John Leguizamo’s VOCES AMERICAN HISTORIA Headlines Latino Heritage Month Content with His New Three-Part Series Spotlighting the Untold Histories of Latinos
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Los Angeles, Calif. – Sept. 5, 2024 – PBS SoCal, Southern California’s flagship PBS organization, announced today a specially curated programming lineup of documentaries, specials and dramas to celebrate National Latino Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15). PBS SoCal is committed to honoring culturally significant contributions from diverse Latino individuals and providing a platform for underrepresented stories through a robust slate of new documentaries, series and specials for Southern California viewers. Headlining the month-long lineup is the broadcast premiere of the new three-part series VOCES AMERICAN HISTORIA: The Untold History of Latinos, which follows acclaimed award-winning actor John Leguizamo on his search to uncover the fascinating and often overlooked history of Latinos. The series delves into both the well-known and lesser-known stories of Latino history spanning thousands of years from the Ancient Empires to the early 1970s. VOCES AMERICAN HISTORIA: The Untold History of Latinos premieres on Fri., Sept. 27 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal.
In VOCES AMERICAN HISTORIA: The Untold History of Latinos, creator and host Leguizamo aims to shine a light on the rich history of Latinos, emphasizing that Latino history is American history. The series begins with the fall of the Great Empires in Mexico, South America and the Caribbean before Columbus’s arrival in “Echoes of Empires,” offering a new perspective on mainstream cultural narratives. The next episode, “Threads in the American Tapestry,” continues the timeline to highlight key figures and events in the colonization of the United States, the Caribbean and Central America, illustrating the crucial role of Latinos in building the United States. The series concludes with “Solidarity in a New Era,” exploring the contributions of young Latino activists who championed civil liberties and equal education, as well as Latino patriots who overcame discrimination to become heroes throughout the 20th century.
To accompany the premiere of VOCES AMERICAN HISTORIA: The Untold History of Latinos, a series of on-air interstitials will explore the history of Southern California cities El Monte and South El Monte. The five interstitials will complement the themes reflected in the AMERICAN HISTORIA series from a local angle and shed light on the enduring impact of Latino communities on the cultural identity of the Southern California region. The five shorts will stream online at PBSSoCal.org and on the PBS SoCal YouTube channel as well as appear as on-air interstitials starting Fri., Sept. 27 on PBS SoCal and PBS SoCal Plus coinciding with the premiere of AMERICAN HISTORIA and airing throughout Latino Heritage Month. Episodes in the digital series include:
- Welcome to El Monte
The overlooked histories of Southern California’s El Monte and South El Monte communities are told through public historians and South El Monte Arts Posse’s Romeo Guzmán and Carribean Fragoza who share a brief overview of the city’s radical beginnings. - Burn the Wagon: Creating A People’s Seal of El Monte
The myth of the Santa Fe Trail has been an integral part of El Monte’s identity and to this day, the pioneer wagon appears on the seal of the city. The South El Monte Arts Posse commissioned artist Daniel González to create a new seal that more accurately represents the erased history of the people that have called El Monte home for centuries. - Marrano Beach: The Beach Without an Ocean
Historically, Mexican families were prohibited from LA’s segregated beaches and would convene at Marrano Beach, a makeshift swimming destination on the Rio Hondo. One hundred years later, the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area continues to be a source of relaxation and recreation for people of color living in the Eastern part of the county. - The Starlite
El Monte’s Starlite Swap Meet was a weekly gathering where immigrant communities could socialize, purchase essentials, eat delicacies and make a living. Artist Daniel González recounts his own memories of visiting and working at the since-closed Starlite Swap Meet. - Public History: The South El Monte Arts Posse is Recovering the Past
The mural in downtown El Monte commemorating the city’s forgotten radical history inspired South El Monte Arts Posse’s work as public historians, including their book “East of East: The Making of Greater El Monte.”
Later in the month, PBS SoCal’s locally produced, Emmy® Award-winning arts and culture series ARTBOUND returns for the fifteenth season, premiering with “The Cheech” featuring interviews with actor and art collector Cheech Marin, who is bringing Chicano Art to the mainstream art world. After amassing over 700 pieces since the mid-1980s, his efforts have led to the creation of The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture of the Riverside Art Museum (aka “The Cheech”) -- a regionally-based, nationally-focused art institution dedicated to Mexican-American artists. Told through perspectives of established artists and those who know him best, the film tells his journey from comedy icon to Chicano art advocate. Premieres Fri., Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Wed., Oct. 9 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus.
