Hispanic Heritage Month

There is so much going on for Hispanic Heritage Month and I want to share it all with YOU!  A couple of weeks ago when I was at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute gala — their annual dinner — I was so pleased that U. S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor was the *rock star* of the evening!

This is part of what I’ve been working for over the past couple of years!!!  One of the stated goals of the company is to recognize amazing Latina women for what they’ve accomplished, and not just because they’re pop culture icons.  I was so pleased, in part, because JLo was at the same function (Marc Anthony was receiving a very prestigious award that evening) and, in spite of that, Justice Sotomayor was the woman that all eyes were watching.

All the accolades were about Justice Sotomayor, the cameras were on her constantly, and the scope of her accomplishments were highlighted again and again.  I am very proud of Jennifer Lopez as a Latina, and all the accomplishments she’s brought to our community, and at the same time, it was SO COOL that Justice Sotomayor was truly given her due at this event.  It’s exciting that we can have multiple accomplished, incredible Latinas at an event and that we can recognize the strides one has taken without taking away from the other.

And to top it off, President Obama spoke and said the highlight of his administration, to date, was the day that he swore in Justice Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.  As a Latina woman, I was so proud to be at the event, and I will admit to shouting out some gritos during the course of the evening.

Later that same week I watched the Alma Awards, and was gratified to see recognition of not only those Latinos in front of the camera, but also those who put their time and energy into the production of materials that are in Hollywood.  Ultimately, this will be what truly changes the ways in which we are portrayed.

This past week I was speaking to Raytheon’s HOLA (Hispanic Organization for Leadership and Advancement) group for their annual Hispanic Heritage Month luncheon.  I was eager to tell them some of the stats I’ve been sharing with you, and many people came up to me after expressing surprise about some of these facts.  It’s so important that we get out the truth about our multiple heritages and histories.

And finally, I was sent some BEAUTIFUL pictures by a friend of mine, Alberto Varela, who is a photographer and artist and was taking some photos at another Hispanic Heritage event.  I hope you enjoy!

September Latina Flick Picks

September Flick Pick: Sister Outsider Entertainment

Theme: La Llorona

By Elisha Miranda & Sofia Quintero

Fearless

Rosie Perez won several awards and even an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as a grieving mother in this gripping 1993 film based on the Raul Yglesias novel of the same name. After surviving a plane crash that killed most passengers including his friend and business partner, architect Max Klein (Jeff Bridges) finds himself feeling unusually alive. He no longer fears death and believes he’s invulnerable. His therapist (John Turturro) characterizes Max’s fearlessness as dangerous denial and pairs him with Carla Rodrigo (Perez), the other survivor he has been unable to reach.  Carla blames herself for the death of her two-year old son. Although their response to their survival is radically different, Max and Carla have an instant connection, and their growing bond threatens to destroy their marriages even as it heals their souls.

In a performance that proves she’s capable of playing characters radically different from the girl in the ‘hood, Perez as Carla reveals all the nuances of grief from her anger at the fight attendant who advised her to hold her baby in her arms to the capacity for laughter that still exists despite profound loss.  Carla sheds tears to express a range of emotions beyond grief.  Whether or not you personally have gone through an experience such as hers, FEARLESS is sure to move you in way or another so get your media journal and let it all pour at out as you watch the movie and consider the following questions.

1)    List all the instances when Carla is moved or almost moved to tears.  What are the specific circumstances that move her?  Now in one word, select the emotion that best captures the emotion sparked by each circumstance.  Was choosing only one word easy or difficult.  Why do you think that is?  Can you recall at least one time you expressed each of those emotions with tears?  What was the message that your tears gave you about the circumstances that provoked them. Do you think you would’ve gotten the message had you not been moved to tears by the circumstances.

2)    Regardless of why she cries, Carla never apologizes for her tears.  Can you recall a time when you apologized for yours? Why did you feel compelled to apologize? Under what circumstances do you feel you have permission to cry?  Why do you think society is invested in prescribing when it is permissible or not permissible to cry in front of others?  Imagine how your life might be different if you safe to cry whenever you were moved.  Go ahead. Try it. Take a particular scenario from your past and imagine how your life might have changed if only you released the tears you were feeling at that moment instead of repressing them? Were you raised in a family or environment where tears were considered a sign of weakness? Have you had an experience were you cried in front of others and later realized that it was a brave thing to do?

3)    When people see a person crying, they automatically assume that she is sad or maybe even frightened, but as you know, people cry for a variety of reasons.  One reason we cry is because we are angry as Carla did in the group therapy scene.  What particular circumstances cause you cry when you are angry? Why do you think they you cry rather than express your anger in other ways? What is the gift in tears of rage?

