PULLMAN, Wash. — Award-winning author Carlos Muñoz Jr. will deliver the
keynote address during Washington State University’s annual Semana de la
Raza.
Muñoz, an ethnic studies faculty member at the University of California at
Berkeley, speaks about this year’s Semana theme, “Celebrating Our Past,
Embracing the Future,” at 7 p.m. Feb. 29 in the Compton Union Building
Auditorium. The program is free and open to the public.
Born in the “segundo barrio” in El Paso, Texas, and raised in the barrios of east
Los Angeles, he is the son of poor working-class Mexican immigrants. After
more than 30 years of teaching in higher education, Muñoz has gained
international prominence as a political scientist, historian, essayist and public
intellectual.
His book, “Youth, Identity, Power: The Chicano Movement,” won the
Gustavus Myers Book Award for “outstanding scholarship in the study of
human rights in the Untied States.” Since the 1960s, Muñoz has been a central
figure in the struggles for U.S. civil and human rights in the U.S. and abroad.
WSU’s Semana de la Raza 2000: “Celebrating Our Past, Embracing the Future,”
is set for Feb. 28-March 4. The event has been held at the university since the
late 1970s to promote Chicana/o Latina/o awareness on campus and educate
the university community about the advancement of the Chicana/os Latina/os,
said Francisco Tamayo, WSU Chicana/o Latina/o Student Center counselor.
Other activities include:
— 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Feb. 28, “Pachanga Dos Mil.” This opening event of the
celebration will include a taco bar and potluck in the Chicana/o Latina/o
Student Center, Wilson Hall, Room 101.
— 7 p.m. Feb. 28, presentation of a 30-minute film, “Zapatista,” in the Todd Hall
Auditorium. The subject of the film represents “Celebrating Our Past” from the
Semana theme and is an example of the “struggle indigenous people have
endured across the world over the last millennium,” said Tamayo. Following
the presentation, José Alamillio, of the WSU Department of American Cultures
faculty, will lead a discussion.
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Semana de la Raza–2
— 10 a.m.-7 p.m. March 1, a mural will be produced in the Chicano/a Latina/o
Student Center in Wilson Hall, Room 101, by WSU multicultural and
community-at-large members to mark the first Semana de la Raza of the new
millennium. Assisting with the mural will be Alfredo Arreguin, Chicano/Latino
artist.
— 6-7 p.m. March 2, in the Fine Arts auditorium, Alfredo Arreguin,
Chicano/Latino artist, will present a one-hour slide show presentation showing
his art work. Born in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico, he lived in Mexico City until
moving in 1959 to Seattle, where he graduated from the University of
Washington and received a master’s of fine arts degree. His unique style of
detailed and articulated vision of the natural and imaginary have gained him
wide acclaim. Arreguin’s work has been exhibited nationally and
internationally.
— 7-10 p.m. March 3, Todd Hall’s Auditorium, Noche Cultural, a talent show,
including performances by CHUSMA, a theatrical group from California.
— 6-8 p.m. March 4, in Stephenson Hall, “Down Under,” the 21st annual Gabriel
Cárdenas Banquet. Following the banquet, a dance will be held, ending at
midnight. The banquet will include award and scholarship presentations. At
the time of his death in an automobile accident in 1977, Cárdenas had
completed all course work for his WSU education doctoral degree. His parents,
Carmen and Tony Cárdenas of Moses Lake, created a scholarship in their
son’s name to encourage Chicano/a Latina/o students at WSU.
For additional information, contact the WSU Chicano/a Latina/o Student
Center at 509/335-2617.
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