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Author Archives: Clariza Ruiz De Castilla

Dr. Clariza Ruiz De Castilla is a faculty member in both the Chicano Studies and Communication Studies Departments at CSULB. She has been at the Beach since 2014 and has nearly 20 years of teaching experience in higher ed. In addition, she is a consultant for other universities and organizations. Her research interests include immigrant discourse, border rhetorics, and reggaeton. She earned her Ph.D. in Communication Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2013.
Posted inOpinion

COMMENTARY: Latino strides made in 2023

by Clariza Ruiz De Castilla

September is for salsa (both music and food), Spanish, sabor (taste), salud (health), and símbolo (symbol).
Well, September 15 (specifically the second half of the month) kicks off Latino Heritage Month. It runs from September 15 to October 15. The logic for starting in the middle of this month is that certain countries (like Mexico, Chile, and other Latin American nations) celebrate their independence in mid-September through mid-October.
As we begin to prepare our Latino heritage celebrations, it’s worth noting that 2023 is uniquely different. Why? Because our culture has had a remarkable year thus far.

Posted inOpinion

COMMENTARY: Our Latina Beyoncé is Karol G

by Clariza Ruiz De Castilla

Karol G helps people in need, especially in Latin America. In 2018, she decided to have all her concert profits in Guatemala go to the people affected by the Fuego volcano eruption. Then in 2020, she helped families affected by COVID-19 in Colombia. And thanks to her Con Cora Foundation (which is short for “con corazón,” “with heart”), women from all over South America have been given opportunities otherwise not available to them.