Today marks El Diez y Seis de Septiembre...Mexican independence from Spain!! Viva Mexico!!!
Also, Hispanic Heritage Month began September 15th and will run through October 15th. I encourage everyone to research our hispanic heritage and know their history. There is much to learn and appreciate. It's the time of year designated to recognize the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the U.S. and to celebrate hispanic culture. The following is a list of Hispanic and Latino Americans who have represented our community well. Take a look. You may be surprised!
1. Oscar de la Renta (Dominican Republic), fashion designer; Dominican mother/Puerto Rican father.
2. Maria Conchita Alonso (Cuba/Venezuela), actress; born María Concepción Alonso Bustillo; Cuban-born Venezuelan.
3. Carolina Herrera (Venezuela), fashion designer; born María Carolina Josefina Pacanins y Niño.
4. Jessica Alba (Mexico), actress; mother is of Danish and French Canadian descent and father is of Mexican American descent.
5. Tatyana Ali (Panama), actress; mother is of Afro-Panamanian descent and father is of Indo-Trinidadian descent; better known for her role as "Ashley Banks" in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
6. Michelle Rodriguez (Dominican Republic/Puerto Rico), actress; born in Bexar County, TX to a Dominican mother and Puerto Rican father.
7. Sammy Davis, Jr. (Puerto Rico), actor, singer, tap dancer, and musician.
8. Benicio del Toro (Puerto Rico), actor; born Benicio Monserrate Rafael del Toro Sánchez.
9. Catherine Bach (Mexico), actress; Mexican mother; better known as "Daisy Duke" of The Dukes of Hazard.
10. Antonio Banderas (Spain), actor, singer, and director; born José Antonio Domínguez Banderas.
11. Maurice Benard (Nicaragua), actor; born Mauricio Jose Morales; better known as "Michael 'Sonny' Corinthos Jr." on General Hospital.
12. Benjamin Bratt (Peru), actor; mother is from Peru and father was an American of German and English descent.
13. Lynda Carter (Mexico), actress and singer; Linda Jean Córdova Carter; father is an American of Irish descent and mother is a Mexican migrant; better known as "Wonder Woman."
14. Penelope Cruz (Spain), actress; born Penélope Cruz Sánchez.
15. Mark Consuelos (Spain/Mexico), actor; born Mark Andrew Consuelos to parents of Mexican and Italian ancestry.
16. Cameron Diaz (Cuba), actress; born Cameron Michelle Diaz; father is Cuban American and mother is of English, German, and Cherokee ancestry [explains her high cheek bones].
17. Hector Elizondo (Puerto Rico), actor
18. Emilio Estevez (Spain), actor, director, poet, and writer; father is Ramon Estevez (Martin Sheen).
19. Rita Hayworth (Spain), actress and dancer; born Margarita Carmen Cansino; attained fame as the 1940s greatest sex symbol.
20. Erik Estrada (Puerto Rico), actor; born Henry Enrique "Erik" Estrada.
21. America Ferrera (Honduras), actress; born Georgina America Ferrera to parents who immigrated to the U.S. from Honduras during the 1970s.
22. Edward Furlong (Mexico), actor; of Mexican descent on his mother's side and also has Russian and possibly Native American ancestry.
23. Daisy Fuentes (Cuba), actress and model; Cuban father and Spanish mother.
24. Andy Garcia (Cuba), actor; born Andres Arturo Garcia.
25. Salma Hayek (Mexico), actress, producer, director, and activist; born Salma Valgarma Hayek; father is a Mexican of Lebanese descent and mother is a Mexican of Spanish descent; charitable work includes increasing awareness of violence against women and discrimination against immigrants; first Mexican national to get nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress; second of three Latin American actresses to achieve a Best Actress Oscar nomination; ranked 4th in the Latino Power 50, a list of the most powerful members of the Hollywood Latino community.
26. Joanna Kerns (Mexico), actress; born Joanne Crussie DeVarona; best known for her role as "Maggie Seaver" in Growing Pains.
27. John Leguizamo (Colombia/Puerto Rico), actor, comedian, voice actor, and producer; born John Alberto Leguizamo to a Puerto Rican father and Colombian mother; also describes himself as being of Amerindian and Mestizo heritage.
28. Eva Longoria Parker (Mexico), actress; born Eva Jacqueline Longoria in Corpus Christi, Texas to Mexican American parents; later married Tony Parker; participates in lots of charity work and is also an executive producer of Shine Global Inc.'s upcoming documentary "The Harvest," which is focused on the 500,000 child migrant farm workers in the U.S. and is currently helping them fundraise for the film.
