Day 14 - Favorite Latino Musician

This is such a hard post because there are so many musicians I haven't even explored! So I'll give 3 of my favorites in no particular order!

First of course - Marc Anthony. Let's be serious, my mother is Puerto Rican and my sister knows every single song ever by him. Growing up, I wasn't particularly interested in getting to know this salsa soul however, his album of hits dropped while I was in college "Desde un Principio" and one day at my aunt's house, they played the album straight through and it was like Marc Anthony took my hand guided me into the light. The 2 additional songs not in this album, "Palabras Del Alma" and "Tu Amor Me Hace Bien" are the other two songs that have an impact on me and serve as a pleasant reminder of two past relationships. Many of us associate songs with particularly people and these are 2 of mine. I owe Marc Anthony a lot since I learned a lot of Spanish through his songs, as did my sister when she was younger.

Second, though not in order, would have to be Juan Luis Guerra. Many of his songs were played throughout my childhood as my mother cleaned the house and cooked dinner. Even as I cook dinner, I find it helpful to have music playing and typically it ends up being Spanish music. The song the stands out the most for me probably the most mainstreamed, don't judge - "Burbujas de Amor." My family lives in the uptown side of Manhattan and the rest deep in Queens or near Bay Ridge Brooklyn so the drive on weekends to visit were long and boring to a 5 year old. I remember this song being my favorite because of the soft beat and soothing voice. Later on in life, it became one of my most listened to tracks when mellowing out or trying to fall asleep since I have a thing about sleeping with some type of background noise. Overall, he is a staple in our culture and I am happy he was introduced into my life.

Lastly, I will mentioned Shakira. Besides how gorgeous she is and how much of a unique voice she has - I am most inspired by her hit "La Tortura." Released in 2005, I remember when I first heard the song - the video played in MTV's early morning cycle of music videos and I was so confused as to what was happening. At this time, I was taking classes over the summer at Syracuse and was enveloped in my own bubble of academics and standing near a fan trying to escape the summer heat. A all Spanish song because played on mainstream media, reminiscent of Ricky Martin's "Living La Vida Loca" but not as Spanglish. It went on to become one of the most popular Spanish tracks in the world and obviously a milestone for our Latino musicians. It was a defining summer for me on many levels but this song was definitely a highlight and a significant moment in our history.

Whew! That was hard to limit.. maybe there will be a part 2...
Z

Day 13 – Afro Latinos you see everyday

*Note: a bit behind on my blogging.... life interrupted this wonderful experiment but hopefully I can get back on track...

Few things funny about this title:

1. Maybe people will be confused with what Afro-Latinos mean... and possibly laugh.
2. Another term I use that can be compared: Blacktino
3. Folks who fit the description of what an Afro Latino is ... may not take nicely to the term or feel it even necessary

What I've learned about Afro Latinos is pretty clear - it is clearly a term of self-identification. I don't think anyone has ever seen it as "cop-out" to not being one of the other, but merely just a recognition that there is more to them that meets the eye. Frankly I think we run into this type of folks everyday and not even realize it. Not all darker skinned Latinos experience the need to prefix the Afro in describing their culture because of a well rounded knowledge of the Spanish Language. Those who do not know that language end up having to identify themselves as Blacktino because they don't want to lose that side of them.

In talking to some proud Black folks, I have noticed a trend of rolling eyes or even snickering at the term Afro Latino - and not even in a malicious way. They just feel it's redundant in its definition or even unnecessary. I have always agreed that people are better in collaboration than division however being Black and being Latino may have its similarities in struggle, culture and history but its unfair to group all of us together in one lump sum.

And is the point of my post. When you think about the term Afro-Latino, it's the in between of 2 sides - one side of completely separating the two culture and forcing you to choose one, and the other side of eliminating the difference all together. Why should it be one or the other? I see them every day struggling to place on this scale they fall into...

- Z

Day 12 – Do I speak Spanish?

I was just chatting with my sister about this ---- it kind of annoys me if I say something in Spanish a certain way and someone answer back in the way THEY say it. For example "... y habichuelas rojas.." "frijoles?" ... "-_- si...." (Those beans were definitely red by the way ...) As if to say I said it wrong - and maybe they didn't mean it that way  but sometimes they do.

Second story:

Person A: "Quieres con-con?" 

Me: "Huh?" 

Person A: "You don't know what con-con is?.." 

Me: "No... mom, what's con-con?" 

