the decision.
Prioritize values.
Identify alternative courses of action.
Predict the likely consequences of each alternative.
Make a decision based on the data you have and your most desired outcome.
Act to implement your decision.
Assess the results of implementing your decision.
Recognize the need to change your decision when warranted by new information.
Recognize gaps in information and areas needing further study.
vi
Section I
A SALUTE TO INFLUENTIAL
HISPANIC AMERICANS
HISPANIC PROVERBS:
Everyone is the son of his own works.
Mexico
Associate with good men and you will be
one of them.
Argentina
Friends who know one another salute from afar.
Cuba
To have companions in our labor lightens our toil.
Puerto Rico
Power has no friends, envy has no rest, and crime
has no satisfaction.
Dominican Republic
proverbs from: Eyes That See Do Not Grow Old
Guy A. Zona
vii
THE NEWSPAPER CONNECTION
1722 1791 -
1806 1808 -
1823 1836 -
1902 -
1904 1958 -
1959 1965 -
1976 1982 -
1984 1987 1989 -
1990 -
1992 1996 -
La gaceta de Mexico (The Mexico Gazette) became the first newspaper in the Americas. Shortly thereafter, others appeared
in Guatemala, Lima, Buenos Aires, and elsewhere. The history of journalism in North America began here.
Jacob Newton Cardozo (1786-1875), son of a Sephardic Jewish immigrant and American Revolutionary War hero, was the
first Hispanic to become an editor of a newspaper, Charleston’s Southern Patriot. In 1823, Cardozo was able to buy the
newspaper and became its publisher. Besides editing The Southern Patriot until 1845, he later edited newspapers in
Mobile, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia.
The first newspaper in Puerto Rico was La gaceta de Puerto Rico (The Puerto Rican Gazette), which was a government organ.
The first Spanish language newspaper was founded in the United States: New Orleans’s El Misisipi. Shortly thereafter
other newspapers were founded: Nacogdoches, Texas’s La Gaceta de Texas (The Texas Gazette) in 1813, and New York’s El
Mensajero Semanal (The Weekly Messenger) in 1828. Hundreds of Spanish language newspapers were subsequently founded
in Hispanic communities throughout the Southwest, Louisiana, Florida, and the Northeast in the years to come.
The first Spanish-English bilingual newspaper, El Correo de Texas/The Texas Courier, was published in San Antonio by the
Texas Government Printing House.
Crepusculo de la Libertad (The Dawn of Liberty) became the first newspaper published in New Mexico. Published by
Antonio Barrera in Santa Fe, it was printed by Jesus Baca. After the newspaper folded that same year, the historically
important priest, Father Antonio Jose Martinez, bought the press to print school manuals and pamphlets for his parish.
The first Hispanic journalist to pay with his life for exposing corruption through investigative reporting was Narciso Gener
Gonzales, the son of a Cuban immigrant. Gonzales founded The State newspaper in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1881;
and in his editorials, he crusaded for women’s right to vote and against child labor and the lynching of blacks. He also
attacked corrupt politicians, one of the worst of which was the governor of South Carolina Jim Tillman. In 1902, Tillman
lost the gubernatorial election and blamed Gonzales for his defeat. In retaliation, Tillman confronted Gonzales on a busy
street and shot him dead. Tillman was exonerated at his trial by jury, which found the shooting to be “justifiable” because
of the injury to Tillman’s reputation.
Teacher, poet Sara Estela Ramirez became the first Hispanic woman to publish and edit a newspaper, Aurora, in Laredo, Texas.
Harry Caicedo became the first Hispanic chief of the news bureau for a major U.S. daily newspaper on assuming that role
for The Miami Herald. Born in New York City on April 1, 1928, the son of Colombian parents, Caicedo received his bachelor’s
degree in journalism from the University of Missouri in 1954.
Miami’s Patria became the first newspaper founded by Cuban refugees from the Cuban Revolution.
Journalist Ruben Salazar was promoted to foreign correspondent for The Los Angeles Times, thus becoming the first
Mexican American to hold such a position at a major newspaper. He covered the U.S. invasion of the Dominican Republic
that year and was one of two Times correspondents in Vietnam during the period of increased U.S. involvement in that
war. Later, the was named Times bureau chief in Mexico City, covering Mexico, Cuba, and Central America.
The Miami Herald became the first major daily to publish a Spanish language insert in its issues, entitled El Herald. By 1979,
El Herald was delivered to more than seventy-six thousand households.
The National Association of Hispanic Publications was founded to represent some one hundred Hispanic newspapers and
magazines being published in the United States. The organization promotes Hispanic print media as a valuable means of
communication and encourages recruitment and training of Hispanics as print journalists.
Journalist Harry Caicedo became the founding editor of the nation’s first Hispanic mass-circulation magazine, Vista, which
was distributed as a Sunday supplement in major daily newspapers.
Newspaper publishing company Knight-Ridder became the first U.S. media corporation to launch a Spanish language
daily newspaper, El Nuevo Herald, which grew out of the Spanish language insert published by The Miami Herald.
Monica Lozano became the first Hispanic woman to be named publisher of a Spanish language daily newspaper in the
United States, when she assumed the position of associate publisher of La Opinion, which was founded in Los Angeles by
her grandfather in 1926. La Opinion is one of three major Spanish language dailies publishing in the United States today.
The other two are New York’s El Diario-La Prensa and Miami’s El Nuevo Herald. In 1991, Lozano was named publisher of
the widely read and respected weekly Spanish language newspaper, El Eco del Valle.
Roberto Suarez became the first Hispanic to head a major city daily newspaper, as president of The Miami Herald. He also
became publisher of the Spanish language daily that is the Herald’s subsidiary, El Nuevo Herald. Born in Havana, Cuba,
Suarez received his primary and secondary education there and went on to study economics and finance at Villanova
University, where her graduated with a B.S. in 1949. He joined the Herald staff as a mailer and worked his way up.
Monica Lozano, associate publisher of Los Angeles’s La Opinion newspaper, was the first Hispanic woman to receive the National
Organization of Women (NOW) Legal Defense and Education Fund award for her contributions as woman in media.
Miguel Laosa became the first Hispanic to serve as publisher of a major city English language daily newspaper, the American
Statesman, in Austin, Texas. He is the former president of Cox Arizona Publications.
viii
The Arts
ACTIVITY #1
CESAR PELLI, Architect
César Pelli was born in Argentina in 1922, and is today one of contemporary architecture’s leading
lights. He apprenticed with the celebrated Eero Saarinen and in 1977 cofounded a firm of his own and
later became Dean of the Yale School of Architecture. In the early 1980s, Pelli rose to prominence with such
works as Manhattan’s World Financial Center - with its arching, 125-foot high, glass enclosed public hall, and
the renovated Museum of Modern Art. Among his other projects are the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles,
Herring Hall at Rice University (Houston, Texas), the Norwest Center in Minneapolis, San Bernardino City Hall,
Indiana Tower in Indianapolis, and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. In 1991, César Pelli became the first U.S. Hispanic
to be named by the American Institute of Architects as one of the ten most influential living architects.
1. Pelli’s World Financial Center and Winter Garden at Battery Park in New York is considered one
of the ten best works of recent American architecture. This nearly perfect structure is truly a
“symphony” of geometric shapes! Look through today’s newspaper for examples of geometric
shapes. Clip as many different shapes as you can find. Create a poster display with your
newspaper clippings to show how architecture relates to mathematics.
2. Select a person with an interesting career mentioned or pictured in today’s newspaper.
Brainstorm all of the ways this person would use mathematical concepts or skills in his/her
daily job. List those below.
PERSON:
CAREER:
MATH USED IN THIS JOB:
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
1
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
The Arts
ACTIVITY #2
MARISOL, Sculptor
Marisol Escobar is an internationally celebrated sculptor known simply as “Marisol.” She was born in
Paris on May 22, 1930 to wealthy Venezuelan parents. Her mother passed away when Marisol was
eleven years old. After her mother’s death, her father moved the family to the United States, settling in Los
Angeles where Marisol attended the Westlake School for Girls. At age nineteen she left for Paris to study at
the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. Upon her return to the United States a year later, she briefly attended the Art
Students League in Manhattan, where she studied with Yasuo Kuniyoshi. She was also instructed by noted
abstract expressionist Hans Hofmann at the New School for Social Research in New York and in Provincetown.
Later, influenced by pre-Columbian art and folk sculptures, as well as Dada and other European movements,
she began to create witty assemblages out of wood, paint, and found materials. In the 1960s, she was
acclaimed as a member of Andy Warhol’s pop art circle. Her satirical social commentary is evident in The Party (1965-66), an installation
piece with two servants catering to thirteen wooden guests, all bearing plaster casts of Marisol’s face. Other works, combining
sculpted forms and painted wooden blocks, portray such political and cultural celebrities as Lyndon Johnson, the British royal family,
John Wayne, and Georgia O’Keefe. Marisol won a competition sponsored by the American Merchant Mariners memorial to design a
monument honoring merchant seamen who lost their lives at sea, which is now perched on a breakwater off Manhattan. In 1991,
Marisol exhibited her sculptures at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. Today, Marisol’s work is displayed at such premier
institutions as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
1. Marisol is known for many of her sculpted faces of famous people. If you were to create a sculpture
of a celebrity’s face, who would that be? Look through today’s newspaper for ideas. Next, try
your hand at sculpting! (If you do not have clay or other sculpting material, make papier-mache
from old newspapers, and use that!)
2. Is there a museum in your city or town where you could view sculptures designed by other creative
artists? Look in the newspaper for a listing of activities and information from your local art
museum. Are there any local art exhibitions in the county, region, or state? List those below.
CELEBRITIES TO SCULPT
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
ART MUSEUM ACTIVITIES
ART EXHIBITIONS
2
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
The Arts
ACTIVITY #3
CARLOS CALLEJO, Artist, Muralist
Carlos Callejo was born in 1952 in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, the city directly across the Rio Grande
from El Paso. When he was eight, he moved with his family to Los Angeles, where his love of painting
led to his involvement in mural art. Between 1969 and 1973, he pursued a degree in graphic arts at California
State University at Los Angeles and studied at Ottis Art Institute in Los Angeles. The artist has more than
twenty years of experience in coordinating, directing, and executing mural art projects in California, Texas,
and other areas of the Southwest. Throughout his artistic career, he has held positions as art director,
graphic artist, curator, technical consultant, and art instructor. His success as a mural artist and public art
advocate have earned him the respect of his peers and a reputation for his expertise in muralism. Callejo
has played a major role in over thirty-five mural projects, including one in Managua, Nicaragua, in 1986. From 1983 to 1986, he
provided training and technical assistance to schools, libraries, and art advocacy groups as a consultant for art projects. Callejo’s
work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and has been published in numerous periodicals, journals, and books. He
has also been featured in several television and movie documentaries. In 1992, he began working on the project of his life: El Paso’s
largest (5,400 square feet) mural. Callejo was selected to paint a four-wall mural inside the newly constructed county courthouse.
He also completed a mural in Tyler, Texas in 1994 and spent three months in 1995 in Spoleto, Italy, courtesy of the Lila Wallace
Reader’s Digest Arts International Program.
1. Callejo is a superb graphic designer and artist, having taught and trained others in his skill. For
a wide variety of examples of graphic styles and design, focus on today’s newspaper! Scan the
newspaper for graphics examples.
2. Clip newspaper advertisements that illustrate different points of graphic design. Create a poster
display or bulletin board to organize your findings.
TYPE OF NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
GRAPHIC STYLE & DESIGN USED
3
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
The Arts
ACTIVITY #4 EVELYN CISNEROS, Prima Ballerina
Evelyn Cisneros was born in 1958 in Huntington Beach, California. As the only Mexican American in
her grade school, she was quite shy and lacked self confidence. To overcome her shyness, her mother
suggested she take ballet lessons. The demanding classes proved to be not only fun and a boost to her self
confidence, but a career stepping stone as well. Her dance teacher was impressed by her gracefulness and
ease with which she performed. Cisneros was encouraged to move from weekly lessons to daily lessons. She
began to teach some beginner classes to cover her own dance costs. In addition she performed at night. By
age fourteen, she made a full commitment to ballet, which meant turning her back on normal teenage
pursuits. After school she would take lessons and practice. In the evenings, she went to Los Angeles, where
she danced at the Pacific Ballet Theater. She won a summer scholarship to the San Francisco Ballet School,
and eventually became an apprentice there. In 1976, she moved to San Francisco and within a year became a regular member of that
company, though still only nineteen years old. Impressed by her technique and beauty, the company’s artistic director created a ballet
for her about the mistreatment of American Indians. In the 1980s, she danced The Tempest on national television and performed at
the White House for President and Mrs. Reagan. When she talks to Hispanic children about her own career, she stresses the rewards
of determination and hard work. Cisneros is a regular member of the dance company of the San Francisco Ballet.
1. Evelyn Cisneros encourages young people to set goals for themselves, and to achieve a personal
dream for success. What are your goals? Look through today’s newspaper for articles,
photographs, and advertisements that represent the American dream of success, health, wealth,
freedom, and equality.
2. Do American dreamers have any characteristics in common? What do you think is the most important
factor in making dreams come true? Write your comments below. Find and clip articles from your
newspaper about broken dreams: failure, crime, disease, poverty, and discrimination.
GOALS
MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR
THE AMERICAN DREAM
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
4
COMMENTS
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
The Arts
ACTIVITY #5
SUPER-STARS, In Design and Visual Arts
CAROLINA HERRERA - Fashion designer Carolina Herrera began to rise to prominence with the
founding of her House of Herrera fashion design business in New York City in 1981. Today, she is one
of the most successful fashion designers in the United States. During the course of her career, she has been
named to the Best Dressed Hall of Fame and named one of the Ten Most Elegant Women in the World. In
1987, Herrera was named Top Hispanic Designer upon receiving the MODA Award.
JUDY BACA - Judy Baca has been a key figure in the California Chicano mural movement since the 1970s.
Born in Los Angeles, she studied art and later initiated and headed the Citywide Mural Project which has
created some 250 murals since 1974. Baca’s best known project is The Great Wall of Los Angeles, a 13-foot
high mural extending for half a mile along a drainage canal in the San Fernando Valley. Painted over five summers by hundreds of
youngsters from different ethnic communities, the mural traces the social history of California’s diverse population from
pre-Columbian times to the present. Baca sees two major benefits from her projects: the finished mural and the interracial harmony
among the people working on it.
ARNALDO ROCHE RABELL - Arnaldo Roche Rabell creates dreamlike, textured figurative paintings. Born in Puerto Rico, he studied
art in Chicago where he lives today. Rabell is noted for his technique of rubbing paint on canvas pressed over his models’ bodies or
various objects. Other works include large, close-up self-portraits, in which his face emerges almost ghostlike from the densely
painted surface. Roche Rabell’s work has been included in such major group shows as Hispanic Art in The United States (1987) and
The Decade Show (1990).
1. Each of the Latinos listed above is a “super-star” in the field of visual arts. These award-winning
artists have been recognized for their unique contributions and special talents. Look in today’s
newspaper for other visual arts “super-stars.” List them below.
2. Identify each artist’s area of specialty, their awards or contributions to field of visual arts, reason
for being in the news, and any other interesting information.
NAME OF
PERSON
ARTISTIC AREA
OF SPECIALTY
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
AWARDS OR
CONTRIBUTIONS
5
NEWSWORTHY
TODAY
INTERESTING
INFORMATION
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Business
ACTIVITY #6
JOSEPH A. UNANUE, President of Goya Foods, Inc.
Joseph A. Unanue was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1925. Following service in the U.S. Army
during World War II, Unanue received a degree in mechanical engineering from the Catholic
University of America in Washington, D.C. He then joined his father at Goya Foods. Joseph Unanue
worked for the company for twenty-five years before being named head of the Secaucus, New
Jersey company founded by his parents, Don Prudencio Unanue and Dona Carolina Casal Unanue, in
1936. Working with his brother Frank, president of Goya de Puerto Rico, Joseph Unanue has fostered a
new era in which Goya’s reputation for high quality has grown beyond the loyal audience of Hispanic and
Caribbean consumers. Over 800 Goya products attract new devotees each day, supplied by an extensive international
operation with packing plants in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Spain, and New Jersey. Goya also maintains distribution
centers in several U.S. cities. While Goya Foods supports hundreds of civic, cultural, athletic, and religious organizations, Unanue
himself has been honored repeatedly for his community service. He has been named Man of the Year twice by the National
Conference of Christians and Jews and, in 1991, received the National Hispanic Achievement Award, which was presented by
Hispanic Magazine. While Goya Foods sales reach an excess of $400 million per year, Joseph A. Unanue is this country’s wealthiest
Hispanic (and wealthiest Puerto Rican), with a personal net worth of over $340 million.
1. Have you ever noticed Goya products in the supermarket or in newspaper advertisements? Are
all Goya food products ethnic? Find the food section in your Sunday or mid-week newspaper.
Scan the advertisements for ethnic food products. Clip some examples.
2. Ethnic foods are very much a part of our culture. Recipes brought by immigrants from the old
country and passed down from generation to generation are treasured by their descendants.
Some of these are simple everyday fare while others are special holiday treats. Look for
newspaper recipes with an ethnic flare. Identify the country of origin and investigate its cuisine.
ETHNIC FOOD PRODUCTS FOUND IN THE NEWSPAPER:
RECIPE(S)
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
6
SPECIAL CUISINE
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Business
ACTIVITY #7
ROBERTO GOIZUETA,
Chairman & CEO of the Coca-Cola Company
The son of a wealthy sugar grower and refiner, Roberto Crispulo Goizueta (1931-1997) was born
on November 18, 1931 in Havana, Cuba. He was educated at some of the finest schools in the
United States before entering Yale University, where he graduated in 1953 with a degree in chemical
engineering as one of the top ten students in his class. He returned to Havana the following year and
took a technical job as a quality control chemist at Coca-Cola’s Havana subsidiary rather than help run the
family’s sugar plantation. After Fidel Castro rose to power in Cuba, the Goizueta family fled the country.
Goizueta was transferred to Coke’s operations in Nassau, in the Bahamas, where he was named staff assistant to the senior vice
president in charge of Latin America. In 1965 he was moved to Coca-Cola headquarters in Atlanta, and a year later at age thirty-five
he was named Coke’s youngest vice president in charge of quality and research. In 1969 Goizueta became a naturalized American
citizen. In 1975 he moved up the corporate ladder to become senior vice president of the technical division at Coca-Cola, and in
1978 he was also put in charge of legal affairs, administration, and external relations. Goizueta was a protege of Coca-Cola
patriarch, Robert Woodruff (who later died in 1985). When Goizueta was selected as president in 1980 and then assumed full
command as chairman and CEO in March 1981, many in the ranks were astonished that a Cuban American, and a “technocrat” was
appointed. Goizueta proved to be an excellent choice. He inherited a company with many hidden problems. In 1980 before
Goizueta took the helm, Coca-Cola’s market value was only slightly higher than $4 billion, making it a prime target for a takeover.
By the end of 1992 its market value had risen to approzimately $56 billion, making Coca-Cola the sixth most valuable public
company in the United States. Under Goizueta, Coke’s total return to investors averages almost 30 percent; before Goizueta
became CEO, Coke’s ten-year total return averaged less than 1 percent. Coke has soared to dominance on the international front,
and today, garners the largest percent of the soft-drink market share in the United States.
1. At the time of his death (in October of 1997), Goizueta owned Coca-Cola stock worth over
$300 million. It has been said that he never sold a share of Coke stock, and still held the first
one-hundred shares he bought when he started with the company. Look in today’s newspaper
for the business section and turn to the stock market pages. Find the listing for Coca-Cola.
