Protests, Raids, and a Nation on Edge: What’s Happening Across U.S. Cities This Week
What happens when raids by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spark nationwide protests? So far, we’ve seen outrage, solidarity, and unrest. And the nation is on edge. During the past week, the country is facing a wave of demonstrations – some calm, others chaotic – from coast to coast. Those old enough […]
A Tourist Wants to Spray Puerto Rico’s Coqui Frog and the Internet Says ‘Get Off the Island’
Picture this: you’re in Puerto Rico, an island so lush and magical it’s literally nicknamed La Isla del Encanto. The palm trees sway. The mofongo is perfectly garlicky. And, as night falls, you hear it that rhythmic, hypnotic “ko-KEE, ko-KEE” sound from the island’s coqui frog. For locals, this is home. For many visitors, it’s […]
Meet the Invincible Roy Benavidez: A Hero Who Fought for His Brothers and for Us All
On this Memorial Day, we honor the brave souls who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. While Master Sergeant Raul Perez “Roy” Benavidez is not among the fallen, his life was defined by their memory. Some call him the real-life Rambo. Though Roy Benavidez survived the battlefield, he endured wounds so grave that many […]
Romania, Witches & a Frog’s Behind? The Bizarre Origins of ‘Sana Sana, Colita de Rana’ Explained
Just yesterday, I overheard my daughter comforting her friend by gently rubbing her head and saying, “Sana Sana, culito de rana.” My daughter was serious. Her friend was confused. You see, Dahlia had told Cristina, my daughter, that she had a headache. Naturally, Cristina wanted to help her feel better. So, like any self-respecting Latina, […]
Potatoes Aren’t Irish! They’re 100% Peruvian, and We’ve Got the Receipts!
Ask someone where the potato comes from, and, odds are, they’ll say Ireland. Blame the Great Famine of the 1800s, or the country’s famous shepherd’s-pie comfort dish. But the true origin of the world’s most versatile vegetable lies not in the emerald hills of Europe, but high in the Andean mountains of South America, specifically, […]
Wait, Cameron Diaz Is Cuban?! And Her Family Helped Build Tampa’s Ybor City With Cigars?
When you think of Cuban-American culture, your brain probably jumps to Miami and its internationally-known beaches and always-booming salsa music. But way before the Castro Revolution made Miami the unofficial Cuban capital in the United States, there was another Florida city full of the island’s flavors. That place? Tampa. Specifically, a neighborhood called Ybor City, […]
Who Put the ‘Miranda’ in Miranda Rights?
If you’re a fan of crime shows or movies, you definitely know Miranda Rights: “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can, and will, be used against you in court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be appointed to you.” But, have […]
The ‘Limpia de Huevo’ Explained: Latino Reiki, Placebo Effect, and Abuela’s Touch
If you’ve ever had a bad day, a bad vibe, or just the misfortune of receiving someone’s mal de ojo, then chances are your Abuela has performed a “limpia de huevo” on you. The sacred ritual, popular in Mexico, and throughout Latin America, involves waving/rubbing an egg all over your body and cracking it into […]
Florida’s Forgotten Vaqueros: The Real O.G.s of the Wild West
When you hear the word “cowboy,” what comes to mind? Probably some rugged guy in a ten-gallon hat riding across the dusty plains of Texas or Montana. Maybe he’s chewing on a piece of hay, tipping his hat to a tumbleweed. But what if I told you that the original American cowboys weren’t in Texas, […]
Bad Bunny, Calvin Klein, and the Great Mother-Daughter Bonding Revolution
Have you ever had a deep, life-changing bonding moment with a loved one? Maybe over a meaningful conversation? A shared secret? A profound cultural experience? For me, it was when my Abuelita and I would eat soda crackers with coffee. Back in my day (which was somewhere between landlines, mixtapes, and the rise of avocado […]
How Marie Leguizamo Took Over TV
What’s one decision that can change everything? Marie Leguizamo has the answer. As Managing Director of Banijay Mexico + US Hispanic, a division of Banijay America, she’s built a career on making bold decisions. And they’ve led her to create some of the biggest television brands across the U.S. and Latin America. With over two […]
Cartagena Plaza Has Giant Shoes and You’ve Probably Never Noticed Them
I’ve driven past Cartagena Plaza approximately one billion times. You probably have too, if you’ve ever been near Le Jeune Road, Sunset Drive, Old Cutler Road, or Cocoplum Road in Miami. It’s the scenic shortcut most of us locals take to avoid the traffic jams along “La Uno,” aka U.S. 1. Like most people, I […]