Paz!
I think that showing our people in various angles can do so much for providing more depth to this government sanctioned celebration. For instance, showing Latino influence in music, especially Hip-Hop, outside of Big Pun. Since Hip-Hop is such a driving force within American culture and urban life.

Also, I think that exploring other areas of life such as ‘faith’ to counter the stereo that all Latinos are Christian/Catholic. There are considerable numbers of Latinos in and ‘outside’ of the U.S. that are Rastafarians, Muslims (Orthadox and N.O.I), Atheists, Buddhists and Five Percenters (Nation of Gods and Earths). I for one, am a Boricua Five Percenter and have been for 12 years. And Latinos have had a very important role in the founding and continued existance of the “Five Percent Nation” since it’s beginning in Harlem, 1964. Likewise, there are many Latinos who belong to the Bloods (gang) whom are apart or have been extremely influenced by the Moorish Science Temple.

These are just ideas but I think we need to be represented from the angles to truly enlighten people about how monolithic we are not. From indigenistas to just regular caballeros on the block playing capicu, from Protestant evangelists to Jose Padilla, from skateboarders to the first Latino astronaut.

Historical references are very abundant, especially in regards to black/brown relations.

~Sha-King