In May of 2018, Tess took a DNA test and submitted it to Ancestry. A sealed adoption at birth left her with no details of her birth parents. However, submitting her DNA test was more about learning her ethnicity than finding new family members.
Lacey submitted her DNA to Ancestry in 2015 at the urging of her sister Amy, who is the family historian. Unlike Tess, she was not adopted and wanted to learn more about her family history.
Little did they know their worlds would collide. Their DNA results would reveal deeply buried family secrets, unexpected branches to their family trees, and would provide answers that they were not necessarily seeking. Follow all of the interesting twists and turns of their story on the latest episode of Portraits in Color.
If you would like assistance in finding family members through DNA, Amy McKane is here to help. Please contact her at Your Family History Mystery on Facebook.
Baracutanga is a seven-piece band representing four countries: Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, and the United States. The band was born out of a mutual love for traditional South American music, and a now legendary jam session. Their music is a reflection of the times covering social justice issues, such as immigration and women’s rights.
This episode was recorded using COVID safe practices at Studio 519 in Albuquerque, NM. It also features two, live studio performances from the band.
In perfect 2020 fashion, this year’s presidential election has been filled with conspiracy theories, allegations of voter fraud, and unprecedented voter counts and recounts in battleground states. As we near the deadline for states to certify their results, one thing is clear: voter engagement during this election cycle–pandemic and all–was at an all time high.
As the saying goes, victory has many mothers and fathers. There has been no shortage of groups that feel confident that they put the Biden-Harris ticket “over the top.” The Native American population, in particular the Navajo Nation came out big for the democratic ticket. Then there’s the Stacey Abram effect in getting out the African American vote in Georgia that delivered victory in a key swing state. Both of these narratives are true. So, what role did the Latino vote play in this election?
Frank Chavez and Albert Muniz from Duke's Car Club
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Historians trace lowrider culture back to the early 30’s and 40’s as an extension of pachuco culture. If you’re unfamiliar with pachuco culture, check out Edward James Olmos in Zoot Suit. Yes, he was in other movies beyond Stand and Deliver! Some historians trace its origins to the El Paso/Juarez region, while others say it originated in the barrios of East LA. We’ll leave that debate to the Tejanos and the East Los crowd. Post World War II, many ex-military men from the southwest migrated to Los Angeles to work in aircraft factories, bringing along their passion for customized rides. By the 60’s, lowriders became identified with the Chicano movement, as these cars began to symbolize a proud cultural identity that still exists today.
Photo: Jeffrey Hertz
These cars are an artistic expression of familia, culture and religion. They glow with brilliant colors, religious symbols, and wired rims. You might see the sparks fly from their bodies scraping the pavement as they creep down the street “low and slow” or hear the squeaks of the hydraulics as they bounce from side-to-side.
Lowrider exhibit Albuquerque International Sunport
Lowrider culture has had significant influence in the worlds of music, fashion, and art. Back in the 70’s, you could hear War’s Chicano Rock anthem Lowrider pulsating from car speakers on downtown streets from Burque to LA. The marriage between car culture and music re-emerged in the 90’s with videos featuring South Central LA rappers Eazy E and Dr. Dre. Remember the G-thang video? Lowrider influenced fashion even made its way into mainstream pop music. Do you remember Gwen Stefani rocking the chola look in her early No Doubt days?
Lowriders as an expression of mobile art can be found in prominent art galleries, in national museums like the Smithsonian, and adorning international avenues from Japan to Australia. Facebook groups highlighting Lowrider Culture have six-figure followings and towns, like Española, NM have branded themselves the Lowrider Capital of the World.
I think it’s safe to say, the culture has officially moved from the underground to the mainstream.
Dr. Frank recently had the opportunity to catch up with two OGs from Duke’s Car Club—Frank Chavez and Albert Muniz to learn more about lowrider culture and its worldwide appeal.
Only 1% of Fortune 500 companies have a Black CEO. Aside from the huge racial gaps in leadership positions, even getting a job for people of color can be a huge challenge. For example, studies have found that when Native Americans are similar to whites in terms of factors such as age, sex, education level, marital status, and state of residence, their odds of being employed are 31 percent lower than those of whites.
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Medical mask wearing has a long history that can be traced back as far as the 17th century. During the Flu Pandemic of 1918, cities around the world passed mandatory mask-wearing orders to help prevent spread and protect doctors and nurses from contagious patients. Historians suggest that Americans widely embraced mask wearing as an “emblem of public spiritedness and discipline.” Even our pop culture icons like Batman and the Lone Ranger were celebrated mask wearers…..OK, that’s a bit of a stretch, but you get the point.
Dr. Jennifer Phillips, UNM School of Family and Community Medicine
So, how did wearing a mask during the COVID-19 pandemic become so controversial? Ok, I think we know the reason for this too. So, maybe the better question is: what does the science tell us about wearing a mask?
It’s the inconvenient truth. Wealth in the United States has been accumulated through the ownership and exploitation of Black and Indigenous bodies and the outright theft of land. We are in the midst of a national reckoning with this past. A past that has celebrated oppressors by highlighting nobility, honor, and perseverance in statuesque form, while minimizing and even ignoring the unspeakable acts of violence committed at the hands of these “celebrated” individuals.
Born in Big Spring, Texas, Dana was destined for a career in radio. Her “Nana” would often say, “you’re going to be an attorney or a radio personality, because you have an answer for everything!” Dana would begin her journey in media with her cousin, forming a childhood duo that would deliver “Nursery Rhyme News,” where they would record themselves reading nursery rhymes. Little did she know that later in her career she would still keep it in the family by hosting a radio show with her husband and best friend D.J. Automatic.
In this episode, Dr. Frank and Dana discuss their Latino/a roots, leadership and the responsibility to use media platforms for good, and Dana’s passion to keep moving the needle on women’s issues in America.
Some would say that the last two weeks have awakened the masses to the injustices Black Americans have been facing for centuries. The peaceful protests combined with the anger, rage, and frustration of the Black community is sparking a civil and human rights revolution unlike anything we have seen in recent decades.
While the Black Lives Matter movement has grown internationally, decisions on policing, prosecution, and sentencing happen at the local level. Communities have the power to shape the narrative when it comes to racial justice through local activism and intentional actionism.
Charles Ashley III, an Albuquerque-based entrepreneur and host of the podcast Ashy to Ashley, joins the show to talk about Black Lives Matter, the responsibility of community leaders to stand-up and demand change, silent protests that he and fellow business leader Michael Silva are organizing throughout Albuquerque, and the ongoing work ahead to ensure that the Black community is seen, heard, and most importantly, respected.
