E-Newsletter [November 2022]

DanielJohnBaker

DÍA DÍA DE DE LOS LOS MUERTOS MUERTOS

By Carmen By Carmen Robles Robles

Día de Muertos isn't a "Mexican Halloween" but rather a Joyful CelebrationofLife. Itisadeeplyspiritualandmeaningfulevent. Itisall abouthonoringthedead.

On behalf of the Hispanic/Latine opioids/substance use disorder/mental health volunteer task force, we honor Daniel John Baker. DiadeLosMuertos’rootscanbetracedbackseveralthousandyearsto the Aztec, Toltec and Nahua people. They believed that the dead of their communities would be offended by sadness and mourning at theirpassing.Rather,celebrationsmustbehadtokeeptheirspiritalive — the more colorful and joyous the better. Mary J. Andrade, who has written multiple books on the Dia de los Muertos traditions explains; “People are really dead when you forget about them, and if you think aboutthem,theyarealiveinyourmind,theyarealiveinyourheart.”

SOURCE:WholeceliumOct.27,2021 Theofrenda (alter) is often the most recognized symbol of Día de los Muertos.Thistemporaryaltarisawayforfamiliestohonortheirloved ones and provide them what they need on their journey. They place picturesofthedeceased,alongwithitemsthatbelongedtothemand objectsthatserveasareminderoftheirlives.

Everyofrendaalsoincludesthefourelements:water,wind,earth,andfire. Waterisleftinapitchersothespiritscanquenchtheirthirst. Papelpicado,ortraditionalpaperbanners,representthewind. Earthisrepresentedbyfood,especiallybread. Candles are often left in the form of a cross to represent the cardinal directions, so the spirits can find theirway.

DanielJohnBaker

DoyoulikeCokealot? Esquinade

VERSIONENESPAÑOL

Sinti,lamíasedesangra; yrechazoelamordelquediceteama puessoncorazonesvacíos quesólosupoderíoavanzan…

Dulzuradeunpuebloqueensusojosclama quenohayamorcomoelquemigente derrama;pues,boricua,nacisteisparadarte ynadiepuedetraicionartuespalda…

Pueblobueno,aquíyallá, nadietesuperaennobleza nadietesuperaenbelleza ytedashastaeldoloryeldartetelevantas...

Pueblomío,aunquepasasotrocalvario séquedetodorenaces yquenohayenelmundomartillo quetuYunquehundaydeshaga...

SiDiosdenuevoelmundoinventara, nopodríarehacerte, puesnotendríasemillas parasembrardenuevotualma…

OR NOT TO BE …

My family would often cite Cuba as an example of what happens if Puerto Rico were to leave Tio Sam’s loving embrace.Intheireyeswewereluckytobethestepchild! Theyneverunderstoodthatanyactivityontheislandof Puerto Rico that did not go with the US federal regulations was deemed ‘terrorism, anti-American activities.’These‘terrorists’werethensenttoprisonerof warcampsscatteredthroughoutthevastUSofA.

A commonwealth, a state, independent

by Carmen Robles

Photograph Aiyana Sol Machado Published in The Narrative2022

Puerto Rico’s political status continues to take center stage around the table in every Rican kitchen. We have the same story of Indigenous and African people. We are thevictimsofgreed.

I’maBrooklyn,NYRican…anAmeRICAN.I’vededicatedmy lifetolearningaboutmiislabecauseIwastryingtolearn about me. That’s how confused I was growing up in two worlds. Being a true American but then again, not really being an American at all. Speaking two languages and melding them together to create a third, to our elder’s dismay, Spanglish. To this day conversations continue around this hot topic issue. My parents and their parents would be in utter anguish to see how commonwealth statusisleavingtheirpeoplewithoutacountry.

TheywereconvincedthatwithoutTioSam,PuertoRicowill indeed ‘sink into the ocean’ (West Side Story.) That we were too little, too insignificant. That we could never be smart enough to create our own destiny. To use our own resources for the betterment of us! That we were lucky to be a part of Tio Sam’s familia. Independence was a BIG NO-NOinmyhousehold.

