Teacher versus Farmer – California’s Central Valley is the scenario for one of the closest races for Congress in the November elections. Republican congressman David Valadao, who is a farmer, is facing off against Democrat Amanda Rentería, a teacher, in a majority-Latino district. Both candidates were invited to debate on economy, financial aid for education, immigration reform, and other issues, on the national show Línea Abierta. Only Rentería accepted the invitation. This is a segment of her interview by our news director Samuel Orozco.
Hambone: A Rhythm of Resistance – Have you ever heard the musical rhythm of Hambone? It’s a style of percussion that began among African slaves in the United States. When the plantation owners banned them from playing drums, the slaves began to use their bodies as drums. Hambone musicians hit different parts of their bodies, including their mouths and cheeks, to make sounds with many different tones. One of the most well-known presenters of Hambone in California is Lance McGee. He goes by the name of Unique Derique, and off stage, he teaches this art to children, so this legacy of African-American cultural resistance is not lost. Our reporter Fernando Andrés Torres visited Unique Derique in Oakland, California, and has this story. This feature story is part of our series Raíces: Stories About Grassroots Artists.
