GLENN BECK: They put a strain on our Social Security, our education, our healthcare. Fifth, he encourages an immediate cessation of all United States military involvement in Latin America. West Indian laborers were brought to Panama during the construction of the Panama Canal, and faced continued discrimination from both white settlers and native Panamanians, leading many to travel North. ", "With the immigration debate currently consuming much of the current political climate, there's no better time for the release of Harvest of Empire. Harvest of Empire: The Untold Story of Latinos in America. Furthermore, the arbitrarily placed national borders separated families and communities that had inhabited the land for centuries. The current section is section II which is entitled as Branches (Las Ramas) goes more in-depth about Gonzalez's background and what made him the individual he is currently. So, what happened basically is, in the '80s, as more and more Salvadorans and Guatemalans were fleeing into the United States as a result of the civil wars in their countries and the repression in their countries, they came here to the United States, and there were industries that needed cheap labor. 'Harvest of Empire' deals with the ignored reality of US-Latin American relations. eNotes Editorial. Well, our 100-city Silenced Majority Tour continues on Wednesday in Storrs, Connecticut, University of Connecticut Student Union Theater at 7:30; then on Thursday in Arlington, Virginia, at George Mason Universitys Founders Hall, Room 125, at 7:30; on Friday night in Charlottesville, Virginia, at 7:00 p.m. at the Nau Auditorium South Lawn Commons, University of Virginia; then on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at the Green Festival in Washington, D.C.; the Baltimore Book Festival at 7:00; and on Sunday at noon, Richmond, Virginia; at 7:00 p.m., Norfolk, Virginia. My book actually came out in 1999 initially, and its now, I think, used in about 200 college courses around the country as sort of an introductory survey text on the Latino community in the United States. Juans book Harvest of Empire, required reading in so many schools in this country, and Eduardo Lpez deciding to make this film, together with the producer, Harvest of Empire, thats airing this week. MELVIN GOODMAN: The feeling was we could very easily overthrow this progressive government and make it a lot easier for the United Fruit Company and other American businesses to operate in Central America. And he appears in the film throughout. UNIDENTIFIED: We are all proud to be American today! Though anti-immigrant sentiment remains high, Gonzalez contends that Latin Americans will continue to immigrate to the United States in search of economic opportunity. co-host Juan Gonzlez, "Harvest of Empire" takes an unflinching look at the role that U.S. economic and. citizens of Puerto Rican descent in the United States and another 4 million, roughly, on the island of Puerto Rico. That military coup in turn spurred a popular insurrection that led to the U.S. invasion of the Dominican Republic in 1965. Harvest of Empire attempts to fill in the gaps, and the reasons dont include some naive notion about streets being paved with goldRaises a very important moral question, and one that rarely enters the immigration debate: If America is responsible for destabilizing a country, what is our role when the countrys citizens suffer as a result?, Rachel Saltz, N.Y. Times Harvest of Empire has a journalistic pedigree and a punch that comes from political advocacyThe filmmakers retain a touching faith that most Americans wont tolerate injustice when they know about it. You know, so Mexicans often say, the originalthe descendants of those original settlers, We didnt cross the border. Ambassador to El Salvador Robert White, and Sister Terry Alexander, Maryknoll missionary. They were just captured as a prize of war in the Spanish-American War, 1898, by the United States and declared citizens by Congress against the objectionsthe unanimous objection of the House of Delegates of Puerto Rico, which in 1917 rejected citizenship, voted unanimously against U.S. citizenship. The film is based on a book by Juan Gonzlez , Democracy Now! We thank you so much. This reaction by the government was intended to undermine Fidel Castros communist regime, which had resisted US intervention for much of the latter twentieth century. AMY GOODMAN: I want to go to a part of Harvest of Empire that deals with the assassination of Archbishop scar Romero on March 24th, 1980, in El Salvador. AMY GOODMAN: And so, explain your title, Harvest of Empire. Harvest of Empire. AMY GOODMAN: And so, Juan, nowI mean, the first day of the Democratic convention in Charlotte, a bus pulled up in front of the