'Fronteras' is a Texas Public Radio program exploring the changing culture and demographics of the American Southwest. From Texas to New Mexico and California, 'Fronteras' provides insight into life along the U.S.- Mexico border. Our stories examine unique regional issues affecting lifestyle, politics, economics and the environment.
Student-led research in San Antonio shines a light on the complicated history of the enslaved Black Navarros
The Black Navarros project led by St. Mary's University explores slavery in Spanish colonial-era San Antonio, and how the city's prominent Navarro family played a role in slavery in Texas.
10/25/2024 • 39 minutes, 17 seconds
Fronteras: Borderlands Shakespeare Colectiva reimagines the Bard’s iconic works through a nuevo lens
The Colectiva has issued two volumes of "The Bard in the Borderlands," a collection of adaptations of Shakespeare's most iconic work with a borderland twist.
10/18/2024 • 22 minutes, 26 seconds
Art exhibit celebrates the cultural ties between San Antonio and the Mexican city of Querétaro
The international exhibition, "Al Otro Lado del Espejo / The Other Side of the Mirror," features nearly two dozen artists to highlight the centuries-long relationship between the two cities.
10/11/2024 • 26 minutes, 23 seconds
SAMA retrospective showcases over 4 decades of work by Chicana artist Amalia Mesa-Bains
Amalia Mesa-Bains: Archaeology of Memory at the San Antonio Museum of Art incorporates room-sized art installations with hundred of found items.
10/4/2024 • 27 minutes
UTSA Spanish Heritage program inspires students to embrace their language and identity
The acadmic course aims to help students who have been exposed to Spanish develop their unique linguistic culture and practices.
9/27/2024 • 32 minutes, 37 seconds
‘Tacos of Texas’ podcast dishes its fourth season exploring taco culture and beyond
In the latest season of the podcast, Taco journalist Mando Rayo explores the personal journeys of chefs and taqueros from across the state who are connecting to their roots.
9/20/2024 • 21 minutes, 36 seconds
Eagle Pass art exhibition highlights the beauty of the border, fights against stereotypical narratives
"The Border is Beautiful" exhibition takes the works of nearly 50 artists to showcase their own unique perspectives of what it's like having ties to binational and bicultural communities.
9/13/2024 • 25 minutes
‘From GED to PhD’ — Hispanas Unidas celebrates the 40th anniversary of a conference by, for, and about Latinas
The conference was created in 1984 by Latinas determined to make a difference in the community. The 40th anniversary of that first conference takes place next weekend in San Antonio.
9/6/2024 • 29 minutes, 50 seconds
Fronteras: ‘Acts of Kindness' play honors the voices of the El Paso community on the fifth anniversary of the Walmart shooting
The play grew out of the aftermath of the racist massacre at an El Paso Walmart in 2019. Plawright Gregory Ramos describes how he used interviews with community members to touch on gun control and immigration.
8/30/2024 • 21 minutes, 36 seconds
Fronteras: ‘Su voto es su voz’ — SVREP celebrates 50 years of Latino voter registration and political empowerment
Lydia Camarillo, the current president of the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, discusses how the organization has worked to give electoral power to Latino voters for the last 5 decades.
8/23/2024 • 26 minutes, 46 seconds
Lettuce fields, border crossings, and calaveras— exploring Xicanx identity through art and activism
Fronteras takes a tour of the artworks on display as part of the new "Xicanx: Dreamers + Changemakers | Soñadores + creadores del cambio" exhibit at San Antonio's Contemporary at Blue Star.
8/16/2024 • 24 minutes, 23 seconds
What's the status of Mexican American Studies in schools? New report reveals MAS enriches lives, but faces challenges
Three student researchers spoke to other local students, teachers, and administrators about the role MAS plays in the community. They talk about their findings and what people can take away from the report.
8/9/2024 • 25 minutes, 24 seconds
Biographer brings the history of Mexican American civil rights trailblazer, Alfonso Perales, out of the shadows
Perales was a key figure in the founding of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in 1929.
8/2/2024 • 24 minutes, 30 seconds
‘Victims of Sin,’ a treasure of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, showcases music, strong female protagonist
The 1951 film — a blend of noir, melodrama, and musical — was recently reissued by the acclaimed Criterion Collection. It will be screened as part of TPR Cinema Tuesday.
7/26/2024 • 24 minutes, 22 seconds
Fronteras: ‘The real birth certificate of San Antonio’ — Archaeologist uses mission records to explore the early days of San Antonio
Jorge Luis García Ruiz translated the baptismal, marriage, and burial records of the Mission San Antonio de Valero — now known as the Alamo — and published them in three volumes. He discusses the history of the mission and what can be gained from the records.
7/19/2024 • 31 minutes, 40 seconds
‘It’s part of the DNA of Texas’ — A deep dive into Asian American influence on South Texas cuisine
Three San Antonio chefs and a local historian came together to explore and highlight Asian American cuisine as part of a Great SA panel discussion in May, hosted by Texas Public Radio.
7/12/2024 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
CineFestival enters its 45th year of highlighting the Latino experience on the big screen
A preview of CineFestival, the original and longest running Latino film festival in the U.S., taking place July 11-14 in San Antonio.
