John Leguizamo on Learning the Untold History of Latinos: “It Changed My DNA” | Amanpour and Company

The significant contributions of America's Latino population to U.S. history and culture have long been overlooked. Yet the Latino vote will be a decisive factor in next month's election. Emmy-winning actor and activist John Leguizamo explores all this in his new series, “VOCES American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos.” Leguizamo joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss what he learned - and what’s at stake.
Originally aired on October 2, 2024
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Amanpour and Company features wide-ranging, in-depth conversations with global thought leaders and cultural influencers on the issues and trends impacting the world each day, from politics, business and technology to arts, science and sports. Christiane Amanpour leads the conversation on global and domestic news from London with contributions by prominent journalists Walter Isaacson, Michel Martin, Alicia Menendez and Hari Sreenivasan from the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center in New York City.
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[@erictalbert4633]

As a Black Man I can say well said John. Black history, Latino history and Asian history is all American history! Don’t hide it. Proclaim it! Well said John Leguizamo!

[@anikasarahfarmer9353]

Any history other than the Christopher Columbus Colonizers is not told!!! Minorities have been making contributions and the contributions of our ancestors have never been told!

[@karenlombardi1590]

I am so grateful to Mr. Leguizamo for teaching me these lessons. I was oblivious until I saw one of his specials.

[@j.h.5718]

Mr. Leguizamo, I want to thank you for your efforts and expertise in uncovering and sharing all of this important knowledge and information. On behalf of my children, I am grateful for your work. When will the website containing this information be available for people, especially young people, to access and read? I would definitely have my children subscribe to it! More power to you on this AWESOME journey! 👏🏽💙💪🏽🙏🏽

[@ruthhenry9577]

It's so very important for any country to know their history not just snippets of it but ALL of it. Well done Mr. Leguizamo. 👏

[@cesarsalgado3974]

THANK YOU JOHN 💯💯💯💯 WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE LEARNS AND NOT FORGET OUR HISTORY AND MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AMERICAS. WE'RE NATIVES TO THIS LAND 💯💯💯💯

[@theresahoffman7444]

My mom was born in 1948 in New Mexico and while growing up her and all her classmates were told not to speak Spanish and they were punished if they did. They also changed her name from Cayetana (an old Spanish name) to Katie because it was easier for the white teachers to say. I am very grateful that she and my dad taught us to read and write in Spanish and to speak Spanish fluently.

[@chrisubias7135]

Same here. 1968 Houston

[@antoniogonzalez5399]

What city was she from? My grandma is from NM, i think born 1927. I never thought to ask her about racism or prejudices

[@theresahoffman7444]

My family lives in Cuba, La Jara, Albuquerque, Bernalillo.

[@theresahoffman7444]

@@antoniogonzalez5399 My grandmother was born in 1914, her name was Maria Valdez Gutierrez. My family are Gutierrez, Chavez, Trujillo and Valdez.

[@CarmenMaria-v9v]

Our name's change and are our LAST names too. No.... Ñ as in PIÑA , LL , GUI, etc

[@msmacmac1000]

I watched the first episode and cannot wait for more. Muchas gracias, John Leguizamo!

[@michaelromeo9393]

What station is it documentary on or channel?

[@cafecomjc.910]

@@michaelromeo9393 PBS

[@msmacmac1000]

@@michaelromeo9393 PBS Passport

[@VictorJinenez-q1t]

Thank you Thank you thank you John Mil Gracias

[@RexJordan-s8x]

Thank you John

[@heidi.a.thomson]

Fantastic project! I'm Canadian and want to learn more about Latino history. I hope this series is seen in schools. ❤🇨🇦

[@noyfbfyyt]

Great broadcast! Thank you, John, for all that you do!

[@vasquezna]

So grateful for you John Leguizamo and this very important work and service to the Latino community that you embarked on. I am so happy to hear our involvement in so much of history that I was not aware of. It was never mentioned in school we were only praised for being artistic, good painters or good with our hands. Can't wait to watch more!

[@adrianaross724]

Thank you so much for this great interview!!❤

[@Sticky-Situation]

Gracias John. This is a beautiful Love letter to our community and our country. 🇺🇸🇵🇷

[@mrsplanetmaster9]

Leguizamo Does America a fabulous 6 part series Mar 2023 ...he took us to Puerto Rico, NYC, MIA, L.A., Chicago and DC. I lived in the 1st 4 I mentioned and he warmed my heart and my pride cup runneth over, Gracias Senor LEG💙💚👏🏼

[@EdwardBautista-p4p]

Good job John!!! Keep up the good work. Latino American history has always been swept under the rug or even in many cases denied.

[@albertocastellon1243]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, John for opening up our eyes and minds. Love you Brother.