4)    Carla tells her husband, “I understand that I’m alone.” Have you ever cried because you felt alone?  Have you ever cried because you realized the opposite – that you were not alone at all? Were these tears of hopelessness? Or were they tears of joy?

5)    The film ends with positive tears so let’s end this on a positive note, too. Recall a time when you cried tears of joy.  Challenge yourself to evoke all your senses and relive the moment. See if you can give yourself a joyous cry. ☺

Change of Seasons

This past week marked the “official” change of seasons from summer to fall.  Although for many folks, the seasons change when kids go back to school, this was the week when the calendar told us that we are now officially into autumn.  And soon, we’ll change our clocks and that will have an even more profound affect on the days and nights.

This change of seasons marks shorter days, colder weather and less light.  When seasons change in our lives, we take time to reflect.  Sometimes we have a need for certain kinds of support, and other times we need other types of support.

For this month’s theme of La Llorona, we’ve been talking about grief, tears and pain.  There are times when we need to go through that season.  And at other times, there are seasons of joy, celebration and true magic.  We’ll be talking more about that next month with the theme of La Bruja.

When the seasons change, we may think that the season of “playtime” — the summer — is over.  We may, consciously or unconsciously, get more serious, take on more tasks, or be more solemn.  You may also feel some sad emotions, and perhaps even need more sleep.

On the other hand, you may love the season when there’s a crispness in the air, the colors on the trees are changing (ok, not so much in Southern California), and it’s time to pull out some warmer clothes.  It’s also fun to look forward to warm, yummy drinks (I love apple cider!), and the holidays with loved ones.  I am also a huge fan of Halloween — the costumes, the candy and the ensuing days of Dia de los Muertos are all things I cherish.

So the change of seasons gives us time to reflect.  How are the seasons changing affecting you?  I know that for me when there’s less light, it in some ways makes the days seem more rushed.  It feels like you’re working harder if you’re “working long into the night” even if it’s only til 6 or 7…  On the other hand, like I mentioned above, I love the holidays and the getting together with friends and family that this always brings (which includes good food!).

So, I hope for you you’re able to be attuned to the seasons in your life, know how the outside seasons affect you, and gather what you need around you for your mental, psychological and physical health.

Here’s to an amazing season for all of us!

How Do We Use Our Tears?

One of the key themes of leadership is to KNOW YOURSELF.   Many of our Powerful Latina interviewees have talked about the importance of being self-reflective, getting to know your own strengths and weaknesses, and doing what is right for YOU.  Part of this key is to know our emotions, how we respond, and when, and why.

Our emotions are markers for us — they give us feedback on how we’re doing and if we’re going in the right direction.  Tears usually mean some kind of strong emotion — either we’re deeply happy, profoundly touched, or in serious pain.

As Latinas, we often have so much going on in our lives!  We have family and work obligations, interactions with friends, neighbors, lovers and colleagues.  And we have challenges that are unique to our situations.  In each of us, at different times in our lives, we react to these strong influences in a variety of ways.

I know that for me, when I find myself in tears, there is something important going on in my life and my tears encourage me to learn the truth about the situation.  Am I moved by a situation such that I cry to touch that place of tenderness inside me?  During certain times in movies, for example, I witness an emotion with which I connect and I cry because I recognize that there is a place in me that resonates with that emotion.

Other times, I have tears of anger and frustration and they come out because I don’t know what else to do!  And sometimes, I’m so happy I cry tears of joy (such as when good things happen for my son).

During the year, I’ve been asking you questions around different themes, and encouraging you to ask these questions of yourself.  I know that when I ask myself these same questions, I learn about what is going on with me, and my answers change from time to time.  Sometimes I react with certain emotions, and at other times with others.

So I encourage you to think about how you use your own tears.  Are you free with your emotions, or do you hold back?  Are you willing to be open and share, or are you afraid of your vulnerabilities?  How do YOU use your tears?

This month, as we reflect on La Llorona, let’s also think about the story of tears in our lives and realize there is so much good to come out of the use of tears, and honor the tears that have pointed the ways for us in the past…

How Do We Express Our Grief?

For Latinas, we are “supposed” to be passionate!  We express our joy, our celebration, our playfulness and our love.  But how do we express our grief?  Do we hold it in or do we let it out?  When and why do we make these choices?

There are times in our life when we feel overwhelmed, are full of angst and have a heaviness inside us.  At these times, we may feel sad and lost.  We may also feel anxious, worried and confused about what to do.