Southern California documentary lovers can look forward to the new AMERICAN MASTERS and VOCES program “Julia Alvarez: A Life Reimagined,” the story of Dominican-American poet and novelist Julia Alvarez who burst onto the literary scene and blazed a trail for a generation of authors. Through in-depth interviews with Alvarez, her family and her literary contemporaries, the documentary is a look at her influence on contemporary literature and the broader cultural landscape. AMERICAN MASTERS and VOCES: “Julia Alvarez: A Life Reimagined” premieres Tues., Sept. 17 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal.
For Drama fans, the new Spanish language period drama series VELVET from the producers of “Narcos” and “Sense8” debuts on Tues., Oct. 15 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus during Latino Heritage Month. The four-season drama epic tells the 1950’s Madrid-set love story between a humble seamstress and a young man destined to inherit the majestic fashion empire ruled by his father.
Highlighting some of the specials airing during the month, the 37th ANNUAL HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARDS celebrates the country’s most celebrated Latino artists and visionaries with recipients this year that include “Saturday Night Live” writer and comedian Julio Torres, music group Los Ángeles Azules and fashion icon Carolina Herrera airing on Fri., Sept. 27 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal. NEXT AT THE KENNEDY CENTER features five-time Grammy® Award-winning jazz and funk collective Snarky Puppy, joined by four Spanish-speaking singers Fuensanta (Mexico), Gaby Moreno (Guatemala), Silvana Estrada (Mexico) and Silvia Pérez Cruz (Spain) for a highly anticipated one-night-only performance. “NEXT AT THE KENNEDY CENTER: Snarky Puppy: The Family We Make” airs on Fri., Oct 11 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal.
Included in the lineup of Latino Heritage Month are the following series, specials and documentaries that will telecast as follows (*subject to change*):
BECOMING FRIDA KAHLO: “The Making and Breaking” (Part 1) – Fri., Sept. 13 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal
When an accident changes Frida's life, she channels pain and heartache into a new passion: painting. She meets Diego Rivera and her creative and romantic dreams begin to take shape.
AMERICAN MASTERS: “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It” – Fri., Sept. 13 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Discover how Rita Moreno defied her humble upbringing and racism to become one of a select group of Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award winners. Explore her 70-year career with interviews, clips of her iconic roles and scenes of the star on set today.
EL MOLE – Sun., Sept. 15 at 6 p.m. – PBS SoCal Plus – New!
The cultural history of one of the most emblematic dishes of Mexican cuisine and its place of origin — Puebla, Mexico.
AMERICAN MASTERS “Orozco: Man of Fire” (En Español) – Mon., Sept. 16 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Muralist José Clemente Orozco, a leader of the Mexican Renaissance, inspires President Franklin Roosevelt to hire painters to work on public walls during the Great Depression.
SINGING OUR WAY TO FREEDOM – Mon., Sept. 16 at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Sun., Sept. 29 at 5 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Learn about the life and music of Ramon "Chunky" Sanchez, from his humble beginnings as a farmworker in Blythe, California to the dramatic moment when he received one of the nation's highest musical honors at the Library of Congress.
AMERICAN MASTERS and VOCES: “Julia Alvarez: A Life Reimagined” – Tues., Sept. 17 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Wed., Sept. 18 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus– New!
Spanning multiple genres and audiences, Julia Alvarez’s work includes three nonfiction books, three poetry collections, 11 books for children and young adults and seven literary novels. This new documentary opens a window into her extraordinary journey from her childhood in the Dominican Republic to a life of exile in New York City to a brilliant literary career that shows no sign of slowing down.
BECOMING FRIDA KAHLO: “Love and Loss” (Part Two) – Fri., Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Now married and living in Depression-era USA, Frida sees the ugly side of capitalism, while political scandal engulfs Diego. Miscarriage and bereavement propel Frida to her greatest work yet.
THE MIGRANT KITCHEN: “El Jardin” – Sun., Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Chef Claudette Zepeda-Wilkins opens her restaurant El Jardín in San Diego. Inspired by the traditions of generations of Mexican women and combining regional heirloom ingredients from across Mexico, Zepeda-Wilkins takes a huge risk to elevate the cuisine in her hometown.