2. How much is one share of Coke stock worth today? If Goizueta owned stock worth over $300
million, approximately how many shares of stock did Goizueta own? How does Coca-Cola
stock compare to Pepsi, and to other soda companies?
STOCK VALUES
COKE
PEPSI
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
MATHEMATICS COMPUTATION
OTHER
7
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Business
ACTIVITY #8
EDUARDO AGUIRRE, JR., Banking Executive
Born in Cuba on July 30, 1946, and a U.S. citizen, Eduardo Aguirre is a nationally recognized
Hispanic business leader. In 1990, 1991, and 1992, Aguirre was named one of the one-hundred
most influential Hispanics in the nation by Hispanic Business magazine. Aguirre has been in banking
for over twenty-five years and is an international banking executive with NationsBank, the fourth
largest banking organization in the United States. Aguirre is a prominent Hispanic community leader
with a long history of public service. He was appointed by President Bush to the National Commission for
Employment Policy, and by the Supreme Court of Texas to the state bar as a non-attorney director. A graduate
of Louisiana State University and of the National Commercial Lending Graduate School, Aguirre is a certified commercial lender
and has completed studies at several international banking schools. He is former co-chairman of the Hispanic-Jewish Business
Round Table of the Anti-Defamation League, and has been president of the Hispanic Political Action Committee. Aguirre and his
wife and children live in Houston, Texas. Among many other civic activities, he is a board member of St. Joseph’s Hospital (Houston)
and of the Houston Chapter of the American Red Cross.
1. In international banking, Aguirre must keep up with the domestic and international economic
indicators. Use the news and business sections of your newspaper to find examples of stories or
information that either support or refute the statement that “the economy is in an upswing.”
2. Based on your findings, what are your predictions for your family’s personal economy in the
coming year? Explain.
NEWS STORY ECONOMIC INDICATOR
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
EXPLANATION
8
PREDICTION FOR MY FAMILY
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Business
ACTIVITY #9
MARY RODAS, Business Consultant
Born on Christmas Day in 1975 to immigrant parents from El Salvador, Mary Rodas’s rise to success
has not been the typical one. At four years of age, while accompanying her father, Miguel, on his
rounds as the assistant building superintendent, Rodas noticed that a man was improperly installing
an apartment floor tile. From that moment on, she struck a lifelong bond with the inventor and
founder of Catco, Inc., Donald Spector. Serving as a consultant to numerous inventors, in 1989, Rodas
became the vice president of marketing for Catco, a $70 million toy company. This was quite an
accomplishment for anyone at age thirteen. Rodas introduced the Balzac Balloon Ball, creating an instant
success in the toy industry and in the twenty-seven countries in which it is sold. Balzac stores began opening all across the United
States and in Europe in 1996. Rodas is visiting all of the stores to be sure consumers know about and like her products. In 1993,
Rodas, with her vivid imagination and astute marketing eye, forayed into the music business and became vice president of A&R for
Deco Disc Industries, a newly formed company. Her input included the suggestion of die cuts and licensed characters to appeal to
kids. Today, Rodas is lending her toy instincts to the candy industry to produce creative candy concoctions. Mary Rodas understands
the importance of family and education. She graduated from the Professional Children’s School in 1994, and enrolled in New York
University.
1. Imagine how much business and marketing experience Rodas will have by the time she turns
twenty-five! Find and cut out an article, photo, or advertisement in today’s newspaper about a
place you really want to visit, something you really want to own, a job you would really like to
have, an activity you really want to do, or a goal you really want to pursue by the time you are
twenty-five years old.
2. After you have made your newspaper selection, state your desire on the chart below. List two
obstacles to your achieving it, and then develop one way to overcome each obstacle.
DESIRE
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
OBSTACLES
9
STRATEGY TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Business
ACTIVITY #10 SUPER-STARS, In the Business World
REMEDIOS DIAZ-OLIVER - In 1968, Cuban American businesswoman Remedios Diaz-Oliver became
the first woman to win the “Excellence in Export Award” given by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Diaz-Oliver was head of the exporting division of the Emmer Glass container business in Miami.
Diaz-Oliver went on to found her own company, American International Container, in 1976, and
another company, All American Container, in 1991. In 1984, she was named Woman of the Year by the
Latin Business and Professional Women Association, and in 1987 she was named Woman of the Year by
the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
FRANK A. LORENZO - In 1980, Frank A. Lorenzo became the first U.S. Hispanic to serve as the president of a major national and
international airline company, Continental Airlines, headquartered in Houston, Texas. From 1986 to 1990, Lorenzo served as chairman
and CEO of Continental. A graduate of the Harvard M.B.A. program, Lorenzo served as president and chairman of the board of
Texas International Airlines (TIA) from 1972 to 1980; TIA became the holding company for Continental Airlines. Lorenzo was
eventually embattled by strikes and financial problems and was forced to resign.
LIONEL SOSA - In 1990, Sosa and Associates, the San Antonio advertising agency founded and headed by Lionel Sosa, became the
first Hispanic concern to be named “Agency of the Year” and the “Hottest Agency in the Southwest” by Adweek magazine. In
1989, Sosa and Associates had billings of $54.8 million. Included among Sosa’s clients are American Airlines, Coca-Cola USA,
Montgomery Ward, and Western Union. Lionel Sosa has won many other awards, such as the 1988 Gold ADDY from the American
Advertising Foundation, 1989 Marketing Person of the Year award, the 1989 Silver Award from the Public Relations Society of
America, and the 1990 Entrepreneur of the Year award.
LINDA ALVARADO - In 1993, Linda Alvarado, president and co-owner (with husband Robert) of Alvarado Construction and one of the
owners of the Colorado Rockies baseball team, became one of four women to win the Sara Lee Corporation’s Frontrunner Award. She
was the first Hispanic to receive the honor. Alvarado is also a corporate director at Pitney Bowes and Cyprus Amax Minerals.
1. The Latinos listed above are “super-star” role models in the business world. These influential
people are shaping history and paving the way for other Hispanics in business and commerce.
Look in today’s newspaper for more “super-star” business leaders. List them below.
2. Identify each individual’s type of business, special awards and accomplishments, reason for
being in the news, and any other interesting information from the news story.
NAME OF
PERSON
SPECIAL AWARDS &
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
TYPE OF
BUSINESS
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
10
INTERESTING
INFORMATION
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Civil Rights
ACTIVITY #11 CESAR CHAVEZ, Union Organizer, Labor Rights Pioneer
Cesar Chavez (1927-1993) was one of the greatest union organizers in American history and a symbol of
Latino empowerment. He was born in Yuma, Arizona, to a family of poor migrant workers migrating so
much that when he wasn’t working in the fields, he attended about 30 schools until he dropped out after
seventh grade. Chavez served in the U.S. Navy in World War II, after which he settled in San Jose, California.
There he worked for and eventually came to lead the Community Service Organization (CSO), a Mexican
rights group. Chavez started working solely at organizing farmworkers in 1962, when he formed the
National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), later to be called the United Farm Workers (UFW). He was
a pioneer in the effective use of nationwide boycotts of non-union agricultural products such as grapes,
wine, and lettuce, along with strikes, pickets, fasts, and marches. His most celebrated accomplishment was a five-year strike by
migrant grape pickers, coupled with a nationwide boycott of table grapes, that forced California grape growers to recognize the
UFW in 1970. The UFW eventually became a member union of the powerful national labor union, the AFL-CIO, in 1972. Chavez, as
president of the union, extended his efforts to migrant workers in other states, especially Florida and Texas. He began to focus also
on the problems of vegetable pickers and other farm laborers. He is seen as the driving force behind California’s passage of the
Labor Relations Act in 1975. Chavez’s achievements in California were, over time, undermined by the encroachment of the rival
Teamsters Union and deadly disputes within his own organization. To the very end of his life, however, Chavez fought for the
rights of all farm workers. Beyond the UFW’s 100,000 members, Chavez was a hero to all struggling Hispanics, whose world he
forever changed by his efforts for Latino recognition and empowerment. He died in his sleep of natural causes at age sixty-six. On
April 29, 1993, over twenty thousand people gathered on a dusty field in Delano, California to pay homage to Cesar Chavez,
among them governors and politicians, businessmen and civil rights leaders, the poor and the wealthy.
1. Chavez was a real hero and crusader for Hispanic civil rights! He was certainly a catalyst for
change and the driving force behind California’s passage of the Labor Relations Act in 1975.
Look through today’s newspaper for three articles that describe situations of change: changes
that have happened, should happen, could happen, or changes that are happening now to
people or situations in the world.
2. Determine the moment or event that made (or will make) the change possible. What was the
situation before the change? What is likely to be the situation after the moment or event of
change? Decide whether the change and its after-effects are planned or unplanned (or both).
BEFORE THE
CHANGE
MOMENT / EVENT
OF CHANGE
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
AFTER THE
CHANGE
11
PLANNED OR
UNPLANNED
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Civil Rights
ACTIVITY #12 RODOLFO “CORKY” GONZALES,
Poet, Playwright, Activist
Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales is a poet, playwright, and activist who was one of the most inspiring leaders
of the Latino civil rights movement, Born in Denver in 1928 to migrant sugar-beet workers, Gonzales
competed for the featherweight boxing title for eight years and ran an auto insurance agency before
becoming increasingly involved in community affairs. In 1965, he was appointed director of a federal
youth program in Denver, and the following year he founded the Crusade for Justice, a political activism
program for Mexican Americans. Gonzales, whose emphasis was on self-empowerment and pride, wrote
plays about “bronze people with a bronze culture,” harkening back to the great Aztec civilization. He pressed for
Latino autonomy, even an independant Hispanic entity in the Southwest. His epic poem, Yo Soy Joaquin / I Am Joaquin, with its
final words proudly insisting, “I will endure,” is a standard of the Chicano canon. In 1970, Gonzales started the Colorado branch of
La Raza Unida Party (LRUP), an independent Chicano political party created by Jose Angel Gutierrez a few months earlier in Texas.
But at the party’s first convention in 1972, the membership rejected Gonzales’s radical politics and instead embraced a considerably
more mainstream Gutierrez. Gonzales’s views and the increasingly conservative temper of the nation largely ended his career as an
active nationwide Chicano leader.
I. Many of Gonzales’s colleagues said that he was far too “liberal” in his thinking. A liberal is one
who is usually broad-minded, supports change, and is not afraid to try something new in order
to make things better. A conservative is someone who wants to keep things the way they are,
step back to the way things were, or change things very slowly and cautiously in order to make
them better. Look in your newspaper for articles or editorials expressing the viewpoints of
today’s politicians, activists, or civic leaders. Clip at least three news articles.
2. Read each news story looking for evidence that the politician is liberal or conservative. With which
of the officials do you agree most and why? What are some risks of extreme liberalism and extreme
conservatism? What is gained by keeping things the same? What is lost by changing things?
POLITICIAN, ACTIVIST,
CIVIC LEADER
AGREE OR
DISAGREE
LIBERAL OR
CONSERVATIVE
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
12
YOUR
OPINION
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Civil Rights
ACTIVITY #13 DELORES HUERTA, Chicana Activist
Dolores Fernandez Huerta was one of the civil rights movement’s top Chicana activists. Huerta was
born in New Mexico in 1930. After her parents divorced, she was raised in rural California by her mother.
During the summers, she visited her coal miner, migrant worker father who was himself a labor activist
and worked for a time for the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO). Through his efforts on behalf
of laborers he became an inspiration to his daughter. Huerta graduated from Stockton College and
soon became involved with the Community Service Organization (CSO), pushing for voter registration
and better treatment for migrant farmers. In 1958 she became an aide to Cesar Chavez, head of the
statewide CSO, and when he left to form the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) - later called the
United Farm Workers (UFW), she joined him. Throughout “el movimiento” she was a central figure, organizing strikes, boycotts,
and demonstrations, and serving as a principal negotiator on behalf of migrant farmworkers. She later served as vice president of
the UFW from 1970 to 1973, and continued to work for the organization. In the 1980s she testified before state and congressional
committees on numerous issues, including the health problems of field-workers, the hazards of pesticides, Hispanic political concerns,
and the immigration policy. In 1988, Huerta suffered a near fatal injury at a peaceful demonstration for a political campaign. While
recovering from her injuries in the early 1990s, Huerta gradually resumed her efforts on behalf of farmworkers. She has received
numerous awards for her efforts, and has inspired Chicano murals.
1. Pretend you are a newspaper reporter and your next assignment is to interview Dolores Huerta
about her life’s story. What kinds of questions would you ask her, and how do you think she
would respond?
2. Write a short news story about Huerta and make reference to your interview. Remember to
include: who, what, when, where, why, and how!
NEWS STORY:
QUESTION:
ANSWER:
QUESTION:
ANSWER:
QUESTION:
ANSWER:
QUESTION:
ANSWER:
QUESTION:
ANSWER:
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
13
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Civil Rights
ACTIVITY #14 JOSE GUTIERREZ, Student Leader, Judge, Professor
Jose Angel Gutierrez, born in 1947, was a student leader who founded the Mexican American Youth
Organization (MAYO) and cofounded the short-lived La Raza Unida Party (LRUP). While a student at
Texas A&I University, the physican’s son joined with several other students to protest discrimination in
admissions, dormitory segregation, the lack of Latino employees, and an exclusionary curriculum; the
organization would take the name MAYO in 1967. Gutierrez won national attention in 1969, when he
organized a march to protest the cancellation of a government social program in San Felipe Del Rio
(west of San Antonio). With fierce rhetoric, Gutierrez condemned Anglo oppression and won a
commitment from the participants, in the form of the so-called Del Rio Manifesto, to embrace cultural
identity and fight racism. The Texas LRUP was formed in 1970 and in that same year Gutierrez and two other Chicanos were elected
to the Crystal City (Texas) School Board. (Others won seats on the city council and on both bodies in nearby cities as well.) By the
time of the party’s first convention in 1972, however, Gutierrez had grown considerably more moderate and pushed for working
in cooperation with the two-party system. In 1974, Gutierrez was elected judge in Zavala County (Texas); he resigned seven years
later to become a college professor.
1. Jose Gutierrez was one of the foremost “workers” for Latino civil rights. He became well-known
for cofounding the La Raza Unida Party. Look in today’s newspaper for articles about three
other people who are well-known today.
2. Tell how each of the people you selected became well-known. Compare the people from your
three news stories to a statement made by French explorer LeSueur: “Human history is work
history. The heroes of the people are work heroes.” Do you agree that the history being made
today is work history and that people become heroes through the work that they do? Explain
your thoughts.
NAME OF
PERSON
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
HOW THE PERSON
BECAME WELL-KNOWN
14
IS THIS PERSON
A “WORK” HERO?
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Civil Rights
ACTIVITY #15 LINDA CHAVEZ, Conservative Political Activist
Linda Chavez was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on June 17, 1947. A direct descendant of the early
Spanish settlers to what is now New Mexico, Chavez moved to Colorado with her parents when she was
nine years old. She received her B.A. degree from the University of Colorado, then pursued graduate study
at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). She taught at UCLA before becoming involved in
Republican politics. She worked in a variety of political jobs in Washington and eventually won the
attention of the Reagan administration with her writing (as editor of American Educator), in support of
traditional values in the schools. As staff director of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, she drew fire
from the civil rights establishment for her challenges to affirmative action and other racial preferences. Her
performance as director of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights helped advance her career. In 1985 she was appointed director of
the White House Office of Public Liaison, making her the highest ranking woman in the Reagan administration. A year later,
Chavez left the Office of Public Liaison to campaign for a U.S. Senate seat in Maryland. After an unsuccessful campaign (due in part
because she was a new resident to the state, and partly because she had switched from the Democratic party to the Republican) in
1986, Chavez became president of U.S. English, a non-profit organization lobbying to make English the official language of the
United States. She resigned soon after, when one of its founders was revealed to have expressed racist views toward Hispanics.
Chavez has continued to arouse considerable controversy within the Latino community for her outspoken opposition to special
treatment for Latinos, which she believes to be an obstacle to real progress, a position detailed in her 1991 book, Out of the Barrio:
Toward a New Politics of Hispanic Assimilation.
1. In the closing passages of her book, Out of the Barrio, Chavez sums up her argument in this
way, “Discrimination against Hispanics, or any other group, should be fought, and there are
laws and a massive administrative apparatus to do so. But the way to eliminate such
discrimination is not to classify all Hispanics as victims and treat them as if they could not
succeed by their own efforts. Hispanics can and will prosper in the United States by following
the example of the millions before them.” Do you agree or disagree with Chavez? Explain.
What is meant by “affirmative action?” Scan the newspaper for information about affirmative
action. Start a newspaper clipping file on this topic.
2. Next, locate the comics section of your newspaper. Find a comic strip in which the characters
experience the cruelty of prejudice or discrimination.
EXAMPLE OF PREJUDICE & DISCRIMINATION
TITLE OF COMIC STRIP
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
15
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Education
ACTIVITY #16 LOUIS FUERTES, Professor, Master Illustrator
Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874-1927) spent most of his life in Ithaca, New York, where his father, Estevan Antonio
Fuertes, taught at Cornell University. By the age of fifteen, Louis had already decided to spend his life studying
and drawing birds. Having seen a copy of John Audubon’s Birds of America, Fuertes was inspired at an early
age. After graduating from college, Fuertes continued his studies in ornithology (a branch of zoology dealing
with birds). He traveled extensively to increase his knowledge of birds, not only in the United States, but also in
Canada, Mexico, and South America. He was included in the famous 1899 Harriman Expedition, which went to
Alaska to conduct scientific research. During this time, Fuertes became a master illustrator of birds. His illustrations
grace the pages of the leading bird books published between 1896 and 1927. In 1923, Fuertes became a
professor/lecturer in ornithology at Cornell University. Then tragically, at the age of fifty-three, Fuertes was
killed in a rail-crossing accident in Ithaca. At the memorial service at Cornell University, his longtime friend Dr.
Frank Chapman said that “if the birds of the world had met to select a human being who could best express to mankind the beauty
of their rhythmic flight, their manners for the heart’s delight, they would unquestionably have chosen Louis Fuertes.”
1. Cornell University lost a wonderful teacher, illustrator, and role model when Fuertes was tragically
killed. He had so many outstanding attributes and such a love for ornithology. Based on the
information above, write a detailed description of Louis Fuertes.
2. Imagine that you have been charged with recruiting a replacement for Louis Fuertes at Cornell
University. Write a classified ad (to be published in the local newspaper) attracting applicants
for a job interview. Before beginning the assignment, find the classified ad section in today’s
newspaper. Scan the employment ads for ideas. Use also the descriptive information you wrote
about Fuertes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
CLASSIFIED AD FOR EMPLOYMENT
16
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Education
ACTIVITY #17 AMERICO PAREDES, Teacher, Writer, Folklorist
Dr. Americo Paredes, the famed folklorist, writer, and teacher was born in Brownsville, Texas, in 1915. He
received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Texas in 1951, 1953, and 1956, respectively.
After working at a variety of jobs--including journalist--and serving in the armed forces, Paredes received an
advanced education and became one of the most distinguished Hispanic scholars in U.S. history. Paredes has
taught at the University of Texas since 1951, and is currently professor emeritus of English and anthropology
there. He has been instrumental in the development of the field of folklore in academia, as well as, of the field
of Mexican American studies. He has served as president of the American Folklore Society and has been
recognized for his leadership internationally. In 1989, Paredes became the first Hispanic scholar to be awarded
the prestigious Charles Frankel Prize for his career-long contribution to the humanities by the National
Endowment for the Humanities. This is the nation’s highest recognition for a humanist. Besides publishing
numerous research articles, Paredes is the author of With a Pistol in His Hand: A Border Ballad and Its Hero (1958), Folktales of
Mexico (1970), A Texas Mexican Cancionero (1976), and Uncle Remus con Chile (Uncle Remus with Chile), 1992. He is also the
author of a novel, George Washington Gomez (1990), a book of poems, Between-Two Worlds (1991), and a collection of short
stories, The Hammon and the Beans (1994).
