Special to El Rrun-Rrun
In response to community concern about the future of the Jefferson Davis Memorial, and in celebration of Black History Month, the public is invited to join in a free event about the history of race and racism in the Rio Grande Valley. White supremacy and racism are not just national problems but local ones, too. They have hurt not only Brownsville’s African-American community, but the majority Mexican-American community as well. Highlighted at the forum will be the controversy over the Jefferson Davis memorial, currently in Washington Park in downtown Brownsville. Local experts will discuss the history of race and racism in the Rio Grande Valley and show how this history should bear on community decision-making regarding the Jefferson Davis memorial. After the presentations, the audience will break into smaller groups to continue discussion, then vote on what they think should happen with the memorial.
The presenters are Stephanie Álvarez, Associate Professor of Mexican American Studies and Christopher Carmona, Assistant Professor of Creative Writing and Faculty Affiliate in the Mexican American Studies program, both of UT Rio Grande Valley; and Debbie Nathan, an investigative journalist and best selling author.
Este evento será bilingüe (this will be a bilingual event).
En respuesta a la preocupación de la comunidad sobre el destino que pudiera dársele a la placa conmemorativa de Jefferson Davis, y en celebración del Mes de la Historia de la Raza Negra, el públic esta invitado a un evento gratuito acerca de la historia de las razas y el racism en el Valle del Rio Grande. La supremacía blanca y el racism son no solo problems nacionales, sino locales también. Estos problemas han dañado no solo a la comunidad afro-americana, sino también a la comunidad mexico-americana, que es la mayoría.
En el foro público se destacará la controversia acerca de la placa conmemorativa de Jefferson Davis, ubicada actualmente en el parque Washington en el centro de Brownsville. Expertos locales discutirán la historia de las razas y del racism en el Valle del Río Grande, y mostrarán como ésta historia debe tomarse en cuenta en la toma de decisiones en la comunidad con respecto la ya mencionada placa. Después de las presentaciones, la audiencia se dividirá en grupos pequeños para continuar con la discusión y después con la votación sobre lo que piensan debería suceder con la placa.
Los presentadores son Stephanie Alvarez Profesora Asociada Estudios México-Americanos y Christopher Carmona Profesor Adjunto de Escritura Creativa y facultativo afiliado del programa de Estudios México-Americanos en UTRGV; y Debbie Nathan, una periodista de investigación y autor más vendido.
13 comments:
hilarious in a town with 95% Mexicans! Got 'nuther chiste, Juan? LOL
Debbie Nathan "autor mas vendido" ????? Ha ha ha ha Pendejos.
We don't need no race forums in McAllen. We are civil and repects each others' rights and freedoms.
You missed Cesar de Leon as one of the main speakers! Why dwell on this?
One makes ourself what we do and who we are. Quite this labeling stuff.
Will the current racist on the Brownsville City Commission be discussed in this forum. To move a rock that with a plaque honoring Jefferson Davis for his service, 150 years after his death, and not dealing with the racism of Cesar de Leon is hypocritical. Saying the "history" of racism is one thing, but denying current racism and bigotry seems to deny that racism still exists and is present on our city commission. Cesar de Leon should be discussed and action towards him should be equal to that of the Jefferson Davis rock. Cesar de Leon is a racist...and he is among us now.
Tony Martinez seems to accept racism, as long as they are his friends. Tony has proven he is not leader by allowing Cesar de Leon, a living racist, to continue to make policy for this city. This forum is worthless unless Cesar de Leon is addressed, as well as the rock in the park.
Racism exists in Brownsville today. It is not white supremacists, it is Hispanic racism....namely Cesar de Leon, a current Brownsville City Commissioner. He displayed his bigotry in statements he made toward two assistant district attorneys who are African-American. Cesar de Leon is an example of modern day racism in the RGV.
Local racism toward the Buffalo Soldiers is far more topic related than the rock in Washington Park.
Hahahah. Too late. This must be a corrective action to Cesar de Leo's big mouth. It will cover the city's butt to avoid lawsuits. I'm sure city employees and elected officials had to sign some off duty memorandum after Cesar's locker room talk audio. All smoke and mirrors
No racism in the Valley.
Meeting over.
That was easy.
They're both important. Dr. Zavaleta thinks it's ok to honor the Buffalo Soldiers but refuses to change the TSC building dedicated to Robert E. Lee.
Shut up about Cesar fire chief. Your a f..g thief an u got caught. Hope o go to jail.
Ban the fire chief from making all these repetitive anti Cesar comments Juan.
He’s a pathetic thief, who is hopefully on his way to jail.
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