7/5/2024 • 22 minutes, 53 seconds
‘These stories are part of our collective identity’ — Socorro’s Rio Vista Farm is a time capsule to bracero history
Almost 900,000 workers passed through Rio Vista as part of the Bracero Program. Fronteras talks to two individuals who have fought to keep this important chapter of history from being forgotten.
6/28/2024 • 31 minutes, 24 seconds
How Mexican American fastpitch softball xxx San Antonio and beyond
The sport of fastpitch softball has brought Mexican American communities from across the U.S. together since the 1930s. Author Ben Chappell and Ruben Rios Jr., a local member of the San Antonio Glowworm Athletic Club, speak about the game's impact and legacy.
6/21/2024 • 31 minutes, 10 seconds
Fronteras: 'La Flaca Calaca' — Daughter uses one-woman show to honor her mother and heal intergenerational trauma
San Antonio educator and writer Georgette María Messa explores the story of her mother's trauma growing up on the El Paso-Juarez border. Messa talks about the production and her own journey to understanding and healing.
6/14/2024 • 33 minutes, 15 seconds
‘My instrument is the orchestra’ — Colombian-born conductor discusses her career path to the podium
Lina González-Granados — the first Latina resident conductor of the LA Opera — is making waves in the Americas and Europe. She discusses her career climb and how she hopes to expand the standard orchestral repertoire.
6/7/2024 • 31 minutes, 7 seconds
‘We don’t have to watch DACA go away’ — United We Dream helps young undocumented immigrants navigate a complex system
The immigrant youth-led United We Dream fights for the dignity and fair treatment of the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., including DACA recipients. Two members of the organization talk about their own journeys in their immigration status.
5/31/2024 • 26 minutes, 42 seconds
Fronteras: From Latino caddies to champs: The story of the 1957 San Felipe High School golf team
San Antonio attorney and writer Humberto Garcia chronicled the true story of the Mexican American golf team in his 2012 book, "Mustang Miracle." Humberto talks the players, his book, and the journey to the new film adaptation.
5/24/2024 • 29 minutes, 59 seconds
‘We are resilient people’ — Border Narratives Project aims to shift the perspective on binational communities
The initative allows creatives across the country to fight back against negative border narratives by writing their own. Three of the initative's newest cohort grantees talk about how their projects more accurately depict border life, culture, and home.
5/17/2024 • 32 minutes, 11 seconds
Fronteras: ‘We need to know who we are’— MACRI enters 5th year in highlighting Mexican American civil rights
San Antonio's Mexican American Civil Rights Institute (MACRI) works to advance forgotten chapters of Mexican American civil rights in Texas and beyond. It will host a free symposium May 17 & 18 at the Central Library downtown.
5/10/2024 • 23 minutes, 13 seconds
Taco-Poet Eddie Vega talks inspirations, belonging, and new title as San Antonio Poet Laureate
Holy Cross of San Antonio educator Eddie Vega was selected to serve as the city's seventh poet laureate. He began his three-year term in April and will hold the position until 2027.
5/3/2024 • 23 minutes, 23 seconds
New book series preserves indigenous foods and traditions of South Texas and Northeastern Mexico
"Indigenous Foodways of Texas and Northern Mexico" will highlight the food traditional, techniques, and histories that have been passed down by Mexican and Indeginous peoples from generation to generation.
4/26/2024 • 27 minutes, 19 seconds
Fronteras: 'Our own government was working against them' — Declassifying FBI files on the Latino civil rights movement
The FBI and CIA surveilled the Latino civil rights movement and its leaders in the 1960s and '70s at the height of the communist panic. Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro and his mother, activist Rosie Castro, talk about the effort to establish a clear historical record of the movement.
4/19/2024 • 24 minutes, 59 seconds
‘We were not communists’ — A dive into FBI surveillance of Cesar Chávez and the United Farm Workers movement
The United Farm Workers of America became a target of FBI surveillance during the communist scare of the 1960s and '70s. Arturo Rodriguez spent over 50 years with the UFW. He talks about working alongside civil rights leader Cesar Chávez and about government surveillance of their movement.
4/12/2024 • 35 minutes, 47 seconds
‘Singing from a deeper place’ — Singer Lisa Morales talks life, inspirations ahead of TPR concert
Musician Lisa Morales has released six albums as part of the duo Sisters Morales and three as a solo artist. She discusses her introduction to music growing up in Tucson, Arizona, the death of her sister Roberta in 2021, and more about her influences ahead of her April 13th Creekside Sessions Concert at TPR.
4/5/2024 • 21 minutes, 36 seconds
Fronteras: ‘Thirty Talks Weird Love’ fuses time travel with poetry in a love letter to Juárez, femicide victims, and the author’s younger self
Thirty Talks Weird Love confronts mental health issues, the growing pains of young adulthood, and the ongoing violence against women in Cuidad Juárez. Author Alessandra Narváez Varela discusses her inspiration behind the book and what she hopes readers take away.
3/28/2024 • 29 minutes, 32 seconds
‘Agua es vida’ — Todos Agua festival celebrates the significance of water through poetry, art and music
Todos Agua is a three-day celebration at San Antonio's Esperanza Peace & Justice Center that honors the community's spiritual and cultural connections to water. Three of its featured artists include poet Carmen Tafolla, musician Azul Barrientos, and activist María Berriozábal.