1. Dr. Paredes has been instrumental in the development of folklore as a field of study on the
college and university level. A folk tale is a story or legend handed down from generation to
generation usually by oral retelling. Folk tales often explain something about one’s culture or
convey a certain truth about life. Do you know any special stories or folk tales that have been
passed down through your family, religion, or culture?
2. Using the left side of the chart below, complete an outline sketch of your favorite family folk
tale. If you do not have one, think of a fairy tale you learned as a child, and use that. Next,
rewrite your folk tale as though it was a story on the front page of today’s newspaper.
NAME OF STORY:
THE FOLK TALE WRITTEN
AS A NEWS STORY:
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS:
SUMMARY:
WHAT TEST OR PROBLEM DO THE CHARACTERS FACE?
HOW IS THE PROBLEM SOLVED?
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
17
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Education
ACTIVITY #18 RAMON CORTINES, School Superintendent, Public Official
Ramon Cortines was born in San Antonio, Texas, on July 22, 1932, to an unwed Mexican American mother. He
was adopted by a family of Spanish ancestry. When he was seven, his family moved to San Francisco, where his
father worked as a chef at the Plaza Hotel on Union Square. Ramon was a dedicated student with a passion for
excellence and did very well in high school. His college years were interrupted by his induction into the armed
forces during the Korean War. Officers in the army’s Sixth Division, in which Cortines served, were so impressed
by his intellect that he was chosen to teach new recruits at Fort Ord in California. After serving for two years,
from 1953 to 1955, Cortines returned to Pasadena College and graduated with a B.A. degree. While teaching in
California’s public schools, Cortines obtained his M.A. in school administration and his M.A. in adult learning. In
1972 he was appointed superintendent of the twenty-four thousand student school district in Pasadena. A
highlight of his twelve-year career in Pasadena was the court-ordered desegregation plan he carried out in the
school district, which he implemented once again when he became superintendent of the thirty thousand student public school
system in San Jose, California from 1984 to 1986. Cortines, a proven master of school financing, restored solvency to the San Jose
school district which had declared bankruptcy under the previous administration (the nation’s first school system to fail since the
Depression). Cortines not only lent stability to the district, he rebuilt the curriculum, earning widespread community support. From
1986 to 1992 he served as superintendent of the sixty-two thousand student school district in San Francisco. There he created new
sources of revenue for the district, while managing test scores, improving attendance, and reducing dropout rates. In 1993 Cortines
was nominated assistant secretary for intergovernmental affairs in the U.S. Department of Education. While awaiting Senate
approval, Cortines was offered the job of Schools Chancellor for New York City. When he accepted the $195,000/year job, Cortines
became the country’s highest paid Latino public official. In 1994, Cortines and New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani locked horns
over the issue of school budget cuts. Cortines felt he could not trim much without undermining the operation of the schools. He
felt forced to resign his Schools Chancellor position, and did so, effective October of 1995.
1. Although a national educational reform movement swept our country during the 1980s and
1990s, under the leadership and inspiration of educators like Ramon Cortines, the “report
card” on our nation’s schools is still mixed. Search through your daily newspaper for articles
about education or the problems facing our American educational system.
2. After you have collected articles over a period of time, determine what are the most important
problems in American education today. Who do you think should address these problems? How?
PROBLEMS IN EDUCATION
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS
18
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Education
ACTIVITY #19 ELIZABETH MARTINEZ, Librarian
Born on April 14, 1943, in Pomona, California, where she grew up in the poorest part of town, Martinez fell in
love with books and spent all the time she could reading in the local library. She graduated from the University
of California (Los Angeles) in 1965, with a degree in Latin American studies and in 1966 secured her master’s
degree in library science from the University of Southern California. She further studied management, earning
certificates in 1978 and 1986. In 1966, the year Martinez obtained her library science degree, there were only
five Mexican American librarians in the country. She joined the Los Angeles library system and worked her way
up through the ranks, recruiting Hispanic librarians along the way. She also mentored many librarians, taught
at universities, and published articles on library management and on racism. In 1990, Elizabeth Martinez became
the first Hispanic to serve as the director of the Los Angeles County Public Library system. In that capacity, she
revitalized the county’s sixty-three branches, including the central library built at a cost of $214 million. In 1993, Martinez was
honored with the PEN West Freedom to Write Award.
1. A public education in the United States is the “right” or privilege of all U.S. citizens. Elizabeth
Martinez knows this and has worked hard to help the Latino population achieve educational
opportunities through the public library system. The library is a wonderful place to find additional
information about the subjects you are studying. Make a list below of all the courses you are
taking in school this semester.
2. Scan today’s newspaper to find examples of information for each subject or course on your list.
How does the information in the newspaper relate to the subjects you are studying? Explain in
detail how you might expand your learning (in each subject area) by visiting the public library.
SCHOOL SUBJECTS
OR COURSES
RELATED INFORMATION IN
TODAY’S NEWSPAPER
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
19
THE LIBRARY
CONNECTION
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Education
ACTIVITY #20 SUPER-STARS, In Education Today
RUBEN BARRALES - President, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors; San Mateo, California. The top Hispanic
public official in the Bay Area. Developed charter school system and graffiti abatement program.
JUAN E. CORRADI - Acting dean, New York University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Professor of sociology
and vice president of research and institutional development for South/North Development Initiative, an
international nonprofit organization.
ANA SOL GUTIERREZ - President, Montgomery County Board of Education; Rockville, Maryland. First Latino to
be elected to any office in Maryland. First person of Salvadoran descent elected to any office in the U.S.
ANA M. “CHA” GUZMAN - Vice president, Institutional Campus Development and Cypress Creek Campus, Austin Community College;
Cedar Park, Texas. Chair of the White House Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, appointed by
President Clinton. Author of several bilingual text books. A former president of the Texas Association for Bilingual Education.
EDUARDO J. PADRON - District president, Miami-Dade Community College; Miami, Florida. It is the largest community college
district in the nation, with an operating budget of more than $180 million. Miami-Dade enrolls and graduates more Hispanics than
any other community college system. Has received more than 100 educational awards.
GLORIA G. RODRIQUEZ - National president and CEO, Advance Family Support and Education Program; San Antonio, Texas. Founder
of nationally recognized program for parent education and prevention of poverty. Received 1996 National Hispanic Employee
Association Breaking Barriers Award. Serves on the Commission of Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans.
JOE SERNA, JR. - Mayor; Sacramento, California. Concurrently a professor at California State University in government department,
where he has received the Distinguished Faculty Award. The National Council for Urban Economic Development selected him for
the Economic Leadership Award. A champion of affirmative action and public education.
1. The Latinos listed above are “super-star” champions of excellence in education. Look in your
daily newspaper for news articles about other “super-stars” in the field of education today. List
those people below.
2. What makes each person on your list a “super-star?” Give each educator’s job title, special
accomplishments, reason for being in the news, and any other interesting information presented
in the news story.
NAME OF
PERSON
A REAL
“SUPER-STAR”
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
JOB
TITLE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS &
CONTRIBUTIONS
20
INTERESTING
INFORMATION
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Entertainment
ACTIVITY #21 WALT DISNEY,
Animator, Movie Producer, Theme Park Founder
Walt Disney (1901-1966), the creator of Mickey Mouse and all his friends, and founder of the Walt
Disney Studios, was born Jose Luis Guirao in Mojacar, Spain, to an unwed mother and a Spanish doctor.
He was subsequently adopted by a Chicago couple, Elias and Flora Disney, who named their adopted
child Walter Elias Disney. It is said that Walt Disney did not know about his past until he sought his birth
certificate from the Cook County (Chicago) clerk’s office when he wanted to enlist in the army. Given the
morals of the time concerning the circumstances of his birth, and the prejudice against Hispanics, it is no
surprise that Walt kept his story to himself. In 1993, Hispanic magazine posthumously awarded Disney their “Hispanic in the Closet
Award.” When Walt was very young his family moved from Chicago to Missouri where he spent much of his boyhood on a farm
near Marceline. At the age of 16, Walt went back to Chicago to study at the Academy of Fine Arts, where he turned his attention
to cartoons and animation. He opened his own animation studio in Kansas City which failed in 1923. He tried again in Hollywood
and in 1928 created Mickey Mouse in the groundbreaking Steamboat Willy. With Mickey’s success, Disney began a thriving career
as creator of animated films and movie producer. He later went on to produce such classics as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
and Bambi. Disney studios later had great success with classic live-action films as well. His Disney Studio was, and remains today,
one of the most significant forces in Hollywood. Disney won 32 Academy Awards for the movies his studios produced during his
lifetime plus countless other awards for his contributions to film, animation, movie production, and television. Disney achieved one
of his greatest successes in 1955, when he opened Disneyland, a spectacular theme park in Anaheim, California. Most of the
exhibits, rides, and shows at the park are based on Disney film characters. After his death, Walt Disney Productions carried on his
work by opening additional theme parks, including Walt Disney World, EPCOT, Japanese Disney (Tokyo), and Euro-Disney (France).
Disney theme park endeavors continue to be “on the drawing board.” Today, the Disney parks account for the largest amount of
money earned by Walt Disney Productions.
1. Walt Disney was certainly an American icon! Today, just about everyone in the United States
(and elsewhere) is familiar with Disney movies, videos, theme parks, mall stores, toys, and other
Disney connections. Open today’s newspaper and turn to the business section. Can you find
Disney stock listed? How much is one share worth? For a homework project, find out how
much Disney stock was worth in the early 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. Create a graph charting
changes in stock value through the decades. Can you explain why these changes took place?
2. Scanning today’s newspaper, where else might you find a Disney listing? (Look in the movie
section, television section, travel section; look for clothing advertisements, video ads, etc.) How
many Disney connections did you find in one day’s newspaper?
VALUE OF DISNEY STOCK PER SHARE
1950’S:
1980’S:
1960’S:
1990’S:
1970’S:
TODAY:
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
A GRAPH OF THE CHANGE
21
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Entertainment
ACTIVITY #22 ANTHONY QUINN, Actor
Anthony Quinn was born Anthony Rudolph Oaxaca Quinn in Chihuahua, Mexico on April 21, 1915. His
mother was a Mexican of Aztec ancestry, and his father was an Irish Mexican. In the aftermath of the
Mexican Revolution, the family escaped to the United States where they worked as farm laborers (in El
Paso, Texas), migrating west and eventually reaching California. They settled in the Mexican barrio of Los
Angeles. Quinn was unable to speak English until he was twelve years old. In school he was interested in
art and architecture, and even had an opportunity to show his portfolio to Frank Lloyd Wright. He gave up
his plan to become an architect while working as a janitor at a drama school. Encouraged by one of the
drama teachers to pursue acting, he joined a group called the Gateway Players. In 1936 he made his professional
stage debut in a production which was noticed by Hollywood legend John Barrymore. Barrymore befriended Quinn, and the rest is
history! In spite of Quinn’s marriage to the daughter of the famous film director, Cecil B. De Mille, he spent nearly twenty years
playing bit parts in movies, frequently cast as an Native American warrior. However, in the years that followed, Quinn became one of
Hollywood’s distinctive screen personas. He has appeared in more than 120 films and received two Academy Awards. He won an Oscar
for best supporting actor in Viva Zapata! in 1952 and a second one four years later for Lust for Life. His many other films include Blood
and Sand (1941), Sinbad the Sailor (1947), Zorba the Greek (1964), and The Last Action Hero (1993). He has also appeared in numerous
dramatic roles on television. After seven decades of acting, Anthony Quinn continues to delight moviegoers.
1. Anthony Quinn did not speak English until he was almost a teenager. When he did learn English,
it was American. And, American English as we know it, would be a different animal entirely if
not for its considerable Latino influences: Spanish variations of Indian words. (Settlers in the
early days of the “New World” combined words from Indian languages with their own Spanish
language.) Can you think of some common examples?
2. Scan your daily newspaper to find English words with a Latino (Spanish/Native American)
connection. List them below. Then, look in a dictionary to find the meaning of the word and
verify its origin.
EXAMPLES OF ENGLISH WORDS WITH LATINO
(SPANISH / INDIAN) INFLUENCE
Avocado
Barbecue
Canoe
Chocolate
Hurricane
Jaguar
Llama
Potato
Quinine
Tamale
Tapioca
NEWSPAPER WORD EXAMPLES
WITH A LATINO CONNECTION
(Spanish/Nahuatl)
(Spanish/Taino)
(Spanish/Taino & Carib)
(Spanish/Nahuatl)
(Spanish/Taino)
(Spanish/Guarani & Tupi)
(Spanish/Quechua)
(Spanish/Taino)
(Spanish/Quechua)
(Spanish/Nahuatl)
(Spanish/Tupi)
OTHER EXAMPLES:
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
22
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Entertainment
ACTIVITY #23 RITA MORENO, Actress, Dancer, Singer
Rita Moreno holds the distinction of having won the grand slam of entertainment awards: an Oscar, a
Tony, an Emmy, and a Grammy. Born Rosa Dolores Alverio on December 11, 1931, in the small town of
Humacao in Puerto Rico, her parents divorced when she was still a baby. She was left in the care of
relatives while her mother went to New York to work as a seamstress. When Rosa was five years old, her
mother brought her to New York, where they set up a household with other family members in a
tenement in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan. A year later, Rosa began to study dance
with the gifted teacher Paco Cansino, an uncle of Hollywood legend Rita Hayworth. She started earning
money singing and dancing as a child, winning her first Broadway role at age thirteen and her first film
role six years later. She did small parts in films and was signed to an MGM contract under the name Rosita Moreno, the surname
being her stepfather’s. Soon the first name became Rita. She eventually returned to a career that shifted constantly from film to
theater to nightclubs to television. In 1962, she won an Oscar as best supporting actress for her performance in the film version of
West Side Story. She also appeared in Singing in the Rain (1952), and The King and I (1956). Her stage credits include Elmer Gantry
(1969-70), and the play for which she won a Tony as best supporting actress, The Ritz (1975). In 1972 she shared a Grammy with
fellow cast members for their record album of the children’s educational television program The Electric Company, which she
joined in 1971. She won her two Emmy awards for guest appearances on television’s The Muppet Show (1977) and The Rockford
Files (1978). In 1990, Moreno won the Hispanic Heritage Award in the performing arts. When she began her career, there were no
Latino role models. In fact, she is one of the few Latino performers who has been able to cross over to the mainstream audience.
Although she has been performing for five decades, Moreno still keeps a busy schedule today.
1. Rita Moreno is truly a gifted entertainer! She performs in all fields: singing, dancing, and acting.
In the entertainment business, the more exciting and creative a performer is, the more likely
the critics will be to review the entertainer in a favorable manner. Look in your daily newspaper
for the section where critics review movies, plays, musical recordings, music videos, television,
and other forms of entertainment. Complete the chart below with information you find from
articles in this section.
2. Choose any three entertainers being reviewed. Give the entertainer’s name and list the form of
entertainment (music videos, movies, television, etc.) under review. Summarize the critic’s review
of the performer, then give your opinion based on what you already know about this entertainer.
NAME OF
ENTERTAINER
FORM OF
ENTERTAINMENT
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
CRITICS
OPINION
23
YOUR OPINION
(AGREE / DISAGREE)
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Entertainment
ACTIVITY #24 GLORIA ESTEFAN, Singer, Composer, Dancer
Gloria Estefan is one of the most successful Hispanic entertainers in American history. She was born
Gloria Fajurdo in Cuba in 1958. Her father, a Cuban soldier, had been one of President Batista’s
bodyguards. With Castro in power, the family fled to the United States where her father was recruited
by the CIA to take part in the Bay of Pigs invasion. He later enlisted in the U.S. Army and was disabled
in the Vietnam War. As a teenager, Gloria was left to care for her ailing father while her mother worked
and attended night school. Gloria enjoyed writing poetry and singing the Top 40 songs while teaching
herself to play the guitar. In 1975 she met keyboardist Emilio Estefan whose band was called the Miami
Latin Boys. Emilio had been searching for a lead singer and offered the job to Gloria. She accepted the
position but only on weekends in order to devote time to her studies at the University of Miami. Soon she committed herself
full-time. The band was renamed the Miami Sound Machine, with Gloria as lead singer and occasional composer. Gloria and Emilio
were married in September of 1978, and in 1980 when their son was born, Emilio left his sales and marketing job to negotiate a
contract with Discos CBS International, the Miami-based Hispanic division of CBS Records. From 1981 to 1983, the group recorded
four albums in Spanish comprised of disco, pop, and even a few sambas. The Miami Sound Machine became a big hit in Latin
America but remained relatively unknown in the United States. In 1984, they released their first album in English and the rest is
history! The band devoted itself to extensive concert tours, music videos, and publicity. Gloria ultimately took center stage and the
group became known as “Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine,” or just Gloria Estefan. Emilio resigned as keyboardist and
channeled his managerial talent and energies into the highly successful Estefan Enterprises, a Music production company. While on
tour in March of 1990, the band’s bus was involved in an accident on a snowy highway in Pennsylvania. Gloria sustained major
injuries. She had a broken back and her spinal cord was nearly severed. It was questionable whether she would ever walk again.
With intensive physical therapy and perseverance, she made a miraculous recovery. By 1994 Estefan had seventeen Top Ten hits and
had sold over 20 million copies of her albums. And today, despite her busy schedule of recording and touring, Estefan finds time to
contribute to numerous social causes and benefits, giving back to her fans and to all those who prayed for her recovery. She’s going
strong again, recording hit after hit and appreciating each day!
1. When Gloria Estefan was in the hospital, she received an unbelievable amount of get well cards
and fan mail. One of her favorite treasures came from a group of Miami school children who
put together a scrapbook of newspaper clippings: a “Cheer Yourself Up” scrapbook! Scan today’s
newspaper for examples of items, ideas, or thoughts that might cheer you up if you were
recovering in the hospital.
2. Next, imagine that a good friend, a family member, a celebrity, or someone you admire suddenly
or tragically landed in the hospital. Create a “Cheer Yourself Up” scrapbook, card, or poster
display for that person using clippings from today’s newspaper.
ITEMS TO CHEER UP SOMEONE ELSE
ITEMS TO CHEER MYSELF UP
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
24
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Entertainment
ACTIVITY #25 SUPER-STARS, In Entertainment
JOSE FERRER - Puerto Rican actor Jose Ferrer (1912-1992) became the first U.S. Latino to win the Academy
Award for Best Actor in 1950. Ferrer was one of the most distinguished actors of Hispanic background
to have made a career in mainstream films and on stage in the United States. As an actor, director, and
producer, Ferrer has been associated with some of the most famous Hollywood films, including Lawrence
of Arabia (1963).
RITA HAYWORTH - One of the dominant Hollywood glamour stars of the 1940s was Rita Hayworth
(1918-1987). She was born Margarita Carmen Cansino in New York, to parents who were both dancers. Her
career on stage and in motion pictures ended in the early 1970s when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Her death in
1987 saddened the nation and alerted Americans to the plight of those suffering from Alzheimer’s.
TITO PUENTE - One of the biggest stars in Latin music is Tito Puente. The musician and composer has recorded more than 100
albums. He is also the holder of four Grammy Awards and has published more than 400 compositions. Puente has been honored
with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
JIMMY SMITS - Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1955, Jimmy Smits attributes his success in television and feature films to his education.
With a B.A. from Brooklyn College and an M.A. from Cornell University, Smits continues to promote education as “the key and
foundation for everything.” He is best known for his character roles in television’s L.A. Law and N.Y.P.D. Blue.
