Maria De Martinez Biography

Maria Martinez, also known as Marie or ‘Pond Lily’, was an artist that was world-renowned for her amazing pottery. After her birth in 1884, she lived in the San Ildefonso Pueblo in the Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico. Martinez was a Native American of Tewa heritage. In Pueblo, pottery is seen as a communal and common activity and this is how Martinez picked this skill up. By the time she was an adult, she met her husband, Julian. While he worked as a janitor at the Museum of Santa Fe, he and Maria would study pieces of pottery within the glass cases. This gave the couple their inspiration for the several pieces they made together over the years, up until Julian’s death.

Another enormous sacrifice made by the three Mirabal sisters is their own lives, on November 25 1960, Trujillo’s henchmen murdered the Mirabal sisters for participating in the revolution. The death of Las Mariposas definitely inspired their companions from the revolution to permanently end the disastrous regime and kill Trujillo. The sisters were willing to risk everything for the Fourteenth of June Movement, the heroic actions made during these valiant women's lives absolutely changed the Dominican Republic

Selena Quintanilla-Perez was born on April 16, 1971 in Lake Jackson, Texas (Biography.com). Her family opened up their own Tex-Mex restaurant where thanks to her father, Selena and her siblings preformed (Biography.com). That’s where they formed Selena y Los Dinos, the band Selena, her brother, Abraham, and sister, Suzette were in. A year later, the restaurant went under, a victim of the recession caused by the Texas oil bust (Biography.com). The Quintanilla’s lost their home, many of their possessions and, above all, their livelihood. Selena and her family went through some tough times, but through it all she and her siblings kept playing music. People kept telling them that with Selena singing lead, they would get nowhere, because of women

The movie “Real Women Have Curves” tells the story of Ana Garcia, a high school graduate on her way to pursuit the American dream. Ana lives in barrio in Eastern Los Angeles, she is a brilliant student whom teacher really admire. Although she wants to go to college, her family, especially her mother, Carmen, tells her not to. In her mother’s eyes, Ana is a spoiled child who only thinks of herself. As the movie rolls along, the conflict between Ana and Carmen grows larger and Carmen turns into Ana’s biggest obstacle in achieving her American dream. Through this movie, it is important to take notice of how gender, education, class and traditional culture can influence a person’s journey to achieve the American dream.

The documentary film “The Harvest/La Cosecha” is based on migrant agricultural child labor. In some countries, children work 14 hours a day, 7 days a week. One of those countries is the United States of America. Every year there are more than 400,000 American children who are torn away from, their friends, schools and homes to pick the food we all eat. The film has three main characters being Victor who is a 16-year- old boy, and two girls who are Zulema (age 12) and Perla (age 14).Out of those 400,000, three of them are Victor, Zulema, and Perla. Throughout the documentary it gives you a view about how migrant families live and all the obstacles they encounter and how they overcome them.

In the novel The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, the story is developed through the eyes of a young girl Esperanza. She learns about the realities of life in a house that she recently moved into. There are many characters that are written as she learns about her new neighborhood. The three most influential characters in the novel are Sally, her Mother ,and Marin.

Selena Quintanilla Pérez was a very talented young woman who was murdered by her fan club president and manager, Yolanda Saldívar. She loved performing, and she loved her fans. She encouraged kids to stay in school and avoid drugs and alcohol. She had a major impact on the Latin community, and her death was devastating to everyone.

Esperanza shows she wants to go to college unlike her family. Sara and Esperanza struggled reaching their goals. They had to choose to go to college or face their unpleasant life. The only encouragement Esperanza gets from her mother, as she says, "Esperanza, you go to school. Study hard. Shame is a bad thing, don’t let it keep you down". She refuses to let others put her down and wishes to leave her family and neighbors behind. Sara was in a difficult situation then Esperanza, she refuses to do any of her father’s wishes. Esperanza’s trait makes her different than other woman, it plays a role of her interaction with others. What makes her similar like the women is they all have dreams of a better life.

Selena Quintanilla was a very successful “Tex-Mex” singer, who, from the beginning of her life to the end of it, had an extraordinary life. After one time of singing to her father, a band was created and she was put into the singing world. Since that day, many journeys occurred. She has performed in many places like Mexico and Texas. She even got married and won a Grammy. Though, after a tragic murder ending her life, Selena will always be remembered as the first successful female Tejano singer.

Marta Salinas’ realistic fiction story “The scholarship Jacket”, takes place at a small school in Texas. Martha, a straight A plus student, was finally in 8th grade, her year to receive the valedictorian jacket. There are many troubles leading up to Martha receiving the jacket, such as the teachers changing the policy to make her pay $15. This changed the meaning of the jacket because it was no longer a reward. Marta Salinas created the theme that hard work pays off, she displays this theme by showing how Martha feels with point of view, and foreshadowing.

Bell Hooks is an African-American woman from the South who in her time had both good and bad experience. Hooks witnessed both segregated and desegregated schools during her schooling. In “Teaching to Transgress” Hooks speaks about white men using education to grant other fellow white men an advantage in life.

Her speech is a motivational speech for the graduates but as well a form of occasion speech because it has experience, comfort, empathy, and humor. She gives encouraging words to make them proud of their achievements. The target audience is the graduates, their families, and the teachers. Her tone in the speech

Dreaming was never a part of me. I always thought a dream was something you wish for. However, setting goals are only my objective because a goal means something you will achieve, unlike a dream, it isn’t something you wish. When you realize, that in life you don’t get what you deserve, you have to start hustling for your own good. Succeeding is one way to define who I am. I’ve been taught that the choices you make, will determine what you have done throughout your lifetime. Even though I already think myself as a leader, I plan to continue my leadership. Mainly, I plan to be a Hispanic leader. Hispanics have been viewed in different ways and being Hispanic or Latino shows pride because it’s a piece to the puzzle that shapes me. Obtaining an education was always a goal for me. It is the most important thing for me, because it knowledge is power.

In “The Osage Firebird” by Sudipta Bardhan, the author discusses the life and hard work of Maria Tallchief. Betty Marie, best known as Maria Tallchief, always wanted to be a ballerina. Since she was a kid, until she became an adult, her dream was to be a professional dancer. Maria made her dream come true and became a dancer.

Summer: a time for the beach, partying, and having fun. But for some teenagers, it means getting a job. In the books Nantucket Blue and Nantucket Red, Cricket Thompson, a teenager from Providence entering her senior year, went all the way to Nantucket for a summer job with hopes to make some fun memories and leave her problems back at home. Cricket draws inspirations from Nina Clayton throughout the summer. The author, Leila Howland, focuses on the idea of hope. Hope is a goal or dream for Cricket in her future that is going to challenge her, and she’ll learn that she has to work hard for what she wants.