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diversion
CSULB
Latinas read between the lines
By Alisha Gomez
On-line Forty-Niner
Cal State Long Beach student Susannah Rodriguez beautifully
intertwined her Cuban cultural heritage with her American
experiences at the first meeting of "Sirens Between the
Lines: Women's Spoken Words and Music," held by the Women's
Resource Center last Wednesday at the University Student Union
informal lounge.
In honor of Latina Heritage Month, three artists, all Latina
students at CSULB, artistically bared their souls before an
audience.
Rodriguez read poems about various topics including one about
a neighbor she had in Cuba who was rumored to have become
a prostitute. A series of poems involving this character were
read to the group, giving everyone a sense of life in Cuba;
a life that for some women involves harsh realities of a world
that we at times hide with lies.
Rodriguez then played a short documentary film on her relationship
with her father, their ties to Cuba, the problems this presents
and how she tries to move forward as an American, but is finding
that tension can always be found when trying to do this.
Rodriguez is a junior at CSULB, majoring in comparative literature.
"I was just looking to get involved in school,"
Rodriguez said.
She decided that "Sirens Between the Lines" was
a good way to do that.
"I don't focus my work on Latina Heritage. Everything
I write is mainly personal, just each work has different styles
to it," she said.
Graduate student Natalie Maldonado sang with her brother,
Juan Maldonado, who played guitar. As she serenaded the group,
everyone felt her soul and spirit.
Maldonado sang songs in honor of Latina Heritage Month. They
were songs from Cuba called "La Nueva Trova." They
were folk and protest songs that stemmed from South America
during the 60's to the 80's.
Maldonado is getting her teaching credentials while also working
toward her master's degree in multicultural and social foundations
of education.
"This type of music is most inspirational to me, and
reflects the reality of life," Maldonado said. "It's
full of hope and has a message."
As her voice rang out like a lark, her soft-Spanish tongue
mesmerized people. Even those who didn't understand Spanish
understood the power of the music.
Maldonado said she finds the music to be really beautiful.
"Musically speaking, it is very pretty," she said.
"I find that this type of music is also an educational
tool to talk to people about South America and other Latin
countries."
"I really wanted to make it a forum for women on campus
to demonstrate their art," Roxana Rivera, coordinator
of the event said. "I thought that one way to empower
women is through the arts."
"Sirens Between the Lines" is also a creative outlet
for women, Rivera said.
"This really helps me create my work," she said.
"I have a passion for it. I think it is really strange
being Mexican-American and being forced to choose between
those two cultures at times. Sometimes, I feel I have to be
silent in one area of my culture."
Rivera said that these sessions allow women to express those
sides of their cultures even if they clash with American culture.
The next meeting will be Oct. 12 in the USU Informal Lounge.
Performers include students Brie Hulling, who is known for
her slam poetry, and Helena Lazaro. Lethia Cobbs, a recent
graduate from CSULB, will also perform some street poetry.
An open mic is offered to all women. Sign-up for open mic
is between 6:30 and 7 p.m. before each session in the USU
Informal Lounge. All are welcome, but only women are asked
to speak their minds with their art.
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