College of Alameda’s Latinos Unidos student club hosted an afternoon of music, dancing, food and speakers on Oct. 12 in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
The program began with a colorful and spirited performance by the Vera Cruz Children’s Folkloric Dancers.
COA student Miguel Guerrero-Gonzalez talked about the various independence movements celebrated during Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15), as well as the intersections of family, education and struggle within Latino culture.
“Heritage is a very important thing. Heritage is derived from culture, honor, dignity and strength,” said Guerrero-Gonzalez, a member of Latinos Unidos and the Chief Justice for the Associated Students of College of Alameda (ASCOA). “Latinos at COA are diverse; Mexicanos, Guatamalans and Cubanos. We all put our minds together.”
He also spoke about his recent speech at a Model United Nations conference, where he represented his family’s native Chile. That speech led to him meeting Chile’s first woman president Michelle Bachelet at UC Berkeley.
Many speakers used the terms Chicano, Latino and Hispanic interchangeably, while others seemed to use the terms with distinction.
‘It’s not just a celebration of Chicanos, Latinos or Hispanics, it’s a celebration of all our cultures, who we are, our ancestors.’
Monica Tell
Monica Tell, a candidate for the Peralta College trustees board, spoke at length in both Spanish and English about the impact that family and education has had on her life.
“It’s not just a celebration of Chicanos, Latinos or Hispanics, it’s a celebration of all our cultures, who we are, our ancestors,” Tell said. Culture, she added, is “Our platform and our way to connect.”
COA professor Robert Brem spoke about the influence of Latino culture and its ability to unite people throughout the world.
“Even if we don’t consider ourselves to be Latino, we’ve all been influenced by the global reach of Latino culture,” Brem said. “It can be a unifying force through out the world. It brings us together as one family, and family is the hallmark of Latino culture.”
Tell concluded her speech by talking about the challenges many Latinas experience obtaining an education and career advancement in a culture where women are expected to focus on family obligations first.
“As the first female in the family, it was hard to go to college due to culture,” said Tell, the oldest child in her family. Her father encouraged her to get her education, but at the same time wanted her to be a mother and a wife. “But I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for him. He broke his back for me to get to where I am today.”
‘Even if we don’t consider ourselves to be Latino, we’ve all been influenced by the global reach of Latino culture.’
Robert Brem
Tell encouraged the young women in the audience to stay focused on making their “dreams a reality,” while not forgetting where they come from.
“Once we accomplish something, leave the door open for the people behind us,” Tell said, as she ended with a quote from Cesar Chavez.
Latinos Unidos is planning upcoming events celebrating the United Farm Workers (UFW), as well as Dia de los Muertes (Day of the Dead).
The Peralta Report 