Latino Americans: 500 Years of History, produced by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the American Library Association (ALA), is a nationwide public programming initiative that supports the exploration of the rich and varied history and experiences of Latinos, who have helped shape the United States over the last five centuries and who have become, with more than 50 million people, the country’s largest minority group.
This six-hour documentary originally aired on PBS in the fall of 2013 and chronicles Latinos in the United States from the sixteenth century to the present day. It is a story of people, politics, and culture, large in scale and deep in its reach. The changing and yet repeating context of American history provides a backdrop for the drama of individual lives. The documentary features interviews with an array of individuals, including entertainer Rita Moreno, the Puerto Rican star of West Side Story; Dolores Huerta, who in the 1960s co-founded with César Chávez the National Farm Workers Association; and Gloria Estefan, Cuban singer and entrepreneur, who has sold more than 100 million albums globally.
The Art Gallery, USJ will be showing this documentary series in six parts beginning in September 2015 and continuing through April 2016. The episodes will air at different venues, introduced by various scholars, and followed by post-screening discussions often including a panel of community members and experts. Upcoming screenings include:
THE NEW LATINOS (1946-1965) Wednesday, March 16, 2016 – 7:00 p.m.
Hartford Public Library
Introduction by Dr. Ruth Glasser, University of Connecticut, Waterbury. Panel Discussion led by Dr. Nelly Rojas Schwan, University of Saint Joseph. Panel will include former agricultural workers.
PREJUDICE AND PRIDE (1965-1980) Thursday, April 7, 2016
Location TBA
Introduction and post-screening discussion led by Dr. Priscilla Page, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
PERIL AND PROMISE (1980-2000) Thursday, April 28, 2016
Hoffman Auditorium, University of Saint Joseph
Introduction and Panel Discussion by Dr. Nelly Rojas Schwan, Dr. Madeline Pérez, and Dr. Anthony De Jesús, University of Saint Joseph. Panel will include representatives from Latino community organizations.
All are welcome to participate in these events free of charge.
For more information please contact Waleska Santiago, Museum Education (860.231.5736).