“¡Salsa Divina!” - HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, “Hispanics: A legacy of history, a present of action and a future of success.” During National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15) we recognize the contributions made and the important presence of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States and celebrate their heritage and culture. Hispanics have had a profound and positive influence on our country through their strong commitment to family, faith, hard work, and service. They have enhanced and shaped our national character with centuries-old traditions that reflect the multiethnic and multicultural customs of their community. Hispanic Heritage Month, whose roots go back to 1968, begins each year on September 15, the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile and Belize also celebrate their independence days during this period and Columbus Day (Día de la Raza) is October 12. The term Hispanic or Latino, refers to Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race. On the 2010 Census form, people of Spanish, Hispanic and/or Latino origin could identify themselves as Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin.According to this Census, 50.5 million people or 16% of the population are of Hispanic or Latino origin. This represents a significant increase from 2000, which registered the Hispanic population at 35.3 million or 13% of the total U.S. population. On Friday, October 3rd I will be honored with a “Lifetime Achievement Award” during the annual El Mundo Hispanic Heritage Breakfast and the following Thursday, on October 9th I will be honored at the Boston Renaissance Charter School in Hyde Park during their Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. I am humbled whenever I am recognized with an award or honor for what I consider to be my small contribution to the quality of life of others with what I hope is a purpose driven life. I am thankful for living this moment, for which I will always be grateful. As I have mentioned on so many occasions, every day I wake up and meditate and during my meditation as I pray I ask that what I say, do, think and feel for the day are in sync with the same purpose. I ask that I may be able to join others who share similar values in doing the most so that future generations are healthy physically, but also mentally, emotionally, intellectually, socially, culturally, economically and spiritually. And last I ask that whatever happiness I receive is not as a consequence of someone else’s misery. Every day when I sit at my desk in my office I am reminded of my ancestors and I dedicate my work with thanks to them and to my Caribbean Antillean people who have contributed blow-by-blow and verse-by-verse to our culture and to all of our history that has given it content, feeling and reason. I have the utmost respect and admiration for all who respect and value our roots and those who know how to fight to maintain our identity. The purpose of “¡Con Salsa!” since the very beginning 39 years ago is to primarily highlight our culture, history, traditions, language and the contributions that our people and personalities have made to the development of society. I do all of this with the expressed purpose of empowering Latinos with a sense of pride, unity and collective force. By the same token and of equal importance is to serve as a bridge between my radio listeners from different cultures who speak only English or Spanish, the majority being north Americans and from countries throughout the world. There is a plaque that hangs on my office wall that reads – “To José Massó, for simply being the best in featuring our Afro-Latin music through your “¡Con Salsa!” weekly radio program on WBUR-FM radio station in Boston, Massachusetts.” It was given to me several years ago by Freddy Santiago, the owner of Centro Español in Lawrence and serves as a reminder that every week, during the five hours of air time, I have to be “the best” at sharing our music and culture and thus tonight I invite you to join me on “¡Con Salsa!” for what I hope will be an entertaining, informative, educational, enlightening and memorable program. Last Saturday night Divina and I attended the wedding of my ‘bur colleague René Marchando and his bride Sandra Knight. At the end of the ceremony the minister said the following - “May the music in your love fill your lives with happiness and harmony.” I hope that the music and spoken word of “¡Con Salsa!” that I love does this for all of you…con mucho amor, respeto y admiración.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 23:50:11 +0000
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