The Mexican American Experience, a radio program produced by the Longhorn Radio Network, includes interviews, music, and informational programs related to the Mexican American community and their concerns. Program summary: Host Armando Gutierrez interviews Paul Velez, a probation officer in Travis County, Texas on his experience as a delegate to the recent Festival of Youths and Students held in Cuba. The festival offered many cultural presentations, galas and forums, which allowed people from the various delegations throughout the world to meet and talk. He found that Cubans did not resent Americans and in fact particularly welcomed Chicanos, who spoke the same language. In fact, many had heard of the Chicano Movement, in particular of La Raza Unida Party and Jose Angel Gutierrez, who had visited the country earlier. Other delegates where not as aware of the Chicano movement. Yet, he notes that several groups were struggling for the same issues and causes and in similar ways. Velez observes that Cuban Students are very politically knowledgeable and the country does not seem to harbor much race prejudice, although he notes that homophobia was prevalent. He compares Cuban culture to Mexican and finds them very similar. He also found that women participated fairly equally in the festival. He concludes that the country was very hospitable, offered extensive social services, and he hopes that they can organize cultural exchanges in the future. Keywords: Africa, African Americans, American GI Forum, American Indian, Angola, Arms Race, Canada, Chicano Music, Chicanos, Chicanos in the International Sphere, Chile, Chilean Solidarity Group, Chuy Negrete, Cold War, Cuba, Cuban Culture, Cuban Music, Cuban-American Relations, Discrimination, Ethiopia, Festival of Youth and Students, Fidel Castro, Gender Roles, Health Care, Homophobia, Jose Angel Gutierrez, La Raza Unida, Latin America, New York, Orlando Letelier, Palestine, Puerto Ricans, Socialism, Teatro Chicano, Television, Transnational Activism, Women's Participation. Broadcast date: 1978-08-13.
Creator/Contributor:
Longhorn Radio Network (creator), Gutiérrez, Armando (host), and Velez, Paul (interviewee)
Date Created/Date Issued:
8/11/1978
Owning Repository:
Benson Latin American Collection, LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies and Collections, The University of Texas at Austin