September 1, 2005
Del Mar College’s Observance of Hispanic Heritage Month Opens Sept. 7 with
Lecture by Direct Descendant of American Indians From 1492 Era
Bobby González to present ““The Legacy of Columbus: 500
Years of Racism and Resistance”
As a direct descendant of the American Indians connected with the discovery
voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1492, Bobby González is a messenger
with the two-fold mission of retelling ancient histories and raising awareness
about contemporary challenges. On Wednesday, Sept. 7, the nationally-known lecturer,
storyteller and poet will open Del Mar College’s observance of Hispanic
Heritage Month with his presentation “The Legacy of Columbus: 500 Years
of Racism and Resistance.”
The free presentation is scheduled from noon to 2:30 p.m. in the Retama Room,
second floor, of the Harvin Student Center on the College’s East Campus
at Baldwin and Ayers. A campus map is available online at www.delmar.edu/maps/east.html.
Co-sponsored by the DMC Diversity and Ethnic Training and Awareness Committee
and the DMC chapter of the Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education.
Refreshments provided after the presentation. For more information, call 698-2247.
Born and raised in New York City, González grew up in a bicultural environment.
He draws upon his Native American (Taino) and Latino (Puerto Rican) roots to
offer a unique repertoire of performances, readings and discourses that celebrate
his indigenous roots.
González is a founding member of Taino Del Norte, an organization formed
to study and promote Taino culture. The Taino are the indigenous people of the
Caribbean islands who were the first people to encounter Christopher Columbus
in 1492.
His lecture will provide an overview of American history from a Native American
perspective. Talking points will include the legacy and real story behind the
discoveries of the New World and America in particular.
Among Gonzalez’s published work, he wrote the book “The Puerto Rican
Indian Wars II.” His collective poetry book, “Song of the American
Holocaust: Native Poetry from the South Bronx Reservation,” reflects upon
five centuries of dramatic upheavals and heroic triumphs of Native Peoples from
North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. González’s poetry
has been published in such journals as Red Ink, Dark Night Field Notes and La
Concha. Poetry readings include those held at the National Museum of the American
Indian, the University of North Dakota and the Nuyorican Poets Café.
As an accomplished storyteller, González’s repertoire includes “The
Skunk Who Fell in Love with the Moon and other Native American Folk Tales”
and “Matu the Manatee and other Native American Stories from Latin America.”
He has had the privilege of performing at Carnegie Hall, the Museum of Television
and Radio and the Detroit Institute of Arts.
González writes a monthly column for the Latino Village Press. He also
serves on New York City's Native American Heritage Committee, which sponsors
various programs on Native American culture.
-DMC-mce