gates, the UndocuBus, and scores of people got out chanting No papers, no fear! Ten got arrested in the pouring rain as the police poured in. endstream endobj 4849 0 obj <>stream A sweeping history of the Latino experience in the United States- thoroughly revised and updated. Based on the same-titled book by Juan Gonzlez Getzels and Lpez's intelligent film should broaden the discussion Recommended. Harvest (La cosecha). Strachan writes, These Latin American friends have loyally rolled over investments in succeeding funds, actively participated in Bain Capitals May investor meetings, and are still today one of the largest investor groups in Bain Capital. I want to get your comment, then Juans. AMY GOODMAN: Now I want to get your comment on the current presidential candidates talking about immigration. JUAN GONZLEZ: They never teach us in school that the huge Latino presence here is a direct result of our own governments actions in Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America over many decades. You have to remember El Salvador is the smallest country in all of the Americas. Contact Us. (Courtesy of Jimmy Felter) The documentary "Harvest of Empire: The Untold Story of Latinos in America". Well continue this discussion in a moment. Thats Jean. JUAN GONZLEZ: America has always been a nation in the process of becoming, in process of change. I was more frightened there than Vietnam. This is what Ive really been amazed at, in each of these countries, whether its Guatemala, the footage of the actual coup against rbenz in 1954, and this incredible footage thats never been seen in the United States. Harvest of Empire provides a rare and powerful glimpse into the enormous sacrifices and rarely-noted triumphs of our nation's growing Latino community. I want to play a clip from Harvest of Empire that talks about the history of U.S. involvement in the Dominican Republic, where many of the immigrants here in New York City hail from. Spanning 500 yearsfrom the first New World colonies to our nation's nineteenth-century westward expansion, from the days of gunboat diplomacy to the turn of the millenniumHarvest of Empire features family portraits of real-life immigrants along with sketches of the political events and social conditions that compelled them to leave their . The border crossed us.. So you had a large Guatemalan population that developed in North Carolina. And I think everybody here remembers where we were four years ago. Access-restricted-item true Addeddate 2012-02-28 22:20:03 Boxid IA178901 Boxid_2 CH128520 Camera Canon EOS 5D Mark II City New York Containerid_2 X0008 Donor Many of the chapters in Branches draw on firsthand accounts of immigrants from various Latin American backgrounds. Fly your flag with pride! 3. >|Y.a)vc3I`~|^E5)2(j]qS&VbwiRC 9S-4C{AS?v$-?O PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN: I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots, even though they may have entered illegally. co-host Juan Gonzlez, Harvest of Empire takes an unflinching look at the role that U.S. economic and military interests played in triggering an unprecedented wave of migration that is transforming our nations cultural and economic landscape. JUAN GONZLEZ: He basically ruled the Dominican Republic for 30 years with absolute, total control. You, yourself, are from El Salvador, an immigrant here in the United States. #:0F}E.yxDm"/Aq_rsRw:lZl3.cr"W5jc|i#z+Q=+[Dr i So, you wrote this book years ago, Juan. So that when Ann Coulter says, you know, What have we done to the immigrants? Mexicans and Puerto Ricans are the two largest groups of Latinos in the United States. EDUARDO LPEZ: Well, the way was quite difficult, because it was a seven-year journey between the time we first met with Juan about the book and today. Immigration is one of the key issues of this election year, and yet you dont have presidential candidates who have a vastly different approach to it. US support for violent dictators and its history of issuing predatory loans resulted in widespread political and economic disenfranchisement. Synopsis. The film examines how U.S. intervention in Latin America and the Caribbean forced millions of people to leave their homes to migrate to the United States. The film features present day immigrant stories, rarely seen archival material, as well as interviews with such respected figures as Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Rigoberta Mench, the Reverend . Gonzalez also discusses the Chicano movement of the 1960s and its impacts on the development of a cohesive Mexican culture within the United States. publication in traditional print. Puerto Ricans : citizens yet foreigners. Ed. JUAN GONZLEZ: Yeah, and interestingly, Junot appears on the front page of the New York Times Book Review this week withthis past Sunday with his new book. The American victory over Spain in 1898, which awarded the United States the last Spanish colonies of Puerto Rico, Cuba, Guam, and the Philippines, marked a new stage in Anglo-American aggression. p8(J1aqVm/RPTE/*[)khSm9`%Gnn YW7[`jfl]OU,Viq;o*!q_-Rb_UW,}tegv8v]GuV>B.