NELLY GALAN - Nelly Galan is president of Galan Entertainment in Los Angeles. She produced the “1995 National Council of La Raza
Bravo Awards,” the first awards program recognizing Hispanics in entertainment on prime-time network television. Named the
first Latina and the youngest member of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Board, Galan and her company are currently developing
several sitcoms for the Fox Television Network.
1. The Latinos listed above are “super-star” entertainers with amazing talent and ability! These
dedicated specialists have influenced the entertainment world and paved the way for other
Hispanic entertainers. Scan your daily newspaper for articles about “super-stars” in the
entertainment world. List them below.
2. Identify each entertainer’s area of specialty, their awards or contributions to the entertainment
industry, reason for being in the news, and any other interesting information. Of the entertainers
you found in the newspaper, how many are Latino?
NAME OF
PERSON
AREA OF
SPECIALTY
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
AWARDS OR
CONTRIBUTIONS
25
INTERESTING
INFORMATION
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Government
ACTIVITY #26 OCTAVIANO A. LARRAZOLO,
Governor, U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator
Octaviano A. Larrazolo (1859-1930) was the first Hispanic to become a U.S. senator. The native of Allende,
Chihuahua, Mexico, was elected to complete the term of A.A. Jones, a New Mexico senator
who died in office. Larrazolo graduated from Saint Michael’s College in Arizona and had
worked as a teacher and principal of an elementary school in Texas when he was appointed
in 1885 as clerk of the U.S. District and Circuit Courts in El Paso. In Texas, he was elected
district attorney twice and served on the school board. He was an early, strong advocate for
Mexican American civil rights. Larrazolo’s political career rose and, after moving to New Mexico in 1895, continued until he became
governor of New Mexico (1919-1921) and a U.S. congressman in 1927. Larrazolo is said to have been a gifted orator in both English
and Spanish. Larrazolo was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1928, and again in 1929, but did not complete the term because of poor
health. During his brief tenure in the Senate, Larrazolo was a major supporter of bilingual education. The rights and welfare of
Hispanics were always at the top of his agenda.
1. In the late 1920s when Larrazolo was in the Senate, bilingual education was a new and somewhat
unpopular concept. Have things changed since Larrazolo’s day? Scan your daily newspaper for
news articles and any information regarding bilingual education.
2. Many people in our diverse country speak more than one language, and American English is
often the second language. Recently however, there has been much controversy regarding the
issue of bilingual education in U.S. public schools. How do you feel about this issue? State your
opinion by writing an editorial (essay) for your local newspaper addressing this problem.
BILINGUAL EDUCATION IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
26
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Government
ACTIVITY #27 JOSEPH M. MONTOYA, U.S. Representative; U.S. Senator
Joseph M. Montoya (1915-1978) was the third Hispanic to serve in the U.S. Senate. Born in New Mexico on
September 24, 1915, Montoya was a descendant of eighteenth-century Spanish immigrants. Upon
graduating from a predominantly Mexican American high school in 1931, Montoya enrolled at Regis
College in Denver, Colorado. He went on to Georgetown University Law School in Washington,
D.C., working part-time as a clerk in the Department of the Interior in order to cover his
tuition and living expenses. In 1936, during his second year in law school, Montoya was
elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives after a campaign conducted during
summer vacation. At age 21, he was the youngest representative in the state’s history. In 1940, four years later, Montoya was
elected to the state Senate, making him (at age 25) the youngest senator in state history. Montoya went on to serve as Lieutenant
Governor and again as a state senator. In 1956, Congressman Antonio Fernandez died in office; Montoya won a special election and
in 1957 began the first of four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Montoya’s efforts in Congress paid off when he was
named a member of the influential House Appropriations Committee. Among his greatest accomplishments in the House were his
sponsorship of the Vocational Education Act of 1963 and legislation establishing numerous wilderness preserves in the nation
under the Wilderness Act of 1964. Montoya won the U.S. Senate seat of the deceased Dennis Chavez in 1964, and was subsequently
elected to a second term. A powerful and influential supporter of Latino civil rights, Montoya ardently supported legislation to
expand educational opportunities to Latinos, such as the Bilingual Education Act of 1968 and amendments to it in 1974. He authored
and sponsored the bill establishing the Cabinet Committee on Opportunities for the Spanish-Speaking, another for the training of
bilingual persons in the health professions, and one that created a Commission of Alien Labor in 1974. Montoya was defeated in his
1976 reelection bid - in part, a victim of the anti-Washington sentiment sweeping the nation in the aftermath of the Watergate
scandal. After leaving office his health rapidly declined, and he was diagnosed with a rare liver disease.
1. Montoya was a legislator for many years, serving first in the New Mexico state legislature, and
later in the U.S. Congress. He served as a member of the House, and a member of the Senate at
both the state and national levels. Your daily newspaper usually reports news and information
about your state and national legislative officials. Look in today’s newspaper to find information
about these elected representatives!
2. Select any three legislators in today’s news, and complete the chart below. Explain why the
person was newsworthy, then circle the name of the legislator who most directly affects your
life and tell why.
NAME OF THE
LEGISLATOR
SENATOR OR
REPRESENTATIVE?
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
AREA THEY
REPRESENT
27
NEWSWORTHY
WHY?
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Government
ACTIVITY #28 ANTONIA C. NOVELLO, U.S. Surgeon General, Professor
The oldest of three children, Antonia Coello Novello was born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, on August 23,
1944. Plagued by illness throughout her childhood and teen years, Novello was hospitalized at least two
weeks each summer due to a congenital abnormality. After having corrective surgery as a young adult,
Novello cited this illness as a motivating factor in her decision to pursue a career in medicine.
She graduated in 1965 from the University of Puerto Rico and continued on for a medical
degree in 1970. In that same year she married a navy flight surgeon (Joseph Novello), who
later became a psychiatrist. As a pediatrics resident at the University of Michigan Medical
Center, Novello monitored the progress of patients awaiting kidney transplants and became very interested in helping people
suffering with severe kidney ailments. In 1974 and 1975, as a fellow at the Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C.,
Novello studied pediatric nephrology. In 1976, she began her own private pediatric practice in Virginia, leaving it to join the U.S.
Public Health Service in 1978 as a project leader at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Novello progressed rapidly through the
ranks at NIH, and in 1986 she was named deputy director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. In
October 1989, President George Bush nominated her to be U.S. Surgeon General, and in March of 1990, Novello was sworn in as the
fourteenth Surgeon General of the United States, the first woman, first Hispanic, and first Puerto Rican to be appointed to that
position. She made headlines in her role as Surgeon General by her attacks on the tobacco and the liquor industries and her fight
against inadequate Hispanic health care. After leaving office, she returned to Georgetown University School of Medicine in
Washington, D.C., as Clinical Professor of Pediatrics. She is the author of more than seventy-five articles and chapters of books
dealing with pediatrics, nephrology, and public health policy.
1. As U.S. Surgeon General, Novello targeted the health concerns of the nation’s constituencies
that have historically been neglected: children and youth, women, and minorities. She spoke
out about the crisis in the system of immunization in America and the critical absence of quality
prenatal care. Novello continues to be an advocate for these issues. Who else is speaking out
today about health care issues? Can you find this information in your newspaper?
2. Select news articles regarding any two health care issues, then complete the chart below. Identify
each health care issue and tell who is speaking out as an advocate for or against the problem.
What are the person’s creditials? Give the pros and cons. Is there a solution? Do you agree or
disagree? How do you think Antonia Novello would react to this issue?
HEALTH
CARE ISSUE
WHO IS
SPEAKING OUT
ABOUT IT?
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?
28
PROS &
CONS?
AGREE OR
DISAGREE?
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Government
ACTIVITY #29 HENRY B. GONZALEZ, U.S. Representative
Henry Barbosa Gonzalez was born on May 3, 1916, in San Antonio, Texas. His parents had fled Mexico
during the 1911 Mexican Revolution. In his boyhood, Henry knew the face of poverty and discrimination.
When he went to work at age ten, he had to battle racial injustice and name-calling. He found solace
from the perils of racism in books, and at a very early age was frequenting the public library.
Having had his college education at the University of Texas at Austin interrupted due to lack
of funds during the years of the Great Depression, Gonzalez finally graduated from St. Mary’s
University School of Law in 1943. Instead of practicing law, Gonzalez held several jobs before
becoming active in politics. Gonzalez failed in his first attempt at election to his hometown’s City Council in 1950 but won three
years later. In 1956, he was elected to the Texas state senate - the first Mexican American member of that body in over a century!
In 1962, after a special election the previous year, Gonzalez entered Congress, where he became the first Texan of Mexican descent
in the U.S. House of Representatives. There he became chairman of the Banking Committee and later of the Banking, Finance, and
Urban Affairs Committee. A maverick liberal Democrat, Gonzalez has also served on numerous other committees. Serving for over
thirty years in Congress, Gonzalez wielded considerable power, especially during the years of the Democratic Party’s ascendancy
over the House of Representatives. He has always been an outspoken critic of discrimination and other forms of injustice. Since his
early days as a congressman, Gonzalez has fought for the civil rights of those groups that have been historically disadvantaged. He
has pushed bills for better housing, benefits for farmworkers, a Youth Conservation Corps, and adult basic education. He proposed
to raise the amount of punitive damages women and religious groups can seek under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the
Violence Against Women Act. For his passionate and at times mystic devotion to the pursuit of justice and freedom for all, Gonzalez
has been held in highest esteem by colleagues in both political parties. He is considered to be an individual endowed with a high
moral sense and intellectual honesty.
1. Henry B. Gonzalez focused on “real issues,” rather than “non-issues.” Real issues are those that
have a direct impact on the people in our country and can be addressed by legislative action.
Non-issues are those that candidates may talk about but make no real difference in everyday
life. Scan your daily newspaper for examples of both types of issues and complete the chart
below with your findings.
2. Based on the information given in this lesson, and information you gather from the library and
other sources, list some of the “real issues” addressed by Congressman Gonzalez during his
many years in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“REAL ISSUES”
IN TODAY’S NEWS
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
“NON-ISSUES”
IN TODAY’S NEWS
ISSUES ADDRESSED BY
CONGRESSMAN GONZALEZ
29
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Government
ACTIVITY #30 FEDERICO F. PENA, Mayor, U.S. Secretary
Federico F. Pena was born on March 15, 1947, in Laredo, Texas. The third of six children, and son of a
cotton broker, Pena was voted “most likely to succeed” by his high school peers. After graduating with
honors, he went on to the University of Texas, where he received a B.A. degree, and later a law degree
in 1972. After law school, Pena moved to Denver, Colorado where his brother practiced law.
The Pena brothers formed a law partnership and Federico became very active in the
community. In 1977 he campaigned for a seat in the Colorado House of Representatives,
representing Denver’s heavily Latino Northwest Side. In 1982, after having served for four
years in the Colorado state legislature, Pena announced his intention to run for mayor of Denver in the 1983 election. With the
campaign slogan, “Imagine a Great City” - a business and commerce vision for Denver, Pena won a runoff election with 51.5
percent of the vote, becoming Denver’s first Latino mayor. His ambitious plans were stymied by a troubled economy during his first
term of office. However, it was during his second term that he completed many projects which would help transform Denver into
a major trade and commercial center, among them a new $3.1 billion Denver International Airport, a new convention center, and
a National League baseball franchise. In 1992, President Clinton invited Pena to serve on his transition team, then later appointed
him Secretary of Transportation. He was approved by the U. S. Senate and sworn in as the twelfth Secretary of Transportation on
January 21, 1993. Serving in President Clinton’s second administration as Secretary of Energy, Pena continued to be a leader and
role model to Latinos across the nation.
1. As a presidential cabinet member, Federico F. Pena was (is) the top person in charge of a
governmental department (first, the Department of Transportation, and later, the Department
of Energy). Look through today’s newspaper for government departments, offices, or agencies
named in the news.
2. Select four departments or agencies mentioned in your daily newspaper, and list them below.
Identify the level of government (city, county, state, national) for each office or agency. Find
out who is in charge of each government office or agency. Why are these agencies in the news?
How do each of these four offices or agencies directly affect your life?
DEPARTMENT,
OFFICE, OR
AGENCY
LEVEL OF
GOVERNMENT
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
SECRETARY OR
PERSON IN
CHARGE
30
REASON AGENCY
IS IN THE NEWS
RELATION TO
MY LIFE
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Literature
ACTIVITY #31 NICHOLASA MOHR, Author, Illustrator
Born November 1, 1935, in New York City, Nicholasa Mohr was raised in a Spanish neighborhood by her
Puerto Rican parents, Pedro and Nicholasa Rivera Golpe. Mohr utilized her skill and talent as an illustrator
long before becoming an author of young adult books. Prior to becoming a novelist, she was a
well-known printmaker for almost eighteen years. For this career, she studied and worked her way
through various art schools, including Brooklyn Museum Art School, the Arts Students League, and the
Pratt Center for Contemporary Printmaking. Her first novel, Nilda, was an immediate success, winning
the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award for 1974. The novel was also included in the School Library Journal’s
Best of the Best (1966-1978) list. Mohr designed the book jacket herself and received the Society of Illustrators’ Citation of Merit.
Nilda tells the bleak story a young Puerto Rican girl’s impoverished youth and what it was like growing up as a member of a
scorned minority. Nilda was soon followed by El Bronx Remembered, In Nueva York, and Felita. They have been named notable
trade books in the field of social studies by the joint committee of the National Council for the Social Studies and the Children’s
Book Council. Mohr also contributes short stories to Children’s Digest, Scholastic magazine, and Nuestro. She has also written for
public television and radio. Mohr received an honorary doctorate from the State University of New York at Albany.
1. Nicholasa Mohr writes about racial prejudice and cultural diversity in her books for young
adults. Today, in our country, racial prejudice is not as prevalent as it once was, but as long as
people are different, some form of prejudice may always exist. Look in today’s newspaper to
find at least three photos, advertisements, or articles about people who are different from you
in race, religion, age, interests, health, intellect, or financial status.
2. List three ways that the people you selected are different from you. List three ways they are
similar to you. Describe how you feel about the people in your examples. Would you include
them in your social group or would you exclude them? Why? Describe the benefits of a diverse
population. Write a short story about what life might be like in a town where the people are
all the same.
NEWSPAPER EXAMPLES
HOW THEY ARE DIFFERENT
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
31
HOW THEY ARE SIMILAR
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Literature
ACTIVITY #32 RICHARD RODRIQUEZ, Journalist, Author
Richard Rodriquez is a journalist and author whose unconventional views have made him a lightning
rod for establishment Latino criticism. A child of Mexican immigrants, born in 1944, he was raised in
Sacramento, California. Rodriquez thrived academically and turned to writing. His first book, Hunger
of Memory: The Education of Richard Rodriguez (1982), challenged bilingual education and affirmative
action as harmful to Hispanics, preventing them from entering mainstream society. His critics regard
Rodriquez as “self-hating.” He has since written another autobiographical narrative, Days of Obligation:
An Arcrument with My Mexican Father (1993). Rodriquez studied at Stanford University, Columbia University,
and the University of California at Berkeley, where he earned a Ph.D. in English. He taught for a while at Berkeley but opted for the
writer’s life as opposed to a full-time professorship. In 1992 the Charles Frankel Humanities Award from the National Endowment
for the Arts was bestowed upon him by President Bush. He now writes for Harper’s, the Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine, The
New Republic, and others.
1. In his writing, Rodriquez presents many unconventional Latino views and observations. He is however,
an excellent writer and journalist, giving lots of commentary on the news and problems of the day.
Look through the first section of today’s daily newspaper. What is the news of the day?
2. Select three of the largest or most important stories of the day. Tell whether each story is a “new”
news event or a “continuing” news event. Predict the life of each of the news stories. How long has
each been in the news? How much longer do you think they will be important? Which stories do
you predict will be in the history books ten or twenty years from now? Why? Are your selections
also found on the television and radio news?
NEWS STORY TOPIC
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
“NEW”/ “CONTINUING”
STORY
32
PREDICTIONS
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Literature
ACTIVITY #33 OSCAR HIJUELOS, Novelist, Pulitzer Prize winner
Oscar Hijuelos is the first Hispanic to have won the Pulitzer Prize in literature, for his work The Mambo
Kings Play Songs of Love (1989). Born in New York City to Cuban American parents, he lived most of his
life in that city’s Spanish Harlem and spoke Spanish before he spoke English. Although he tried a variety
of jobs after high school, including a stint as a farmer in Wisconsin, Hijuelos became interested in
writing and returned to New York. He enrolled in City College of New York, where he earned a B.A. and
a M.A. degree, then set out to write short stories and novels. He published his first novel, the
autobiographical Our House in the Last World, in 1983, at a small press. Its reception led to a number of
prizes, and after several years of travel he wrote The Mambo Kings, about two Cuban musician brothers who come to New York in
1949 with hopes of making the big time. Hijuelos tapped the nostalgia for Cuba he had heard expressed during his childhood, the
reminiscences of an uncle who had been a musician with Desi Arnaz and Xavier Cugat, and the growing popularity of Latin music
in the United States. Published in 1989, The Mambo Kings not only won the Pulitzer but made the best-seller lists and was later
turned into a movie. His novel Mr. Ives’ Christmas was published in 1995.
1. Oscar Hijuelos won a Pulitzer Prize in literature for his best-selling novel, The Mambo Kings
Play Songs of Love. A book earns best-seller status based on its national popularity and demand.
A book can be popular for many different reasons: (a) name recognition of the author, (b) the
book’s theme or message, (c) the subject matter about which the book is written, (d) critic or
celebrity recommendation, etc. Why do you think The Mambo Kings was a best-seller?
2. Locate the book review section of your newspaper. Find the best-seller listings and reviews.
Read several book reviews written by critics, then, complete the chart below. Have you read
any of the books being reviewed? If so, do you agree or disagree with the critic? Next, you be
the critic! Write a journalistic review for a book that you have recently read.
TITLE OF THE
BEST-SELLER
REASON THE
BOOK IS SO
POPULAR
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
CRITIC’S
OPINION
33
WOULD YOU
READ THIS
BOOK?
WHY OR WHY
NOT?
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Literature
ACTIVITY #34 GARY SOTO Poet, Author, Professor
Gary Soto is America’s most celebrated Latino peot. A native of Fresno, California, born in 1952, he
studied under the poet Philip Levine before becoming a university professor himself. Drawing frequently
on social themes in his work and on his own life experiences, Soto has won a string of prestigious
awards and fellowships. His books of poetry include The Tale of Sunlight (1978) and Who Will Know Us?
(1990). He has also written works of prose, including the autobiographical A Summer Life (1990). Soto’s
writing, which taps his own childhood experiences in the San Joaquin Valley, including a migrant worker
background, often depicts the poverty and misery common to that life. But, critics note, his characters are not
stereotypes of the extremes of despair or heroism, and his themes blend the worldly and the spiritual. His terse, simple style
troubles some critics, but there is general recognition that Soto is more than an ethnic poet. His poetry and prose may be rooted in
his Hispanic background and experiences, but his images go beyond that to tap something universal that can enlighten all readers.
In the 1980s, Soto began to focus on writing for children and published The Cat’s Meow. In 1990, he penned his first book for young
readers, Baseball in April. In 1993, Soto published several children’s books, including Local News, a collection of thirteen short
stories all set in a Mexican American neighborhood.
1. Gary Soto’s works have been enjoyed by people of all ethnic groups and all ages, male and
female. His stories and poems reflect life as he sees it from his own background, experience,
and travels. Look through your daily newspaper for three interesting news photos of people,
places, and/or things.
2. Cut the photos out of the newspaper and discard the caption under the picture. Number each
picture to complete the chart below. Study the photos and use your imagination to describe
and analyze what is happening in each picture. Write a poem or short story about each picture.
