Source: L.A. Times My home office looks like a Jenga game of nonfiction books I read about Southern California Latino life this past year — and almost none were duds. They ranged from a history of gangs in East L.A. to a gorgeous coffee table tome about the cult classic “Blood In Blood Out” to a delightful children’s tale on the late Los Angeles Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela. As I devoured them all, one theme kept popping up: Latinas. As authors. As subjects. As both. Latinos don’t have enough of a presence in the Southern California literary canon, and that exclusion is even more pronounced for Latinas. That’s why I was excited to see so many voices, new ... Read More
Feminism
Unveiling Untold Stories: Professor’s New Book Explores Chicana Liberation and Mexican American Women’s Activism in L.A.
Growing up in East Los Angeles in the 1970s, Marisela Chávez had a front-row seat to the grassroots activism of the Chicano movement. Her parents, who had immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico as children, brought Chávez with them to meetings, marches, and political organizing events. “The organization was like an extended family,” says Chávez, now a professor of Chicana and Chicano studies at CSUDH. “I was little at the time, but seeds were planted in me. I saw very strong women who were speaking publicly and being active leaders.” Chicana Liberation: Women and Mexican American Politics in Los Angeles, 1945-1981 (University of Illinois Press, April 2024), is Chávez’ new book, and the ... Read More