[@Melissa-iw8xo]

Thank you to John for filling in so much of the missing information and truth about our Latin history. Not the picture most Americans have of us. It's time to change this myopic perspective.

[@philipbrandimarte8102]

Awesome! Thank you, John!

[@tommcfadden5232]

All history is untold, until someone takes the time to tell it.

[@Leeniebean]

until someone is allowed to tell the history. there is a difference

[@emiliog.4432]

Awesome. Everyone’s culture and groups should be respected and celebrated. All history, the good and the bad. America is a great melting pot. A pluralistic society. Why live in ignorance? We can all learn great lessons and come together as one for the greater good of humanity. America. For all.

[@juangutierrez163]

Leguizamo - You are a King. Keep doing what you do. You educate and inspire many. Wish there were more leaders like you. Super proud of you!

[@tommymas1]

Much of what he says is not accurate so that hardly makes him a leader.

[@lovely-mk4rt]

@@tommymas1. lol okay TROLL!

[@OscarSarceno-tk9xe]

Jhon you're my hero. I wish there were more like you.

[@patriciam.o.6450]

Thank you, Mr Leguizamo for educating people about latinos history! Do you have audiobooks if don’t please write it.

[@danielalfonsoramos3349]

I’m grateful to have a brilliant person like leguizamo teaching and spraying a legacy of our culture. Thanks mate.

[@Jcesare09]

So importan information Thanks to John Legizamo

[@moisesgutierrezjr.2921]

Thank you John, Christine & Hari for this clip, I always learn a lot from John’s shows. 👍

[@jessicaramos2804]

Thank you John and everyone who did the research to put this out ❤

[@incisivecommenter5974]

I love this!! Thanks John Leguizamo!

[@geinikan1kan]

Ive seen Mr Leguizamo on the Daily Show. Funny and informative. I want to see his show on Latino history. In the US we ignore so much it’s like we just see a flashlight of light and the rest is in the dark.

[@waterandshovelgardening]

John Leguizamo is playing such an important role with his activism and his documentary, especially now with our political situation. There is a rich history of Latinos that needs to be told. There are those in power that try to edit our American history for their own benefit and to maintain power. We need to hear the true history, the complete history of our country. We need our children, all our children from all backgrounds, to hear the complete and honest history of our Country. We need to see people of all backgrounds represented, with their voices heard so all people, all our children, are included in the future direction of our country. We need to see people of all backgrounds, both female and and male, represented on tv, in movies, in business, and in government. We will not have a truly representative society and government until that time.

[@troyboone4893]

Shared!!! Gracias JL 💪🏽

[@greganthonycastillo7524]

Thank you John for your knowledge and sharing it with us all. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@pinkraingirl]

Thanks Leguizamo- As an Italian American with other European ancestry I can't wait to watch. this is so important to recognize the strength and beauty of Latinos and their ancient culture.

[@JOSECABARCAS-p5y]

Thank you, John! 👋

[@pualanalstyle]

Bravo John Leguizamo!!!

[@danielrobledo3132]

Great news report.

[@gabbylaughs0574]

Excellent interview. Love John Leguizamo.

[@DeeBaker-o7p]

.....gracias a ti......

[@pupp5092]

This man is a Genius!!❤❤❤

[@balsarmy]

I think it is going to be interesting and important. Good time to make it now

[@pedallove7058]

Thank you so much for this!

[@CarmenMaria-v9v]

Thank you for defening our hertage.❤

[@johnnyquid-xj4kk]

That show “culture clash” of his was a trip.

[@rabukan5842]

John is doing a great service not only for Latinos, but for all Americans as he is strengthening our historical awareness. That said, Latino and hispanic are different in that Latinos are from indigenous cultures of Latin America, whereas hispanics are of mixed heritage - Latino and Spanish. As in the US, Europeans decimated the indigenous populations of Latin America and claimed the territory as theirs. Such was the history of the world. History isn't only written by the victors, it is, in many ways, the creation of it.

[@carlosgarcia-po1zr]

I do admire you John. Good job.

[@teescoffee5689]

Thank you so much Mr. Leguizamo! So much of our history has never been told.

[@RexJordan-s8x]

Thank you

[@Rebecca-le9hn]

As an African American, my children were required by me that any project they had to do in school had to be about an African American. Good for Mr. Leguizamo

[@TECMOBOWLvsRBI]

It’s interesting to hear about the Maestas family in Denver that fought against segregation in the early 1900s. My wife’s grandmother is 92 years old and a native Spanish speaker born in the Colorado Springs area. Spanish was not allowed to be spoken in the schools there when she was a child. That’s a perfect example of how the predominant native groups were discouraged from simply displaying their culture and customs because of white people. Fast forward 100 years and a bunch of low education ghouls will denigrate people who choose to speak Spanish in the United States among friends out in the street or in a store.