In your writing, try to go beyond the ordinary, as Soto might, to tap something universal in
order to enlighten your readers.
PHOTO FROM THE
NEWS
DESCRIPTION OF
PHOTO’S PERSONS,
PLACES, THINGS
INITIAL THOUGHTS
ABOUT THE PHOTO
OUTLINE FOR THE
STORY OR POEM
#1
#2
#3
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
34
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Literature
ACTIVITY #35 CRISTINA GARCIA, Journalist, Novelist
Cristina Garcia was born in Havana, Cuba, on July 4, 1958, and immigrated to the United States when
her parents went into exile after the triumph of the Cuban Revolution. Garcia was an excellent student
and was able to attend elite American universities; she graduated from Barnard College with a degree
in political science in 1979 and from the Johns Hopkins University with a master’s in Latin American
studies. She was able to land a coveted job as a reporter and researcher with Time magazine, where she
was able to hone her writing skills. She quickly ascended to bureau chief and correspondent at Time, but
left the magazine in 1990 to pursue her career as a creative writer. In 1992, Cristina Garcia became the first
Cuban American woman to experience mainstream success as a novelist in the United States, through the publication of her first
novel Dreaming in Cuban. Her highly acclaimed novel was the first one authored by a woman to give insight into the psychology
of the generation of Cubans born or raised in the United States who grew up under the looming myth of the splendors of the
island in the past and the evils of Castro, a group, however, that never really had firsthand knowledge of their parents’ homeland.
In addition, the novel closely examines a woman’s perspective on the dilemma of living between two cultures. Garcia’s journalistic
background and her interest in politics led her into the world of writing and the examination of her Cuban American circumstances,
which have been so shaped by the political history of the United States and Cuba.
1. Christina Garcia never had firsthand knowledge of her parents’ homeland and her place of birth.
She left Cuba as a very young child and was raised in the United States. Cuban by “roots” and
culture, she spent years researching information for her novel. Imagine a baby born today and
taken away from our American culture. In forty or more years, how might this person know
about or relate to things as they are (were) today?
2. Scan your daily newspaper for current issues, news topics, advertised products, movies, pictures,
and names that you think are going to be important during that baby’s lifetime. Make a list of
your newspaper findings below. Next, identify some major events, people, items, and situations
(found in the newspaper) from your own lifetime that this child will grow up labeling
“old-fashioned” because they existed or occurred before he or she was born. Then, write a letter
to the newborn describing what you think is most important about this culture as it is now.
IMPORTANT CULTURAL
CONNECTIONS FOR THE FUTURE
IMPORTANT EVENTS FROM MY
LIFETIME
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
35
KEEPING TRACK OF TODAY FOR
TOMORROW
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Military
ACTIVITY #36 SANTOS BENAVIDES,
Confederate Military Officer
Santos Benavides (1823-1892) was the highest-ranking Hispanic officer in the Confederacy,
among the first to take up arms on its behalf and among the last to surrender. Born in Laredo,
Tejas (Texas), he was elected mayor of that city in 1857. When the Civil War began, he raised
a regiment and was eventually appointed colonel. His 33rd Cavalry Unit was known as the
Benavides Regiment. With his two brothers as captains of the regiment, Benavides repulsed
several Union forays into the Laredo area. He did not surrender until a month after the war
ended at Appomattox. After the war, he served in the Texas legislature, and founded the Alianza
Hispano Americana to promote acculturation and civil rights of Mexican Americans.
1. Benavides was a Confederate officer whose “roots” were Hispanic, Texan, and southern in
nature. The Civil War, a war between northern and southern states, was fought over regional
economic differences. The economy in the North was industrial while that of the South was
agricultural. Each type of economy dictated a different way of life which directed a different
political philosophy. Do regional economic differences exist in the United States today? Explain.
Look through today’s newspaper for evidence to support your thoughts. Examples may be
found in any section of the newspaper.
2. The Civil War affected the Benavides family of Texas as it did so many other families in this
great divided nation. How have things changed for families in the United States since the
1860s? Find supporting evidence in your daily newspaper.
REGIONAL
DIFFERENCES IN THE
U.S.
HOW IS THIS
POSITVE / NEGATIVE?
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
CHANGE FOR
FAMILIES
36
NEWSPAPER
EVIDENCE
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Military
ACTIVITY #37 ELWOOD QUESADA,
WW II Veteran, Federal Aviation Pioneer
Elwood Richard Quesada was born on April 13, 1904, in Washington, D.C. He attended grade
school and high school in the District of Columbia. He later studied at Wyoming Seminary in
Kingston, Pennsylvania, the University of Maryland, and Georgetown University. In 1924, he
joined the army as a private, became a flying cadet, and later was commissioned as a regular
army officer in the Air Corps. In 1929, he was a refief pilot on the monoplane Question Mark,
which remained aloft over San Diego for over six days, an endurance record proving the efficacy
of air refueling. For this feat, the crew members were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
When the army flew the air mail (1933-34), he was chief pilot of the New York/Cleveland route. In 1943, he was named commanding
general of the 12th Fighter Command. Popular with his men, he was referred to as the “pilots general.” Quesada flew more than
ninety combat missions, many of them in the North African and Italian campaigns of WWII. Transferred to England as commander
of the 9th Fighter Group, he directed the U.S. air effort before and during the invasion of Normandy. Quesada returned to Washington
after the war in Europe and was assigned as assistant chief of air staff for intelligence. In 1946 he took over the Tactical Air
Command, and in October 1947 was promoted to lieutenant general. Quesada retired from the military in 1951. From 1953 to 1955
he was vice president of Lockheed Aircraft. On June 14, 1957, President Eisenhower appointed him Special Assistant for Aviation
Facilities Planning, and in 1958 nominated him to be head of the Federal Aviation Agency.
1. The brave and accomplished General Quesada plotted strategies, planned air strike efforts,
rallied the troops, and helped lead the United States and Allied Forces to victory during World
War II. He was a man of tremendous military and aviation accomplishment! At retirement, he
could reflect back on a very full and rewarding career. Visit your school library to find additional
biographical information on General Quesada.
2. Locate a news or feature story in today’s newspaper that reviews the life of an older person
who has recently retired. Based on the information given in the newspaper, write a brief
biography on that person. Begin below.
PERSON
AGE
CAREER INFORMATION
ACHIEVEMENTS
SPECIAL INTERESTS
FAMILY
OTHER INFORMATION
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
37
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Military
ACTIVITY #38 HORACIO RIVERO,
U.S. Navy Admiral, NATO Commander, Ambassador
Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on May 16, 1910, Rivero graduated from the United States Naval
Academy in 1931 and began serving on a variety of cruisers and battleships. During World War
II, he saw considerable action in the Pacific and participated in the Iwo Jima and Okinawa
campaigns and first carrier raids on Tokyo. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for saving his
ship and preventing loss of life during a fierce typhoon in 1945. In 1955, he was promoted to
rear admiral and to vice admiral in 1962. In 1964, Rivero became the first Puerto Rican American
to achieve the rank of four-star admiral in the U.S. Navy, and was promoted to vice chief of Naval
Operations. In 1968, he commanded NATO forces as Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces, Southern Europe. He retired in 1972 and
was later named U.S. ambassador to Spain.
1. As a U.S. Navy four-star admiral and Commander-in-Chief of NATO’s Allied Forces in Southern
Europe, Rivero was a responsible decision maker and problem solver. In his trust was placed
not only the fate of our nation, but the individual lives of each and every soldier, sailor, aviator,
and marine who put on a uniform under his command. Although circumstances are different
nowadays, our military and civilian leaders continue to perform as problem solvers and decision
makers. Can you identify some of the problems confronting today’s civilian or military leaders?
2. Find an article in your daily newspaper about a pressing problem that has not yet been solved.
State the problem below. List the people, positions, or organizations who are working to solve
the problem. Propose at least one solution to the problem. What new problems, if any, will
your solution create?
PROBLEM FOUND IN
THE NEWSPAPER
PEOPLE WORKING TO
SOLVE IT
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
YOUR
SOLUTION
38
NEW PROBLEMS
CREATED
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Military
ACTIVITY #39 EVERETT ALVAREZ, JR.
Vietnam War Veteran, POW, Civic Leader
Everett Alvarez, Jr. was born in 1937 in Salinas, California. The first in his family to get a
college education, he decided after graduation from the University of Santa Clara to join the
Navy and become a pilot. The Vietnam War tested his courage. When the North Vietnamese
attacked two U.S. Navy ships in 1964, Alvarez was one of the pilots sent to retaliate. His plane
was hit and he parachuted into the Gulf of Tonkin waters, where he was captured, becoming
the first known American prisoner-of-war in that conflict. For nearly nine years, he coped with
the horrors of North Vietnamese prison camps, tapping the same survival instincts his migrant
worker grandparents had needed to persevere decades earlier. After a peace agreement was reached between Hanoi and
Washington, D.C., he was released and returned home to parades and honors befitting a hero. He had earned a Distinguished
Flying Cross, two Purple Hearts, two Legions of Merit, and an invitation to the White House. Alvarez continued his military career,
earned a law degree at George Washington University, and married. He has two children. When he ended his Navy career, President
Ronald Reagan appointed him Deputy Director of the Peace Corps and subsequently was named Deputy Administrator of the
Veterans Administration. When the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in 1982, Alvarez was asked to speak at the ceremony.
As a survivor, he praised the courage of those who perished.
1. In 1973, Lieutenant Alvarez became the longest-held POW in U.S. history, having also been
distinguished (in 1964) as the first-known POW of the Vietnam War. It took tremendous courage
for this Navy pilot to endure nine years of torture and horror. Alvarez was quite a courageous
patriot at a time in our American history when patriotism was waning. Why were feelings of
patriotism different during the Vietnam War than during World War II? Did things change by
the early 1990s when American troops fought in the Persian Gulf War? How is the general
feeling of patriotism today?
2. Write an opinion essay (editorial) explaining your own feelings of pride and patriotism as they
relate to service in the military. Scan today’s newspaper for articles, advertisements, photos, or
other examples that support your thoughts and feelings.
OUTLINE FOR OPINION ESSAY
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
39
NEWSPAPER
EXAMPLES
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Military
ACTIVITY #40 HISPANIC HEROES, Spanning The Decades
BERNARDO DE GALVEZ - One of the most notable Revolutionary War heroes was Louisiana
governor Bernardo de Galvez, who engaged British forces repeatedly for three years along
the Gulf of Mexico, destroying their forts, capturing the cities of Mobile and Pensacola, and
rendering great support to the Continental army. Galvez’s victory at Pensacola, in particular,
made the American victory at Yorktown possible.
DAVID G. FARRAGUT - The greatest naval leader of the Civil War and the U.S. Navy’s first admiral
was David G. Farragut (1801-1872). The son of a Spanish immigrant (who served in the patriot
navy of South Carolina during the Revolutionary War), Farragut was appointed a midshipman at the age of nine. As a commander
during the Civil War, Farragut was engaged in numerous battles, including the capture of New Orleans, Vicksburg, and Mobile. It
was after the tremendous victory at Mobile Bay (where he is reported to have said, “Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!”) that
he was commissioned admiral. In today’s navy, the guided missile destroyer USS Farragut bears his name.
MARCELINO SERNA - The first Hispanic soldier to be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross was Marcelino Serna, of Albuquerque,
New Mexico, who on September 12, 1918, single-handedly captured twenty-four German soldiers during World War I.
MERCEDES 0. CUBRIA - A Cuban-born U.S. Army officer, Cubria (1903-1980) had one of the most distinguished careers of any
woman in the American military. She was commissioned as a second lieutenant and served in various intelligence functions
throughout Europe during World War II. Retiring as a major near the end of the Korean War, she was recalled in 1962. She finally
retired in 1973 as a lieutenant colonel, having received the Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit. After her death, Cubria was
inducted into the Army Intelligence Officers Hall of Fame.
MANUEL J. FERNANDEZ, JR. - The first Hispanic flying ace was Colonel Manuel J. Fernandez, Jr., who from September 1952 to May
1953 during the Korean War flew 125 combat missions in the F-86, engaging Communist MIG aircraft. On his fifth air victory, he
became an “ace,” ending the war with 14.5 air victories credited to his name. With 14.5 victories, Fernandez ranks sixtieth among
the top U.S. Air Force aces of the two world wars and the Korean War combined.
RICHARD E. CAVAZOS - In 1976, Richard E. Cavozos became the U.S. Army’s first Hispanic four-star general. During his thirty years
of military service, he commanded forces in Vietnam, served as post commander of Fort Lewis, Washington and Fort McPherson,
Georgia, and commanded combat troops in the U.S. invasion of Grenada. He retired in 1984.
1. Military heroes often become well known for extraordinary things they do in battle or
during a time of war. However, regular people become heroes often by doing things for
others, or by working hard at something they believe in. Look in today’s newspaper for
people that you would identify as heroes.
2. What are the special qualities or character traits of the everyday heroes you selected from
the newspaper? Compare them to the Hispanic American heroes from this lesson. What
are the similarities?
PERSON IN
THE NEWS
REASON FOR
BEING A HERO
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
CHARACTER
TRAITS
40
COMPARISON
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Music
ACTIVITY #41 RITCHIE VALENS, Rock & Roll Singer
Ritchie Valens (1941-1958) was born Richard Steve Valenzuela in Pacoima, California on May 13,
1941. He was one of the three prodigious young musicians to die in a 1958 plane crash, along
with Buddy Holly and “The Big Bopper” (J.P. Richardson). Although his career spanned only two
years, he was a sensation when he was barely 16 with his debut single, “Come on Let’s Go,”
followed by “Donna.” But his place in the archives of popular music is secured by his version of the
Mexican folk song, “La Bamba.” Ironically, Valens did not speak Spanish. He is the first Latino rock
singer to have a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame and to be featured on a U.S. postage stamp. A
movie about Valen’s life, La Bamba was released in 1988. Although it was generally unknown that Ritchie Valens was of Mexican
descent until after his death, the young singer was the first to marry Latin rhythms with rock and roll. In doing so, Valens set the
stage for the explosion of Latino sounds in mainstream American music and fostered a greater awareness and appreciation of the
contributions Latinos make to American culture.
1. In his 1971 nostalgic hit, “American Pie,” singer Don McLean paid homage to Ritchie Valens,
Buddy Holly, and J.P. Richardson by referring to the tragedy as “the day the music died.” Can
you explain McLean’s lyrics?
2. Look through today’s newspaper for a news story about a recent tragedy (airplane crash,
automobile accident, train wreck) or natural disaster (flood, earthquake, hurricane) that has
had an impact on a large number of people. Read the article carefully. Then, create the lyrics
for a song to eulogize the people involved, or the unique situation, event, or circumstance.
NEWS STORY
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
LYRICS FOR A SONG
41
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Music
ACTIVITY #42 JOSE FELICIANO, Singer, Guitarist
Jose Feliciano is one of the most popular singers to record in both Spanish and English. Blind
when born in Lares, Puerto Rico, in 1945, Jose Feliciano had to struggle against his handicap,
family poverty, and prejudice to find his place in life. When it became too difficult to make a
living on their farm, his parents moved to Spanish Harlem in New York City in 1950. Young Feliciano
listened to the radio, and imitated the voices he heard. He was determined to become a musician.
When Feliciano was nine, he was given a guitar and performed publicly for the first time that year
at El Teatro Puerto Rico in New York. He continued to appear at talent shows and school assemblies,
and began to play the accordion. His early musical influences were Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, and Sam
Cooke. Blocked from many normal teen pursuits, Feliciano went to coffeehouses in Greenwich Village, seeking opportunities to
perform for the coins people would give him. At seventeen, he dropped out of school to take a job in a Detroit nightclub. Later, an
RCA talent scout heard him at a New York performance and signed him to a recording contract. Not sure what musical style he
would adopt, Feliciano moved to California, tapped his Latin roots, and began hitting the charts. His 1964 version of “Light My
Fire” became a major hit for him, for which he won Best New Artist and Best Male Pop Vocalist Grammy Awards. This opened the
door to big time showcases in Las Vegas and elsewhere. His smash hit, “Feliz Navidad” (“I Wanna Wish You a Merry Christmas”),
became one of Feliciano’s hallmarks when it was released in 1971. He has also recorded albums in Argentina, Venezuela, and
Mexico. A Grammy winner in 1983 for Best Latin Pop Performance for his album Me enamore (I Fell in Love), Feliciano remains a
popular recording star. While he has a small but devoted group of fans in the United States, he has enjoyed consistent sales
overseas, earning forty gold and platinum albums internationally by 1993. At the first annual Latin Music Expo in 1991, Feliciano
was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In the early 1990s, the singer’s high school in Spanish Harlem was renamed the
Jose Feliciano Performing Arts School.
1. Jose Feliciano is an international recording star. Performing before audiences in dozens of
countries on many different continents, he has had the opportunity to experience geography
first-hand. Most people only read about these faraway places in newspapers, books, and
magazines. Skim today’s newspaper for international datelines, and/or identify foreign cities
mentioned in today’s news. List them below.
2. Name the country and the continent to which each city belongs. Locate these cities on a world
map. From which area (or areas) of the world did you find more news stories? Can you suggest
reasons why? From which area did you find the fewest?
CITY
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
COUNTRY
42
CONTINENT
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Music
ACTIVITY #43 JOAN BAEZ, American Folksinger
Joan Baez is one of America’s most famous folksingers. One of three sisters, Joan Baez was born
Joan Chandos Baez in Staten Island, New York, on January 9, 1941. Her father was a Mexican
born physicist and educator. When he was teaching at Harvard University, folksinger friends taught
Baez to play the guitar and various styles of folksongs, blues, ballads, and spirituals. She began
singing in coffeehouses in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the late 1950s. Her lovely soprano voice
and talent was quickly recognized, and she was invited to perform before 13,000 people at the
1959 Newport (Rhode Island) Folk Festival. Her first album was released the following year, with
great success. She soon paired up with Bob Dylan and began recording many of his songs. By the mid-1960s, she had become well
known not only for the traditional folk ballads, but also for her contemporary protest songs. She stirred America’s younger generation
with her renditions of “Blowing In The Wind” and “We Shall Overcome.” Baez’s voice is one of the most resonant of the Vietnam
protest era. She not only sang about social injustice and antiwar activism, she participated by joining in protest marches and
demonstrations. In a show of her commitment to nonviolent protest and to world peace, the singer founded the Institute for the
Study of Nonviolence (now called the Resource Center for Nonviolence). In 1974, she recorded a Spanish language album, Gracias
a la Vida (Graditude to Life), which she dedicated to her father. In 1993, Baez revived her career with the album, Play Me Backwards,
her first major label release in years, for which she received a Grammy nomination. Today, Baez continues to advocate an end to
violence in the world and aid to those less fortunate. She is well into a second career in folk music, singing with and training
another generation of folk musicians.
1. The “baby-boomer” generation, a group that came of age in the 1960s, foldly relate to Joan
Baez and her music. She is as much a symbol of the Vietnam War protest days as are mini-skirts,
love beads, faded bell bottom jeans, long hair, and peace signs --- all classic reminders of a very
special and somewhat disturbing period in American history. What are some symbols for our
current decade? Find examples in today’s newspaper.
2. The rebellious style of the 1960s and 1970s, in fashion and in music, was not only evidence of
opposition to the political and social wars, it was symbolic of a war waged against the so-called
“establishment.” How do music and fashions today reflect the political attitudes of this decade?
Explain. Clip examples from the newspaper to support your hypothesis.