Sometimes, in those low moments, we feel isolated and alone and have a difficult time reaching out and sharing our pain.  Other times, we want everyone to know and feel free to tell the world.

One way we express our grief is through tears.  Those tears have a function!  That emotion gets liquified and comes out of us to show ourselves and others the depth of our feelings.

Why is it scary to show our grief?  Why is it that many times we don’t want others to see us cry?  That vulnerability, and the fear of being misunderstood, is one reason.  Also, we often believe that we have to hide negative emotions, and keep them locked inside, at least until we’re alone and can let it out.

It can be difficult to explain to others the layers of emotion, and there are many times when words cannot capture what is really going on inside.  For these, and other, reasons, we often tend to hide our grief and not share it with others.

At those times when nothing can contain our emotions and we feel like we’re breaking apart, it’s important to reach out and to find the time and the way to share with our loved ones what is going on.  Although of course no one can get inside our heads and our hearts to completely understand, the drawing close of people we love and trust can assist us in expressing what is happening, and lead us through our pain to the other side.

I have had good girlfriends sit with me and just listen while I cried and explained what was hurting in my life.  They were there to support, to love and to just BE with me.  There was no judgment, although there may have been some gentle words to help me gain a broader perspective.

I have found that sharing grief, with the right people, somehow makes the feeling bearable.  Those tears that you shed are a message to you that there is a lot going on with you and it’s time to connect with others, especially your Powerful Latina sisters.

Mujer, don’t be afraid to let it out.  Express yourself; share your story and know that if the first person you shared with didn’t support you in the way you needed, there are others who will.  Let us reach out to those who are hurting and help them bear their grief so that the load becomes lighter…

Hispanic Heritage Month

Today is the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month!  September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month in the U.S.  Teaching the contributions of Hispanic Americans, and learning about the cultures from which they come, will be the focal point of many classroom activities, organizational and cultural events, media projects and discussions in the weeks ahead.

Because of this focus in the public eye on Hispanic countries, cultures and people, hopefully we can ALL learn more about our Hispanic heritages.

But why teach about Hispanic heritage? Or, for that matter, why teach about any heritage?  This may be a question that those around you might ask, and instead of throwing up your hands and screaming, try the following…  

First of all, teaching about the contributions of Latinos can only help to build the self-esteem and the pride of those who identify themselves as Mexican-American or Cuban-American or Dominican-American or . . . .

But, even more importantly, it is essential that all students learn to understand the ethnic diversity that is our country (and what ethnic diversity even means!).  Integrating the cultures not only in the classroom, but also in the public eye, helps develop “ethnic literacy” in all of us. Developing ethnic literacy fosters pride in one’s own culture and a respect and appreciation for the uniqueness of others.

While we’ve come a long way, we still have a long way to go.  Popular culture portrayals of Latinos in the media is still much narrower than we would like.  There is still a dearth of Hispanics in the highest echelons of power, and there are still stereotypes in peoples minds, attitudes and actions.

Hopefully everyone understands they come from a variety of cultures and can honor and appreciate ALL of them.  Additionally, it is important that people do NOT lump all “Hispanics” or “Latinos” together and understand we have a richness of differences among this so-called “group.”  This is a great time to open conversations about these issues (and hopefully keep them going all year).

The misconceptions about who we are abound!  Here are just a few facts and resources.

Latinos come from countries that have been settled by people from all the continents of the world – including Europe, Asia, Africa – and have histories that explain the settling of different groups (such as Chinese, Jews, Palestinians, Italians and Germans) in specific places in Latin America.  If you don’t know all these stories, wouldn’t this be a good month to learn some of them?

The slave trade brought more people to Latin America than to the U.S. and these heritages have had a lot of influence on the cultures.  For some interesting research, go to http://afrolatinoproject.org.

And of course, all these immigrants, conquerors and settlers mixed with indigenous peoples who held their own cultures, practices and languages in what we now consider “Latin America.”  According to www.educationworld.com, some of these indigenous peoples of the Americas include the Arawaks (Puerto Rico), the Aztecs (Mexico), the Incas (South America), the Maya (Central America), and the Tainos (in Cuba, Puerto Rico and other places).  And this is just a small sample.

For purposes of the U.S. Census, Hispanic Americans today are identified according to the parts of the world that they or their ancestors came from, including Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Spain, or the nations of Central or South America.

Let’s share this information and talk about it with each other.  Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

La Llorona de Michoacan

La Llorona, the wailing woman, remains one of Mexico’s most prevalent legends. A version not so renowned comes from the state of Michoacán. In Purhépecha lore, the Llorona archetypes were called Auicanimes or Naná Ku-Kú.  These were women who died in labor, trying to give birth to their first child.

