THE BROWNING OF AMERICA

ERCILIA DELANCER

AMERICAN CORNER

DUSHANBE, TAJIKISTAN

JANUARY 19, 2012

THE BROWNING OF AMERICA Since the early 1950s when

immigration rules in the United States were relaxed to allow for more workers from foreign countries, people of Spanish descent have come into the country and intermarried with other people of Anglo-Saxon, African-American, Native-American or Asian-American background.

THE BROWNING OF AMERICA The rates of intermarriage continue to go

up and is estimated that by the year 2050, the United States will have a majority of people from a multiracial background instead of the 69% of Caucasian people there today.

Since1990, the U. S. census has allowed people in the U. S. to select “multiracial” as their category if they belong, or identify with, to two or more racial groups.

HISPANIC GROWHT IN THE U.S. People of the Hispanic/Latino origins

now constitute more than 15% of the population in the United States. They have surpassed people of African-American descent who have traditionally made up the minority population.

Hispanic/Latino people are now the fastest growing segment of the population in the United States.

THE BROWNING OF AMERICA The following is a limited catalog

of the many people of Hispanic/Latino descent that have influenced popular culture, the arts, politics and literature all over the United States and beyond.

DESI ARNAZ

Hispanics were invisible on TV until Desi Arnaz, Jr. convinced his wife, Lucille Ball, that a comedy about their real life marriage would make for a good sitcom. He was from Cuba.

RICHIE VALENS

Richie Valens (Ricardo Valenzuela) was forced to change his name so American teenagers wouldn’t know he was Mexican.

CESAR CHAVEZ

We can consider Cesar Chavez as our Martin Luther King, Jr. as he also fought for the rights of Mexican-Americans and adhere to the teachings of Mohanda Ghandi.

RITA MORENO

She was able to break the glass ceiling of Hollywood as the first Puerto Rican actress to play a major role in the movie “Westside Story”.

RAQUEL WELCH

Well-known actress from the early 60s whose father came from Bolivia. She’s best recognized today for her TV commercials.

CARLOS SANTANA

Born in Mexico, the legendary guitarist, bandleader, Grammy winner and philanthropist has been active in the music scene since 1966.

GERALDO RIVERA

He is an attorney, journalist, author and reporter. Of Puerto Rican descent, Geraldo became a popular talk show host.

LYNDA CARTER

Best known for her role as “Wonder Woman”, Lynda Carter is a former Miss World and renown singer. Her mother came from Mexico.

OSCAR DE LA RENTA

He’s part Dominican and part Spaniard and has become one of most sought after fashion designers in the U.S.A.

ANDY GARCIA

Actor with memorable roles in such films as “The Godfather III” and “Internal Affairs, has turned director. He was born in Cuba and grew up in Miami.

ANTONIO BANDERAS

ALBERTO (BETO) PEREZ

The founder of the fitness craze, zumba, was born in Colombia.

DON OMAR

Born in Puerto Rico, Don Omar has become one of the best known reggaeton singers in the world.

SOLEDAD O’BRIEN

Of Cuban descendent, the TV presenter has done research into the widespread racism still present in the U. S.

JIMMY SMITS

Well-known actor who has had major roles in such TV series as L. A. Law and NYPD is of Puerto Rican descent and active in political protest for the way the U. S. government administers the island’s resources.

CHRISTINA AGUILERA

An original member of the Mickey Mouse Club, she has written her own songs . Her father was from Ecuador

JULIA ALVAREZ

Julia Alvarez is best known for her first book, ”When the Garcia Girls Lost their Accents” which dealt with the adjustments made by a group of sisters when their family moves to New York from the Dominican Republic. She subsequently wrote “In the Time of the Butterflies”, which was turned into a film. She is currently a writer-in-residence at Middlebury College.

ALEX BLEDEL

Actress and model known for her role in the TV show “Gilmore Girls”. Her mother is from Mexico and her father from Argentina.

BENJAMIN BRATT

Well-known actor, whose mother hails from Peru, is best know for his role in the TV show “Law & Order”.

CAMERON DIAZ

Actress famous for roles in films such as “My Best Friend’s Wedding” and “Something about Mary” whose father is of Cuban/Spaniard descent.

CELIA CRUZ

From Cuba. Entertained several presidents in the White House. She was widely known for her powerful voice and flamboyant dresses, wigs and makeup.

PENELOPE CRUZ

Very well known actress from Spain who has been nominated for several Oscars for her performances in such films as “All about my Mother”.

DADDY YANKEE

The best know reggaeton singer in the entire world. He is also a producer and actor and comes from Puerto Rico.