HYPOTHESIS FOR THIS DECADE:
MUSIC AND FASHION STYLE TODAY
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
EXAMPLES FROM THE NEWSPAPER
43
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Music
ACTIVITY #44 SELENA, Tejano Singer
Selena Quintanilla Perez (1972-1995) was born in Lake Jackson, Texas. Known simply by the
name “Selena,” she was a rising Tejano music star whose tragic murder sparked such an
interest in her work that she posthumously became one of the most successful Latino recording
artists. In death, Selena became a symbol of the growing interest in Tejano music and the
marketability of its records and personalities. Her father, who had once been a singer himself,
recognized and encouraged his children’s musical talent. With her brother and sister, Selena
began to perform at an early age, as the trio toured South Texas singing to help pay family bills.
At 15, Selena won the Tejano Music Award for female vocalist of the year. Her recordings continued to draw attention and
Selena won a Grammy Award in 1993. Her concerts drew up to 80,000 people. Ironically, she had never learned any Spanish
and had to speak lyrics phonetically when singing in Spanish. After marrying guitarist Chris Perez, she continued to live
modestly near her family in Corpus Christi, Texas. Selena was tremendously popular with her fans. She had even developed a
successful clothing and jewelry line. Selena was slated to become the first major crossover star from lively Tejano music to
mainstream entertainment. She earned a gold record when she cut Dreaming of You, her first English language album, which
was to be her crossover debut. It was released shortly after her shocking death. (She was murdered by a disgruntled former
employee, her fan club president.) Immediately, it became the fastest selling album ever by a woman, and soon became the
first album by a Latin artist to reach number one on Billboard’s Top 200. Selena soon had five albums on the Billboard Top 200
chart - the first such accomplishment by a single artist.
1. Selena was unlike the successful Latino female vocalists who came before her. Singers like
Vikki Carr, Linda Ronstadt, and Joan Baez had their initial success in mainstream music, and
then much later brought in their Latin heritage music. Selena was the opposite: she crossed
over from Tejano music to mainstream entertainment. With her premature death, the music
industry and the world will always wonder “what could have been?” Why did this happen
to such a bright young star? Was Selena’s murder an accidental or intentional wrongdoing?
We cannot change what has happened, but maybe we can learn from it. Look through
today’s newspaper for articles about intentional or accidental wrongdoing in your community,
region, or state.
2. Select three examples from the newspaper. What is wrong in each situation? Even though it
is impossible to undo what is done, what is the best way to handle each bad situation?
Write an editorial stating your opinion about one of the newspaper examples.
“WRONGDOING”
NEWSPAPER EXAMPLES
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
BEST WAY TO HANDLE
A BAD SITUATION
44
RIGHTING A WRONG OR
“WRITING” A WRONG
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Music
ACTIVITY #45 SUPER-STARS, Influential Latino Musicians
VIKKI CARR - Best known for her English language song hits of the 1960s, Vikki Carr has released
more than 50 best-selling singles and fifteen gold albums. In 1967, she became the first U.S.
Hispanic singer to be invited to a command performance for Queen Elizabeth II in London. The
following year, she set a precedent for sold-out concerts in Germany, Spain, France, England,
Australia, Japan, and Holland. She has received numerous awards, including the 1972 American
Guild of Variety Artist’s “Entertainer of the Year.”
LINDA RONSTADT - Top female vocalist, Linda Ronstadt, dominated the pop charts in the 1970s with her versions of songs such as
“Blue Bayou,” “Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me,” “When Will I Be Loved?,” and “Heat Wave.” Her 1988 album, Canciones de mi padre (Songs
of My Father), featured the ranchera songs she heard as a child growing up in Tucson, Arizona. Ronstadt has also achieved critical
success on Broadway, and also as a singer of lush big-band standards.
JERRY GARCIA - In 1964, lead guitarist Jerry Garcia founded the Grateful Dead, one of the greatest rock bands of all times. The son
of a musician who emigrated from Coruna, Spain, Garcia was ranked among the top ten moneymaking Latino performers at the
time of his death in 1995. So popular was Garcia’s band that it became the subject of a cult followed by thousands of “Deadheads.”
CARLOS SANTANA - Mexican American rock musician Carlos Santana and his group were one of the first bands to experiment with
the fusion of rock and salsa styles. He is a master of the hybrid sound known as Latin Rock. In 1967, he organized the Santana Blues
Band, which played at Woodstock in 1969. In his career, Santana has recorded more than thirty albums, with nine of them achieving
platinum status and sixteen gold status.
TANIA LEON - Conductor and composer Tania Leon is a new music advisor to the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the artistic
advisor of Meet the Composers New Residencies Program, and Latin American music advisor to the American Composers Orchestra.
Leon is also a professor of music at Brooklyn College. Her compositions have won competitions and awards around the world.
EMILIO NAVAIRA - Emilio Navaira is a seven-time Tejano Music Awards Male Entertainer of the Year winner, six-time Album of the
Year winner, and four-time Male Vocalist of the Year winner. He is a two-time Grammy nominee. He crossed over into country
music in 1996 causing Country America magazine to name him one of the Top 10 New Stars of 1996.
MARIAH CAREY - In 1991, Mariah Carey became the first Hispanic pop singer to win Grammys for Best Female Pop Vocalist and Best
New Artist with her very first album. Carey was only the third artist in history to be nominated in the same year for Best Album, Best
Song, and Best New Artist. Since that time, Carey has won dozens of awards and released several new albums. While Mariah Carey
has achieved superstardom in the music world today, she has described herself as “still in the process of self-discovery.”
1. The Latinos listed above are “super-star” musicians with amazing talent and ability! These
dedicated specialists have influenced the music world and paved the way for other Hispanic
musicians. Scan your daily newspaper for articles about “super-stars” in the music world. List
them below.
2. Identify each musician’s area of specialty, their awards or contributions to the music industry,
reason for being in the news, and any other interesting information. How many Latino musicians
did you find?
PERSON
AWARDS &
CONTRIBUTIONS
MUSIC SPECIALTY
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
45
SOMETHING
INTERESTING
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Politics
ACTIVITY #46 JOSE MARIANO HERNANDEZ,
Mayor, Congressional Delegate
Jose Mariano Hernandez (1793-1857) was the first Hispanic to serve as mayor of a U.S. city, as a delegate
to Congress, and as a general in the U.S. Army. Hernandez was born in Saint Augustine, Florida, of
Spanish parents. He took an oath of allegiance to the United States after the Spanish cession of La Florida
in 1821, and came to play an important role in Florida’s early history. Elected to the Saint Augustine City
Council, and later elected mayor of that city, he was in 1822 appointed Florida’s non-voting delegate to the
U.S. Congress. He served as president of the Florida Legislative Council while owning and managing a
plantation. During a conflict with the local Seminole Indians, Hernandez raised an army of volunteers and was appointed brigadier
general. His troops captured several Seminole chiefs, including the famed Osceola. When in 1845 Florida was admitted to the
Union as a state, Hernandez ran as the Whig candidate for the U.S. Senate but lost.
1. Hernandez was one of the first outstanding Hispanic American leaders to play a very important
role in early U.S. history. Although he was very much a positive role model for his generation
and generations to come, he did participate in one of the most shameful and embarrassing
events committed by the U.S. Army during President Van Buren’s administration: the capture
of the famous Seminole chief, Osceola. Can you find any reference to embarrassing, shameful,
painful, or scandalous events in today’s news? Scan your daily newspaper for the information.
2. Keep a newspaper clipping file and journal for the next six weeks. Record what happened,
who was involved, where it happened, why it happened, and how it happened. At the end of
the six week period, classify the events into categories. Then, select one of the examples to put
in a historical context. Compare it to another event (if possible) in U.S. history.
EMBARRASSING
EVENT
SHAMEFUL
EVENT
PAINFUL
EVENT
SCANDALOUS
EVENT
WHO?
WHAT?
WHEN?
WHERE?
WHY?
HOW?
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
46
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Politics
ACTIVITY #47 MIGUEL A. OTERO,
Congressional Delegate, Businessman
Miguel A. Otero (1829-1882) was a politician in New Mexico who was part of the so-called Santa Fe Ring.
Born in Nuevo, Mexico to a prominent family, he was trained as a lawyer and, in 1852, was elected to the
New Mexico territorial legislature. Two years later he was chosen as the territory’s attorney general. In
1855, he won election as territorial delegate to Congress, where he eventually served six terms. In the
years after the Civil War, Otero prospered financially as well, founding a bank and setting himself up as
president. His powerful status soon led Otero into an alliance with wealthy Anglos and “ricos” (wealthy
Mexicans), the so-called Santa Fe Ring. This small clique of businessmen conspired to control territorial politics, and all major land
and business deals. The Santa Fe Ring even controlled the press. Despite the notoriety it eventually gained, the Ring was never
punished. Even the U.S. Supreme Court, in 1887, upheld the Ring’s power to control more than 1.7 million acres of land (Maxwell
Land Grant), in complete disregard of the claims made by “nuevomexicanos,” Native Americans, and Anglo squatters. Otero
himself grew even richer, acquiring considerable real estate and becoming a director of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad.
1. Was Miguel A. Otero a “typical” politician? Was he a “typical” lawyer, attorney general, or
business tycoon? How would he compare to today’s civic or political leaders having those titles?
Nowadays, do we sterotype politicians, lawyers, and tycoons? Begin a class discussion on this
subject. Do you think Otero may have had good intentions? What about those in public office
today? Go to your school or community library to see if you can find more information about
the so-called Santa Fe Ring.
2. Was the Santa Fe Ring alliance a situation of “obstruction of justice,” “abuse of power,”
“white-collar crime,” or something else? What do these terms mean? Look in your local
newspaper to find examples of these kinds of crimes. Compare your news related crimes to the
Maxwell Land Grant fiasco.
THOSE
INVOLVED IN
THE NEWS
RELATED CRIME
KIND OF
OFFENSE
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
PERTINENT
DETAILS
47
RESULTS OR
SOLUTION
YOUR
OPINION
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Politics
ACTIVITY #48 EDWARD R. ROYBAL, U.S. Representative
Edward Ross Roybal was born on February 10, 1916, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, into one of the
original families that had founded Santa Fe, and had received a New Mexico land grant from the king of
Spain around 1610. In 1922, the family moved to Los Angeles, following a railroad strike that left Edward’s
father unemployed. Edward attended L.A. public schools and graduated from high school in 1934, when
America was in the throes of the Great Depression. He then joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC),
a New Deal Program providing work and vocational training for young men through conserving and
developing the country’s natural resources, where he remained until he decided to continue his education.
In college, Roybal studied business administration and later became a public-health educator. Roybal served
in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the war he settled in Los Angeles where he was picked by a group of Mexican
Americans eager to place one of their own on the Los Angeles City Council. Though Roybal was defeated in 1947, the group,
known as the Community Service Organization (CSO), built on the groundwork it had laid and continued campaigning for the 1949
race. When Roybal won in that year, he became the first Hispanic on the council since 1881. After 13 years there, and unsuccessful
runs for lieutenant governor and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Roybal was elected to Congress. He spent more
than three decades in office, pushing consistently for the concerns of Hispanics, while espousing social and economic reforms to
benefit all Americans. Roybal introduced a bill that would add an Equal Rights for Women amendment to the Constitution, and in
1967, introduced and won approval for the first federal bilingual education act, and in 1969 his bill establishing a cabinet-level
Committee on opportunities for Spanish-Speaking People was enacted. In February of 1992, Roybal announced his retirement.
Today, the Roybal legacy in politics lives on in Roybal’s daughter, Lucille Roybal-Allard, who became the first woman of
Mexican-American ancestry in the U.S. Congress when she was elected in November of 1992.
1. As a legislator, Edward Roybal supported, and was supported by, certain special interests.
Thousands of interest groups have influenced legislation and elections through the years by
lobbying, providing financial support to candidates, and organizing grassroots campaigns. Some
of the larger more influential groups today are: the National Rifle Association (NRA), the AFL-CIO,
the National Organization for Women (NOW), and the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Make a list below of other popular special interest groups. Is there a group that lobbys today
for Latino interests?
2. Look through your newspaper for feature stories, news articles, or advertisements regarding
special or public interest groups. List them below. Explain the “lobby” or special interest of
each. (The practice of lobbying takes its name from the custom, established in the early 1800s,
of waiting in the lobbies outside Congress for a chance to speak with legislators.)
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP LIST
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
NEWSPAPER EXAMPLES
48
THE “LOBBY” OR “INTEREST”
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Politics
ACTIVITY #49 HENRY G. CISNEROS, Mayor, U.S. Secretary
Henry Gabriel Cisneros was born in the Prospect Hill section of San Antonio, a Latino middle-class
neighborhood, on June 11, 1947. The oldest of five children, Henry was a very studious child. He skipped
third grade and at age sixteen graduated from San Antonio’s Catholic Central High School. In college,
Cisneros became interested in urban planning and city management. He earned a bachelor’s and a master’s
degree from Texas A&M University (1968, 1970), a second master’s degree from Harvard University (1973),
and a Ph.D. from George Washington University (1975). While working on his education, Cisneros had
landed a job in 1968 with President Johnson’s Model Cities effort, a Great Society program committed to
urban renewal. He later secured a position as an administrative assistant to the executive vice president of the
National League of Cities. In 1971 he was selected for the White House Fellows Program, becoming the youngest fellow in U.S.
history. He was assigned to work under Elliot L. Richardson, then Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, who was influential
in furthering Cisneros’s political career. Cisneros returned to San Antonio, and in 1975, at age twenty-seven, was elected to the City
Council as the youngest member in San Antonio’s history. He served three terms on the council before running for mayor in 1980.
Capturing 62 percent of the vote, on April 4, 1981, Henry Cisneros became the first Mexican American elected mayor of San
Antonio since 1842. Cisneros had a vision of San Antonio as a high profile city on the cutting edge of change. He implemented a
plan of intensive urban renewal and economic development to realize his vision. Cisneros’s strategy was to boost the city’s image
as a center of tourism, accomplish public works, and recruit new business, especially those promoting high-technology. Cisneros
served four terms as mayor and was tremendously successful. He is today credited with the success of San Antonio as a model city
for urban renewal and growth. He left office in 1988 to work on a new business venture of his own; he founded a pension funds
management company. On December 18, 1992, President-elect Clinton announced his selection of Cisneros for the cabinet post of
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Assuming an agency that had been riddled with corruption and endless
problems, Cisneros accepted the challenge!
1. Henry Cisneros served four terms as mayor of San Antonio, and was tremendously successful.
What is the mayor of your town doing to make it a better place? Does your mayor have a
“vision” for economic development or a long-term strategy for growth and renewal? Explain.
(Use back-issues of your daily newspaper as a reference.)
2. Scan today’s newspaper articles and pictures to find out what the mayor of your town will be
doing for the next few days. Refer to different editions of your newspaper to create a “to do”
agenda for this public official.
MAYOR’S LONG-TERM STRATEGY
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
MAYOR’S ACTIVITIES
49
“TO DO” AGENDA
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Politics
ACTIVITY #50 LATINO POLITICAL LEADERS, Of the Past 25 Years
TONEY ANAYA - Democratic Governor of New Mexico from 1982 to 1986.
JERRY APODACA - Democratic Governor of New Mexico from 1974 to 1978, and the first Hispanic in the
post since Octaviano A. Larrazolo left office in 1920.
HERMAN BADILLO - Democratic member of Congress from New York from 1971 to 1978, and the first
mainland Puerto Rican in Congress.
ROMANA ACOSTA BANUELOS - Treasurer of the United States from 1971 to 1974 and the first Mexican
American in the post.
JOSE A. CABRANES - Federal Appeals Court Judge for the second circuit since 1994, and before that a Federal
District Court Judge (eventually Chief Judge) in Connecticut - the first Puerto Rican to hold a federal judgeship on the mainland.
LAURO F. CAVAZOS - Secretary of Education from 1988 to 1990, and the first Mexican American (and first Hispanic) in the cabinet.
LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART - Republican member of Congress from Florida since 1993, and the first Cuban American (and first Hispanic)
to sit on the House Rules Committee.
EDWARD HIDALGO - Secretary of the Navy from 1979 to 1981, and the first Mexican American (and first Hispanic) in the post.
MANUEL LUJAN - Secretary of the Interior from 1989 to 1993, and before that a Republican member of Congress from New Mexico
(1969-89).
ROBERT MARTINEZ - Republican Governor of Florida from 1989 to 1991 - the first Hispanic governor of Florida (under the U.S. flag)
- and later Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, aka “drug czar”, (1991-93).
GLORIA MOLINA - Democratic member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors since 1991, and before that a member of
the California State Assembly (1982-87) and of the Los Angeles City Council (1987-91) - in all three cases the first Mexican American
(and first Hispanic) ever elected to those bodies.
LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD - Democratic member of Congress from California since 1993, and the first Mexican American woman in
Congress (and daughter of former Congressman Edward R. Roybal).
NYDIA VELAZQUEZ - Democratic member of Congress from New York since 1993, and before that a member of the New York City
Council - in both cases the first Puerto Rican woman ever elected to those bodies.
1. The people listed above are Latino political leaders of the past 25 years. These dedicated civil servants
are shaping history and paving the way for other Hispanics in politics. Look in today’s newspaper
for national or regional political leaders from your state or community. List them below.
2. Give each person’s political party, their office or title, any special accomplishment (or reason for
being in the news), ethnic background, and any other interesting information from the news story.
NAME OF
PERSON
POLITICAL
PARTY
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
POLITICAL
OFFICE
ETHNIC
SPECIAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS OR REASON
BACKGROUND
FOR BEING IN THE NEWS
50
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Science & Technology
ACTIVITY #51 LUIS ALVAREZ, Physicist, Nobel Prize Winner
Luis Walter Alvarez (1911-1988) was born in San Francisco on June 13, 1911. His father was a physician,
professor, and medical journalist who later moved the family to Rochester, Minnesota when he joined
the Mayo Clinic. Alvarez graduated from Rochester High School in 1928 and then entered the University
of Chicago, where, encouraged by a professor, he switched his major from chemistry to physics. Luis
achieved academic excellence at the university and was initiated into Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi,
the science-research honor society. Upon receiving his B.S. degree in 1932, he pursued and earned
an M.S. degree in 1934, and his Ph.D. in 1936. After graduation, Alvarez did cyclotron research at the
University of Berkeley. During World War II he helped develop a radar system called Ground-Controlled
Approach (GCA), still in use today. During 1944-45, Alvarez worked at Los Alamos, New Mexico, on the
development of the atomic bomb. On August 6, 1945, he flew as a scientific observer in the B-29 which followed the Enola Gay
when it dropped the bomb on Hiroshima. After the war, Alvarez returned to teaching and research at Berkeley. In 1968 he was
awarded the Nobel Prize in physics for his research using bubble chambers to detect new subatomic particles. Alvarez was the first
U.S. born Hispanic to receive a Nobel Prize. After retirement, Alvarez worked with his son, a geologist, in analyzing fossils in
layered rocks. Their discovery of iridium (an element found in asteroids) in these rocks led to their theory that the dinosaurs were
destroyed when a huge asteroid struck the earth. On August 31, 1988, Luis Alvarez died at his Berkeley home, having developed
ideas until his last days.
1. Luis Alvarez was certainly a brilliant scientist whose contribution to the development of the
atomic bomb was instrumental. Working with Albert Einstein and some of the best scientific
minds and leaders, Alvarez helped bring about an end to World War II. In recent years, however,
the use of atomic science has been a topic for discussion and debate. What is your personal
opinion about this ethical issue? What are the pros and cons?
2. Scan the editorial / opinion page in today’s newspaper, Locate a commentary that explores a
current ethical issue. Identify the facts and opinions presented in the essay. What is the author’s
viewpoint? Do you agree or disagree with the author? State your opinion.
