AIR DATE SEPTEMBER 16, 2021
Title: National Hispanic Heritage Month
In this episode of Emily Tells All, we explore the history of Hispanics in Central Florida and the challenges and accomplishments this minority group has had through the years.
Guests and Locations
Author of Sunbelt Diaspora: Race, Class, and Latino Politics in Puerto Rican Orlando, Patricia Silver
Community Activist, Danny Ramos
Honoring Hispanic Heritage in Central Florida
Hispanic heritage is rich with history, culture, and stories of strife and triumph. Orlando and Orange County in general have their own stories to share. Join us as we speak with Danny Ramos, community activist, and Patricia Silver, author of Sunbelt Diaspora: Race, Class, and Latino Politics in Puerto Rican Orlando.
The Activism of Danny Ramos
Danny Ramos has an interesting and long history of activism in the Hispanic community. The first thing he did when he moved to Florida was organized a concert. The de la Isla Festival was the first major festival that brought Hispanic entertainment to the Central Florida Fairgrounds. Over 32,000 people attended. Danny organized the concerts for 12 years before moving on to other things, such as the art museum.
At one point he rented the Orlando Museum of Art and held the first Hispanic event inside. Now, Danny oversees about 2,500 square feet in a former local car dealership that he transformed into a Hispanic art museum. Hispanic artists can display their work there for all to see.
When asked for advice on how to be an activist, Danny responded, “You have to have a very solid ground and knowledge. If you’re going to go into an area, do your homework before opening your mouth.”
If you’re just starting out in activism, try volunteering for a community organization first. You can easily volunteer for a soup kitchen, nonprofit, or join a group like Guardian ad Litem that works with abused kids.
Life in Puerto Rican Orlando
The Latinx community has a long political and social history in Orange County. Patricia Silver set out to uncover the political and socio-cultural aspects of Puerto Ricans in Central Florida. Per her research, the Puerto Rican community truly started to boom in Central Florida during the 1980s and 1990s.
From redistricting to voting to racial tension, the Hispanic community has been through it all in Orange County. But the community has grown together stronger than ever over time. The youth is also doing their part to push the Latinx community forward. Several clubs have been started at UCF within the last few years.
“I will say that sometimes when you have bad things happen, you have good things come out of it,” ends Patricia.