Mom: "Oh, it's the same as pegao"

Person A: "Ugh... you made her a Puerto Rican"
(con - con/pegao - the slightly burned rice that gets stuck to the bottom of the pan when you make rice a certain way)

Like I've said before, I'm not a fluent Spanish speaker which already makes me feel bad - but this conversation happened when I was younger and already annoyed at the fact that people don't get that people can't just pick up a language past a certain age. Then to have something like this happen, is not motivating or productive. She made me into a Puerto Rican?? Nationalism is real, and I think its wonderful to be proud of where you came from BUT you cross a line when you put another Latino nation down and make yourself higher.

The above conversation happens all the time even to fluent Spanish speakers. The great thing about our people is that we look so different from each other, act so different but despite small hiccups our Spanish is one of the few things that connects us as a people. Yet we still choose to align ourselves with whether you say "habichuela" or "frijoles" / "con-con" or "pegao" / even the way you curse can draw scoffs and even prejudices.

The fact is Spanish is beautiful language and considered skill in this country who is rapidly because a bilingual nation. So instead of criticizing each other, we should use this connection to our advantage.

Apologies if I spelled any Spanish words wrong..
Z

Day 11 – Latinos in the Media

As broad as this topic is, one point still sticks out in my head when it comes to anything about the media - we are responsible for what gets plays on TV, radio and print. The media is owned by a handful of billionaires that got around the system and owned all outlets in which information gets dispersed in this country. What's being displayed in the media has to satisfy the owners of the media corporations including Time, Disney, Viacom, etc. of course - but rest assured that if ratings are high enough they will show anything that will draw audiences.

Which leads me to my point - can we blame anyone but ourselves for the slightly risen but no where near as accurate place in the media? For a while we only had Univision and Telemundo for our Spanish speaking audiences, but recently with the rise of the new age Latino and more importantly the English native Latinos these networks were not as satisfactory. Watching shows on some younger generation networks like mun2, SiTV and MTV Tres - I can't help but notice how far away we are from being recognized as a real brand. Many of these shows are arguably a Latino version of some show already in existence. 

Again - these are the shows that we are in to - Reality TV, competitive TV (i.e. project runway, top chef) - and this is whats shown on TV. It's still very standard that the Latinos that I see when I walk out of my apartment, onto the train, into downtown Manhattan, are not the Latinos I see on these shows. Not even the ones on "our" networks. Are we just not popular? Even George Lopez's show seems to take a rating hit not because he's Latino but because after the spice of a stereotypical Latino has died down --- you realize thats all you were drawn to. Once he tries to be serious or deep, that's no longer as entertaining... Even Mencia became old news shortly after his stint with fame.

So where does that leave us? The only other source I can be proud of is print - great Latino authors are being recognized for their talents like Junot Diaz and Julia Alvarez, paving the way for young Latino writers. It sucks though that print is also changing with the move to digital media and digital book reading (i.e. kindle, nook, iPad, etc.) for these authors however it also gives a new opportunity to our youth - start a blog, get your story out there. There are about 2 to 3 sterotypical Latinos that get exploited all the time when there are about 100 more kinds of Latinos still unheard of --- (did you see Soledad O'Brien's special? Yawn~)

As with most things, nothing is set in stone and we have the power to change the media given to us. So press on my Latino family - the fight isn't over yet.

~Z

Day  10 – Talk about a Latino Musician in pop music

This will be a short post.

I like JLo. There I said. I think she's pretty. She's made some catchy tunes I wish didnt stick in my mind so often. Her movies are pretty bad but they are good enough to veg out to.

However - I don't respect her as an artist, and definitely not as a Latina. I think she's sold out a little too much over the years to gain any respect from me. In fact there was an article in the Daily News today talking about her - http://bit.ly/90g69l - basically saying she has never given back to a school she attending that even her mother worked at. Frankly, maybe they treated her or her mother not so nicely - so why would she give back? However, this is one of the many news stories that come out about JLo saying she doesn't give back to where she comes from. Which wouldn't be a big deal if she didn't rep the Bronx and being Puerto Rican so hard.

Lets talk about her marriage to Marc Anthony. Everyone knew you two were in love way back when. Seems you're late to the party huh?

Overall, she is Latina, so for me - I should support her when she does good, but I definitely feel ashamed when she doesn't.

I do wish her wish on Idol, but I'd probably tune in to see Steven Tyler more. Just being honest!

