Latina in Nashville: L is for Liberal

The L-Club, a group of progressives who gather to discuss the issues and causes du jour, got together on a Saturday night at La Iglesia Catolica de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe (after finding a place to park) to talk about New Americans and the Dream Act.

Amelia Post, Youth Organizer for TIRRC, the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, and a group of youth working with JUMP, Jovenes Unidos para un Mejor Presente, gave the L-Club an in-depth view of life as an undocumented student. Some of these young people were brought to the United States as young as 2 years old while others came a little older. But regardless of who brought them or how they got here the struggles they face every day are the same. The simple task of getting around the city can easily become a misdemeanor that can then turn into deportation. Finding a college or university that will accept them is one hurdle, paying for higher education with little to no financial assistance or loans is another daunting task. Many undocumented students not only face a myriad of fears and obstacles, they also have to deal with shame. For starters, one doesn’t admit that he/she is undocumented because of the legal ramifications. But not having a social security number can also make a person feel less than whole. The inability to obtain an identification card with your name and photograph, the inability to leave the country for vacation, the inability to vote, and the inability to work and give back to the community that raised you can leave a young person feeling trapped, disabled, hopeless and ashamed.

The encouraging news is that TIRRC and JUMP are fighting for undocumented students and offer solidarity and support to students dealing with this very complex and controversial issue.

I remember how excited I was when my shiny new driver’s license was handed to me for the first time. There is no telling when these students will get to experience that same privilege. They need our financial and moral support. From now on I will think of them every time I touch my driver’s license. I hope you will too.

Latina in Nashville: Music

On Friday night I headed South to the popular Latin dance club, Ibiza Night Club, to hear the tunes of Revolfusion. My date was an hour late and the band didn’t start until midnight so the old lady in me was considering calling it quits. But I couldn’t. These guys are too good to walk out on.

I’ve been following this group as Kazique, and watched them gain momentum as Conexion Americas utilized their talent under the name Rumba to win the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville’s Corporate Band Challenge earlier this year. That exposure opened doors for the group to perform during the CMA Music Festival, to be the opening act for Los Lonely Boys at Live on the Green and to perform at the gorgeous Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

This has been a year of tremendous growth for this group. They are doing their own music with a very unique style and great lyrics. The band members are more in sync with each other and with the audience and the crowd responds to their beats every time. It also doesn’t hurt that they are nice to look at.

I’m under the impression that along with the name change the guys are getting increasingly serious about their gift. They’ve hit the recording studio recently for their first record, Machete Desembainao. If you haven't seen and heard the fun and energetic music Revolfusion delivers you should make it a New Year's resolution. I'm sure you'll join the rapidly growing group of Revol-lovers. Se te meteran en el pecho poquito a poco. Enjoy!

Latina in Nashville: ARTEmio

It's another chilly Thursday evening and my buddy and I head over to Watkins College of Art, Design & Film for a lecture by self-taught, Mexican printmaker, Artemio Rodriguez. This guy tells the Watkins Art students the story of his life. The more he talks the more enchanting he becomes. He's sweet, honest, and totally open. He isn't afraid to talk about his fears, his mistakes or his passion for his art. It was refreshing to hear an artist speak so humbly about his incredible work and journey. The students laughed when he used the *f* word and I laughed when he cursed under his breath in Spanish. I was pleased that the students got to hear about his experience crossing the border and what life is really like in Mexico beyond what you hear in the news.

Rodriguez learned the art from a friend and mastered it. He specializes in Linocut which is carved linoleum that is then fed through a printer press. He has a few young students in his shop back in Mexico. I'm so happy to know that there are little Artemios out there soaking in all of his knowledge and talent.

The patience, skill, and creativity Rodriguez employs is evident in each one of his pieces. His humor, frankness, and humility are just icing on the cake.

YouTube video below:

Latina in Nashville: Art

About the blog created in 2011:
I have been known to complain about the lack of activities in Hispanic Nashville. That doesn’t mean that as Hispanics we don’t participate in non-Hispanic events, we most certainly do. But the events I enjoy most are the ones that somehow relate to my people or the experiences we share. The good news is that the variety of Latino-related events are increasing day by day. This is a review of the events I am able to attend.

1st Post - Latina in Nashville: Art

On a cool and quiet Thursday evening my buddy and I went on a mini Hispanic Nashville arts tour. Our first stop was the second floor of Vanderbilt’s beautiful Cohen Hall. There we saw “MAMA/RECIPROCAL ENERGY” a small sampling of Cuban-born Maria Magdalena Campos Pons' multi-media artwork. The colors, composition, and creativity are a treat to the eyes and mind. The subjects and themes of the work are a treat for the soul.

We quickly made way to our next stop, the Sarratt Student Center’s gallery in the lobby. There we enjoyed a sampling of José Galvez’s black and white photos of Hispanics in the South. I am thrilled to know that there is someone out there dedicating his life (over 40 years) to visually documenting the life of Hispanics all over the United States through photography. The people in the photographs are as diverse as their surroundings. There’s a young quinceañera practicing her moves with a dance team for her big day, a marcher holding a US flag to his face, and a blue collar worker in full work gear. I was excited to see a photograph of a couple and a little girl at the Nashville International Airport waiting for mother to arrive. I couldn’t help think of the DREAM ACT when I saw a photograph of two young boys on bikes on College St. The artist is aware his photographs are of regular, mundane life. The beauty is witnessing “how people naturally arrange themselves against their environment” as the artist’s statement explains. Galvez hopes to do justice to who we as Latinos really are, have been, and are becoming. To that I say, thank you.

Both of these exhibits are free and a short distance from each other. It’s worth the gas or bus money to get your self there. Campos Pons' work will be on display through December 8 while Galvez's photographs will be available through October 29th. I’ll wait for a free day at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts to see the rest of Campos Pons work.