John Leguizamo talks new PBS series on the overlooked contributions of Latinos | Chat Box

On Chat Box, David Cruz talks with actor, producer and comedian John Leguizamo about his new three-part PBS series, “VOCES American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos." Leguizamo and Ben DeJesus, the series’ director and producer, discuss the importance of recognizing the overlooked contributions of the Latino community to our nation's history. Leguizamo also discusses why he's not afraid to speak up when it comes to his political views.
Then, Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter (D-Passaic) discusses the need to address disparities in access for minority and women-owned businesses in New Jersey.
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[@joelnava5684]

Love this!! Glad John is speaking up. We've been here for thousands of years. We didn't cross an ocean. Yet, we have been oppressed and treated as immigrants.

[@mjosie20]

John i watched 1st Episode on PBS!! It was Amazing 🙌 Thank you for bringing this on 👏 I am a 40 y/o Mexican American, 1st Generation here in California. I really wish this History was shown to us growing up, This has to be shown everywhere. Growing up I never felt like I belonged.. We do belong, we are powerful just like our Ancestors!! 😍 Thank you John ❤

[@Maria-n4g6o]

Soo proud! Keep going. Apoyándolos all the way! ❤

[@Adeus1]

The truth of the matter is we, Latinos/as, have struggled, hustled, grinded our behinds, quietly and humbly while being attacked or used as political pawns for close to a century here in the US. Unprovoked, we don't bother nor care to be included in your social circle. We only seek equality of opportunity and we'll take it from there. Now that I'm older, I'm beginning to understand why John is making this issue the centerpiece of his illustrious career. Thank you, John. You are an amazing talent but even more, a great and honorable human being. 🇵🇷🇺🇸🌎

[@FemiNelson-sb1em]

"Nor care to be included into your social circle"? No, we can agree to disagree. We are in a Nation of a melting pot. Many Latinos are half Caucasian, Asian & etc. That is a blend of Cultures in itself. For me, its mega important to point out how valuable, precious & so important to never forget our Latino History within each familia & share with all whom are open to our heritage & culture. I'm so grateful that many schools are open to having Bilingual classes in grade school. There is so much to make a stand in this life. Teaching our "nene's" the value of simple "platillos" with a story is unbelievably poignant & a life lesson. Padre God be Praised for all concerned 🙏. "Isa"

[@altapedroza3604]

I watched "Latin History for Morons" and the knowledge i obtained was of great value. Being an immigrant, coming to the United States, not speaking a word of english, somehow made me feel like I didn't belong. Upon learning that all of us either come from immigrants or are immigrants, i learned to defend myself when i was told to go back where i came from. One thing that gave me pleasure was being able to say to quite a few that called me "wet back" was, " oh no, i believe you are the wet back because i just crossed over ,walked across from Mexico. Never came in a boat".

[@thetoknboxshow]

About time all this History is being discussed.Thank you John.

[@soniatriana9091]

Thank you for producing this episode! It was a complete honor to watch, learn, & be inspired by these 3 amazingly brilliant intellectuals! I can only wish for their strong success & leadership to continue for ever; as it is an absolute necessity! This really is a Campaign for All, especially for all Latinos living in the United States! Bravo to John Leguizamo & David DeJesus for their perseverance & dedication!

[@alexandratavarez1106]

Si Se Puede! Thank you John and Ben for bringing Latinos up to the surface! We Latinos needed this! Great job! 🙌👏❤

[@omi30000]

Thank you to everybody involved. 👏

[@wbl227]

Gracias 🙏 Mr. Leguizamo, me encanta y lo voy a ver con mis hijas. Representación para tener una nación para todos.

[@gilbertochavez631]

Great work on this much needed and world wide movement! Our history must be told!

[@nope000]

Thank you Mr. John leguizamo I thank you with all my heart for your work getting Latinos and native stories and histories out here. It's long over due.

[@damianfonseca2498]

Great job John way to go !!!