Thanks all!
Z

Day 9 -  Talk about Music related to your culture

The first time I heard reggaeton, I thought to myself... really? This is a bad version of reggae.. get me Bob Marley ASAP. The first reggaeton I ever heard was Baby Rasta - Mi Nena. My then boyfriend had me listen to it in dedication. Back in those days I didn't care yet, to attempt to improve my Spanish so I had no idea what it all meant.

I bring up reggaeton because many people that I have conversations with about it, say the same things I said before --- it's a bad version of reggae and it has really perverse lyrics. Frankly, yes, many of the popular songs (thanks Daddy Yankee - Gasolina) of reggaeton are about sex, drugs and alcohol. But one could say that same about reggae and hip hop, can't they? Chris Rock had a bit about how woman would dance to any song with a hot beat at a club because even if the song was about something crude, "they ain't talkin' 'bout me!" This reasoning doesn't make it right. The truth is, no one really cares about the lyrics to a song because people hold themselves to a higher standard than to let some 19 year old rapper effect the way they behave - but when it's spanish...suddenly it's vulgar and inappropriate? I don't buy it.

After a slew of conversations, and realizing I reacted to reggaeton so many years ago in the same manner I now feel offended by, I decided to listen to the song again. Chorus: "Eres mi nena mi nena mi nena, la que yo quiero, y por ti muero,me desespero." Loosely translated: "My girl, my girl, my girl, the one that I love, and for you ... I'd die for. I'm desperate [for your love]"

Not always about sex, drugs and alcohol huh?

But the video is sooooo out dated and goofy he he he he! Gotta love the 90s...

Enjoy~
Z

Day 8 - Latino Racism

So I've been up since 6AM, and was at work until 8PM and still working. I'm in a particularly fuzzy mood however racism is a pretty controversial topic, and Latino racism is pretty extensive. It can be racism in the way we look, the way we speak, the way we even walk.

Sometimes when I'm interviewing candidates, I can't help but look at someone's name and see what origin I can pick out. For me, I know that as soon as I walk into that interview room, it's absolutely all about the energy, qualifications and skills. But looking on the flip side... if I apply for a job, will someone judge me on my name? Would I even be asked in?

I've been told that I have a slight accent when I speak. Then they are surprised to learn I don't speak Spanish fluently. For a while, I got offended by this because my first language is English and I didn't like being stereotyped for a skill that I didn't even have! Now, however, I do think there are words that I say that I realize I say in a way that was directly taken from the way my parents say them, or even my Latino teachers growing up. Though I appreciate that I can say certain Spanish words with the right accent, it makes me stress when giving a training or on a client call at work. I wonder if my clients have less confidence in me because of these little hiccups I have in my "accent."

The last thing I will say, is the stereotypes I project to my own people. When I walk home at night, I can't help but walk a little faster if I see a particular person dressed/acting/walking a certain. Oversized jeans, baggy sweater, cap ... talking loudly, hissing and catcalling ... walking with that little limp that makes me want to kick their knee to make the limp real ---- I know that not everyone who acts this way is dangerous. In fact, most of the people I've met who act this way, I realize are doing it for appearances sake to fit in. So where does that leave the rest of the population who can't tell who is just trying to fit in, and who is looking for trouble?

In the same vain, I have gotten particular looks when I walk around holding a Starbucks cup. As if to say because I'm buying "their" drink (read: non latinos... non black.. come on, don't make me say it) ... I'm somehow losing my right to be in my neighborhood.

Racism may never go away, however thinking something based off of first impressions is one think... projecting that on a whole group of people is quite the other.

Sleepy now!
Z

Day 7 - Post a picture about your culture and explain its significance

The Chakana

I am still learning a lot about this particular symbol, but as I was researching more about my Ecuadorian ancestry and came across this symbol. It has so many interpretations but it really spoke to me because of the connections to the symbols & interests that have already shaped my life over the years. So here are a few quick bullet points about this symbol.

A Chakana is an Andean symbol of the Incan civilization. Derived from the Quechua word "chakay," meaning "to cross" or "to bridge," a chakana is a 3-stepped symmetric "cross" with a hole in the center of it. Quechua is a language spoken in Andes of South America, including Ecuador!