[@lindalangford4470]

We Love John's truthfulness!! We now have to Vote Vote Vote and regain our voices!

[@harryjones-haroldine]

OMG 😀 love him 💖

[@carloscenteno59]

It's incredible that we still have Columbus Day. A lack of history, facts, and truths divides this nation. Loved this video.

[@tommymas1]

What Leguziamo says about Columbus are mostly untrue. He was retried once it was found that his competitors wanted him out and had made up much of the accusations against him. In fact, he was cleared of all charges and even went back to the Americas. The irony is that Leguziamo is not part of the indigenous peoples he talks about. He is a descendant of Spanish hierarchy that enslaved and colonized those people. He's a hypocrite. 🙄🤦‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤔

[@MikeMikeMiker]

Aztec and pre-Columbian history isn't Latino history. They're separate things.

[@juliosumarriva3034]

We are all Hispanics

[@MikeMikeMiker]

@juliosumarriva3034 Aztecs didn't speak Spanish. Their descendents speak Spanish

[@juliosumarriva3034]

@@MikeMikeMiker so yes, you are validating my point.

[@CemeteryDriveClown]

@@juliosumarriva3034 No, I do not identify as hispanic, nor do I identify as latino.

[@CemeteryDriveClown]

@@MikeMikeMiker Actually, I speak an indigenous language.

[@artie]

I’m watching this!!! Very important!!! We are America!!! Latinos have always been.

[@citizen_morgan7444]

Thanks John Leguizamo for being GREAT at the ART of ACTING and for going further by EDUCATING the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 🇺🇸 on contributions made be other CULTURES here in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and AROUND THE WORLD 🌎!

[@sharylforster]

I had the pleasure to see John on Broadway Relating this wonderful Latino culture that few of us know. I thank and congratulate John to opening our eyes to the greatness of a wonderful Latino people.

[@stpat7614]

US annexes half of Mexico. Anglos: "Haven't you disappeared yet?"

[@dumvivimus]

I loved watching his show about the history, it was absolutely excellent! It’s so important for people to feel their worth without the cultural goggles of the oppressors.

[@TheMolacho1]

In junior high school in Los Angeles in the early 80's, we were asked to write a report on our ancestry. I wrote on Quetzalqoatl, the feathered serpent and it's significance to the Aztec empire. I was so proud. I even freehanded a drawing of it. I turned in my report, the next day the teacher calls me in front of the class and proceeds to berate me. I was deflated. The next kid was of Egyptian descent and wrote on the pharoas and pyramids. The old goat praised him. Go figure.

[@el_chavez]

During Covid churches in Texas that were handing out food would include a letter from “trump” taking credit for the box of food. This got him lots of Hispanic support along with the signed checks. They knew what they were doing.

[@aaronhorner186]

Dam… I didn’t even know this. Thank you John for your history lesson

[@Agame262]

I am a Decendant of the first farm worker migration act. The family came from Texas after the alamo and picked cabbage since the early 1900's its hard explaining to people who we are.

[@jerryortiz8203]

This is awesome!!!

[@incoco2]

Latino Hispanic is like saying (U.S.) Americans . The Spanish is Equivalent to the English Colonist who conquered Natives or indigenous if you like ,and imported more African slaves than the U.S. South . I like John, but he seems to be promoting one harmonious brown race of people who are at peace. Latin American has a long history of oppressing Indigenous and African citizens of their nations.Whitening has been part of the Latin nations since their foundings. Mexico on average, I've read was able to reduce it African DNA to an average of 3-5 percentage. Again fan of John Leguizamo ,but just using someone's surname as Identity is not the same as their DNA.

[@juliosumarriva3034]

The oppression happened after the independence of Hispanic countries.

[@enzos711]

The Best News Program on TV ("another level") .. Excellent show last night .. I watch Cable News and they rarely if ever deviate or dig down from "Set, Pop PR Narratives" on Israel & the Mid East .. Same applies to Latin Americans, in the US .. We are "So Gaslight" by MSM here in the US .. We get these Lame, "Popular" Distorted Narratives ..

[@Jellybean0009]

I will be watching this show to learn a bit more about my families history. My indigenous/Spanish grandparents were born in the late 1800’s in Arizona. The birth certificates state they were Mexican citizens since Az was a territory. They were not given American citizenship until the law was passed in 1924. By the way, not all American Native Indigenous/Spanish speak Spanish. Our culture and experience is a bit different than new immigrants. For some families our native language was removed by external and internal pressures. I have always viewed my family as real Americans because we were here on the land before the pilgrims landed and the borders changed.

[@Agame262]

These warriors have been forgotten

[@davidcarbone3385]

The local Historical Society I belong we are in the process of establishing a Memorial for Migrants for their contributions to the farming communities here.