3/22/2024 • 30 minutes, 3 seconds
‘There aren’t simple answers’ — Examining the cause of ongoing violence in the Mexican border city of Juárez
Howard Campbell spent over three decades in Cuidad Juárez speaking to victims and perpetrators of ongoing violence in the city. He includes their stories and an analysis of the violence in he book, "Downtown Juárez: Underworlds of Violence & Abuse."
3/14/2024 • 21 minutes, 37 seconds
Fronteras: ‘Downtown Juárez’ argues against one-dimensional view of violence, abuse and exploitation in the Mexican border city
Cuidad Juárez — a sister city to El Paso, Texas — had once been dubbed the "murder capital of the world." Anthropologist Howard Campbell breaks down the complex causes of the violence in the book "Downtown Juárez: Underworlds of Violence & Abuse."
3/8/2024 • 23 minutes, 13 seconds
Fronteras: Local activists, historians, and writers say San Antonio’s historic West Side goes far beyond its outlaw history
The Jan. 24 panel discussion used the reissue of the book "West of the Creek: Murder, Mayhem and Vice in Old San Antonio" as a launching point for a broader conversation about the importance — and misconceptions — of San Antonio's historic West Side.
3/1/2024 • 21 minutes, 36 seconds
Fronteras: A different perspective to tales of murder, mayhem and vice on San Antonio’s historic West Side
Texas Public Radio and Trinity University Press hosted a book club discussion on the reissue of "West of the Creek: Murder, Mayhem and Vice in Old San Antonio." Local activists, historians, and writers used the book as a launching point to a broader conversation about the significance of San Antonio's West Side.
2/23/2024 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
Fronteras: ‘Can We Know the Sound of Forgiveness’ blends art, music, and spoken word to explore the complexities of existence
The massive multidisciplinary project stemmed from a large-scale painting of the same name by New Mexico-based artist, James Drake. The performance features themes of conflict, suffering, and healing.
2/16/2024 • 23 minutes, 46 seconds
Fronteras: Migration Policy Institute says Biden’s presidency mired by border crisis narratives despite 535 immigration actions
A recent analysis from the MPI examines Biden's presidency at its three-year mark. Two of its co-writers discuss how despite accusations of inaction at the border, legal immigration numbers have gone back to Pre-Trump and pre-COVID normal.
2/9/2024 • 28 minutes, 37 seconds
‘Segundo de Febrero’ exhibit embraces duality of Chicano culture and life
San Antonio's Centro Cultural Aztlan presents the 47th annual "Segundo de Febrero" exhibit to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This year's exhibition, "Seguimos" or "we go on," explores themes of migration, adaptation, and the duality of the Mexican American identity.
2/2/2024 • 22 minutes, 37 seconds
Local San Antonio students gain new perspective on U.S.-Mexico relations through Mexico City trip
Seventeen students and 10 teachers under the CAST Schools network in San Antonio visited Mexico City last month as part of a diplomacy program that aims to strengthen the cultural and diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Mexico. Some of those students joined Fronteras to talk about their experiences.
1/26/2024 • 21 minutes, 36 seconds
Drug wars, militarization of Mexico and the border, and the future of the Mexican presidency
The drug war in Mexico has claimed thousands of lives in the country over the span of three presidents. Alexander Aviña — an expert on immigration and state violence in Mexico — discusses the drug war, the 2024 Mexican presidency, and the ongoing militarization of both Mexico and the Texas-Mexico border.
1/19/2024 • 21 minutes, 36 seconds
‘It’s a binational issue’ — The myths and realities of drug smuggling on the U.S.-Mexico border
Alexander Aviña, associate professor of history at Arizona State University, discusses the historical precedent of drug violence in Mexico, the United State's role, and possible solutions moving forward.
1/12/2024 • 21 minutes, 36 seconds
Fronteras: ‘This is U.S. History’ — Exhibit 'Life & Death on the Border' sheds light on state-sanctioned violence against Mexicans in Texas
Our Lady of the Lake University associate professors Christopher Carmona and Valerie Martínez take Fronteras on a tour of the panel exhibit "Life & Death on the Border: 1910-1920." The exhibit explores topics ranging from the militarization of the border, to Juan Crow laws, to artistic and literary contributions to the Latino civil rights movement.
1/5/2024 • 25 minutes
Fronteras: ‘Life and Death on the Border’ exhibit highlights the buried history of anti-Mexican violence in Texas
The exhibit is on display at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio through March 31 and was arranged by Refusing to Forget, a group of historians who work to bring awareness to the period of state-sanctioned violence against Mexicans in Texas.
12/29/2023 • 21 minutes, 36 seconds
San Antonians mentored by journalist María Martin say her legacy will ‘live beyond’
Pioneer María Martin helped train participants at San Antonio's Esperanza Peace & Justice Center before her death. Some of those students reflect on what they learned and how Martin's legacy in journalism will live on.
12/22/2023 • 39 minutes, 53 seconds
Remembering María Martin — a pioneer in uplifting the voices of Latinos in journalism
Journalist María Martin died Dec. 2 at the age of 72. Fronteras takes a look back at past interviews with Martin that discuss her life and pioneering work to tell underrepresented stories in the U.S. and Central America.