[@dinamejia2704]

Thank you John Liguisamo, you are so smart and know the true meaning of America and American and being Americans, I'm a Texas born Mexican decent and everyone in my family going back thousands of years are from America my father was born in san Antonio Texas and so was my grandfather and so on I'm so glad someone a Latino can speak for us we need to come together now because the Anglo and now more than ever Blacks have been starting to do more hate towards us for no reason and for us speaking Spanish, that's too bad because we are partly Spanish everyone is so ignorant it's crazy, maybe you can with your platform get some knowledge out there that we are AMERICA! PERIOD!

[@vdsilva6806]

As an OG Chicano and an affirmative action recipient, I am blessed by this interview. Ya estuvo… with our contribution to the food and entertainment arena. Es tiempo to become communicators of the “I didn’t know that”. El futuro is Latino!

[@rayrocher6887]

Good report

[@FemiNelson-sb1em]

I am in my late 60's, 1st generation Mexican American. IF anyone remembers Salvador Castro, Civil Right very strong Man whom taught History in Los Angeles & I was so Blessed to be so very enlightened about the truth about our Nation. He was jailed for teaching differently that was NOT taught in any history books at that time. From that point on, I never acknowledged the yearly celebration of "Christopher Columbus". Since then, I acknowledged the importance in the descendants of our original Indigenous inhabitants from the Meshicans in the West Coast to All Tribes all the way to the East Coast. I so pray this is mentioned in the series John & Ben have created. Ya veremos. IF not, ni modo, another shall eventually. At least the baton has been picked up again & moving forward for the good of "We the People" with Latinos being acknowledged appropriately. Paz be with us all 🙏. "Isa"

[@salvadorcastaneda6759]

Great first episode-John made history with those contributions

[@mjosie20]

Agreed 👏

[@AnabelaGomes-kd7kb]

John is a genius. He brings history and facts. When I lived in the US, I was shocked by so much ignorance about asking me if I was Latina or Hispanic. I'm a native Portuguese from Portugal. I love the Latino and Hispanic community, but Portuguese are Europeans and Caucasians, not Latino or Hispanic. Thanks, John Leguizamo, for opening minds and showing the great culture from Latin America!

[@RosaChavez-s8n]

Thank you John, being from New Mexico I’m also the product of colonization, my ancestors the Aztecs, Mayans and Incas, I carry 22% of my native descendants DNA. I watched the series and I know the reason why we aren’t included in the vision of the “Founders”, I believe it’s called scoundrels and thieves, no other way to describe what was taught in school about the guys with wigs and tights. Travel to New Mexico, a historical gold mine of our Native Americans and Hispanics or as we were called when I attend school, Mexicans with the word dirty before Mexican.

[@rauxhyde2614]

🤩✨👍❤️WOW!! Love this! Yes! I will be watching on PBS!! I adore you John Leguiziamo since Manny the Fanny. Love your method of teaching history: - the truth - IS HOT!!🔥 Thank You for doing all that research and making a more complete picture of history for all of us!🙏💙and thanks for doing this spot cuz not watching PBS-as much anymore but will watch this👍

[@amr526]

It's our responsibility as Latino's. 2 talk to O. U. R. kids about what a difference we made in this world and in history.

[@JuanEspinosa-mm2um]

Representation matters! Thank you, John! Gracias Hermano!!!!!!

[@TheRfuller1]

Thank You!

[@roxanneb6208]

You ask why you are not higher along the “food chain” because you’ve been here longer… I wonder what the American Indians think? They were almost totally annihilated and to use your words lower on the food chain than Latinos. I just wanted to point Them out. Before anyone starts in on me, as a white Native Texas Democrat who was born less than an hour from the Mexican border I’m glad you’ve done this Series to inform Americans about History we wouldn’t learn anywhere else.

[@tracelee7332]

Brilliant ❤

[@elsafischer3247]

I wish I live in the USA to see this. I’m living in Switzerland and I don’t receive it. Thank you for showing this to the Gringos 😂😂

[@ramonfalcon4506]

I watched the first episode 😢😂I got very emotional…I did a DNA test I am 18% Taino,born in ponce PR….the horror that was inflicted on my people….in San Juan there is a statue of Christopher Columbus….if bad bunny wants to get into politics…put up more billboards and include the take down of the statue in LA PLAZA DE COLON…..boricua hasta la muerte…..🇵🇷

[@etchalaco9971]

"Gran Jodon" should be his nickname.