[@UBETUBEME]

Citizens read your history The Rich and the Poor The American history From beginning of time Citizens time to stand up for our human rights And a living wage Or for ever be enslaved and oppressed by the he rich forever Boycott No violence no blood shed Be the solution Not the problem Greed will destroy us all ✌️

[@dsanchezc3]

I had my kid do a project on Jose Guadalupe Posada...A+. The creator of the La Catrina. It's not your typical selection for a book report.

[@alejandroortega404]

John For PRESIDENT!!!!!""'

[@fireproofart5526]

I was told that all the gold in history and today would fill an olyimpic size swimming pool. If all the gold from the americas amounted to a full empire state building and a half, then that dosen't make any sense.

[@visibletoa11userz]

RETURN THE GOLD!

[@dsanchezc3]

Many folks never heard of Saint Patricks Battalion.

[@ethelparis2255]

yes let us tell the real history of America

[@LuisGonzalez-dn4cz]

Totally agree with John.

[@courtlaw1]

Thank you John Leguizamo for the work that you do...Thank you.

[@anthonyarana4494]

We are not LATINO, LATIN WAS A LANGUAGE, LATIN,SPAIN, WAS A PROVINCE OF ROME., PANO LATIN NOT LATIN AMERICANO.

[@elfaraon383]

Fantastic interview?

[@j.h.5718]

Mr. Leguizamo, I want to thank you for your efforts and expertise in uncovering and sharing all of this important knowledge and information. On behalf of my children, I am grateful for your work. When will the website containing this information be available for people, especially young people, to access and read? I would definitely have my children subscribe to it! More power to you on this AWESOME journey! 👏🏽💙💪🏽🙏🏽

[@robertanderson2370]

At 6:30, me shouting at my screen: You can't learn from history if you don't teach history! This is the essence of the parental sovereignty movement, Project 1776, and anti-CRT rhetoric -many public school teachers began to teach factual and balanced history and here comes the pushback so we don't learn those lessons.

[@nomadicroadrat]

In early Hollywood, Latino/Latina actors were playing leading men and women. Sure some stereotyping of Latin lovers were part of it, but relative to other ethic groups Latino actors fared better. It wasn't until later, especially during the Golden Age of Television where it began to get ugly. Back then it was part of the American Dream to assimilate so as to get ahead in careers. Learning English was one key. Various ethnic groups changed or shortening last names, especially Eastern Europeans and some Latinos "Americanised their last name. For example, Rios became Rivers, Lewandowski became "Lewis" or "Sky". Yes, Ethic History was pretty much left out and a lot was due to ethnocentric views. It different now. There are ethnic movements that are changing the manner in which History is taught. That's for the good.

[@rodolfoarmenta7231]

Mexicans, central and south Americans are indigenous please know and understand that!

[@rotten5712]

???

[@rodolfoarmenta7231]

@@rotten5712 ? ???

[@gibememoni]

theyre mestizos

[@juliosumarriva3034]

Hispanics Mr Leguizamo.

[@el_chavez]

John, stop calling them Aztecs…. They are Mexicas.

[@Calvinmob681]

Love John. Much love from a Mexican American. Much love to all my Latin Raza

[@Bunnylovesme1947]

Thank you! ❤

[@luvlacali]

Love this!

[@insightar4011]

Thanks you John Leguizamo, I'm writing a composition about you! Because I really look up to you!

[@yanaeccles4088]

Thank you Amanpour for a very interesting video. Sadly these are not taught in our classroom.

[@katz57]

The only reason why I know the parts of history that he was talking about was because I lived in nieborhood that had many different nationalities and races in it. That made the ciricullom varied. We needed to teach these facts in all schools so people who pit our citizens against each other will be ignored. We will also how important immigrants are to our country.

[@Jesus22277]

Thank you ❤❤❤

[@irockz281982]

It's great to hear this. Get that truth out.

[@gmock9427]

Fantastic!

[@visibletoa11userz]

Love this

[@farrellmacelin3653]

Specially how they discovered America, I mean invented hip hop.

[@ericapivko]

❤

[@corygarcia2866]

Thank you

[@rmd9988]

Latino history is for the people who live in Latin, Italy. For whatever reason, people try to bunch us into a group in the U.S., but the peoples from the different counties are, well, different. And somehow they never include people from French, Italian, Spaniard, or Portuguese roots. And Mexicans, no Mexican should call themselves "latinos", given who coined the phrase latine américain, and when.

[@mariamaso6995]

La solidaridad y desprendimiento latinoamericano hacia el norte…y mientras, Leguizamo recuperando la historia latinoamericana que ni si quiera reconocen en el norte…es una relación muy desbalanceada.

[@juliosumarriva3034]

La hispanidad vencera!