I grabbed my Wise Latina T-shirt (that went perfectly with my baseball cap labeled “Bronx”) and went off to the gym. Public-interest author and former Democratic politician Mark J. Green was campaigning in the neighborhood, “Congratulations on Sonia Sotomayor,” he said to me. “Thank you,” I replied. I’m sure he had no idea I was Maria on Sesame Street, so it was interesting to me that any one of us Wise Latinas would be congratulated.
I got to the gym and tried to work off a few ounces so I could look skinny at the Daytime Emmys this year. Sesame Street is receiving a Lifetime Achievement award and we’re all set to go out to the West Coast and get it. Glancing at my shirt I thought about the Wise Latina movement Sotomayor’s confirmation has inspired, and Sesame Street’s Award.
When I joined the cast in 1970, the Spanish Language and Culture curriculum goal was meant to “…reinforce the [Latino] child’s identity as a decision maker and as a positive contributor to our society, and to familiarize non-Spanish-speaking children with Spanish language and culture.”
The producers hoped that seeing Emilio Delgado (Luis), and me on television would help Latino kids feel a part of society.
Latinos were invisible then. We are certainly not invisible now. We are actors, lawyers, politicians and, now, we are represented on the Supreme Court.
I’d be an idiot if I didn’t think Sesame Street has helped Latinos feel more a part of society, or at least made our inevitable visibility happen a little sooner.
Still – there is more to be done.
I looked down at my Wise Latina T-shirt and thought about Dolores Prida’s article in the Viva section of the Daily News, Wise Latinas 4EVER. I quote: “Let’s hope that those mothers buying their young daughters tiny “I’m a wise Latina in Training” T-shirts are not just being in-your-face cute or trendy, but really mean it and exercise their motherly wisdom in guiding their hijas safely through the perils of American adolescence toward a successful adulthood --…
“Let’s hope ‘Wise Latina’ movements bloom in every school, in every home, in every community, so we can all look forward to a new generations of Latina youth with the lowest rate of teen pregnancy and the highest high school graduation rate of any group. That would be the wisest homage to judge Sotomayor and, most importantly, to our children and, because they’re its future, our country.”
I’m all for that. Sign me up!
Just like I felt I was in on something great when I started Sesame Street, I feel that with Sotomayor’s confirmation, I’m in on something great today.
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More from this issue:
Annual Awards : CATALINA and Deloitte teamed up to honor men and women who inspire. Meet them. Read more >>
Travel: My Chicago: Comedian Patti Vasquez gives you tips when visiting her town,
like a native. Read more >>
Cover Story: Mario Lopez: The sexy host of Extra opens up about his life on the small screen, and off. Read more >>