29. George Lopez (Mexico), actor and comedian
30. Jennifer Lopez (Puerto Rico), actress, singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer, fashion designer, TV/film producer, and activist; in 2007 received the Artists for Amnesty International award "in recognition of her work as producer and star of Bordertown, a film exposing the ongoing numbers of hundreds of women in the border city of Juarez, Mexico." She also received special recognition and thanks from Norma Andrade, cofounder of Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa A. C. ("May Our Daughters Return Home, Civil Association"), an organization consisting of mothers and families of the murdered women of Juarez.
31. Mario Lopez (Mexico), actor; official supporter of Ronald McDonald House Charities.
32. Diego Luna (Mexico), actor
33. Cheech Marin (Mexico), actor and comedian; born Richard Anthony "Cheech" Marin.
34. Alfred Molina (Spain), actor; born Alfredo Molina; father a Spaniard from Madrid and mother was an Italian
35. Ricardo Montalban (Mexico), actor; born Ricardo Gonzalo Pablo Francisco Dorito Donquavius Pedro Montalban y Merino.
36. Esai Morales (Puerto Rico), actor; born Esai Manuel Morales; describes himself as an "actovist" primarily and as one of the founders of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, taking inspiration from his mother, who was an organizer for the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union; also interested in environmental issues and was a founding board member of E.C.O. (Earth Communications Office).
37. Rita Moreno (Puerto Rico), actress, singer, and dancer; born Rosita Dolores Alverio; awards include Academy, Emmy, Grammy, Golden Globe, and Tony awards; Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush in 2004; a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; in 2007 was inducted into the California Hall of Fame located at the California Museum for History, Women, and the Arts by Governor Schwarzeneggar and First Lady Maria Shriver.
38. Edward James Olmos (Mexico), actor and activist; Olmos has often been involved in social activism, especially those affecting the Latino community. During the 1992 Rodney King Riots in Los Angeles, when many people left the city, Olmos went out with a broom and worked to get communities cleaned up and rebuilt.
39. Rosie Perez (Puerto Rico), actress, dancer, choreographer, director, and activist; born Rosa Maria "Rosie" Perez; an activist for Puerto Rican rights--her film Yo Soy Boricua! Pa' Que Tú Lo Sepas! (I'm Puerto Rican, Just So You Know!) documents her activism.
40. Joaquin Phoenix (Puerto Rico), actor; born Joaquin Rafael Bottom, formerly credited as Leaf Phoenix; a social activist, lending his support to a number of charities and humanitarian organizations, notably Amnesty International, The Art of Elysium, HEART, and the Peace Alliance, an organization which campaigns for a U.S. Dept. of Peace; member of P.E.T.A. and the organization In Defense of Animals and has actively campaigned on their behalf; narrated the film Earthlings, a video about the investigation of animal abuse in factory farms, pet mills, in industry and research; in 2004 was awarded the "Humanitarian Award" for his work and contribution.
41. Anthony Quinn (Mexico), actor, painter, and writer; born Antonio Rodolfo Quinn Oaxaca; mother was of Aztec ancestry and his father of half Irish ancestry; father rode with Pancho Villa
42. Freddy Rodriguez (Puerto Rico), actor
43. Robert Rodriguez (Mexico), director; born Robert Anthony Rodriguez in San Antonio, TX.
44. Charlie Sheen (Spain), actor; born Carlos Irwin Estevez; on March 20, 2006, stated that he questions the U.S. government's account of the 9/11 attacks; during an interview stated that the collapse of the Twin Towers looked like a controlled demolition; urged critics to challenge him on the facts; has since become a prominent advocate of the 9/11 Truth movement; on Sept 8, 2009, appealed to President Obama to set up a new investigation into the attacks; characterized the 9/11 commission as a whitewash and alleged that the Bush administration may have been responsible for the attacks.
45. Martin Sheen (Spain), actor and activist; born Ramon Gerardo Antonio Estevez; mother is an immigrant from Ireland and father from Spain, near border of Portugal; supported the '65 farm worker movement with Cesar Chavez in Delano, CA; active in politics.
46. Jimmy Smits (Puerto Rico), actor; father a Surinamese immigrant of Dutch descent and mother was a Puerto Rican; helped found the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts to advance the presence of Latinos in the media, telecommunications and entertainment industries. Jimmy is also an advocate for diagnostic colorectal screening and has appeared in a public service commercial.
47. Madeleine Stowe (Costa Rica), actress; born Madeline Mora Stowe; mother immigrated from Costa Rica.
48. Bob Vila (Cuba), home improvement TV show host
49. Raquel Welch (Bolivia), actress; born Jo Raquel Tejada; mother was an Irish-American and father immigrated from Bolivia.
