Roberto Alcaraz and Leticia Vásquez grew up, were educated and today live successful lives in the United States. But like many children of immigrants, they longed to learn about their family’s cultural roots. The competitive world of acting in which Alcaraz and Vásquez work gave them the unusual opportunity to trace their roots by playing, perhaps, the most challenging roles of their lives. They play themselves on a marvelous journey of discovering the cultural and spiritual riches of all the Americas. They are the hosts of MY AMERICAS the new 13-part television series produced by the Hispanic Telecommunications Network, airing on NETA. The program was made possible by grants from Latino Public Broadcasting and Maryknoll Productions. MY AMERICAS is a trip for Latinos to rediscover a sense of pride about who we are,” says Alcaraz, a young actor and singer living in Los Angeles, born of Mexican parents. “Like most Hispanic youth, I feel as if I belong to two worlds.” An interest to explore his Hispanic roots was sparked in earlier years. Alcaraz served as director of the Chicano Latino Studies program at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where he encouraged students to rediscover their culture through movie presentations, workshops and special events. He organized a “Day of the Dead” celebration at the University to stimulate discussion about themes of life and death among young Latinos.
Last November, Alcaraz traveled to Oaxaca in southern Mexico to experience the Day of the Dead fiesta firsthand for an upcoming MY AMERICAS episode. In addition to learning about the feast’s origin and meaning, he participated in a midnight stroll through a candlelit cemetery to witness the local people honoring their deceased relatives. “There’s no doubt that the loving spirits of our Mexican ancestors are alive and present on that day,” confirms Alcaraz. Likewise, Leticia Vásquez immerses herself in cultural and spiritual holidays occuring throughout the Americas and brings them to life on the TV screen. She travels to Jalisco, Mexico (her parent’s place of birth) for Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos (celebrated August 15). There she joins thousands of pilgrims who arrive in the city to catch a glimpse of a statue of the Virgin Mary believed to grant miracles. Vásquez hears the testimony of a young woman, who claims she was healed by the Lagos Virgin. “Spiritually I am learning what faith is,” says Vásquez, an actor and writer, who was born in Navajo, Sonora, Mexico while her parents were migrating to the U.S. “These people I have met do not have an inkling of doubt in their faith. Their stories have shown me how important it is to have a connection with God every day of my life.” When Vásquez isn’t on the road shooting MY AMERICAS, she may be seen on U.S. TV starring in episodes of Reyes y Rey, General Hospital and Beverly Hills 90210. |
