New Book for Grandmothers with Multiracial Families

Grandmothering: Real Life in Real Families is a new book by Becky Sarah (Child Development Specialist, midwife and childbirth educator, Public Health Director for the City of Chelsea, MA and, most importantly, Grandmother).  The book offers practical advice to women whose grandchildren’s worlds are very different from the ones they themselves grew up in. The section on Multiracial Families includes references to Loving v. Virginia, the one-drop rule, and why stating that you’re “Colorblind” is not helpful to young children (or anyone, for that matter). Mixed Roots Stories is also very proud to be included as a resource. Take a moment to read the synopsis and reviews on Amazon, and if you enjoy it as much as we do – add it to your collection and to your gift-giving list. http://www.amazon.com/Grandmothering-Real-Life-Families/dp/0989791807/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381004049&sr=8-1&keywords=grandmothering



Mixed Latinos Identifying with Their Roots

photo from the New York Times

Although I don’t love the term ‘Hispanics,’ I connected with this article on many levels. I’m very interested in how people identify themselves on the census (much of my solo show explores the ever-changing ‘racial’ categories on the U.S. census). I also had the wonderful opportunity to play a Nahuatl woman (an indigenous culture mostly located in Central Mexico) in a performance at Cal State LA during my MFA program.  Also as an ESL teacher, I’ve had a lot of Mexican students who are proud of their indigenous roots. I always encourage them to both learn to be fluent in ESL, and also to hold strong to the cultures and traditions from which they came – this article gives me hope that that is, in fact, what is happening!

New York Times article link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/04/nyregion/more-hispanics-in-us-calling-themselves-indian.html?_r=1

Thanks to Glenn Robinson (mixedamericanlife.wordpress.com) for this comment and edit to the post: Nahuatl is the language spoken by the Nahua people. They are more commonly referred to as Aztecs.



August Wilson Monologue Competition – DEADLINE IS NEAR!!

This is a wonderful opportunity for high school aged storytellers (grades 10, 11, 12) in LA/Ventura/Orange/San Bernardino Counties. Students of all backgrounds and abilities are invited to apply – but the deadline is MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013! Break a leg!

Click here for application materials: http://www.centertheatregroup.org/augustwilson?utm_source=mail2&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EmailSBOpeningNightPhotos




The Singer & The Songwriter – Making Melodious Mixed Music

Mark, Chandra and I were so fortunate to meet Rachel Garcia and Thu Tran (www.thesingerandthesongwriter.com) when we worked together producing the 2012 Mixed Roots Film & Literary Festival. They’ve changed their name to The Singer & the Songwriter (they were called Ampersand then), and are now running a Kickstarter campaign to fund their debut album! They only have about a week to go on their campaign – please head over to Kickstarter  (www.kickstarter.com/projects/thesingthesong/the-debut-album-from-the-singer-and-the-songwriter), listen to their wonderful music, and support them in any way you can! Do it for Beatrice 🙂

 

 

 

 


New Play Examines ‘Biracial’ Identity in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

Annie Bosh is Missing is a new play by Janine Nabers that takes place in Houston when Katrina refugees are placed there to rebuild their lives. Their arrival upsets the ‘racial’ status quo in Houston – most especially for the play’s protagonists who have before then not strongly identified with ‘blackness.’ You can read a longer synopsis HERE.

We’ll update this post as more appearance dates are added – and let us know if you have the chance to see the show!