Having observed their plight, the benevolent earth mother Cueraperi, bestowed upon them the status of warrior goddesses. She then transformed the Lloronas into stars to serve the new moon goddess Xaratanga, patroness of childbirth and the farmers, who planted with her cycles. At Xaratanga’s side, the Lloronas became celestial midwives, as it were, aiding the new moon goddess safeguard pregnant women throughout gestation and childbirth.

Legend has it, however, that on the dark of the moon, in particular, grief would sometimes overcome the Auicanimes, and they would return to the earth via the waterways which acted as portals between worlds.

Seeking their lost children, the Lloronas appeared as women in mourning, pallid ghosts dressed in beautiful huipiles and wrapped in the traditional rebozo, reflecting the night sky. Roaming alongside rivers, lakes, and wells, the Lloronas wandered, seeking their lost children, wailing their piercing lament to the long, black night.

Evoking profound fear, particularly for their children, the Purhépecha had specific rituals for the Lloronas. They burned the resinous copal incense and prayed in order to coax them to return to Xaratanga, to perform their midwifery duties, insuring that other pregnant women not suffer their fate.

Over the centuries, the Llorona has metamorphosed into a modern-day “bogey man” and to this day, in small villages children are still warned not to stay out late and to stay far away from bodies of water, so as not to be robado por La Llorona!

-Sandra del Castillo
Sources: “La Religión Prehispanica de Los Purhépechas- un testimonio del pueblo Tarasco” – by Francisco Hurtado Mendoza,  Morelia Michoacán, 1986

“La Relación de Michoacán- de las ceremonias, ritos, y población y gobierno de los indios de la provincia” -1541- preliminary study- Professor José Corona Nuñez, University of Michoacán, archaelogist of the National Institute of Anthropology of Mexico

MANA Conference

For those of you in the San Diego area, the upcoming Latina Success conference (Mujeres con Exito) 2009 will be held Wednesday, October 14^th.

I was honored to be asked to moderate a panel of amazing Latina women for the Executive Roundtable, the culminating event of the conference.

I certainly hope you can attend this exciting event.  Click here to learn more.

When’s the Last Time You Had/Needed a Good Cry?

Have you ever had one of the those sobbing, gut-wrenching, air-gulping, shoulder-heaving cries?  You know, the kind where you feel like your heart is literally breaking inside of you?  Maybe you felt all hot and anxious, or completely desolate and alone?  And when it’s done, you either feel relieved it’s over, or at least as if there’s no more tears in your body.

Sometimes the cry helped sort things out, and sometimes it was simply our body’s way of expressing some of the ache, even if that hurt continued to live on inside of you.  When was the last time you had such a cry, and what happened afterward?

For Latinas, there are so many words for when we get weepy, or let our emotions out in tears.  And many times, when we turn to tears, it’s because we need some valve to let some of the tension out.

I *hate* when guys assume that our tears are always hormone-based.  Now, ladies, I will be the first to admit that the cycles our bodies go through do have affect on how we react in certain situations, and at the same time, our emotions (usually) all have their origins in some catalyst or event.

So shedding a tear or two may be a part of our lives, especially when something touches us deeply.  However, I’m not talking about the quiet release of salty liquid down our cheeks.  I’m talking about the time when you let it all out and there was no holding back.

Those times when we need to have that kind of an emotional release are generally big events.  Perhaps it was the death of a loved one, or a huge betrayal by a trusted lover or confidante.  And maybe you’ve been there for OTHERS when they needed to cry and just be held or listened to or understood.  Sometimes it’s our simple presence that is what’s needed.

So I would urge you to think about how you use tears in your life — both for the big occasions and the small ones.  How do tears serve you?  Do you allow them to?  And when’s the last time you had or needed a good cry?

Although we talk about motivation, skills and resources amongst ourselves, we also need a moment to reflect on grief and how we deal with the bad times.  Many of our Powerful Latina interviewees have gone through tragedies in their lives, and I guarantee that some of them went through these times of tears.  What were yours?

From me, and from all your Powerful Latina sisters around you, abrazos!

September Recommendations

Marcela Landres is the author of the e-book How Editors Think. She is an Editorial Consultant who specializes in helping Latinos get published and was formerly an editor at Simon & Schuster.

Check out her webpage at: www.marcelalandres.com.

	La Llorona and Other Stories by Alma Luz Villanueva (Bilingual Review Press) Stories of women who find hope despite–or because–of their grief.
	A Memoir by Isabel Allende (Harper Perennial) The beloved author transforms her unspeakable grief over the death of her daughter into a work of art.

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