=k&t75Y5x~# L~txYHC[K%>kp2Jtz SISTER PAT MURRAY: As the crowd started to grow, they realized that this was going to be a very difficult time. Its on 13th Street. And this is another reason why we just felt really compelled to make this film and to work through the seven years in order to bring this to fruition. hTn6EE q8C@ IHvdakb/G*/Dr^rrc'yL]]zL._fq4DQ_~r~}\o^i0ry "@H 32O nL7%'K$H,`N0'#####&fEDDGGGG+. "The film broadens the frame to examine Latin American migration to the United States in the wider context of an interconnected history of the Americas Each segment is made fresh through riveting archival footage and personal stories. In an appearance on the Spanish-language network Univision last Thursday, President Obama faced tough questions over his immigration policies, including his failure to fulfill a campaign promise to enact comprehensive immigration reform during his first year in office. Its important that the world know that we stood behind him. Many Latin American countries tried to ally themselves with the United States in the wake of the revolutionary war, but the United States often proved to be a fickle ally. AMY GOODMAN: The significance of the invasion of 1965, Juan? AMY GOODMAN: Were going to break and then come back to this discussion. By Juan Gonzlez (Penguin, Updated Release 2011), Harvest of Empire: New Book Exposes Latino History in America as Obama Campaigns for Latino Vote, Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License, Sudans Army Agrees to 24-Hour Ceasefire with Rival Faction as Civilian Toll Mounts, Kansas City Homeowner Charged for Shooting Black Teen Who Rang Wrong Doorbell, Grand Jury Wont Indict Akron, Ohio, Police Officers Who Shot Jayland Walker 46 Times, Two Indianapolis Cops Charged with Manslaughter for Killing Herman Whitfield in Parents Home, Video Shows New Mexico Police Fatally Shooting Homeowner After Knocking on Wrong Door, Florida Gov. Eduardo Lpez is our guest, co-director and producer along with Wendy Thompson-Marquez, and Juan Gonzlez, well, co-host on Democracy Now!, a columnist with the New York Daily News, and author of Harvest of Empire, on which this film is based. JUAN GONZLEZ: From the very beginning, the West depended for its labor on Mexicans. He would disappear Dominican and American citizens and kill them with impunity. It continues to happen. In each section, the author highlights an individual to focus on, someone who can be seen as a representative or a leader for his or her community. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney also fielded questions about immigration during a Wednesday appearance on Univision. There is hope that just such a comprehensive solution is possible. I immigrated in 1974, a few months before the fall of Saigon. Journalist Evan Gershkovich Denied Bail by Russian Court, Faces Espionage Charges, New Jersey Climate Activists Hold Peaceful Protest Against Fracked Gas Project, Leaked Pentagon Docs Show U.S. & U.K. Special Forces Already in Ukraine as War Heads to Stalemate, No Justin, No Peace: Expelled TN Rep. Justin Jones Reinstated After Unanimous Nashville Council Vote. In 2013, the film received one of the most prestigious awards in Latino entertainment the Imagen Award as Best Documentary for Film or Television. ROBERT WHITE: For the first time, someone had faced down the Salvadoran military and said, You people are killing the people you are sworn to protect., SISTER TERRY ALEXANDER: Father Paul Schindler had received a telephone call saying this farmer had seen the bodies of four women, very definitely American. 2. AMY GOODMAN: An excerpt of Harvest of Empire, premiering this week in New York and Los Angeles, based on the book Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America by the award-winning journalist and Democracy Now! ANN COULTER: What did wecan I just say, what have we done to the immigrants? And they usually went by nationality. Juan Gonzlez? In the midst of a historic fight over immigrant rights and the future of millions of Latino families, Latino Impact Media is proud to present Harvest of Empire, an award-winning documentary that takes an unflinching look at the connection between the long history of U.S. intervention in Latin America and the immigration crisis we face today. And I think that thethat Romney was so closely tied to some of the Salvadoran compradors is really astounding in terms of, as Eduardo says, his stance on immigration. In the