ETHICAL
ISSUE
AUTHOR’S
VIEWPOINT
FACT / OPINION
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
51
YOUR
OPINION
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Science & Technology
ACTIVITY #52 RICHARD TAPIA, Mathematician, Professor
Richard Tapia was born in 1940 and grew up in the barrio of Los Angeles. He saw first hand the
struggles of his parents, who had moved from Mexico and become American citizens. In high school,
Tapia’s counselor did not advise him to go on to college. Nevertheless, he went to a junior college in Los
Angeles where he did receive strong encouragement to continue on an academic path. He transferred
to University of California at Los Angeles, where he finished his doctorate in mathematical science.
He strongly credits his parents for instilling in him enormous self-confidence. Today, Richard Tapia is
a leader in the application of computers to solving problems in industry, government, or academic research.
Within computational mathematics, Tapia’s specialty is called optimization: using computers to find the
most efficient method to accomplish a task or solve a problem. Tapia has helped the airline industry find the
most efficient way to route their fleets by balancing the demands of fuel consumption, consumers, wear-and-tear, and personnel.
He uses an array of computers, but favors a method called parallel processing for handling large computational demands. Parallel
processing involves using many relatively smaller computers at the same time to solve the same problem; each smaller computer
works on a smaller component of the overall problem simultaneously. Tapia is currently the Noah Harding Professor of Computational
and Applied Mathematics at Rice University in Houston, Texas, which has the largest National Science Foundation-sponsored science
and technology center in the country. Tapia was named a member of the prestigious National Academy of Engineering in 1992. He
was also named one of the most influential leaders in mathematics education by the National Research Council, and in 1994, was
named the first recipient of the A. Nico Habermann Award by the Computer Research Association for promoting the entry of
minorities and women into the computational sciences.
1. Richard Tapia has invented numerous methods for solving problems using computers and
mathematics. Tapia is recognized as a leader in the field of optimization. He is always thinking
of the future and ways to improve technology. Look through today’s newspaper to find news
stories about the future: inventions, predictions, warnings, trends, possibilities.
2. Choose one example about something you hope will happen. Tell why you want it to work and
the positive things it will do. Choose an example of an invention or prediction for the future
that you hope will not happen. Explain your choice. Review all of the newspaper articles about
the future. Is there a common theme? Will these future inventions involve computers or
mathematics? Do you have an idea of your own for improving technology?
SOMETHING YOU HOPE WILL HAPPEN:
SOMETHING YOU HOPE WILL NOT HAPPEN:
IMPORTANT TOPIC OR FOCUS FOR THE FUTURE:
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
52
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Science & Technology
ACTIVITY #53 ELROY RODRIGUEZ, Biochemist
Elroy Rodriguez was born in 1948 in the Texas Rio Grande Valley. He was from a very poor family.
Neither of his parents graduated from high school. The Spanish language that Rodriguez spoke at
home was strictly forbidden in the public schools he attended in Edinburg, Texas. In high school his
counselor advised him to go to vocational school to become a mechanic, a job in which he had no
interest at all, rather than college. Instead, he overcame enormous hurdles to complete college, and
even go on to receive a doctorate degree. Today, Dr. Elroy Rodriguez, a renowned biochemist
specializing in natural products and synthetic chemistry, has worked all over the world. While working on
a project in the rainforests of Africa with Harvard primatologist Richard Wrangham, Rodriguez noticed
that sick chimpanzees ate plants that apparently did not taste good, and these plants were found to contain
substances that were toxic to fungi and certain viruses. The scientists concluded that the animals were practicing self-doctoring
techniques. The study of how animals choose healing substances and the determination of what those substances are chemically is
a new discipline (credited to Rodriguez and Wrangham) called zoopharmacognosy. One of Rodriguez’s contributions to this new
field is synthesizing in the laboratory substances that occur naturally in plants. Ultimately he hopes to make such remedies available
as cures for human ailments. This research has found significant financial support from both government and private funding
institutions. As the Jane Perkin Professor of Environmental Studies at Cornell University, Rodriguez is believed to be the first U.S.
born Hispanic to hold an endowed chair in the sciences.
1. Many of the pharmaceutical drugs used today, especially in cancer treatment, come from
rainforest plants. By synthesizing plant substances, Rodriguez hopes to develop biochemical
formulas for medicines to treat diseases for which there are no cures yet. This type of work in
research requires much dedication and determination. It may take years or even decades before
an end result is realized, or a goal accomplished. Look in your daily newpaper for articles about
people who are hard at work (like Rodriguez) doing something for the “greater good,” so that
the rest of us can benefit.
2. Read the news stories and try to determine why these people do the work they do. Is it work
for which they earn money? What benefits and satisfactions do you think they receive from
doing the work? Have you thought about the benefits and satisfactions in your life? Is work
essential to benefits and satisfactions? Is money essential?
PERSON
MONEY
KIND OF WORK
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
53
BENEFITS /
SATISFACTIONS
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Science & Technology
ACTIVITY #54 ELLEN OCHOA, Engineer, Astronaut
Ellen Ochoa was born in Los Angeles on May 10, 1958. As a child, Ellen devoted herself wholeheartedly
to her schoolwork and showed a fine command of all academic subjects with exceptional ability in
math and science. Ochoa was selected valedictorian of her high school, and went on to San Diego State
University where she earned a B.A. degree in physics, and was again chosen valedictorian of her
class. She later earned a master’s degree and a doctorate in electrical engineering at Stanford
University, where she was awarded a Stanford Engineering Fellowship and an IBM Predoctoral
Fellowship. From 1985 to 1988, Ochoa worked as a research engineer in the Imaging Technology Branch at
Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore, California. Before turning thirty-three, she developed an
innovative process that implements optics for image processing normally performed by computer. As a result
of her groundbreaking research, Ochoa holds three patents in optical processing. In 1988, Ellen joined NASA’s Ames Research
Center and helped develop high-performance computational systems for aerospace missions. Her greatest achievement was being
chosen from a pool of 1,945 applicants, as a member of the astronaut class of 1990, consisting of eighteen men and four other
women. She became an astronaut in 1991, and in April of 1993, when the space shuttle Discovery soared from its launchpad, Ellen
Ochoa became the first Latina to travel into space!
1. Ellen Ochoa’s proudest achievement was becoming a U.S. astronaut and the first Hispanic woman
in space. Do you have a lifelong desire, wish, or dream that you would like to fulfill? Find and
cut out an article, photo, or advertisement in today’s newspaper about a place you really want
to visit, something you really want to own, a job you would really like to have, an activity you
really want to do, or a goal you really want to pursue.
2. After you have made your newspaper selection, state your desire on the chart below. List two
obstacles to your achieving it, and then develop one way to overcome each obstacle.
DESIRE
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
OBSTACLES
54
STRATEGY TO OVERCOME
OBSTACLES
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Science & Technology
ACTIVITY #55 SUPER-STARS Today’s Influential Scientists
NILS J. DIAZ - Nils J. Diaz is a professor and director of the Innovative Nuclear Space Power and
Propulsion Institute of the University of Florida, Gainsville. He was appointed to the five-seat Nuclear
Regulatory Commission by President Clinton in 1996, becoming the first Hispanic member of the NRC.
Diaz is also president and principal engineer of Florida Nuclear Associates.
MARIO J. MOLINA - A researcher and professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Cambridge,
Massachusetts (MIT), Mario J. Molina received the 1995 Nobel Prize in recognition of his pioneering research
on ozone depletion. His research led to the United Nation’s Montreal Protocol, banning the production of
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). He also serves on the President’s Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Molina has been a world leader in developing scientific understanding of the chemistry of the stratospheric ozone layer and its
susceptibility to man-made perturbations.
ADRIANA OCAMPO - Adriana Ocampo is a planetary geologist and science coordinator at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena,
California. She received a NASA grant to continue her research of the Chicxulub meteor crash crater in Mexico. She was selected by
NASA for the investgative team of the Hermes mission to explore the planet Mercury. Ocampo was the science coordinator for the
Galileo mission to Jupiter.
LYDIA AGUILAR-BRYAN - Lydia Aguilar-Bryan and her husband, Joseph Bryan, endocrinologists at Houston’s Baylor College of
Medicine, were the first researchers to solve the problem of hyperinsulinism. After a decade of research, they were able to discover
how the body regulates the secretion of insulin and prepare the way for a cure or better treatment of diabetes. Thanks to their
work, there may soon be a prenatal test for hyperinsulinism and, down the road, a genetic remedy. As a researcher and doctor,
Aguilar-Bryan is particularly interested in diabetes because it strikes people of Mexican descent in unusually high numbers. As a
graduate student at the University of Texas, she studied diabetes in Mexican American populations, and has continued to work on
the problem since joining the Baylor College of Medicine in 1985.
1. The Latinos listed above are “super-star” scientists with amazing discoveries or accomplishments
in the area of science or technology. These dedicated specialists are shaping history and paving
the way for other scientific breakthroughs. Look in today’s newspaper for more science and
technology “super-stars.” List them below.
2. Give each person’s field of science or technology, their contribution, discovery, or accomplishment
(reason for being in the news), and any other interesting information from the news story.
NAME OF PERSON
FIELD OF SCIENCE OR
TECHNOLOGY
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
CONTRIBUTION OR
DISCOVERY
55
INTERESTING
INFORMATION
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Sports
ACTIVITY #56 ROBERTO CLEMENTE, Professional Baseball
Roberto Clemente (1934-1972) was one of baseball’s all-time greats and the first Latino ever named to
the Hall of Fame. Born in Puerto Rico, he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1955 to 1972, won four
National League batting championship titles, and was the National League most valuable player in 1966.
Clemente also won multiple Gold Gloves for his defensive play, and was a 14-time all-star. His greatest
moment came in the 1971 World Series, in which he hit .414 with two home runs. Overall, Clemente had a
lifetime average of .317, with exactly 3,000 hits, 240 home runs, and 1,305 RBIs. Clemente’s career was marked
by his willingness to speak out about discrimination against Latinos and blacks in sports. But Clemente’s life was
cut short in December of 1972 by a plane crash. Clemente, guided by his humanitarian spirit, had helped organize
a relief mission to Nicaragua following a disastrous earthquake that hit the city of Managua. Shortly after takeoff
the plane, overloaded with medicine and supplies, crashed. After his death, Roberto Clemente was lauded by many as the “greatest
ballplayer” baseball had ever seen. Across America homage was paid to the distinguished baseball player. A park in Pittsburgh, and
a school in Harlem were named in his honor. Clemente was elevated to the Hall of Fame immediately thereafter in recognition of
his heroic life and tragic death. (The normal five year wait was waived.) The legendary player became the first Latino inducted into
the Hall of Fame. The Pittsburgh Pirates retired his uniform (number 21), and in 1994, unveiled a statue of Clemente titled The
Great One, outside Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh.
1. Latinos in baseball today can proudly trace their heritage back to all-time greats like Roberto
Clemente and African American Jackie Robinson, who fought major discrimination battles in
order to pave the way for athletes of color in American sports. How have things changed in
baseball and other major league sports since Clemente’s day? Are there any minority rights
issues in sports today? Scan your daily newspaper for information relating to today’s issues of
race discrimination in sports.
2. Clemente was an exceptional person away from the baseball diamond. He had a kind and
generous heart and remarkable humanitarian spirit, and was known for reasons other than
sports. Look through today’s newspaper to find sports figures who make the news outside the
sports pages. On the chart below, write the name of the athlete and the sport that made the
person famous. Is this person’s outside activity a positive influence (humanitarian deed,
spokesperson for a worthy cause, etc.) or a negative influence (committing a crime, embarrassing
behavior, etc.) on the general public?
NAME OF ATHLETE
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
NEWS EVENT
SPORT
56
POSITIVE /
NEGATIVE
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Sports
ACTIVITY #57 ANGEL CORDERO, Jockey, Trainer
Angel Cordero was one of horse racing’s most successful jockeys. Born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, on May 8,
1942, Angel Tomas Cordero, Jr., was literally destined for a career in horse racing. His father was a horse
trainer and former jockey; both of his grandfathers and a score of uncles and cousins also had been
professional jockeys. At 5’3”, Cordero had no trouble with weight. Strong and wiry, he proved to be a
skillful and courageous rider. His aggressive riding style brought him many suspensions, but also numerous
victories. Cordero won six Triple Crown races: he rode the Kentucky Derby winners in 1974, 1976, and 1985;
the Belmont Stakes winners in 1980 and 1984; and the Preakness winner in 1976. Cordero was named Jockey of
the Year in 1982 and 1983, and is one of the all-time winningest jockeys and top money earners in the field. He is
a member of the National Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Cordero retired as a jockey in 1992 and now trains racehorses
at his farm on Long Island (New York).
1. Today, as the 20th century ends and a new era begins, we do not read, hear, or know as much
about the sport of horse racing as we do other sports. It is, however, a most extraordinary
sport, and its athletes are just as skilled and talented as those of the more popular team sports.
For one thing, product advertising and celebrity endorsements from professional jockeys are
rare. Who, instead, do we hear from? Look through your newspaper and identify two or more
sports product advertisements designed to appeal to each group listed on the chart below.
Using the chart, describe the product, the method of advertisement or endorsement, and tell
how it appeals to each group.
2. Is any one sport or sport product promoted more than any other? How have sports products,
endorsements, stores, and marketing techniques changed through the years? What persuasive
techniques are used today in advertising communication that were not used earlier in this
century? How have things changed between the 1960s and today?
PRODUCT, ENDORSEMENTS, STORE, GROUP APPEAL
MEN
WOMEN
CHILDREN
TEENAGERS
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
57
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Sports
ACTIVITY #58 JIM PLUNKETT, Professional Football
The youngest of three children, James William Plunkett was born on December 5, 1947 in San Jose,
California. His parents, both of Mexican-American descent, and both visually impaired, had met at a
school for the blind in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They moved to California during World War II. Jim’s
father operated a newsstand, and the family’s income was quite low, so Jim earned spending money selling
newspapers, mowing lawns, tending gardens, and later working at a gas station. In school, Jim excelled on
the athletic field despite having suffered a bone disease in childhood. He competed in wrestling, track, baseball,
and basketball in junior high, and, by the time he reached eighth grade, he discovered that he had an excellent
throwing arm for football. When just a sophomore in high school, Plunkett, an honor student, was a superb
pitcher and a .300 hitter in baseball, and the first wrestler to ever to capture four consecutive Mount Hamilton
Athletic League individual titles. He also excelled on the football field, and made the varsity team as a quarterback. When he
graduated from high school in 1966, many colleges and universities came knocking at his door, offering football scholarships. He
chose Stanford University for its proximity to home and its fine academic reputation. Plunkett excelled at football at Stanford, and
in 1970, won the Heisman Trophy as the best college player in the country. His professional career started well; he won
Rookie-of-the-Year honors in 1971 with the Boston (later New England) Patriots. His career then sputtered. He had several sub-par
years with the Patriots, then two more with the San Francisco 49ers before being picked up as a backup passer for the Oakland
Raiders. But when he was brought in to replace the hurt starter in the middle of the 1980 season, he led the team to a Super Bowl
victory (and won most valuable player honors), a feat he repeated in 1984. Jim Plunkett will long be remembered as a two-time
Super Bowl winning quarterback!
1. As a professional football player, Plunkett visited cities all over the United States, which for
most people could prove to be quite a lesson in geography. Many professional sports teams
have mascot and stadia names that relate to the cultural, economic, or physical geography of
the city in which they are located. Can you think of any? Here are some examples:
PHYSICAL NAMES:
MILE HIGH Stadium, Denver
THREE RIVERS Stadium, Pittsburgh
RIVERFRONT Staduim, Cincinnati
ECONOMIC NAMES:
Green Bay PACKERS
Detroit PISTONS
Pittsburgh STEELERS
CULTURAL NAMES:
Minnesota VIKINGS
Dallas COWBOYS
San Diego PADRES
2. Turn to the sports section in your daily newspaper. Find at least four other examples that have
geographic significance. List them below. Create your own cultural, economic, or physical names
for teams in cities that do not have geographic-related names (for example, the New York City
STOCKBROKERS).
CITY
MASCOT OR STADIUM
PHYSICAL? ECONOMIC?
CULTURAL?
NEW CREATIONS:
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
58
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Sports
ACTIVITY #59 NANCY LOPEZ, Professional Golf
Nancy Lopez is one of the greatest stars of women’s golf. She was born in 1957 in Torrance, California, to
Mexican American parents. Shortly after her birth, the family moved to Roswell, New Mexico. It was her
parents who initiated her into the game of golf. When she was about eight years old, her father gave her
a cut-down four-wood. In less than a year she was playing rounds with him, and by age eleven she was
beating him! Lopez was women’s champion of New Mexico at age twelve, and finished second (while still an
eighteen year old amateur) in the 1975 U.S. Open. After her sophomore year of college (where she was the
1976 All-American and Tulsa University Female Athlete of the Year), Lopez turned professional. She won five
consecutive tournaments in 1978, including the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Championship
Tournament, earning her the titles of LPGA Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year. She has since won two more
LPGA championships and three more Player of the Year awards. A member of the LPGA Hall of Fame, she is among the sport’s top
all-time winners and earners. She owes much of her success in the game of golf to her father, Domingo, who coached her seriously
from that early age of eight.
1. Traditionally, sports has been dominated by males. Until recently, a professional career in a
sport like golf was almost unheard of for women. Nancy Lopez has been a trailblazer for women
in the field of golf. As the role of women begins to change in the workplace, and even in the
military, women in sports have become leaders and role models. Can you find any evidence of
this by looking through your daily newspaper?
2. Consider interesting men and women in the news. Select a couple of sections from your
newspaper and count the number of women spotlighted in the news as compared to men.
Read the articles and photo captions carefully to determine reasons why each person has been
featured in the newspaper. Is there evidence from the articles and photos that male and female
roles are changing? Why or why not?
PERSON’S
NAME
MALE OR OCCUPATION
FEMALE
OR SPORT
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
REASON FOR NEWS FEATURE
59
CHANGING
ROLE
WHY?
WHY NOT?
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Sports
ACTIVITY #60 BASEBALL GREATS, The Boys of Summer
In the last fifty years, Latinos have figured among the greatest players on the field. No who’s who of
American baseball would be complete without such Hall of Famers as record-breaking shortstop and base
stealer LUIS APARICIO; seven-time American League batting champion ROD CAREW; four-time National
League batting champion ROBERTO CLEMENTE; two-time triple crown pitcher VERNON “LEFTY” GOMEZ,
with six World Series wins (and no losses); top-ranked catcher and manager AL LOPEZ; and JUAN MARICHAL,
243-game winner, celebrated for his varied pitches. The first rookie to win the Cy Young Award was Mexican
American pitcher FERNANDO VALENZUELA in 1981, when he was also Rookie of the Year. The first (and only)
player to hit the 40 mark in both home runs and stolen bases in the same season was Cuban American outfielder
JOSE CANSECO with 42 homers and 40 stolen bases in 1988, when he was also the American League’s Most Valuable
Player. In 1994, Canseco also tied three other players’ record of most walks in a row (7). Noted for most assists by a first baseman in the
National League was KEITH HERNANDEZ, with 1,662 between 1974 and 1989. He also set a record by leading the league in double
plays for six years. In 1994, outfielder BOBBY BONILLA of the New York Mets had the top baseball salary at $6.3 million. The American
League batting champion for 1995 was EDGAR MARTINEZ of the Seattle Mariners with a .356 average. He also led the league in 1992,
and in subsequent years. WILLIE HERNANDEZ in 1984 was only the seventh pitcher (and first Hispanic) ever to win both the Most
Valuable Player and Cy Young Awards in a single season. Nicaraguan-born DENNIE MARTINEZ pitched a perfect game for the Montreal
Expos in 1991, a feat accomplished only 14 times since 1880; Martinez was also the first Hispanic to do so. Top-ranked 1970s hitter and
manager LOU PINIELLA took a ball club (Seattle Mariners) with the worst historical record in the American League and created a
championship team for the 1990s.
