The Tortilla Diaries Podcast Dr. Rebecca Dominguez-Karimi

This month our program features a married couple—Art and Abby Ratcliff. Both were born in San Antonio in 1928—at the time of the interview they’d been married for fifty two years! They provide their life history of what life was like growing up during the post Depression era, along with the challenges they faced in acquiring fluency in English. Arthur and Abby both graduated from high school in the post World War 2 era (1947-1948) and experienced a society in transition.

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This month our program features something unique. I’m featuring an audio program I created/wrote/ and produced in my graduate school days. To be quite honest, it was my first foray into audio production. It was for a class called “Writing About Race and Change” at Florida Atlantic University that was taught by its Writer in Residence, Dr. Kitty Oliver, who would later become my mentor and friend. “Cafe con Leche”—as I titled it, also won an award from FAU’s Graduate Research Symposium and led to a Summer Internship program under the tutelage of former NPR station manager and BBC freelance contributor—Dr. Kevin Petrich. I had the honor of being his teaching assistant for Broadcast Journalism for three years. Talk about lucky!

This audio program brings back many fond memories for me: of the many friendships I made while in graduate school, of the challenges graduate school presented, and of the hard work and sacrifice it required. But it also reminded me of the sweet taste of success I achieved upon earning the doctorate.

Just in case you’re curious, I remixed the program and hope you like my update.

Hola amigos, somos familia! This month's podcast focuses on Rev. Dr. Daniel Rodriguez. Brother Dan—as his congregation fondly called him— pastored at La Trinidad United Methodist Church in San Antonio from 1983-2002. His activism for social justice guided his ministry over the years. In 1966, he served in the Rio Grande Valley in Mission, TX—just a few miles from the Mexican border and participated in and supported the striking farmworkers in their 400-mile march to the state capitol in Austin.

His activism continued while at La Trinidad. He pursued community organizing efforts in Mexican American communities on the west and south sides of San Antonio and joined Communities Organized for Public Service (COPS) and The Metro Alliance. As a result of his activism, he assisted these organizations in dismantling longstanding discriminatory laws and practices. Many of these Jim Crow laws oppressed minority communities in San Antonio since the 1870s. Brother Dan actively served in the Rio Grande Conference of the United Methodist Church for over fifty years. He passed on July 19, 2020 at the age of 88.

I'm so honored to feature his interview on my podcast and am dedicating this edition of The Tortilla Diaries to Rev. Dr. Daniel Rodriguez and my dear cousin, Gustavo Dominguez.

Hola amigos, solos familia! Happy Women’s History Month! Happy Spring!


This month our program highlights voices from my Treasures from Aztlan oral history collection along with a mini-memory I wrote. Since this month is Women’s History Month, we’ll focus on stories about women. They may not be famous, but they were my heroines nonetheless. My mini-memory recounts a cherished memory about my Aunt Tina and her best friend Josie. Later you’ll hear a voice from my “Treasures from Aztlan Oral History Collection” about how narrator Ernestine Olvera was beset by racist acts throughout her 92 years of living in San Antonio, TX and how she rose against them. We’ll also learn about the cultural milieu surrounding the 1930-1940s era, when Olvera was growing up and how it impacted her and other Mexican Americans during that time.

Feliz Navidad! This month our program highlights Navidad—Christmas the Latino way!

We’ll learn about traditions ranging from celebrating Las Posadas to Los Pastores to Nacimientos. We’ll learn some fascinating history about popular Latino Mystery plays centered on shepherds seeking el Nino Jesus, and Mary and Joseph finding shelter at the inn. Many of these plays and traditions date back to 16th and 17th century Mexico. These works migrated with the Franciscan fathers that settled in the missions of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Texas.

Our program culminates with a Christmas legend about the poinsettia—also known as “La Flor de la Noche Buena.”

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This month our program features a mini-oral history workshop. With so many families accessing ancestry.com or 123 and Me for their backgrounds, many often wonder about their more recent ancestors—say great grandparents or great aunt or uncle. That leads us to the nest question: What is an oral history? It’s a life story. You can think of it as a series of “mini memories” that oral historians capture to compile into one life story. This workshop offers ways to capture a few “Mini Memories” from your loved ones. With the holidays fast approaching, I’m sure that you have thought about gathering family stories from loved ones, but never quite knew what equipment you needed, how to ask the questions, and how long to in terview? Ask no more, that’s what this month’s episode is about.

www.rebeccakarimi.com