The city of Phoenix Latino Institute and Eight, Arizona PBS will screen a new documentary series about the past, present and future of Latinos in the U.S. beginning Tuesday.
In the spring, PBS chose Phoenix as the location to launch the series, “Latino Americans,” and, along with the Latino Institute, hosted two events downtown on May 23 — one special for teenagers and one that showed exclusive highlights from “Latino Americans.” Adriana Bosch, an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and the producer of the documentary, attended the event.
Kimberly Flack, associate general manager of education for PBS, said that after the event in May received high interest from the community, PBS and the Latino Institute knew they needed to have special screenings when the documentary aired nationwide.
“Latino Americans” presents a chronological history of Latinos in America from the 16th century to now. More than 100 Latinos were interviewed for the documentary, providing insight into the Latinos’ influence in politics, entertainment and culture and describing personal stories of immigration and life in the U.S.
Flack said Cubans, Puerto Ricans, South Americans and Mexican-Americans who have migrated to the U.S. are represented in the documentary. She also said the documentary goes beyond today’s current politics.
“They do touch on the hot topics of the day, but I think it’s exciting to know that it’s embracing all of the facets of the cultural aspects of Latino history,” she said.
Carmela Ramirez, coordinator for the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department and Latino Institute co-chair, said she hopes the screenings engage not just downtown Phoenix, but all of Phoenix.
“I’m hoping that the entire community gets to come together and understand the history of the Latino and some of the challenges they have had in the past, some of the accomplishments and where we are going in the future,” she said.
The Latino Institute, under the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, is a program that focuses on community outreach and education and embraces the contributions of Latinos to society. Ramirez said the documentary screenings give the community an opportunity to learn of and engage in these goals.
ASU health sciences major Britney Joe agreed that events such as the “Latino Americans” screenings are effective methods in engaging the community.
“(The screening is) not only showing diversity, but it is making people aware of the Latino culture,” Joe said.
Discussions following the screenings will coincide with the themes expressed in “Latino Americans,” Flack said. Local panelists, such as political leaders and undocumented students known as “Dreamers” will prompt these discussions.
“The Latino population will eventually be the majority minority in the United States, probably in the next 10 to 15 years,” Ramirez said. “I think it is important to discuss all that it has to offer.”
According to Ramirez, the Latino community will have a strong presence in the power of the vote and economic spending in the future. Yet, she said there are challenges that need to be addressed, such as the spread of information to Latinos about Arizona and the nation enabling them to become responsible citizens.
Events such as the “Latino Americans” screenings are part of the solution, she said.
There will be three consecutive Tuesday screenings of the documentary in Civic Space Park’s A.E. England Building on Central Avenue between Fillmore and Polk streets.
Flack emphasized that the screening events are not just film screenings, but “celebrations.”
Each of the screening events will have food catered by local Mexican restaurants, entertainment, guest speakers and time for community engagement.
The opening reception for the first screening begins Tuesday at 6 p.m. and the film will screen 7-9 p.m. The documentary screenings will continue on Tuesday, Sept. 24 and Oct. 1 followed by a fiesta. “Latino Americans” will be simultaneously airing on PBS during the screenings.
“There’s something in it for everyone, I think, no matter what your race or cultural background is,” Flack said. “I hope that all sorts of Arizonans come out to join in this screening event. There really is something for everyone to celebrate.”
Contact the reporter at alejandra.armstrong@asu.edu