1. One of the greatest hitters on the field today is Dominican-born Sammy Sosa. During the summer
of 1998, Chicago Cub’s player Sosa competed with Mark McGwire (St. Louis Cardinal’s) in a
remarkable “home run derby,” breaking the single season records of both Babe Ruth and
Roger Maris to finish the 1998 season with unprecedented success, all the while exhibiting
extraordinary character and sportsmanship. The amazing Sammy Sosa learned to hit like a
champion playing in the streets of Santo Domingo and using only a stick for a bat. Look in the
newspaper for articles about people who have done something amazing (in sports or another
field) which has caused them to be in the news.
2. Select four people and give the occupation or area of achievement for each. Identify the event
that caused each one to be in the news. Of the four people you have listed, which do you
admire the most? Explain your choice.
OCCUPATION OR AREA
PERSON IN THE NEWS
OF ACHIEVEMENT
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
60
AMAZING NEWS
EVENT
REASONS TO
ADMIRE THE
PERSON
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Sports
ACTIVITY #61 SUPER-STARS, Football, Golf, Tennis
IN PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL: The leading defensive lineman for the Miami Dolphins (1968-77) = MANNY
FERNANDEZ; Super Bowl ring winner first as a quarterback (1967) and later twice as head coach of the
Raiders (1981, 1984) = TOM FLORES; First Hispanic American to be named head coach, general manager,
and president of an NFL team = TOM FLORES; Three-time Pro Bowl player (1982-84) = ANTHONY MUNOZ;
American Football League Rookie of the Year (1971) and Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XV (1981) = JIM
PLUNKETT.
IN PROFESSIONAL GOLF: Four-time Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Player of the Year (1978-79, 1985,
1988), and member of its Hall of Fame = NANCY LOPEZ; One of only two players to ever score three consecutive
wins on the Senior PGA tour (1987) = JUAN “CHI CHI” RODRIQUEZ; Two-time U.S. Open (1968, 1971) and PGA champ (1974, 1984),
and three-time Senior PGA Player of the Year (1990, 1992, 1994) = LEE TREVINO.
IN PROFESSIONAL TENNIS: Five-time Wimbledon doubles champ with partner Billie Jean King (1967-73) = ROSEMARY CASALS;
Two-time U.S. singles champ (1948-49) and nine-time world pro singles champ (1954-1962) = RICHARD ALONZO “PANCHO”
GONZALEZ; Together, the doubles gold medalists for the United States at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics = BEATRICE “GIGI” FERNANDEZ
and MARY JOE FERNANDEZ.
1. Born in Dallas, Texas to a poor Mexican American family, Lee Trevino learned to play golf by
watching others at a nearby course where he worked as a groundskeeper and caddy. Today he
continues to be one of golf’s finest players, a leader who has earned the respect of his colleagues,
peers, and fans. Leadership is a great quality to have and maintain. Not all sports champions
are “leaders” in a true sense. Make a list of present day sports celebrities who you would
define as leaders.
2. Look in today’s newspaper for sports figures, political leaders, and newsmakers who are
nationally or internationally known. Give each leader’s name, country, and leadership role. List
some qualities or characteristics unique to each person. Suggest ways in which the individual
could be a better leader.
LEADER
LEADERSHIP
ROLE
COUNTRY
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
61
CHARACTERISTICS
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Sports
ACTIVITY #62 MORE SUPER-STARS, Basketball, Boxing, Skating, Track
REBECCA LOBO - The first Hispanic woman to win an Olympic gold medal in basketball was Rebecca Lobo
in 1996, when she competed on the undefeated championship team of the United States. Lobo had led
her college team, the University of Connecticut, to win the 1995 National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) championship, where she was named final four Most Valuable Player. Also, Lobo is the only Big East
basketball player in history to win both Big East Player of the Year and Scholarship Athlete of the Year, and
she accomplished this feat twice.
OSCAR DE LA HOYA - At the 1992 Olympics, Oscar de la Hoya was the only U.S. boxing gold medalist. In June of
1996 he defeated Julio Cesar Chavez to win the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-lightweight title. His $9 million
purse set a record for a super-lightweight. He was named 1995 Fighter of the Year by Boxing Writers Association of America. He has
landed endorsement deals with several major companys, and continues to be a boxing champion today.
RUDY GALINDO - In January of 1996, Rudy Galindo became the first Mexican American to win a national singles skating championship
(the U.S. Figure Skating Championship), and the oldest man to do so since 1926. He followed up that success with a third-place
finish at the World Championships, a performance that earned him the bronze medal. He overcame an eight-month layoff because
of lack of funds, the deaths of two coaches, and the loss of his pairs partner. (Galindo was twice a national pairs champion with
Kristi Yamaguchi before she went on to solo success.) Galindo owes much of his success to his coach and sister, Laura Galindo.
ALBERTO BAUDUY SALAZAR - One of the world’s premier distance runners is Alberto Bauduy Salazar. He won the NCAA individual
championship and helped his University of Oregon team win the NCAA title in 1977. He made the U.S. Olympic team in 1980 but
could not compete due to the U.S. boycott of the Moscow games; instead, he ran in and won that year’s New York Marathon with
the fastest first marathon in history and the second-fastest ever run by an American. He won it again, along with the Boston
Marathon, in 1982. In all, he has set one world record and six U.S. records. In 1994, after a long slump and a series of illnesses,
Salazar stunned the world by winning the fifty-three mile supermarathon in South Africa. He was the first Hispanic runner to do so.
1. Each of the Latinos listed above is a “super-star” in the field of sports. These award-winning
athletes have been recognized for their unique abilities and special talents. Look in today’s
newspaper for other sports “super-stars.” List them below.
2. Identify each athlete’s area of specialty, their awards or contributions to the field of sports,
reason for being in the news, and any other interesting information.
NAME OF
PERSON
AWARDS &
CONTRIBUTIONS
ATHLETIC AREA OF
SPECIALTY
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
62
INTERESTING
INFORMATION
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Section II
INTERNET
EXTENSION
SECTION
WHAT?
Jump into cyber space to retrieve additional
activities relating to each of the five lessons in
this section! (Pages 64-68)
HOW?
Complete the activities in this section just as you
have all the others! Then, move on to cyber space!
WHERE?
Your curriculum-based cyber extension activities
can be found at:
h t t p : / / w w w. h e a d b o n e . c o m / n i e
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
63
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Business
ACTIVITY #63 OSCAR DE LA RENTA, Fashion Designer
The world famous fashion designer was born Oscar Ortiz de la Renta on July 22, 1932 in Santo
Domingo, Dominican Republic. Although his mother introduced him to the world of fashion at an
early age, his ambition was to become an abstract painter. He began studying art in his homeland
and completed his studies in Madrid, Spain. Unable to sell a single painting at gallery shows, Oscar
decided to market his artistic skills by doing fashion illustrations for Spanish newspapers and magazines.
It was in Madrid that Mrs. John Lodge, wife of the U.S. Ambassador to Spain, saw de la Renta’s sketches
and commissioned him to design a gown for her daughter’s debut. When the debutante was featured on
the cover of Life magazine, de la Renta’s career in fashion was launched! He spent several years working for top fashion design
houses, including Balenciaga, before moving to New York in 1963 to design for Elizabeth Arden. After two years with Arden, de la
Renta joined American designer Jane Derby. When Derby died, the company became known as OSCAR DE LA RENTA. In 1967, Oscar
married a lady who was then the editor-in-chief of French Vogue magazine. Her powerful connections helped de la Renta build a
fashion empire that in 1991 was reported to gross $450 million a year. In the late 1960s, and for three decades thereafter, de la
Renta emerged as one of the world’s leading designers of men and women’s fashions, receiving all of the prestigious fashion
awards and commendations. In 1971, de la Renta became a naturalized American citizen. Although his birth country offered him
the post of ambassador to the United States, he refused to part with his American citizenship. The Dominican Republic honored de
la Renta with the order of Jean Pablo Duarte, and Cristobal Colon, as one of the nation’s most distinguished and favorite sons.
1. Among de la Renta’s most noteworthy creations for women are suits with safari jackets; dresses
in caftan, butterfly-wing, or sarong shapes; and “portrait” dresses with a fitted bodice and full,
ruffled sleeves. De la Renta has never abandoned these designs. Look in your daily newspaper for
today’s clothing fashions for women. (If your newspaper does not have a fashion section, scan
the advertisements.) Can you find evidence of de la Renta’s influence on today’s styles? Explain.
2. Oscar de la Renta (along with contemporaries like Bill Blass) built his career on clothes that, while
ready-to-wear, felt luxurious and “Couture” (of superior quality). Although most of us cannot
afford an original “de la Renta” or “Blass” design, we tend to purchase clothing that immitates
the master’s designs and fashion trends. Using clothing advertisements from all sections of your
newspaper, plan a new seasonal wardrobe. Your wardrobe should be useful, attractive, and correct
for the climate in which you live. Be sure your wardrobe fits your personal lifestyle. Will your new
look incorporate any designer fashion trends? Stay within an imaginary budget!
WARDROBE ITEM
FASHION LOOK / TREND
LIFESTYLE FIT
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
64
PRICE
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Education
ACTIVITY #64 JAIME ESCALANTE, Mathematician, Teacher
Jaime Escalante was born in the early 1930s in La Paz, Bolivia. The son of an elementary school teacher, he too
earned his teaching credentials. At the age of twenty-two, he secured his first teaching post and soon became
a nationally recognized, award-winning math teacher. In 1963, military and economic troubles brewing in
Bolivia forced Escalante and his wife and son to emigrate to the United States. Jaime spoke no English, and his
Bolivian teaching credentials were worthless in the United States, so he was forced to work in a coffee shop
while he learned English. He landed a job testing computers but found little satisfaction in this work and longed
for the classroom. For seven years he took night courses towards a college degree in math. Upon receiving his
degree and teaching certification, Escalante gave up his higher salary to join the faculty at Garfield High School
in 1973. Located in an East L.A. neighborhood beset by drugs, crime, and gang violence, the school was a war
zone. In addition, Garfield’s accreditation had been threatened due to low academic achievement from a student
body that was 98% Latino and over 50% first generation American. Little by little Escalante made inroads with the students and
began to turn their lives around. He used an innovative team approach to teaching, building the student’s self confidence and
making them believe in themselves. In the late 1970s Escalante submitted a proposal to teach advanced placement (AP) calculus,
which was unheard of at Garfield. His first calculus class had only five students. With each year the number of interested students
doubled. Within three years Escalante’s students were scoring the highest possible grade, and almost all were receiving the passing
grade on the AP test. Controversy arose in 1982 when the Educational Testing Service (ETS) questioned the validity of the scores of
eighteen Garfield students. Their suspicions were aroused by a pattern of corresponding incorrect answers, and they accused two
students of cheating. Escalante denied the accusations and encouraged his students to take the test over. Twelve agreed, and they
all passed. Their grades were positive proof of the effectiveness of Escalante’s teaching, and that Latino students could transcend
their disadvantaged background, and the gangs and drugs, to excel academically. By the mid-1980s, only six public schools in
America prepared more students for the AP calculus test than Garfield.
1. The 1982 ETS controversy was quite a news story! Media publicity over the incident piqued the
interest of a film producer who later produced a movie chronicling the success story. Look through
today’s newspaper for news stories that might make interesting movies. List three news items on
the chart below, and explain how or why each could be a box office hit.
2. The 1988 movie about Jaime Escalante and Garfield High School (Stand and Deliver) was applauded
by critics and audiences across America. Can you explain why? Locate the entertainment section
in your daily newspaper. Identify movies that have a similar theme, controversy, success story, or
ethnic orientation. Evaluate each film from a movie critic’s perspective.
NEWS STORY
SIGNIFICANCE
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
MOVIE
65
SIMILARITY
EVALUATION
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Entertainment
ACTIVITY #65 DESI ARNAZ, Actor, Musician, Television Producer
Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III was born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, on March 2, 1917, to a prestigious
Cuban family. Desi’s father was mayor of Santiago de Cuba, and later elected to Congress in Havana. His
paternal grandfather was a doctor who tended to Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders at San Juan Hill during
the Spanish American War. Desi’s maternal grandfather was one of the founders of the Bacardi rum
company. In 1933, young Desi’s atmosphere of wealth and privilege ended with a Cuban revolution. Desi’s
father was imprisoned and the family lost everything. Soon after, the family fled Cuba on a ferryboat to
begin a new life in Miami. As a sixteen year old in high school, Arnaz worked at odd jobs to help his father
make a living. In 1936, while singing and playing with a small band, he caught the eye of bandleader Xavier
Cugat, the king of rumba. After a short stint with the Cuqat Orchestra, Desi formed his own Latin dance band. For twenty-five dollars
a month, Cugat agreed to let Desi use his name to bill the new Arnaz band. Desi Arnaz was a sensation, creating the conga music craze
of the 1930s. Attracting the attention of Broadway director George Abbott, his big break came in 1939, when he was cast in the
Broadway hit musical, Too Many Girls, by Rogers and Hart. Later, the movie version paired Arnaz with a new actress named Lucille Ball.
The two were married in 1940 and worked on their solo careers. As a new American citizen, Arnaz joined the U.S. Army and entertained
hospitalized servicemen during WWII. Then, in 1950, Ball and Arnaz formed Desilu Productions to produce a television show called
I Love Lucy, which debuted in October of 1951. The show ran with rave reviews through 1957 and was the first television show in
history to reach 10 million homes. Desilu Productions blossomed into a high profile Hollywood television studio producing several
other programs. Desi and Lucille had two children, the actors Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz, Jr. The couple’s hectic schedule strained
their marriage, and in 1960, Lucille and Desi divorced. Arnaz continued to serve as executive producer of Desilu until he sold his share
of the company to Lucille in 1962. Desi returned to television production in 1967, and later acted in his last film in 1982. Arnaz retired
to his horse ranch in Del Mar, California, where he died of cancer in 1986 at the age of sixty-nine.
1. Desi suggested that the I Love Lucy show be filmed before a live audience (a hitherto untried
approach in television production). Without knowing it at the time, Arnaz was setting the
standard for all future sitcom productions. Scan the television listings in your daily newspaper.
How many sitcom shows are on the air today? Which ones are filmed before a live audience? In
what other ways has the I Love Lucy show influenced television programming?
2. CBS agreed to Desi’s live audience proposal if the couple took a salary cut. Arnaz and Ball
consented under the stipulation that they would own all episodes outright after the first network
airing. It proved to be a brilliant business decision on their part. With reruns and network
syndication, the I Love Lucy show made a fortune in future decades. Is I Love Lucy still running
on television? Check your newspaper’s TV Guide to see. List also other older programs aired
today as reruns. How does network syndication work today?
SITCOMS
DESILU
INFLUENCE
LIVE AUDIENCE
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
66
RERUNS ON
TV TODAY
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Government
ACTIVITY #66 ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, U.S. Representative
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen was born on July 15, 1952 in Havana, Cuba. In 1960, a year after Castro assumed
power, her family fled to the United States and settled in Miami. After anti-Castro forces with backing
from the American government failed in their attempt to invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs in 1961, the Ros
family abandoned their hopes of returning to their homeland and embraced the American
way of life. In 1975, Ileana earned a B.A. degree in English from Florida International University
in Miami. Eleven years later, she received an M.S. degree in educational leadership. For ten
years she was employed as a teacher and a principal at Eastern Academy, a school she founded,
before entering the political arena. She inherited her love of politics from her father, who devoted much of his energy toward the
restoration of democracy in Cuba. In her first elected office Ros-Lehtinen served as a representative in the Florida state legislature
from 1982 to 1986. She was then elected state senator and served in that post from 1986 to 1989. During her tenure in the state
legislature, Ileana met her future husband, Dexter Lehtinen, who at that time also served in that legislative body and later became
the U.S. Attorney in Miami. They have two daughters. In her early years in the state legislature, Ros-Lehtinen focused on broad
changes in public policy, but as time passed, she began to concentrate on the concerns of individuals and businesses in her district.
In July 1989, Ros-Lehtinen resigned her state senate seat to campaign in the special election to fill Florida’s Eighteenth Congressional
District seat, left vacant by the death of long time Congressman Claude Pepper. From the moment she announced her candidacy,
Ileana was an early favorite on the Republican side. On August 29, 1989, Ros-Lehtinen emerged victorious, capturing 53 percent of
the district’s total vote. By winning the special election, she became the first Hispanic woman and first Cuban American elected to
the House of Representatives. (She was also the first Republican and the first woman elected from Florida’s Eighteenth Congressional
District.) Ros-Lehtinen serves on the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee and the House International Relations
Committee. In her tenure in the House, Ros-Lehtinen has spoken out about injustices committed beyond America’s borders, particularly
in Latin America and the Caribbean.
1. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has been a Congresswoman for many years, first in the Florida legislature,
and then as a member of the U.S. Congress. Look in today’s newspaper for the names of any
five members of your state legislature or the U.S. Congress. List their names below and tell
whether each is a senator or representative.
2. If the person is a state legislator, identify the area in your state that they represent. If they are
a member of the U.S. Congress, tell which state and/or area of that state they represent. Then,
read the newspaper article that mentioned the name of each person you selected. Explain why
each senator or representative was newsworthy today. Circle the name of the person that most
directly affects your community. Explain why and how.
NAME
NAME OF STATE & / OR
AREA OF THE STATE THEY
REPRESENT
SENATOR OR
REPRESENTATIVE
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
67
NEWSWORTHY
WHY?
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.
Science & Technology
ACTIVITY #67 SEVERO OCHOA,
Biochemist, Professor, Nobel Prize Winner
Severo Ochoa was born in Luarca, Spain, on September 24, 1905. Ochoa earned an A.B. degree in Malaga,
and later his M.D. degree with honors at the University of Madrid in Spain. Choosing not to practice
medicine but instead to pursue work in biochemistry, Severo Ochoa found few research opportunities
in Europe in the late 1930s. So, Ochoa accepted an offer in St. Louis, Missouri in 1941 and moved to the
United States. A year later he joined the New York University College of Medicine staff. Ochoa’s early work
included research on vitamin B1 and numerous studies into enzymes, as a result of which he was credited with
a number of important breakthroughs. His worldwide honors included honorary degrees and professorships,
prestigious invitations to lecture, and such awards as the Newberg Medal in Biochemistry, the award of the Societe de Chimie Biologique,
and the Borden Award in the Medical Sciences of the Association of American Colleges. Dr. Ochoa and fellow American biochemist
Arthur Kornberg were the first to produce nucleic acids artifically. Kornberg produced DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and Ochoa produced
RNA (ribonucleic acid). These dramatic discoveries helped break the genetic code of life. Severo Ochoa became an American citizen in
1956, just three years before his career was capped as co-winner (with Arthur Kornberg) of the Nobel Prize for Medicine. He had
directed the RNA research as chairman of the Biochemistry Department at New York University College of Medicine. Needless to say,
Dr. Severo Ochoa was the first Hispanic American to win a Nobel Prize in medicine.
1. Dr. Severo Ochoa made some very important contributions to medical science in the area of
biochemistry, specifically in RNA research for genetic code information. His work directly shaped
history and paved the way for other medical science breakthroughs. Scan today’s newspaper
for news articles about today’s history shapers.
2. Select eight people from your newspaper search and list them below. Identify the field or area
in which they are making a contribution (science, medicine, technology, education, government,
sports, entertainment, the arts). Tell what they are doing and list any words used in the
newspaper article to describe the person.
PERSON
Hispanic Heritage : A Salute To Latino Americans
FIELD
CONTRIBUTION
68
DESCRIPTION
Copyright 1998. CJHatcher & Associates, Inc.