12/15/2023 • 21 minutes, 37 seconds
Fronteras: ‘Recognizing the sacredness of the food’ — Taking a deep dive into the impact of indigenous food and ingredients
Four San Antonio chefs, advocates, and community members came together as part of the Great SA: Native American Influence on South Texas Cuisine panel, hosted by Texas Public Radio. In part two of the conversation, panelists take questions and discuss how Native foods continue to impact culture and traditions today.
12/8/2023 • 21 minutes, 36 seconds
Fronteras: ‘Indigenous food is not disconnected’ — A conversation about the Native American influence on South Texas cuisine
Texas Public Radio took a deep dive into the importance of traditional indigenous foods during a Great SA panel discussion moderated by TPR's Norma Martinez. The four-person panel discusses native ingredients and how they connect to our food today.
12/1/2023 • 21 minutes, 36 seconds
‘Latinx art is American Art’ — A walkthrough of Latino artworks on display at the McNay Art Museum
The McNay's first curator of Latinx art takes Fronteras on a tour of works by Latino artists on display across multiple galleries. Artworks range from photo-realistic representations of Mexican conchas to an installation that pays tribute to the migrant lives lost in the journey to the U.S. Fronteras also gets a sneak peak of an artwork not yet on display.
11/24/2023 • 21 minutes, 36 seconds
The McNay Art Museum’s first curator of Latinx art talks ‘renaissance’ of Latino artists and art
Curator Mia Lopez is fine-tuning the Latino art collection at San Antonio's McNay Art Museum. Lopez talks about what led her to the position, why it's important for Latino artworks to get long-overdue recognition, and begins to introduce the works of Latino artists on display.
11/17/2023 • 21 minutes, 36 seconds
Fronteras: 'I belong to this history' — Rio Grande Valley scholars showcase civil rights history in public space
Nosotrxs Por El Valle, a group of historians and activists from the Rio Grande Valley, have launched a traveling exhibit to share the community's history with residents. Co-founder Juan Carmona and three of the group's members discuss the experience.
11/10/2023 • 21 minutes, 36 seconds
‘Becoming Texas’ podcast revisits the Texas epic from its pre-colonial past to its emerging cultura
The new podcast explores diverse stories of Texas, from how corridos served as historical storytelling devices, to the anti-Mexican violence by the Texas Rangers in the early 20th century. Host John Phillips Santos discusses more about the project.
11/3/2023 • 22 minutes, 41 seconds
New podcast explores undertold narratives that challenge the Texas myth
The "Becoming Texas" podcast aims to bring to light a broader perspective of Texas history — one outside the stories of the Alamo and Texas independence. Host John Phillip Santos discusses the effort to preserve and popularize the complete story of Texas and how its history continues to evolve.
10/27/2023 • 21 minutes, 36 seconds
‘Daughters of Latin America’ breaks barriers to showcase the words of women over five centuries
The anthology collects voices and writings of 140 women that span time, styles, and traditions into one volume. Editor Sandra Guzmán and contributors Norma Elia Cantú and Natalia Trigo discuss the anthology's 13 sections, its use of Latine in the subtitle, and more.
10/20/2023 • 25 minutes, 13 seconds
Fronteras: New anthology highlights the 'exquisite and brilliant' works of Latine women across genres and generations
The works of 140 writers, leaders, scholars, and activists are compiled in the anthology "Daughters of Latin America: An International Anthology of Writing by Latine Women." Editor Sandra Guzmán and contributors Norma Cantú and Natalia Trigo speak about their works and the importance of the anthology.
10/13/2023 • 21 minutes, 36 seconds
Fronteras: 'Mexico was a safe haven’ — The hidden history of enslaved people who found freedom across the border
The flight of enslaved people to Mexico is an often untold part of history — and San Antonio played an important role. Professors Mekala Audain and María Esther Hammack were two key speakers at the recent "San Antonio in the Fight & Flight for Freedom" symposium hosted by the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum.
10/6/2023 • 29 minutes, 35 seconds
Fronteras: ‘Immigration is not charity; it’s necessity’ — CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service talks advocacy & compassion
President and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refuge Service, Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, discusses immigration policy and how the organization works to assist migrants and refugees.
9/29/2023 • 24 minutes, 26 seconds
‘Tacos of Texas’ podcast serves up its third season on the roots of Texas-Mexican foodways
Season three of the Tacos of Texas podcast takes listeners across the state to meet the people behind Taco culture. Host and producer Mando Rayo discusses how the newest season explores topics from culturally relevant foods in schools to a San Antonio bean and cheese showdown.
9/22/2023 • 21 minutes, 36 seconds
The words of Chicana poets sing in the Chicana Art Song Project
The Chicana Art Song Project takes the texts of Chicana writers and sets them to original music. Founder Noël Archambeault and South Texas composer Edna Alejandra Longoria discuss the significance of the project in classical music.
9/15/2023 • 22 minutes, 56 seconds
Fronteras: Oral histories highlight the untold struggles for social justice in Black and Brown communities across Texas
Researchers with the Civil Rights in Black and Brown Oral History Program traveled across Texas to gather oral histories of communities of color in civil rights movements. Their stories are complied in the book, "Civil Rights in Black and Brown: Histories of Resistance and Struggle in Texas."