To my family from the mountains of Puerto Rico, commonwealth status was perfect. We could travel without ‘papers’ giving us the ability to maintain Puerto Rican culture in the cold and harsh realities of urban life and factory work. To me personally, commonwealth status allows us to remain the same. Much like being in foster care, to be nobody’s kid. Statehood is like being ‘adopted.’ Then assimilating into a different culture, a different world. Humm, sounds okay. But wait…what? No Spanish? No Puerto Rican Flag flown under statehood status?Yep,muchlikeAlaskaandHawaii,PuertoRicowill bejustanotherstateUSA.

Puerto Rico’s little sister, the island of Vieques, became the target practice range for submarines and mortar attacks. Puerto Rican women were the test rats for the birth control pill. Puerto Rican women, the perfect specimens for sterilization. The sacrificial lambs for Tio Sam’s birth control pill. Puerto Rico also became the home of Big Pharma’s, the manufactures of prescription pills. Today it is the mega mall shopping center of the Caribbeanandthedockoftopcruiseships.

Puerto Ricans are leaving the island in record numbers. Spas and hotels are sprouting up where families once had their homes and their family lineage. Puerto Rico is in an abusive relationship with Tio Sam who has convinced us we are NOTHING without them. In this new century filled with technology and youth, I am of the opinion Puerto Rico will be the country of my ancestor’s dreams.

An island for the people of the island. Led by the resilienceofanewgenerationandincreasedknowledge ofUSAlegislation,boostedbythepoweroftheinternet.I have renewed hope for Puerto Rico aka Boricua aka La IsladelEncanto.

Mantener a las comunidades informadas con Media Partner, Galatropica, Radio por Internet 24/7.Sintonice,llamen,golpee'me gusta', compartan, ... ya conocen elejercicio.

"Como DJ, tengo la capacidad de controlar las emociones del público,yesoesmuygenial". DiceÁngel,"Parapoderponeruna sonrisa en la cara. Poner una canción que te lleve allí o tocar una canción que te desgarra es muypoderoso".

Fundador, Ángel Maldonado alias DJAngel.

Photo:AfroLatina(AfricanMaasai MexicanCalaveraPortrait) featuresawomansplitinhalf representingbothMexicanandMaasai cultures(TheMaasai(/ˈ mɑːsaɪ,mɑː ˈ saɪ/) areaNiloticethnicgroupinhabiting northern,centralandsouthernKenyaand northernTanzania.)

Afro-Latino Identities in the U.S. and Double Marginalization Clickhere

Keeping communities informed with Media Partner, Galatropica, 24/7InternetRadio.

Tune in, call in, hit 'like,' share, ... youknowthedrill.

“As a DJ, I have the ability to control the crowd’s emotions, and that is very cool.” Says Angel “To be able to put a smile on your face. To put on a song that’sgonnatakeyouthereorto play a song that tears you up is verypowerful.”

Founder, Angel Maldonado aka DJAngel.

Recursosparaopioidsen español ResourcesonopioidsinEnglish

https://galatropicalradio.com/

Angel

Maldonado

Elvisisafirst-generationimmigrantborninGuatemala. HeimmigratedtotheU.S.in1995,attheageofeight,with his mother and older sister. Elvis is a graduate of North Community High School and Dunwoody College. He is currently a Financial Advisor based out of Saint Paul. Elvisisverypassionateaboutchangingthenarrativefor brown and black people and aims to empower the communitybyprovidingavoicefortheunderservedand opening doors for the underrepresented in hopes of creating spaces, resources and opportunities for continued advancement. He believes that the best way to create change is by adding action to ideas, building relationships within our communities, and influencing solidarityamongstallmembers. His visit on Conversaciones de Salud, Oct. 23rd will highlight his journey into finance and community involvement, theimportanceoffinancialliteracyand hisviewsonchangingourcommunity's narrative by striving to create more representation in C-suite and boardroompositions.