BROKEN BREAD: “Tijuana” – Sun., Sept. 22 at 6:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Chef Roy Choi explores Tijuana’s incredible variety of nightlife, street food, restaurants and cultural diversity along one of the most misunderstood stretches of the U.S./Mexico border. Often painted as a place of violence and poverty, Roy’s experience is totally different as he visits alongside Mexican punk rock band Tijuana No! and Chef José Figueroa.
FINDING YOUR ROOTS: “Mexican Roots” – Tues., Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the deep Mexican roots of talk show host Mario Lopez and comedian Melissa Villaseñor, uncovering ancestors stretching back to the 1500s. Weaving together stories of migratory farmers, Spanish Conquistadors and Native Americans, Gates conjures up personal histories of diverse, sometimes conflicting, elements.
THE LATINX PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT – Wed., Sept. 25 at 9:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus and Thurs., Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal
A bilingual documentary film that explores how a creative practice like photography can succeed at cultivating leaders who are grounded in community cohesion. With photography as their medium, the participants in this project carve a path in a community that years ago was foreign to most immigrant farmworkers.
BECOMING FRIDA KAHLO: “A Star is Born” (Part Three) – Fri., Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Dangerous politics and turbulent love shock Frida's world, while love and trauma shape her final year. As the artist's health deteriorates, her painting thrives.
VOCES AMERICAN HISTORIA: The Untold History of Latinos “Echoes of Empires” – Fri., Sept. 27 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Wed., Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus – New!
Join host John Leguizamo as he examines the accomplishments and rise of the Great Empires and civilizations in Mexico, South America and the Caribbean, from the Taino to the Olmec, Inca, Maya, Aztec and more. The episode tells the story of the fall of the great civilizations that were already here before Columbus landed.
37th HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARDS – Fri., Sept. 27 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal and on Wed., Oct. 2 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus – New!
Created by the White House, the evening commemorating Latino Heritage Month includes performances and appearances by artists and visionaries with recipients this year that include comedian Julio Torres, music group Los Ángeles Azules, designer Carolina Herrera, Beautyblender creator Rea Ann Silva and NBA legend Carmelo Anthony.
AMERICAN MASTERS and VOCES: “A Song For Cesar” – Wed., Sept. 25 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus and Fri., Sept. 27 at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Trace the life and legacy of labor activist Cesar Chavez through interviews with Maya Angelou, Joan Baez, Carlos Santana and more, to see how music and the arts were instrumental to the success of the social movement Chavez helped found, which mobilized thousands of farmworkers across the U.S.
THE MIGRANT KITCHEN: “Alta California” – Sun., Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
A collective of culturally-connected, distinguished chefs (including Ray Garcia of Broken Spanish, Wes Avila of Guerilla Tacos, Carlos Salgado of Taco Maria, as well as Jorge Gaviria of corn purveyor, Masienda) work to preserve heritage and push forward the “Alta California” Mexican food movement.
BROKEN BREAD: “Food as Resistance” – Sun., Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
After learning more about the buried history of the Chavez Ravine neighborhoods where Dodger Stadium now stands, Chef Roy Choi is inspired to meet the people actively preserving Latino cuisine in L.A. He explores Kernel of Truth, a tortillería in Boyle Heights, and seeks out some of the city’s top taco makers who are using food and flavor as a form of resistance.
TACO MAFIA – Mon., Sept. 30 thru Thurs., Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. and Mon., Oct. 7 thru Thurs., Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus – Special Latino Heritage Month Week-Long Presentation!
A new generation of taqueros is showing how to achieve success in a post-pandemic world, while expanding the impact that a business can have in its own community. The self-proclaimed ‘Taco Mafia’ is forging a new path through friendship, sustainability, tradition, authenticity and a commitment to give back, while addressing issues such as sustainability, immigration, gentrification and more.
LA FRONTERA WITH PATI JINICH: “Fronterizos of the Golden Coast” – Thurs., Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Pati travels the California part of the US-Mexico border. She meets the “fronterizos,” or borderlanders, of the golden coast to experience melding of cultures, cross-border collaborations and explosive growth.
