Actor, activist Olmos urges end to divisions based on race
Edward James Olmos spoke Thursday evening at UD, opening Latino Heritage Month.
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11:53 a.m., Sept. 25, 2009----Actor Edward James Olmos thinks that people should drop race as a social determinant and embrace each other as members of the human race.

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Olmos made his comments during the opening ceremony of the University of Delaware's 10th annual Latino Heritage Month, held Thursday evening, Sept. 24, in the Trabant University Center.

A multi-talented actor best known for his roles in the films My Family/Mi Familia, Stand and Deliver, Selena and 12 Angry Men, Olmos currently plays Commander William Adama on the series Battlestar Galactica.

The noted artist and lecturer, who addressed the theme of “Access Redefined: Education, Economic Prosperity, and Wellness,” was introduced by UD Deputy Provost Havidán Rodríguez.

“Personally, I have been inspired and impacted by the great and transformational films and other productions featuring Edward James Olmos,” Rodríguez said. “He is truly a source of inspiration and pride for the Latino community and we are delighted that he has agreed to share some of his time, talent, and experience with the University of Delaware community.”

Olmos opened his talk with a light touch, telling the audience of about 600 members of the UD and Newark communities, “I was here six years ago. I can't believe you invited me back.”

The distinguished humanitarian and advocate for Latino culture and organizer of special projects in his native Los Angeles said he was proud his Chicano heritage.

“I am a full-blooded Chicano,” Olmos said. “I was born in America of Mexican heritage. My father was born and raised in Mexico and my mother was born in Mexico and raised in America.”

Olmos said that Chicanos have had to struggle with a cultural identity that was not always respected in America or its neighbor to the south, Mexico.

“We were not Mexicans, and we were not Americans. We were nothing,” Olmos said. “My father hated that word. He told me we were Mexican-Americans. I told my dad, I'm 100 percent Chicano.”

The identity issues facing Chicanos reflected the culture clashes between the indigenous peoples as well as the Europeans during the colonial area and beyond.

Olmos said that Chicanos and Latinos still confront an identity problem, especially concerning their European ancestry. “This is not 1809. There are people here who do not like half of themselves.”

To gain self respect, Olmos said it was important for him to recognize and thank all of his ancestors, who came from Asia, Africa and Europe, with a lineage that goes back more than 40,000 years.

“Can you imagine not thanking your grandparents or your great, great, great, great grandparents,” Olmos said. “If they had not lived when they did, I would not have been here.”

What he couldn't embrace, Olmos said, is why people still talk with “an incredible misunderstanding of who we are. We talk about the brown race and the black race and the Europeans and the Asians.”

Even more troubling, Olmos said, was the fact that nothing has changed during the 37 years he has been advocating the elimination of race as a cultural determinant.

“None of you will ever get the word race out of your head. We have been learning this for 600 years,” Olmos said. “We have been taught this so that it makes it easier to kill each other.”

With the Durban Human Rights Conference in April 2009, where it was agreed that race would never again be used as a cultural determinant, there is hope for a positive change in that area, Olmos said.

“We must stop dividing ourselves,” Olmos said. “We must use race as a unifying word.”

Olmos said the history taught in grades K-12 should reflect the contributions of all persons and cultures in benefiting American as a nation.

“I'm talking about when the nation celebrates a person once a year for at least five minutes,” Olmos said. “There are no Latinos, or Asians or indigenous persons celebrated, and only one person of color, Martin Luther King.”

One approach to changing the way cultures are appreciated and respected is by having children learn at least two languages, and ideally four languages, beginning at an early age, he said.

“English is the working language of the planet, and countries like Japan start teaching their children English in the first grade,” Olmos said. “What I advocate is that children learn at least three other languages. They need to start young, because it is almost impossible to learn languages after age 12.”

Olmos also said that teachers should be valued for their contributions, with the highest degree of respect and financial compensation given to those teaching at the lower grades.

“We value actors and sports persons more than we value teachers,” Olmos said. “We also value lawyers and doctors more than we value teachers. I don't know one doctor or lawyer who could have made it without a teacher.”

The evening's activities began with a spoken word selection by Marcia Marquez, a member of the Class of 2013, and a welcome by Cesar Lopez, Class of 2010.

Michael Gilbert, vice president for student life, read a proclamation from Delaware Gov. Jack Markell and Lt. Gov. Matthew Denn, declaring Sept. 15-Oct. 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month. The proclamation recognized the contributions made to “the quality of life in the First State through their work in many fields, including medicine, education, science, arts, music and athletics.”

A musical selection was performed by Vanessa Pabon-Garcia, a member of the Class of 2010, with closing remarks by Thea Ogunusi, a graduate assistant in the Center for Black Culture.

Sponsors for the event included the Center for Black Culture, Multicultural Programs, La Raza, HOLA, the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations, the Office of the Dean of Students, Residence Life, Student Centers, the Office of Equity and Inclusion, the Commission to Promote Racial and Cultural Diversity and the Theatre Department.

Special thanks were expressed for the 2009 Latino Heritage Planning Committee, the Center for Black Culture staff, the Division of Student Life, the Office of the Provost and the Office of the Governor of Delaware.

Article by Jerry Rhodes
Photo by Evan Krape

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