9/8/2023 • 27 minutes, 8 seconds
‘It goes beyond food’—Third-generation pitmaster continues family’s legacy through barbecue
Adrian Davila is carrying barbecue traditions started by his grandfather as owner and president of operations at Davila's BBQ in Seguin and the newest Davila's on Wheels food truck in San Antonio. He discusses the history of food and barbecue in his family, and learning about the centuries-old roots of the cuisine.
9/1/2023 • 27 minutes, 56 seconds
Unique dialect of Caló‘ reflects hard-fought human experiences of Chicano borderland barrios
The radio program "Caló: A Borderlands Dialect" features words and phrases from the dialect of Caló, which originated in Europe and made its way to the Southwest. Host Oscar Rodriguez discusses the history and meaning of the words, and why it's important to recognize their heritage.
8/25/2023 • 21 minutes, 36 seconds
Do you translate for a non-English speaking member of your family at the doctor's office or at a restaurant? You're probably a language broker.
UT Austin assistant professor Belem López discusses the importance — and the implications — of the day-to-day informal language process known as language brokering.
8/18/2023 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
Texas State professor to study 'beautiful and brilliant' ways bilingual children use language in math class
José Martínez Hinestroza received a grant from the National Science Foundation to study how bilingual students in bilingual classrooms learn math. He discusses how elementary students have used their language to learn mathematical concepts and what he hopes future teachers take from his research.
8/11/2023 • 29 minutes, 46 seconds
‘Fearless, bold, audacious’ — Teatro Audaz highlights the experiences and cultures of underserved communities
San Antonio-based Teatro Audaz aims to bring diverse and inclusive productions to the stage. The theater's executive and managing directors discuss past and future productions, and how the unique plays help young audiences see themselves represented in theater and beyond.
8/4/2023 • 31 minutes
Exploring the little-known history of the first school system in Texas organized ‘top to bottom’ by Mexican Americans
The Mexican American barrio of San Felipe in Del Rio, Texas took steps to educate their children in their own way. Jesús Esparza is the author of "Raza Schools," a forthcoming book that explores the rise and fall of San Felipe ISD.
7/28/2023 • 28 minutes, 35 seconds
'It's a different kind of workshop': Writers with conciencia gather at this month's Macondo Writers Workshop
San Antonio is home to the Macondo Writers Workshop, a five-day annual event that gathers like-minded writers from across the country. Writers learn and share their work to foster creativity and serve the community. Trinity University will host this year's workshop July 25-29.
7/21/2023 • 21 minutes, 32 seconds
South Texas Latino comedians talk representation and inspiration at TPR-hosted panel
Comedians Vanessa Gonzalez, Raul Sanchez, and Tori Pool took center stage June 6 in celebration of Latino comedy as part of TPR's Creekside Sessions series. They participated in an hour-long set before sitting down for a conversation moderated by Fronteras producer, Marian Navarro.
7/14/2023 • 21 minutes, 36 seconds
Journalist María Martin discusses 'cyclical' news coverage of Central America and an ongoing pattern of violence
Several countries across Central America have seen freedom of the press slowly chip away, including in Guatemala. Veteran journalist María Martin discusses the the cycle of violence in the country, the limited news coverage coming out of the region, and the future of democracy.
7/7/2023 • 21 minutes, 31 seconds
‘A crisis of democracy’— Journalist María Martin explores the attack on journalism in Guatemala
María Martin hosted and produced SOS Central, and in-depth podcast that follows the ongoing deterioration of democracy and rule of law in many Central American countries. The pilot episode explores renowned Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora, who was imprisoned and sentenced on charges of money laundering and corruption.
6/30/2023 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
‘The Chicana Lois Lane’ — Anthology collects works inspired by the life of activist and journalist Jovita Idár
Jovita Idár was a teacher, nurse, journalist, and feminist who played an important role in Texas history during the 19th and early 20th century. A forthcoming anthology is collecting poetry, photographs, and other works that honor her life and contributions.
6/23/2023 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
San Antonio-based Tinta Books uplifts stories on Mexico and Mexican American life
Trinity University Press established Tinta Books imprint to focus on Mexican American culture, history, and foreign affairs. Publisher Tom Payton and editor-at-large Yvette Benavides discuss the idea behind the impress, its first release of books, and its efforts to diversity the publishing industry.
6/16/2023 • 25 minutes, 8 seconds
‘Nuestra gente, nuestra comida’ — Encuentro event celebrates the indigenous roots and impacts of Texas Mexican food
Scholars and chefs who attended the one-of-a-kind event "Encuentro: The Native American Roots of Texas Mexican Food" reflect on their experiences talking and learning about indigenous cuisine.
6/9/2023 • 32 minutes, 25 seconds
Undocumented and formerly undocumented migrants document themselves in ‘Somewhere We Are Human’
The anthology is a collection of poems, essays, and illustrations by 41 migrants, refugees, and Dreamers. Co-editors Reyna Grande and Sonia Guiñansaca discuss how the book highlights the unique and complex experiences of what it's like to live undocumented today.
6/2/2023 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
'These are human beings' — The effort to exhume, identify, and repatriate migrant remains
A forensic anthropology professor and her two graduate students spent a week in Eagle Pass, Texas, to help exhume and identify those who died crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. They reflect on their experience working with Operation Identification, an effort that uses community outreach and scientific analysis to ID migrant remains.