book, Harvest of Empire by Juan Gonzalez, we are made aware that the book is indeed split up into different sections. When I finally saw a map in kindergarten of how far we had traveled, I remember being not only astonished but literally terrified. I lived in what I call the little dictatorship, the little dictatorship of our house. )lJhn.) Thousands upon thousands of Puerto Ricans were actually recruited to come work here in the United States. JUAN GONZLEZ: Yeah, the footage that theyve been able to capture there is really amazing, the actual footage not only of the military shooting down the people at Bishop Romeros funeral, but then actually of the nuns of the church, women being dragged up, their dead bodies. Documentary that examines the direct connection between the long history of U.S. intervention in Latin America and the immigration crisis we face today. And I feel that, as a country, were in a dream where there are no mistakes, there is no evil, we are always good, we hurt no one. He was a liberal, a social democrat, who attempted to institute new social reforms. The stock market was collapsing. Harvest of Empire by Juan Gonzalez: what are chapters 15 about, with details? [includes rush transcript]. Presents a history of Latinos in America, from the first colonies in the New World through today, and offers portraits of distinguished Americans of Hispanic descent that have played a key role in the evolving face of American life. All Rights Reserved. DAVID BROOKS: But when the immigrants come, they come with a culture of criminality. ", "Harvest of Empire has a journalistic pedigree and a punch that comes from political advocacyThe filmmakers retain a touching faith that most Americans won't tolerate injustice when they know about it. Well, the capital came, but now the people are coming, as well. Where did you get it? hmk0^nb=? "Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America." By Juan Gonzalez (Updated Edition, Penguin, 2011) Hear Juan Gonzales talk about the first edition of "Harvest of Empire" on Democracy. Subsequently, Latino American voters, Black voters, and liberal White voters began banding together in support of more liberal candidates. At a time of heated and divisive debate over immigration, HARVEST OF EMPIRE examines the direct connection between the long history of U.S. intervention in Latin America and the immigration crisis we face today. Thats Ita. Three of us knelt down there to pray. And we could see all the Guardia that were on all the roofs. They were forced to, by a variety of reasons, leave their countries. The first new edition in ten years of this important study of Latinos in U.S. history, Harvest of Empire spans five centuries-from the first New World colonies to the first decade of the new millennium. EDUARDO LPEZ: Many, many sources, and theres a lot of footage thats never been seen, that hasnt been seen in decades. The second date is today's And she talks in vivid terms about the kinds of torture that she went through and how somehow managed to survive. Immigrants havent even been in this country. Immigrants havent even been in this country., JUAN GONZLEZ: Well, Ann Coulter neglects to deal with the reality of U.S.-Mexican history. And so, heres Junot Daz, whose life is completely changed because of our actions, yet all of us, as American citizens, know nothing of what we did in the Dominican Republic. AMY GOODMAN: Thats right. But where this money came from and the people who gave it to him is something that he really should have looked at much more closely, because it is related to the most terrible atrocities. AMY GOODMAN: A new report by the National Hispanic Media Coalition has found media portrayals of Latinos and immigrants are fueling rampant negative stereotypes among the general population. ", Best Documentary Film, Imagen Award, 2013, 2015 ALA Notable Videos for Adults List, National Museum of American History, 2012, - Matthew Scalena, The Americas: A Quarterly Review of Latin American History, - Ed Morales, Univision News & Columbia University, - Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News, - Peter Hartlaub, The San Francisco Chronicle, If DSL or LDF rates are not listed, please fill out this, Films for Educational & Public Screenings, The Films of Camille Billops and James Hatch, Not Channel Zero - The Revolution, Televised, Puerto Rican Activism and Resistance film series, Media Production Training Program, Educational & Non-Theatrical Distribution, Democracy Now! Harvest of Empire: The Untold Story of Latinos in America is a 2012 feature-length [1] documentary film based on the book Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America, [2] written by journalist Juan Gonzlez. 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