• Corresponding to Incan mythology, the cross incorporates the three Incan tiers: Uqhu Pacha, underworld of death, Kay Pacha, world of the living, and Hanan Pacha, celestial world of the gods. there are twelve steps that surround the Chakana. 
• Its speculated that each of the twelve steps is said to represent the present day calendar year
• The four points of the inner cross can represent the four directions, North, South, East & West, as well as the four elements, Earth, Air, Water & Fire.
• It is also a representation of the Southern Cross constellation, which was one of the most important constellations in the Incan system. This constellation held great significance as it is comprised of four main stars, each correspnding to the cardinal points of the compass.
• The circle in the middle can be seen as representing the circle of life

The most facinating to me is the archeitural and mathematical implications of this symbol:

"Without a doubt, the chakana is most important of the inca symbols, but it hold another secret; The mathematics use keys to calculate numbers, like the PI number, PI is an irrational number with a very good approach to the value of the square root of ten, it is commonly use today, so the mathematicians theory is that the chakana was the equivalent of the PI number for us; The chakana as a geometrical figure, hold values and constants, that explain the fundamental mathematics so well, that it is hard to believe that it has been around us for more than 4000 years."

And I love math!!!!!! =D

 ~Z

Day 6 - Poetry

I wrote this some time ago... though not entirely relevant to Latino Heritage Month, still my best work with rhythm!

Inhibition
With jubilant expressions
Faced with tedious missions
Placed in uncomfortable positions
Summing up the various competition
Tired and drenched in wasted ambition
Independence dominating inconvenient additions
Taking on fictious propositions
Battling unsustainable visions
Circling in an endless repetition
Repeated starts with failed ignitions
Visible scars bleed enigmatic wishes
Smiling through noticeable tension
Oblivious of seething passion
Subconscious vengeful reactions
Disregarding innate undeniable affection
Completely unaware of deserved accreditation
Content through naive elation
Stepping stones of incomplete revelations
Leading to a process of liberation
Mild pauses to relieve temptation
Celebrating in bundles of sensations
Combination of erratic relations
Deceiving connotations
Robbing the mind's naive menial fixations
Don't expect any expectations...

~Z
Matoaka

Day 5 - A story about growing up Latino/a

There was a time, my mother said, that I didn't want to identify as anything. Why do I have to be a girl? Easy, God gave you the organs of one. Why do I have to be a little girl? Because you're still little and have a lot to learn. Why do I have to speak Spanish? How else will you learn who you are if you don't know where you came from?

As a Latina, there are plenty of characteristics people are ready to pick on. Thighs, butt, lips, skin tones. There was always one that always drove me crazy and made me both proud and ashamed. My hair.

My hair. I don't buy into this good hair, bad hair concept - however every hair dresser my mother ever took me to would remind me to thank God that I had the hair I had. Remember at this time I didn't know about my genetics so I was still self identifying as Dominican / Puerto Rican. For those who don't know, I have thick, straight with waving tendencies, black hair. Resembling the feature of my Ecuadorian people.

While most of the girls in the salon had rollers and relaxers in their hair, my hair didn't need all that. I wanted it of course - because it just seemed like the thing to do. Like a female right of passage. I couldn't of course because "I didn't need it." All I needed was a good cut and blow. But the catch is - for so long none of these women would cut my hair the way I wanted them to. Either they cut my bangs too short, or my layers too thick, or not thick enough, or they burned my hair. It's not their fault of course, but the truth of the matter is, they didn't come across my type of hair too often. It is what it is. As much as it embarassed me when women would come touch my hair like a side show attraction, it also put me in this weird position of suddenly I'm in a "luckier" position because of it. It made me feel uncomfortable, not glamorous.

Raices: En Su Retrato de Colores
By Micaela Clementina Anaya

One story is this mother and daughter duo obviously talking sh!t about me and were envious of my hair as I got it cut. I could feel my mother getting ready to curse the sh!t right back at them but then, as my hair dresser was putting the finishing touches on my hair, she turned to this mother/daughter duo and said (in spanish, so I'm paraphrasing) "You may think she's lucky with this hair, but her hair is as dead as a chinita, so she won't be able to have pretty hairstyles and get a man as easy as her (pointing to the daughter)." They looked at each other in validation.

Guess I'm lucky that wasn't my only inspiration in life huh?

We didn't go back to that salon. You can't win them all... 