ARTBOUND: “The Cheech” – Fri., Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Wed., Oct. 9 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus – New!
Cheech Marin is bringing Chicano Art to the mainstream art world. After amassing over 700 pieces since the mid-1980s, his efforts have led to the creation of “The Cheech“-- a regionally-based, nationally-focused art institution dedicated to Mexican-American artists. Told through perspectives of established artists and those who know him best, the film tells his journey from comedy icon to Chicano art advocate.
VOCES AMERICAN HISTORIA: The Untold History of Latinos “Threads in the American Tapestry” – Fri., Oct. 4 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Wed., Oct. 9 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus – New!
John Leguizamo reflects on Pre-Colonial North America, the American Revolutionary War, the Mexican American War, the Civil War and Westward Expansion as we learn how Latino participation has influenced the course of the nation’s history. This episode highlights key figures and events in the colonization throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Central America.
VOCES MAMBO LEGENDS: THE MUSIC NEVER DIES – Fri., Oct. 4 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Sun., Oct. 6 at 5 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus – New!
Comprised of several former members from orchestras led by legendary Afro-Cuban bandleaders Machito, Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez, The Mambo Legends provide a link to the golden era of music in New York in the early 1940s, when The Machito Orchestra fused the big-band sound of popular music with the rhythms of Africa, Cuba and Puerto Rico, creating an enduring musical genre beloved around the world.
THE MIGRANT KITCHEN: “Puerto Rico: Food Sovereignty” – Sun., Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
In Puerto Rico, chefs like José Enrique work with farmers and communities to rescue a vibrant culture from a history of colonialism and agricultural oppression as well as create opportunities for a more independent and self-sufficient future.
BROKEN BREAD: “The Future of Restaurants” – Tues., Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Roy breaks bread with Chef Wolfgang Puck, journalist Patricia Escárcega and restaurateurs who are working to address worker exploitation, high food prices and unsustainable financial models that have long defined the restaurant industry.
LA FRONTERA WITH PATI JINICH: “Ancient Seeds & Desert Ghosts” – Thurs., Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Pati travels along both sides of the Arizona-Sonora border through some of the most untouched places in North America. She hunts for an ancient chile, visits a ghost town, drops water for migrants and more.
VOCES AMERICAN HISTORIA: The Untold History of Latinos “Solidarity in a New Era” – Fri., Oct. 11 at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Wed., Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus – New!
John Leguizamo reflects on the rise of the new empire, the United States, and the challenges faced by Latinos in preserving their cultural identity. Throughout the 20th century, Latinos were often relegated to the fringes of mainstream society. Young Latino activists were among the first to fight for civil liberties and equal education, while on the battlefield, Latino patriots overcame discrimination to become heroes.
NEXT AT THE KENNEDY CENTER: “Snarky Puppy: The Family We Make” – Fri., Oct 11 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal – New!
In a very special show mirroring their “Family Dinner” series, five-time Grammy winner Snarky Puppy is joined by four remarkable singers: Fuensanta, Gaby Moreno, Silvana Estrada and Silvia Pérez Cruz.
LA FRONTERA WITH PATI JINICH: “Miles from Nowhere” – Tues., Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Pati travels from El Paso, Texas, and Juarez to Big Bend National Park, experiencing everything from burritos to Middle Eastern cuisine.
LA FRONTERA WITH PATI JINICH: “Back to the Middle” – Thurs., Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal
Pati travels the New Mexico and Chihuahua border region, one of the most unique and bio-diverse places. She meets architect Ronald Rael, observes migratory species, visits a remote Mennontie camp, and more.
LA FRONTERA WITH PATI JINICH: “From Dos Laredos to Mars” – Tues., Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus
Pati ventures from Laredo and Nuevo Laredo to Brownsville, Texas, learning about how family bonds are the underlying theme that connect everything throughout La Frontera.
VELVET: “Butterfly Wings” – Tues., Oct. 15 at 10 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus and Sun., Oct. 27 at 11 p.m. on PBS SoCal – New!
The premiere episode of this new Spanish language series takes place in 1950s Spain, following the heir to a fashion house as he romances a beautiful seamstress who works for the company, despite the objections of his family. In the series opener, when Don Rafael presents the latest collection of his fashion house, his son, Alberto, returns home from his studies abroad. In Spanish with English subtitles.
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