Narrating the history and impact of the Latino community in the United States for the last 500 years is no simple thing. However, PBS has proposed to reduce it into six episodes of 1 hour each, in which it will try to highlight the importance and participation of Latinos on American soil.
Latin Americans in the U.S. have been a fundamental part of the country since the sixteenthcentury, when they became foreigners in their own lands. Hispanics not only enriched American culture but they also contributed powerfully to the economy of the U.S. They fought its battles and, in many occasions, lost their lives.
"Latino Americans" is the title of the documentary to be broadcasted on three Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m., starting September 17 on PBS. It's a visual documentary that aims to portray the evolution of Latino identity in the U.S. from the sixteenth century up until the current time. The episodes will show interviews with 100 Latino personalities in pop culture, business and politics, among which are Rita Moreno, Dolores Huerta, Herman Badillo and María Elena Salinas, among others.
The documentary will show the battles Latinos faced since the "conquest," said Adriana Bosh, director and producer of the show, to newspaper La Opinión. For the director, the conquest refers to the time when the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo forced 100,000 people to become American citizens in the South West by the California Americans.
This conquest is the milestone for the battles Latinos faced in what was supposedly their lands. For more than 500 years, the Hispanic community in the U.S. fought to be considered something more than "second class citizens." But it has not been a bitter fight. For 500 years, Hispanics have permeated American culture through music, language, food, clothing and the warmth of the Hispanic people.
"I think that Latino Americans will enrich the lives of people who aren't Hispanic. I know that the Latino community will love it... And it will be very moving and emotive. There are so many sad stories of hard working people... It breaks my heart when a student is forced to go to Mexico because he has no documents, but does have skills... That's their loss for this country," said Rita Moreno, regarding the new show, quoted by La Opinión.
The documentary will portray subjects like urban settlements, conquests and immigration, traditions and Latino reinventions. Latino Americans will be narrated by actor Bejamin Bratt. PBS also said that the documentary will be released in DVD on October 1.
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