Afro-Cuban Salsa Queen: Celia Cruz
On October 21st of 1925, I entered into the musical climate of Havana, Cuba. Me han dado el nombre de Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso. Within my first moments in the world, I was welcomed by mother, Catalina Alfonso Cruz, and my father, Simon Cruz. I was raised in a house of 14 children, including my three siblings and other relatives, within a poor neighborhood by the name of Santos Suarez. As a child, I had a true love for music as I would often listen to the radio, go to ballrooms, and sing the younger children to sleep. I was known for singing in community events and competing in singing contests. Recognition of my voice came when I sung “Nostalgia”, a tango song, in La Hora de Té. My father believed
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My career in the United States got off at a rough start but not until I joined the Tito Puente Orchestra and truly became the Queen of Salsa. People knew me for my dynamic voice but my performances and outfits are what really aroused the audience. I always had over-the-top attire usually with sequins, feathers, lace, and wild hair. After an incident at a restaurant, I began to say “Azucar!” or “Sugar!” during my performances, which became my famous phrase. By the 1970’s, I was performing regularly with the Fania All–Stars and in Miami. Many people in Miami had left Cuba as well but claimed they would only go back if Cuba became a democracy, which is why Miami could have been called my second home. During the 1970’s and the 1980’s, I had switched up my musical style with various artists. I collaborated with Caetano Veloso, Pattie LaBelle, Wyclef Jean, Emilio Estefan, Luciano Pavarotti, and David Byrne. I also began to appear in films including The Mambo Kings and The Perez Family. After 40 years of singing, I had won several Grammy Awards and Latin Grammys and produced over 70 albums including 23 that went gold. My life was singing and that was all I could ask for. With all the men in the salsa business, I overcame boundaries and obstacles to
In the very first softball game Lisa Fernandez played she walked twenty batters and her team lost twenty-eight to zero, and now she holds the pitching record with twenty-one strikeouts in a game. Lisa Fernandez is a right-handed pitcher who established an Olympic Record in softball and was a member of the United States Women’s Softball Team.
In world politics, when you are asked who the most influence leaders, political leaders like Theresa May, Barack Obama or even Prince William pop to mind. Even though, they are influential leaders we fail to realize that actors, artist or even people involved in the medical field are influence leaders, such as, Gina Rodriguez. Although, Gina was born in the U. S, she has always been criticized and stereotyped for being Hispanic, such as, before leading her role in Jane the Virgin, she was offered a role in Devious Maids as a Hispanic housekeeper. But she has prohibited her identity to hinder her accomplishments. Gina has used her fame to her advantage and is rapidly bringing a voice to Hispanics and women. In the world of politics this would
The United States is filled with a significant amount of National Monuments; places that need to be given certain importance. Their purpose is to protect prehistoric sites and prevent their destruction. To date, several presidents have been involved in the decision of establishing monuments. Right after the decision is made, they are handled by different agencies and departments. They are practically responsible for every single one of them and once they assume that responsibility, those companies are in charge. A monument that even though was not the first one still thrilling with the remarkable history, is the Castillo de San Marcos which is a fortress of stone located in
Julia Alvarez is an acclaimed American-Dominican poet and author. She has written many successful books and poems, many of which reflect directly on her life and personal experiences. Because of Alvarez’s American-Dominican background, her poems display diverse, cultural themes. These include what it is like to be American and Dominican and the struggles of moving from the Dominican Republic to the United States. Alvarez has received praise for her ability to write a wide variety of styles, including poems, children's books, young adult novels, and essays. Her success, however, has come from her poetry collections, like Homecoming. These collections show her life in the Dominican Republic and her transition to the United States.