[@juancordova4549]

Este actor si nos representa , pero quiero decirles que el cine y la television no nos apoya como nos merecemos ,siempre veo que en el cine nunca vemos heroes ,villanos , o actores que les toque haser papepels principales , pero hollywood si les da a los afroamericanos un espacio principal ,solo quiero que vean la tv y veran que siempre salen afroamericanos ,pero muy poco larinos ,y eso que somos una menoria grande para este pais . Creo que esto deberia cambiar

[@roberth2627]

Well, for one African Americans have fought long & hard for positive representation, ever heard of Birth Of A Nations.? Also I find it somewhat whining about what African Americans have got ,believe me we, have had to fight tooth & nail for our humanity while at the same time including others ..So please stop comparing . I just saw the 1st part of America Historica ,it was excellent .glad to see the Latino's waking up & telling their story of their history much of what was in the 1st part I already knew esp about the Tino's & pre-Colombian civilizations like the Olmec's, Mayan, & Aztecs..I love archeology so they have been a interest of mine since grad school. Also the decentering of the Spanish was spot on.. about time..Last words Africans & Latino's have a overlapping history esp in this country..So we all should seek common ground & build a New America together..!!

[@themodernmacho]

@@roberth2627Yall had it handed to yall. Simple as that. Even on tv they say you are the most targeted while clearly its latinos.

[@roberth2627]

@@themodernmacho Stop it you are sounding like Trump & his grievance politics...This is not a zero sum game..!!

[@yunnailavayen5574]

Hace " ratón de miguilito " debemos exigir NUESTRA PROPIA EXISTENCIA EN ESTE 🇺🇸

[@el_chavez]

Eso no tiene nada que ver con los Afroamericanos, eso es todo los gringos.

[@ga_s6]

God bless John

[@testos2701]

Right on!

[@rayrocher6887]

I like that actor, and yes Latinos helping USA, to learn, and build cities, rebuild USA and Mexico

[@rojo01ful]

This is US history 🎉

[@DR-pq3ht]

WE NEED TO GET TOGETHER WITH OUR NATIVE AMERICAN BROTHER AND SISTERS AND PUSH OUR HISTORY...

[@kimberlyaguirre1233]

Love this🥰

[@BloomingBrilliantHomeschoolers]

Why not a longer series? Why not have an internet series? Keep up the good work regardless.

[@AzureRook]

I think I learned way more Asian American history before learning the Latin origin of the name of the city I’m from lol

[@mariadelpilarsatizabal1099]

💙💙💙

[@maoinc13]

John Leguizamo 🎉🎉🎉🎉 parcero 🇨🇴🇨🇴🇨🇴 sos el mejor !!!

[@pattyr2747]

What David Cruz that's my husband's name yayy 🤜💥🤛

[@blogcityblogvideo]

word.

[@lourdesx7668]

✊

[@renatomacchi2195]

Big lie. Latin/Latino/Latina is the language spoken by the Romans and their culture and in English is LATIN and not Latino. There is no "Latino" history for Spanish-speaking Mestizo Indigenous people. Latin is the Roman linguistic and cultural heritage of the Italians and the rest of the Latin Europeans: French, Romanians, Portuguese and Spaniards and the Latin in "Latin" America means Roman heritage. It's time for these people to start using their own names to identify themselves and Latin American doesn't mean Latin.

[@rayrocher6887]

Yes I am sorry about Chico Chavez, thanks union rights

[@rodnroll3096]

Leguizamo came to the McAllen Texas and called the venue he played in a chicken coop the rio grande valley is a 90% Hispanic populated and now he’s all about Hispanic nomás cuando le conviene

[@rojo01ful]

So what! Why you so sensitive?!