Happy Birthday Michelle! :)

- Z

Day 4 - What Latino Blog I Recommend

The Alchemist,
movie to come out in 2011

Looking at my Google Reader (and double checked Bloglines, while I still can RIP) I realized quickly... I don't have many Latino Blogs that I follow... most people I know have heard/read Latinegro's blog so that recommendation is set. The Coffeehouse (ahem) has been inactive under protest.. ha. Many of the blogs I read focus around technology or education which are probably two of my biggest passions. (I won't mention the entertainment gossip blogs... those don't count!) That doesn't mean that I don't appreciate Latino writers or blogger - but have you tried to read 100 blogs a day?? It's so time consuming. Lately I've also been trying to read more news oriented blogs focused around business and politics - I have a decent amount of career goals ahead of me soon ;)

The only other blog that falls under this category I would recommend is Paulo Coelho's blog. He has been one of my favorite writers since college and I've read nearly every one of his books. He's someone who has the ability to make you view life in a way you never thought you could. He tugs at your heart strings about love, friendships, families and quality of life. I'll leave you with this recent post that really stuck with me:
 
A man knocked at his Bedouin friend’s door to ask him a favor:

“I want you to lend me four thousand dinars because I have a debt to pay. Can you do that for me?”

The friend asked his wife to gather together everything they had of value, but even so it was not enough. They had to go out and borrow money from the neighbors until they managed to get the full amount.

When the man left, the woman noticed that her husband was crying.

“Why are you sad? Now that we’ve got ourselves in debt with our neighbors, are you afraid we won’t be able to repay them?”

“Nothing of the sort! I’m crying because he is someone I love so much, but even so I had no idea he was in need. I only remembered him when he had to knock on my door to ask me for a loan.”

- Why are you crying? Paulo Coelho Blog

Day 4! HOLLA! ;)
Z

Part of the 30 Day Latino Blog Challenge

Day 3 – Favorite Latino influenced ;) food

Pernil Asado

 There are plenty of foods I do not eat. I hate chick peas. Mustard can die slow. Don't even get me started on sea food. I respect people's choice to not eat meat, or even be vegan. I do. In Syracuse, the first dorm I lived in, Flint/Day, was known as the place to go for the best salad bar, the most in vegetarian/vegan options of any dining hall and so many types of bread! But, I am someone who cannot live with meat in my life - my favorite is pork - chuleta, pernil, masita de cerdo, sandwich cubano. I could eat it all! When I was younger beef was my favorite but my parents decided to stop cooking it (trying to be healthier in diet) and my stomach grew increasingly intolerant. However, I'm grateful for the shift because red meat is pretty harsh for the tummy. Of course, who doesn't love chicken and turkey burgers are a delightful alternative to red meat.

Chuleta Frita

I hate to admit it, but being away from home and in Syracuse made me realize that the world did not live off of rice, beans, a side of meat, and depending on how Papi felt that night, a bonus of peas, sweet corn, or if we were really lucky tostones or maduros (fried or sweet plaintains). I was genuinely freaked out to find no rice, no meat resembling the cooked meat I grew up with... what was I going to eat?! Pasta for 7 days? Burgers for 7 days .. (yum, but hello freshman 15)?

In our family, turkey is not the meat of choice for holiday - Pernil is the centerpiece for our dinner. For the past 2 years or so I've taken the chef's hat and have made our holiday meat. It has been important to me for the past few years to extract cooking knowledge from my mother so that I can continue the tradition. No offense to the turkey, but there's something about the smell of roasting pork shoulder in a house that beyond amazing!

Hungry now...
Z

Day 2 – What Latin American Country/Island I would love to go to.

Blogging everyday has already proven to be a challenge so I may have to start blogging in advanced and scheduling these bad boys...

It would be easy to say Ecuador (given my last post) since this is where my birth family is from ---- however I think I would rather go with an acquaintance or even by myself! I view traveling the way I view living with someone ---- it's just not recommended to live with friends... the bad side of people's habits and tendencies come out QUICK. For me, I think staying in one place for too long is no bueno! I'd rather just take a month or 3 off and visit every country in South America! It's just such a different world down there and every country is so different I feel like I'd be in heaven to get it all in one gulp :)

Besides South America, I would have to say Cuba. And yes, it's totally because of the risk and the thrill of being in a forbidden country! Why the hell not! I learned late in life that you cannot always believe what you see in the media or even in textbooks - therefore the antagonized politics of Cuba is one that I love to debate about for hours & learn more about. In fact, my blog may even be blacklisted by the government as we speak~ However, Cuba's history and culture is a fascinating one, and I can only imagine how beautiful their land and beaches are!

Anyway, my coworker and soon to be blogger (hooray!) will be leaving us to fullfill her life long dream of traveling the world in October! She will be traveling through South America until the holidays and then head to Europe and Asia after the New Year. I'm so EXCITED for her and extremely jealous she will be traveling all throughout South America. HOPEFULLY I can get my life together and do some traveling soon as well! I may even have to track her down over in Amsterdam ;)

Day 2 DONE!
Z

Day 1 - What I love most about being Latino...


