If gabacho newspaper readers in Southern California have Los Angeles Times columnist Patt “The Hat” Morrison as their institutional knowledge of the region, then the Latino version is Pilar Marrero of La Opinión. But nothing against Patt: Marrero's is in many ways are more vital voice. She has not only been a longtime columnist for the oldest Spanish-language daily on the West Coast, she's also served as their political editor and a general ambassador for goodwill. Only problem with her, thoug? She's rarely in Orange County, because pendejos here never bothered to invite her.
That's slowly changing. Last year, Cal State Fullerton's Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies (where I teach), invited her for a panel. And next Thursday, I'm inviting Marrero to sit down with me as part of my monthly “Gustavo's Awesome Lecture Series!” at the Fullerton Public Library, as sponsored by Cal State Fullerton, the Library, this infernal rag, and KCRW-FM 89.9
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Funnily enough, most of the interview will be in English, although we'll throw Spanish into the mix just for the hell of it. We'll talk about her career, her new book Killing the American Dream: How Anti-Immigration Extremists are Destroying the Nation, and all sorts of other merriment. Lecture starts at 7 p.m., and as always, admission is FREE, while books are BARATO. GO GO GO and BUY BUY BUY!
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