[@millrace32]

need

[@davidlopez991]

Non Latinos will be watching this series. Although it would have awkard or a little more complicated, Leguizamo when talking about Aztec, Mayas and Inca should be refering to the modern decendents as by their nationalities who fall under the Latino umbrella. As is mentioned brefly in the first episode Latinos are a diverse bunch. I am of Pureto Rican hertiage and a jibaro, well a grandson of one, there's no native blood in me. Not my story and I am still a Latino by heritage. Don't get me wrong the native american story should be told and be known by all americans.

[@hectornegron9155]

Have you had your DNA test done? My daughter did and she's like 15% Taino.

[@imperialmotoring3789]

I am not Latinx but I understand that Latinx people are very diverse. Native Americans are not Latinx though.

[@teddyde6128]

@@imperialmotoring3789latiné

[@Kat-fq4ei]

Latinx is this the latest identity for who. It's basically immigrant Mexican American making all the noise of Aztec, Mayan roots trying to claim the USA as theirs. Since European invasion, the SW was populated by unconquered NON Aztec , Mayen tribes. Rather the tribes were today's USA tribes , most who never mixed with Spanish blood. There were just a handful of Spanish population in New Spain Terrtitories from California, New Mexico/Arizona, Texas to Mississippi areas to Florida. Indigenous populations for centuries were distant from each other, never one nation, tribes were territorial, violent and bitter enemies genociding weaker tribes, still in a stone age era in 1560 when European explorer's arrived in what is today the USA. Spain has its stamp in Florida 1560 and Santa Fe 1598, the Spaniard strongholds in what is today the USA with Russian claims in California and French intervention in Louisiana. Mexico was a Johnny come late , not until 1821 in today's SW after new nations had been founded in America; the USA, some in South American and Mexico, Canada. South of the border Mexicans didn't migrant to the USA until decades after the Mexican War approx 1880 with USA westward movement, American subjugation of SW unconquered Indians, basically in border areas; and 1910 Mexican Revolution. Instead of Mexicans crying about the USA, they should go back to their great Mayen and Aztec pyramids, rebuild them and beautiful cultures and rebuild their pride in their ancestral land in Mexico, as they claim to be the first to develop this and that before Europe, Asia, Middle East and USA. Native tribes in what we know today as America, didn't originate in America, from Alaska to Argentina, they too migrated. And many today are as European as Indigenous . Historical events is what brings us to where we are today from centuries of world migrations. So happens the USA developed a great nation, great leaders, an imperfect history no different from other nations. But it belongs to the USA by its founders, New England Europeans , a government for the good of its people , attracting people from everywhere. And the USA is inherent land of many USA tribes from sea to sea. If anyone wants to cry about the USA, it should be these USA tribes.

[@imperialmotoring3789]

@@Kat-fq4ei Nice! Very thoughtful post. TRUMP 2024

[@michaelromeo9393]

Where TF is our reparations?

[@SupaMarioG]

Mayans, Aztecs, Incas And Tainos etc. werent even Latino/hispanic nor even spoke the latin based languages until the arrival of southern europeans

[@etchalaco9971]

There was Mestizaje.

[@el_chavez]

@@etchalaco9971not before the arrival of Europeans.

[@Kat-fq4ei]

Indigenous were not Latin. Latin origin is European. So why are these Aztec, Mayan, Tiainos, Olmec even calling themselves Latino....

[@etchalaco9971]

@@el_chavez Europeans arrived and mixed with natives

[@rojo01ful]

​@@Kat-fq4ei we don't call ourselves 'latino' ! We are what our indigenous tribes says we are.

[@imperialmotoring3789]

I couldn't live without Taco Bell! Thank you!!!!!!

[@rojo01ful]

That's white people food 😂😂

[@hectornegron9155]

"The future is Latino". A trumper in Springfield OH just started cleaning his AK-47.

[@VictoriaHeilman-mo3qb]

Lefty

[@hectornegron9155]

And woke and proud of.

[@rossanderson7875]

John, you are a better man than I. The prejudice, the hatred, from people who have never had a reason to hate, except from what they have taught, DISGUSTING

[@alro11]

This is so overdue! REALLY exciting- thank you John and Ben🤍💙

[@nautiboy7814]

I really like John L. Watch "the pest" to see some of his finest work!👍🫶