SOFIA VERGARA

Actress, comedian and TV host. She has become a hit in the popular TV sitcom “Modern Family”. She comes from Barranquilla, Colombia.

MARIO LOPEZ

Television host and actor and one of the dancers who participated in the “Dancing with the Stars” show. His family came from Mexico.

GEORGE LOPEZ

Popular comedian of Mexican descendent and the first to have his own comedy show.

GLORIA ESTEFAN

Along with her husband, Emilio, the Estefans have created the Motown of South Florida molding new talent into the hit makers of tomorrow.

JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT

The actor, producer, singer and graffiti painter of Haitian and Puerto Rican descendent became a well-known painter before his heroin addiction caused his death in 1988.

ENRIQUE IGLESIAS

The song of the famous crooner, Julio Iglesias, has become a heartthrob even here in Tajikistan.

ISABEL ALLENDE

The writer fled her native Chile to avoid political persecution during the Pinochet regime. Her novels have been widely translated and are studied at many universities.

JENNIFER LOPEZ

Of Puerto Rican descent and born in the Bronx, the singer, actress and entrepreneur is widely known.

SELENA GOMEZ

The much hated steady girlfriend of teen heartthrob Justin Bieber, and whose parents came from Mexico.

EVA LONGORIA

Popular actress of Mexican extraction who became known for her role in the TV program “Desperate Housewives”.

JUAN LUIS GUERRA

Prestigious composer, musician and singer who studied music at the Berklee College and has won numerous Grammys. From the Dominican Republic.

MARC ANTHONY

Of Puerto Rican descent, born in the Bronx, and an accomplished musician. Former husband of Jennifer Lopez and father to her twins.

EVA MENDES

Popular actress of Cuban descendent who played the female role in the movie “Hitch” opposite Will Smith.

EDWARD JAMES OLMOS

Veteran actor and civil rights leader of Mexican descendent whose most memorable role was playing the Bolivian teacher in the movie “Stand and Deliver”.

RICKY MARTIN

He started out playing a minor role in a daytime soap opera, but reached fame when he played “La Vida Loca” for the Grammys in 1998 . He was born in Puerto Rico.

ALEX RODRIGUEZ

One of the highest paid baseball players in the U. S. His parents hails from the Dominican Republic and he grew up in Miami.

CHRISTY TURLINGTON

Famous supermodel who has appeared on over 500 magazine covers, numerous videos and documentaries. Her mother came from El Salvador.

SALMA HAYEK

The actress, and now film director and producer of such films as “In the Time of the Butterflies”, has become a sex symbol in the U. S. She started her career acting in soap operas in Mexico where she was born.

LINDA RONSTADT

A singer, songwriter, and record producer of Mexican descendent. She’s become known for her blend of country and rock & roll music.

AVENTURA

SANDRA CISNEROS

Her book, ‘The House on Mango Street”, has become mandatory reading in almost all high schools in the U. S. Of Mexican descent, she grew up in Chicago, IL.

SAMMY SOSA

Baseball player from the Dominican Republic whose competition with Mark McGuire in 1998 to become the top hitter was widely televised.

SELENA

Popular songwriter, singer and actress from Texas whose parents came from Mexico and whose life was cut short when she was killed in 1995. She popularized the Tejano-style of music.

ESMERALDA SANTIAGO

A former actress best known for her memoirs including “When I was Puerto Rican”, has also created a company that has produced award-winning documentaries.

SHAKIRA

Of Lebanese father and Colombian mother, she has risen to the top of the charts with her blend of Arab and Latin rhythms. She has become a UN goodwill ambassador.

DAISY FUENTES

Popular MTV presenter and fashion designer of Cuban descent.

AMERICA FERRRA

She’s the popular actress from the hit TV series “Ugly Betty” and her parents came originally from Honduras.

ZOE ZALDANA

Of Dominican descent, she played the romantic role in the movie “Avatar”. She has been active in community theater to prevent the spread of AIDS.

JESSICA ALBA

She began acting at the age of 13 and has been called one of the most beautiful people in the planet. Her father is from Mexico.

BILL RICHARSON

Of Mexican and Anglo-Saxon descent, he has risen to top posts in the U. S. government and is currently the governor for the state of New Mexico.

OSCAR DE LA HOYA

Born in East Los Angeles to Mexican parents, he had one of the most impressive records as a boxer in the U.S.

SONIA SOTOMAYOR

The first Hispanic jurist nominated to the Supreme Court, she’s been an associated judge since 2009. She grew up in the Bronx and her parents came from Puerto Rico.

PITBULL

Born to Cuban parents, Pitbull had a difficult time breaking into hip hop because he was white, blue eyed and Cuban.