5/26/2023 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
'It's a lifestyle" — San Antonio's new poet laureate embraces Chicano culture in his works
Chicano writer Nephtalí De León was named the sixth San Antonio Poet Laureate in March. His poetry, children's stories, and paintings take on a social justice bent and aim to capture the essence of Chicano culture.
5/19/2023 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
New San Antonio Poet Laureate Nephtalí De León discusses life, inspirations in the ‘Mecca of Chicano Arts’
Nephtalí DeLeón is a Chicano writer and artist known for his poetry, children's stories, essays, and painting. The self-described "Chicano gypsy poet" will serve as San Antonio's Poet Laureate from 2023-2026.
5/12/2023 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
Is Tex-Mex ‘real’ Mexican food? — A deep dive into the history & criticisms of the iconic cuisine
Four Tex-Mex experts came together as part of the Great SA panel hosted by Texas Public Radio. In part two of the conversation, panelists take questions from audience members about the merits of Tex-Mex, its regionality, and how people have experienced it over time.
5/5/2023 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
‘It’s the cuisine of the Americas’ — A conversation about the history and importance of Tex-Mex food
Texas Public Radio took a deep dive into iconic Tex-Mex cuisine during a Great SA panel discussion moderated by TPR's Norma Martinez. The four-person panel of Tex-Mex experts discussed the history of Tex-Mex food and the false narrative many people have surrounding it. Listen to part one of a two-part conversation.
4/28/2023 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
‘To the Other Side’ reflects the immigration experience through the eyes of young refugee children
The book chronicles the story of two unaccompanied migrant children as they make the dangerous journey to the U.S. Children's author and illustrator Erika Meza shares the inspiration behind the book and why she thought it was important to shed light on the topic.
4/21/2023 • 32 minutes, 50 seconds
Repatriation Project highlights the decades-long struggle to repatriate Native American remains
NBC News partnered with ProPublica for the Repatriation Project, a series investigating the delayed return of native remains. NBC News reporter Graham Lee Brewer and Ramón Vásquez, a member of the Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation, speak about the struggle to regain access to pieces of tribal heritage and the renewed interest by some institutions to repatriate remains.
4/14/2023 • 32 minutes, 31 seconds
Love, war, and an immigrant story — Novel explores the forgotten role of the Irish in the Mexican-American War
The story of El Batallón de San Patricio — or the Saint Patrick's Battalion — is told in the historical fiction "A Ballad of Love and Glory." Author Reyna Grande discusses her personal connection to the story and how the book shines a light on a forgotten portion of history.
4/7/2023 • 27 minutes, 9 seconds
Diversifying Shakespeare to reflect the experiences of the U.S.-Mexico borderlands
The Borderlands Shakespeare Colectiva is a multi-institutional research initiative that engages with Shakespeare's works to portray the realities of life on la Frontera. The initiative's co-founders discuss their new anthology and how these adaptions have resonated with students.
3/31/2023 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
Black male teachers on film — inspiration, hero, father figure, or stereotype?
A 2022 study examined 11 films in Hollywood that feature Black male teachers. Co-author Marcus Johnson explains how the study found representations of these savior and father figures are often rooted in false stereotypes of Black men and boys.
3/24/2023 • 31 minutes, 13 seconds
'A Song for Cesar' tells the story of the farmworker movement through music and the arts
Abel Sánchez and Andrés Alegría are co-writers and co-producers of the documentary film, a decade-long project that features musicians and artists to honor the contributions of civil rights icon César Chávez. The film screens at Trinity University in San Antonio on March 21.
3/17/2023 • 30 minutes, 17 seconds
‘This is our legacy’ — Commemorating 50 years of the fight for school finance equity in Rodriguez vs San Antonio ISD
Trinity University, IDRA, and Edgewood ISD will host an event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of this landmark case, in which the U.S. Supreme Court determined that there is no constitutional right to an equal education.
3/10/2023 • 25 minutes, 59 seconds
Native Texas and Texas-based artists reflect diverse Latinx identities in ‘Soy de Tejas’ exhibit
The "Soy de Tejas: A Statewide Survey of Latinx Art" exhibit at Centro de Artes gallery in San Antonio collects over 100 pieces from artists representing seven regions and fifteen cities throughout Texas. The artworks engage with themes of identity, cultural heritage, pop culture, and modern political concerns.
3/3/2023 • 27 minutes, 2 seconds
Fronteras: Exploring the 'deeper beat of cultural heritage' along the Texas-Mexico border
"Bridging Cultures: Reflections on the Heritage Identity of the Texas-Mexico Borderlands" highlights the missing pieces of history often left out of the borderland narrative. It features a collection of essays ranging from the enduring cultural practice of quinceñeras, to wildlife along the border, to how border artists capture everyday life.
2/24/2023 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
'Bridging Cultures' is a multidisciplinary exploration of borderland cultural heritage; Remembering artist Jesse Treviño
The essay collection — co-edited by Harriett Romo and William Dupont — explores the complex and rich heritage of the the Texas-Mexico borderlands through the perspective of architects, historians, anthropologist and others.