I believe that Sylvia Rivera is one of the three most important LGBTQ+ figures in America since 1970, because of her actions during her lifetime and the legacy that she left behind. In particular, her activism called out the conservative and exclusionary politics of LGBT rights groups in the 1970s, and the erasure of transgender women and drag queens from larger movements despite their significance to those groups. Much of Rivera’s activism focused on the inclusion and protection of transgender people, and that legacy continues today. For example, the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, an organization that provides legal help to non-cisgender people of color, is named in her honor and fights for many of the same causes that Sylvia herself did. Sylvia, along with her friend and fellow activist Marsha P. Johnson, formed the organization Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) in the 1970s, to advocate for and house homeless drag queens in New York City. Although STAR was not a particularly long-lasting organization, Sylvia’s work through STAR and the Metropolitan Community Church of New York left their mark, and the Metropolitan Community Church of New York’s shelter for LGBT youth is named after Sylvia. Because of her impact upon the LGBT community during and after the 1970s, I think that Sylvia Rivera would be an excellent choice for one of the three most important LGBTQ+ figures since 1970.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen a Cuban native is considered to be one of the most powerful women to impact Florida’s
The Latin Queen, artist Selena Quintanilla-Perez was born on April 16, 1971 in Lake Jackson, Texas. Marcela and Abraham Quintanilla Jr. had three children. Selena was the infant of the gang. When she was born, her older brother Abraham Quintanilla III (otherwise called AB) was 8 and her older sister, Suzette, was 4. Selena was raised in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she started her musical career.
Selena was born in Lake Jackson Texas to Abraham Quintanilla Jr. and Marcella Ofelia Samora on 4-16-1971, and was the youngest child of 3 including her. When she was 6 years old her father realized her musical abilities and later on told People Magazine “Her Timing and Pitch were perfect I knew it from day one.” In 1980 in Lake Jackson, her dad opened his first Tex-Mex Restaurant, where Selena and her siblings would perform at only the age of 9.
Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, was an American founding father who positively shaped our country and impacted the American people. He was a spokesman for democracy, which allows the people to have their voices be heard for policies regarding the government. His views opposed a strong centralized government and helped show the potential of states rights. Jefferson was a powerful advocate for liberty and was well educated, benefitting him when writing the Declaration of Independance. He communicated well with others, which put him in the position of negotiating trade with other countries and gaining alliances. Jefferson was not known for
Selena Quintanilla also called Queen of Tejano music was an American singer, songwriter, spokesperson, actress, and fashion designer. She wore was also called Mexican Madonna for her sexy outfits and dance moves.
It was a privilege to listen to Stephanie Garrison share her story and provide encouragement for our own lives. Personally, I found it very admirable how willing she was to share and be vulnerable. Anyways, Stephanie is currently in her 14th year at Southeastern and serves as the Assistant Athletic Director under Drew Watson. Beginning in the athletics department in January of 2014, as the Director of Operations. Before she joined the athletic department, she served as the Director of Event Services, Resident Director, Online learning coordinator and a variety of other departments at Southeastern. She is a two time graduate of Southeastern, earning a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Management and an MBA. Recently, she has taken on the responsibility of Director of Operations at the Balance Culture while still serving as
Dinahlee Martinez has a loving personality. She puts others before herself and makes sure everyone around her is well. She is funny, outgoing and can be sensitive at times. For the amount of time we have live with her, we seen how a good of a mother she is. She never gives up on us. She continues to push us in every way. She currently lives in Bloomfield, New Jersey. When she is hungry and wants food from the cafeteria in the student union building, she gets oreo ice-cream and a cheese burger, sometimes even two cheeseburgers. Her mother, Noelia, makes good empanadas and she loves them as well.
I had the opportunity to interview Mrs. Maria G. Rivera. She Is a hardworking mother who came to the united states at the age of 13 since then she hasn't left. She has no desire of going back to Mexico and considers America home. I had the chance to dig deep into her early life history, which I will talk about in the next paragraph. I learned how much she values her children and how much she cares for them, which Is the reason why she decided to make a move and come to the United States because she was thinking of her future kids and didn't want them to experience the harsh life she lived when being a young girl.
Whenever I spend time with my family, music permeates the place. Producing a relaxing, peaceful environment, the slow, Salvadoran cumbia differs from the upbeat, Puerto Rican salsa and reggaeton which create a convivial, dancing atmosphere. Soaking in the mumbling music as they casually converse and dine, my Salvadoran family contrasts with my Puerto Rican family. Initiated by yelling “WEPA” and demanding dancing, the music couldn’t even restrain my ailing, wheelchair-bounded great-grandmother from
…"Gentlemen presidents please, on behalf of my countrymen, no more help to Fidel Castro. So he will go and leave me a free Cuba from communism. Thank you very much, thank you very much ... pardon ". Celia Cruz