WPBT celebrates Hispanic Heritage

WPBT/CHANNEL 2 IN MIAMI OFFERS SPECIAL PROGRAMMING FOR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

From artists Diego Rivera and Jose Clemente Orozco to the music of Colombia WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami will present a number of broadcast premieres and encore presentations that recognize the cultural, historical and societal impact of America’s growing Hispanic community. The programs air during Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated each year from September 15 – October 15.

AMERICAN MASTERS “Orozco: Man on Fire”
Wednesday, September 19, at 9:00 p.m.
This is the vibrant story of an artist whose dramatic life, iconoclastic personality and dynamic painting changed the way we see art and politics. Jose Clemente Orozco’s travels back and forth across the U.S.-Mexico border are emblematic of experiences of millions of Mexican migrants and immigrants who come seeking a better life in America. His personal convictions and tenacity in the face of daunting obstacles make him a compelling figure with universal appeal. Shot on location in Mexico and the United States, the documentary weaves a rich tapestry of images and sound, evoking Orozco’s
artistic style while opening a window onto the artist’s inner life, passions and convictions.

AMERICAN MASTERS “Rivera in America”       
Wednesday, September 19, at 10:00 p.m.
Considered the greatest Mexican painter of the 20th century, Diego Rivera had a profound effect on the international art  world. He is credited with the reintroduction of fresco painting into modern art and architecture. His radical political views and tempestuous romance with the painter Frida Kahlo were then, and remain today, a source of public intrigue. In a series of visits to America, from 1930 to 1940, Rivera brought his unique vision to public spaces and galleries, enlightening and inspiring artists and laymen alike.

INDEPENDENT LENS “La Lupe: Queen of Latin Soul”
Thursday, September 20 at 10:00 p.m.
Legendary Afro-Cuban pop singer Lupe Victoria Yoli was crowned “The Queen of Latin Soul” by New York’s Latin music scene in the 1960s. Renowned for her emotional performances, La Lupe remains the quintessential bad girl, dying tragically, virtually unknown in 1992. Shot in Cuba, Puerto Rico and the U.S., “La Lupe” tells her story through interviews and rare archival footage from the groundbreaking musical era. Produced in association with ITVS and LPB. By Ela Troyano. 

JUSTICE FOR MY PEOPLE: THE DR. HECTOR P. GARCIA STORY
Monday, September 17, at 10:00 p.m.
JUSTICE FOR MY PEOPLE tells the story of Dr. Hector P. Garcia — Mexican Revolution refugee, medical doctor to the barrios, decorated war veteran, civil rights activist and presidential confidante — as he fought to bring attention to the Mexican-American civil rights movement. Returning to Texas after World War II with six battle stars, Garcia found that while Mexican-American veterans had been changed by the war, prejudiced America had not. His people faced public school segregation, squalid living conditions in labor camps and second-class citizenship. In 1948, Dr. Garcia founded the American GI Forum, empowering Mexican Americans to fight numerous legal and political battles against discrimination.

MI MAMBO!
Tuesday, September 18 at 10:00 p.m.
Music meets the streets of East Harlem at the Harbor Conservatory, where Latin rhythms create a lifeline for kids. Son, mambo and salsa performed by the next generation, side-by-side with professionals, show viewers why this music deserves the same respect accorded the classics and American jazz. The film follows the ups and downs of five students learning to navigate an uneven playing field.

COLOMBIA: MUSICA DE MI TIERRA
Wednesday, October 11 at 8:00 p.m.
In the latest original production from WPBT, we take a fascinating musical journey through Colombia. Colombia: Música de Mi Tierra celebrates the rich sounds of the cumbia, vallenato, bambuco, and salsa through the words and music of some of the country’s most notable composers and artists, including Rafael Escalona, Emiliano Zuleta Díaz, Jorge Villamil, and Fonseca.  We also go inside the musical cities of Barranquilla, Bogotá, Cali and Valledupar, where music is as vital to life as air.