2/17/2023 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
Mexican American Museum of Texas provides a space to share and celebrate the Mexican American experience
The museum was founded in June 2022 by eight individuals who wanted to highlight Mexican American history and culture. Two of the co-founders, Gus Hinojosa and Juanita Nañez, discuss what led to the creation of the museum, its inaugural exhibit, and why it was important to create a space for Mexican American contributions.
2/10/2023 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
'Personal reflection is this class' — Students embark on journey of self discovery through Mexican American Studies
The Mexican American Studies course is offered to students at Jefferson High School in San Antonio. Fronteras visited the class in January to speak with the educators who helped bring the course to life, and to students on what the class has taught them so far.
2/3/2023 • 27 minutes, 4 seconds
Endowment will help grow one of the nation's largest collections of Latinx art at UTSA
Over 2,700 works by over 600 regional and international artists are displayed throughout the university as part of the UTSA Art Collection. The endowment honors over 20 years of work from the collection's curator, Arturo Infante Almeida.
1/27/2023 • 27 minutes, 59 seconds
The push for more truthful conversations about the state-sanctioned racial violence by the Texas Rangers
Jack Herrera, the host of Texas Monthly's new "White Hats" podcast, and Monica Muñoz Martinez, a co-founder of the history project Refusing to Forget, discuss their efforts to highlight the history of violence and oppression committed by the Rangers against Mexicans and Texas Mexicans.
1/20/2023 • 28 minutes, 53 seconds
‘Crystal City 1969’ play honors the real-life story of student 'heroes and sheroes' who fought for Latino civil rights
Playwrights David Lozano and Raul Treviño discuss how the production dives into Crystal City Mexican American students who staged walkouts in protest of discrimination. The play makes its San Antonio debut at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center Jan. 19-22.
1/13/2023 • 24 minutes, 48 seconds
Strategies to ease the transition of unaccompanied migrant children from government custody to life in the U.S.
The Migration Policy Institute and the United Nations Children's fund (UNICEF) released a brief in December 2022 with recommendations aimed to strengthen protections of unaccompanied migrant children and facilitate their reintegration with their families in the U.S.
1/6/2023 • 30 minutes, 40 seconds
Health Confianza program unites local organizations to improve health literacy in San Antonio
The Health Confianza program aims to repair the lack of trust many people — especially underrepresented populations — have with the U.S. healthcare system. A cohort of 10 organizations pledged to adopt health literacy policies and practices that will lead to better outcomes for San Antonio residents.
12/30/2022 • 25 minutes, 31 seconds
No tamaladas? No problem. Native South Texan realizes holiday traditions are what you make them
Luis Rendon — a journalist living in New York — returned home to Laredo in December 2021 on a mission to reconnect with his roots. He wanted to experience Latino Christmas traditions like posadas and midnight mass on Christmas Eve, and wrote about his trip in a recent article for the Texas Highways Magazine.
12/23/2022 • 24 minutes, 53 seconds
'Vitamina C for Cultura' inspires and empowers young Latinos to embrace their roots
The alphabet book — written by Mando Rayo and Suzanne García-Mateus, with illustrations by Martha Samaniego Calderón — celebrates the people, places, and things that make up Latino culture.
12/16/2022 • 27 minutes, 15 seconds
‘Las Nuevas Tamaleras’ honors the tradition, triumphs, and comical failures of making tamales for the first time
The play — going on its 27th year in San Antonio — was written, produced and directed by Alicia Mena. She spoke about what inspired her to write the play and the impact it has had on audiences.
12/9/2022 • 21 minutes, 31 seconds
Fronteras: The story of one undocumented mother’s journey to the U.S. highlights universal fears, hopes and aspirations
Medical anthropologist Elizabeth Farfán-Santos spent five years with Claudia García, a mother from Mexico who illegally crossed the border into the U.S. to provide a better life for her deaf daughter. She details García's story and struggles in her book, "Undocumented Motherhood: Conversations on love, trauma, and border crossing."
12/2/2022 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
'Undocumented Motherhood' explores the struggles and resilience of an immigrant mother's fight to provide for her daughter
Medical anthropologist Elizabeth Farán-Santos recounts the immigration journey of Claudia Garcia, a mother from Mexico who crossed the border with her deaf toddler in search of better medical resources and a better future.
11/25/2022 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
Western History Conference panel tackles issues on academic freedom, reproductive rights and immigration
“The Politics of Exclusion and the Protocols of Resistance: Understanding the Political Landscape of 21st Century Texas," panel discussed a variety of issues affecting Texans, including academic freedom in the classroom, the suppression of reproductive rights in a post-Dobbs world, and the status of immigration in the state.
11/18/2022 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
‘She empowers mestizos’ — New exhibit reexamines the complex story of Malinche
The San Antonio Museum of Art’s new exhibit “Traitor, Survivor, Icon: The Legacy of La Malinche,” examines the historical and cultural impact of Malinche — the Mexican figure who served as translator to Hernán Cortés during the conquest of Mesoamerica.
11/11/2022 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
‘As the Valley goes, so goes Texas’ — Fighting misconceptions of the Rio Grande Valley
Anthropologist and Rio Grande Valley native Jill Fleuriet spent years conducting research and analysis about the Valley. She discusses what the media, and us as individuals, can do to correct the oversimplified narrative of the border that is often portrayed in the news.
