Archive for June 16th, 2009
The Cure Remade a la Latina
5:56 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Argentina|GLBT|mexico|Music · 1 Comment
16 Jun 2009Here at VL we’ve been fans of the Kumbia Queers for a while now. The Argentine-Mexican queer combo seems to be an endless source of awesome-weird jams that get the cintura a-movin’. So what was my delight when I found that the Kumbia Queers had remade an old 90s favorite of mine — The Cure’s Love Song– in Spanish and rendered in the cumbia style. Check it out.
Emo-depressed mixed with cumbia lightheartedness…awesome translation with a mixture of seriousness and tongue-in-cheek silliness. It’s the best of both worlds!
Majority of Latino Seniors Still Working
10:58 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Labor|Lifestyle|society · Comments Off
16 Jun 2009
The vision many of us have of abuelito playing cards with his buddies or abuelita at home looking after grandkids has officially been disproven. A new study shows that the majority of U.S. Latinos over 50 are doing anything but lazing around the casa: they are still part of the workforce.
Seventy percent of U.S. Hispanics over the age of 50 are in the work force according to the report “Hispanic Workers 50 Plus” presented at the conference “Diversity and Aging in the 21st Century: The Power of Inclusion,” organized by AARP. Seventy six percent of them are immigrants and 62 percent are U.S.-born. Very few of these workers have health benefits. They also tend to have few absences from work. On average, these workers earn $30,357 per year, less than their white and African American counterparts, who earn an average of $50,595 and $36.429 respectively.
Very interesting statistics. If you’re into this sort of thing (I am), check out the full report here. It provides datapoints on a variety of topics, such as the education and health of older Latino workers.
Via / New America Media
Hate Crime Laws May Make Us Feel Good Pero They Won’t Save Our Lives
9:21 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Activism|crime|Immigration|Justice|media justice|Politics|race|Violence · 2 Comments
16 Jun 2009I think I have had to write this over and over many times, every time there is a hate crime against a Latino pero it is worthy of repeating.
Defining what makes a hate crime is a political act. The reason I write this is that I am reading many media reports and blogs that keep referring to the shooting at the Holocaust Museum as a hate crime but not that many referring to the murders of Brisenia Flores and her father as a hate crime.
On a legislative level, states each have their own hate crime statutes that aren’t consistent with each other so what may be a hate crime in one state may not be in another. Often the definition of a hate crime is hinged on the use of an epithet or slur, not the history of the community where it happened. This is why some advocates have been pushing for Federal hate crimes legislation, that would create one standard that would be followed across state lines and these moves make people feel good, offer a sense of protection, except they are only good once there is a victim.
U.S. Reps. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Steve Israel (D-NY) and José E. Serrano (D-NY) announced the introduction of the National Hate Crimes Hotline Act of 2009.
“Far too many victims silently bear the burden of the crimes committed against them, which is why we are taking steps to provide a place for them to be heard. A National Hate Crimes Hotline would allow New Yorkers and victims across the country to safely report to the police and find vital assistance. In addition, accurate reporting will improve local responsiveness, increase prevention efforts and help bring an end to these heinous acts,” said Rep. Velázquez.
Martes Musica Verano 2009 Edition : Céu’s Vagarosa
6:00 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Brazil|Music|Women · Comments Off
16 Jun 2009
It’s been more than a whole year since we’ve heard from Brazilian singer Céu. Just in time for the season of playas and parties, Six Degrees Records and Urban Jungle Records releases Céu’s Vagarosa. Vagarosa translates to “slow, easygoing, and leisurely” and that perfectly describes the sound and mood of this album pero this cd is anything but light and fluffy. The jaunty cavaquinho, a sort of Brazilian ukelele, betrays the into’s,Sobre o Amor e Seu Trabalho Silencioso, ruminations on the magic chemistry of love.
The cd then seemlessly moves into a funkier reggae beat with Cangote.
Vagarosa employs lots of electronic tricks, evident in the rendition of the Jorge Ben song “Rosa Menina Rosa”, that work beautifully with the more classic elements of jazz horns, blues beats and Céu’s sensual rich voice. She also employs non-traditional instruments and arrangements like in the song Ponteiro, that features a circus organ.
Sonâmbulo references hip hop with a little bit of tango in it’s tale of a sleepwalker.
All in all Vagarosa may be this summer’s perfect soundtrack, with Céu experimenting musically but never to the point of being to obscure or unreachable. This one will get alot of play in casa mala and it should in your casa too.
Hola!
VivirLatino is a daily publication published by Mamita Mala Media, dedicated to featuring all the latest politics, culture, entertainment of interest to the diverse Latin@ diaspora.
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