For me to explain this would require a separate blog with multiple entries.. in fact committing myself to this 30 day challenge, is in itself, a clear indication on how much I love the culture I come from and grew up with. Though I have to say, as a kid, I would not have always agreed with that statement. The best way I think for me to explain this entry is to pose this question - what if you found out you weren't Latino? I actually did encountered this question not so long ago, and it definitely changed the way I viewed everything.

I had joked for a long time that there was no way I could truly be part of my family - I looked different, acted different (my mother commented recently that of course my blood pressure is low because nothing ever bothers me, unlike her and my father who scream about the firmness of a tomato), and generally felt different. When my mother finally confirmed my adoption, and my sister gave the look of confirmation... the thought was out there, even if it was only for a moment - what if the culture I had represented for so long is not in fact the culture that belonged to me? At that point, I felt pretty horrible to think that I wasn't Latina and that everything I held near and dear to me wasn't rightfully mine. It was pain in my heart that I cannot describe and I suddenly realized how much of my culture surrounded me in my day to day ----- I had Puerto Rican & Dominican flags all over my apt, I was president of the Latino org on my campus, my alarm was set to play Marc Anthony and Don Omar ---- even some of my personal emails had "DRPR" in it... This was a classic example of you don't know how much you love something until it's taken away from you...

Turns out my blood has the spirit of Ecuador, so though I don't have Caribbean blood, I still have Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic attributes. I cook a mean pernil and could eat mangu all day... Sometimes there is no other word I can think of to say but coño ... and lets face it.... there's a feeling that we Latinos get when we hear the congas that we don't get when we hear Jon Bon Jovi (though amazing in his own right!).

If you ask me today, I am Ecuadorian, Puerto Rican and Dominican (I change the order depending how the person I'm talking to, and if I want to piss them off... mu ha ha). Yes I am all three. Don't try to tell me otherwise or my blood pressure will in fact rise as one poor soul learned the hard way... ~=|

Anyway, between the music, the food, the comradery and even the controversial histories of each country there's a lot to love about being Latino. I hope you have one in your life! Ha~

- Z

The 30 Day Latino Blog Challenge

Latino Heritage Month Sept 15th - Oct 15th 2010

Taken from Latinegro's blog --- I've decided to try this out since I do better with topics than free-writing... 

Enjoy!

Z

The 30 Day Latino Blog Challenge. 30 days, 30 blogs, 1 message to celebrate Latino Heritage Month. I challenge myself and any Latino blogger to write everyday for the next 30 days. The rules are simple. The blog must be at least 2 paragraphs on the selected topic, although there are 2 entries for poetry. The blog can be written in anyway chosen.

Latino/Hispanic Heritage Month is from September 15 - October 15. So this challenge will begin tomorrow. I am a strict person with my writing so I will be writing everyday until this is over. I will also say that the 2 poems will appear on my Poetry Page. Good Luck to all who try this, if not...happy reading.

Day 1 – What I love most about being Latino
Day 2 – What Latin American Country/Island I would love to go to.
Day 3 – Favorite Spanish food
Day 4 - What Latino Blog I recommend
Day 5 - A story about growing up Latino
Day 6 - A Poem (original or quoted)
Day 7 -  Post a picture about your culture and explain its significance
Day 8 -  Latino Racism
Day 9 -  Talk about Music related to your culture
Day  10 – Talk about a Latino Musician in pop music

Day 11 – Latinos in the Media
Day 12 – Do I speak Spanish?
Day 13 – Afro Latinos you see everyday
Day 14 - Favorite Latino Musician
Day 15 – Latinos in Movies
Day 16 – What Do I know about Tainos
Day 17 – Why I love Latinas (or Latino Men)
Day 18 – Latino Art
Day 19 – Religion
Day 20 – Latino Stereotypes I wish I could change

Day 21 - What Latin American Country/Island I have been to.
Day 22 – Do you consider yourself more Latino than American?
Day 23 – Hispanic or Latino..What do you prefer?
Day 24 – Should Puerto Rico be a State?
Day 25 - Post a picture about your familia and explain its significance
Day 26 – Favorite Latino Actor or Actress
Day 27 – Favorite Latino Author
Day 28 – Family Ancestry
Day 29 – Latino Politics – What affects you?
Day 30 – What I learned in the last 30 days..