50. Julia Alvarez (Dominican Republic), writer and poet; some of literary works include The Other Side (El Otro Lado) and The Woman I Kept To Myself.
51. Rudolfo Anaya (Mexico), novelist and poet; best known for his '72 novel Bless Me, Ultima; considered one of the founders of the canon of contemporary Chicano literature.
52. Sandra Cisneros (Mexico), novelist, poet, and short story writer; best known for her acclaimed first novel The House on Mango Street.
53. Christina Aguilera (Ecuador), singer; born Christina Maria Aguiler; charities include PETA, Defenders of Wildlife, Missing Kids, Natl Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations, Women's Cancer Research Fund, Natl Coalition Against Domestic Violence; a staunch supporter of the lesbian/gay/bi/transgender community; spokesperson for the World Hunger Relief.
54. Tatyana Ali (Panama), singer and actress; born Tatyana Marisol Ali.
55. Marc Anthony (Puerto Rico), singer and actor; born Marco Antonio Muniz.
56. Ruben Blades (Panama), singer and actor; born Ruben Blades Bellido de Luna.
57. Irene Cara (Cuba), singer
58. Mariah Carey (Venezuela), singer; charities include Make-A-Wish Foundation, among many others.
59. Emilio Estefan (Cuba), music producer
60. Gloria Estefan (Cuba), singer
61. Dave Navarro (Mexico), lead guitarist of "Jane's Addiction"
62. Linda Ronstadt (Mexico), singer; born Maria Linda Ronstadt.
63. Carlos Santana (Mexico), musician
64. Robert Trujillo (Mexico), bassist for "Metallica"
65. Ritchie Valens (Mexico), singer
66. Ralph Alvarez (Cuba), president and CEO of McDonald's Corporation
67. Richard Velasquez (Puerto Rico), first Puerto Rican automotive designer for Porsche
68. Cesar Chavez (Mexico), farm worker, labor leader, civil rights activist, and co-founder of the United Farm Workers Association later the United Farm Workers or UFW
69. Dolores Huerta (Mexico), labor leader, civil rights advocate, and co-founder of the United Farm Workers Association later to be named United Farm Workers or UFW
70. Henry Cisneros (Mexico), former mayor of San Antonio and Secretary of HUD under Clinton
71. Bob Menendez (Mexico), U.S. Senator (D-New Jersey); only the 6th Hispanic to serve in the U.S. Senate.
72. Bill Richardson (Mexico), D-Governor of New Mexico
73. Sonia Sotomayor (Puerto Rico), newly-appointed Justice for the U.S. Supreme Court--first Hispanic to do so.
74. Nancy Lopez (Mexico), golfer
75. Chi Chi Rodriguez (Puerto Rico), golfer
76. Mark Sanchez (Mexico), NFL quarterback for the NY Jets
77. Jim Plunkett (Mexico), former NFL quarterback for the Oakland Raiders
78. Tom Flores (Mexico), former NFL head coach of the Oakland Raiders
79. Tony Gonzalez (Mexico), NFL football player--Atlanta Falcons
80. Manu Ginobili (Argentina), NBA basketball player--San Antonio Spurs
81. Rebecca Lobo (Cuba), WNBA basketball player
82. Alex Rodriguez (Dominican Republic), baseball player
83. Rick Sanchez (Cuba), newscaster for CNN
84. Geraldo Rivera (Puerto Rico), journalist
85. Soledad O'Brien (Cuba), newscaster for CNN
86. Salvador B. Castro, American educator and activist; known for his role in the 1968 East L.A. high school walkouts (a series of protests against unequal conditions in L.A. Unified School District schools
87. Hector P. Garcia, physician, surgeon, WWII vet, civil rights advocate, and founder of the American GI Forum, which provided Mexican-American vets a social and politcal network. The story of Felix Longoria propelled the American GI Forum to the forefront of the civil rights movement. In 1945, a Japanese sniper killed the Mexican American private Longoria in the Phillippines. His body was returned to Texas in 1949, where his widow's request of the use of the funeral chapel in Three Rivers was denied, the funeral director claiming that "the whites won't like it." García and the G.I. Forum intervened, petitioning then-senator Lyndon Johnson for redress of the outrage. Johnson secured the hero's burial in Arlingtion National Cemetary, where he became the first Mexican American to be awarded the honor. The issue garnered national attention. Following the incident, the G.I. Forum expanded into New Mexico and Colorado.
The preceding list is just the tip of the iceberg!!! Hope you were inspired!!!!
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