11/4/2022 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
Anthropologist argues the ‘us versus them’ narrative around the Rio Grande Valley
Jill Fleuriet, author of "Rhetoric and Reality on the U.S.-Mexico Border: Place, Politics, Home," discusses her ethnographic research of the Valley and how mass media inaccurately portrays life of southern border communities.
10/28/2022 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
‘The Latino narrative is missing’ — Congressman Joaquin Castro on Latino underrepresentation in media
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released its 2022 report on the lack of Latino representation both on and off screen. San Antonio Congressman Joaquín Castro discusses the barriers Latinos face in media and what the government can do to make the industry more inclusive.
10/21/2022 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
Symposium highlights Latino civil rights efforts of the past, present and future
Sarah Gould, executive director of San Antonio-based Mexican American Civil Rights Institute (MACRI), discusses the significance of Latino civil rights history and how the organization's 2022 Symposium will address topics like voting, education and representation.
10/14/2022 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
'My energy, my way' — Chicana playwright Monica Palacios reflects on her pioneering career as a queer performer
The Los Angeles-based performer will celebrate 40 years of performance at the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center with her latest solo show, 'I'm Still Here.' She discusses her start in the performing arts, the bumpy road to her solo career, and her experiences as a queer comic.
10/7/2022 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
How we say 'San Antonio' — Writer Oscar Cásares discusses the power of Spanish pronunciations
The essayist and professor at the University of Texas at Austin reflects on the experience that inspired his Texas Monthly article, "What We Say When We Say 'San Antonio,'" the Anglicized pronunciation of Spanish-language names, and the larger implications of language loss.
9/30/2022 • 25 minutes, 3 seconds
Journalist María Martin 'sounds the alarm' on the state of journalism in Central America
Independent producer and journalist María Martin has lived and reported on Guatemala for years. She discusses a history of civil wars in Central America, a lack of interest in news coming from the area, and the dangerous state of the press in Central America.
9/23/2022 • 25 minutes, 38 seconds
Violent narratives of Mexican bandits and drug lords create real-life cycles of violence on the border
Rafael Acosta Morales, author of "Drug Lords, Cowboys, and Desperadoes: Violent Myths of the U.S.-Mexico Frontier," delves into how Mexican villains have been portrayed in mainstream media, the repercussions of those portrayals and what sparked his interest in writing the book.
9/16/2022 • 29 minutes, 16 seconds
Raza Unida Party members reflect on Chicano activism on its 50th anniversary
The Raza Unida Party — a Mexican American political party and social movement that emerged during the late ‘60s and early ‘70s — will host a 50th Anniversary celebration to honor the work of past members and analyze the current struggles faced by the Latino community.
9/9/2022 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
Who deserves to be ‘American’? The complicated history of citizenship stripping in the U.S.
Amanda Frost, author of "You Are Not American: Citizenship Stripping from Dred Scott to the Dreamers," talks about the complicated history of who deserves citizenship in the U.S.
9/2/2022 • 23 minutes, 39 seconds
New digital portal makes hard-to-find heritage Mexican American artwork more accessible
Two university professors from across opposite sides of the U.S. created the "Mexican American Art Since 1848" database to broaden traditionally English, Eurocentric search engines and make it easier to find and study Mexican American art, culture and history.
8/26/2022 • 23 minutes, 13 seconds
‘The barrio and beyond’ — Jaime’s Place bar becomes cornerstone of San Antonio’s historic West Side
San Antonio business owner Jaime Macias discusses the role of his bar in the near West Side, "conscientious" development, and finding his place as a Mexican American.
8/19/2022 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
New St. Edward’s University program trains bilingual students to fill the healthcare language vacuum
The Advanced Spanish for Health and Helping Professions certificate at St. Edward's University will prepare bilingual or advanced second-language students with training to provide effective healthcare treatment in Spanish.
8/12/2022 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
New documentary examines social justice and the American dream through food trucks
The 2021 documentary "Backstreet to the American Dream," dives into the experiences of U.S. entrepreneurs and Mexican immigrants in the global phenomena of the food truck industry.
8/5/2022 • 32 minutes, 7 seconds
The visionary behind San Antonio’s Miraflores garden; A remembrance of El Paso poet and publisher Bobby Byrd
TPR's Arts & Culture reporter Jack Morgan examines the life and inspiration behind the man who created San Antonio's Miraflores garden; An episode from KTEP's public radio program "Words on a Wire" discusses the life and career of late poet and Cinco Puntos Press co-founder Bobby Byrd.
7/29/2022 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
From the first Latina college president in the U.S. to the Presidential Medal of Freedom — trailblazer Juliet García reflects on her career
The former president of UT-Brownsville discusses her historic career in higher education and the “surreal” experience of receiving the nation’s highest civilian honor.
7/22/2022 • 33 minutes, 19 seconds
Latino involvement in clinical trials involves overcoming cultural, physical and institutional barriers
Two UT Health San Antonio doctors discuss the barriers behind the lack of Latino representation in clinic trials and the massive need to increase Latino participation.
7/15/2022 • 26 minutes, 14 seconds
Art project inspired by Aztec mythology highlights community stories of sacrifice as a ‘tool for transformation’
Mexican artist Margarita Cabrera's latest project honors personal sacrifices and draws inspiration from the story of Copil, an Aztec warrior whose sacrifice resulted in the founding of modern day Mexico.