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Synopsis:

This documentary presents the story of Fabio Ramos de Andrade, who lives in Eugene with his wife and their 12-years old twin sons. Fabio misses the way life was in Brazil, specifically in his hometown Salvador, capital of Bahia, an old city known for its afrodiasporic traditions, religions, and celebrations. Fabio immigrated to Eugene, Oregon, nine years ago in order to study a doctorate in education. Today he manages the office of human rights of the City of Eugene. This movie addresses Fabio’s memories of Salvador and his experiences as a Latino man inhabiting a predominantly white American town. Reflecting on the parallels between the states of Bahia and Oregon, Fabio discusses how racism has historically been affecting both places. Fabio’s testimony shows his strategies of resilience in Eugene and how racism creates violent situations, unwelcoming spaces, and ongoing diasporas.

Producer’s Bio:

Kaito Campos de Novais is a PhD student in Cultural Anthropology at the University of Oregon. He was raised in Goiânia, a city in the middle of the Brazilian savannah, where he got a bachelor’s degree in Social Communication/Journalism and a master’s in Social Anthropology from the Universidade Federal de Goiás. Before starting his doctorate, he worked as a teacher, illustrator, and journalist. His works focus on LGBTQ+ activism, decoloniality, visual anthropology, gender, sexuality, and race. Since 2015, he investigates social movements of mothers of LGBTQ+ people who denounce human rights violations in Brazil. The Latino Roots course has helped Kaito to learn new audiovisual skills, which he will use further as a visual ethnographer, and to reflect on the history of Black, Indigenous, and Latinx people living in Oregon.

Synopsis:

This documentary honors the life of Jesús Guzmán Quezada (Don Chuy). During his childhood, he lived through poverty and watched his family struggle to survive in Jalisco. He made the decision to leave his family and his loved ones in hopes of a better life as a teenager. Jesus immigrated to California and worked in every field he could. He eventually found himself in Oregon. The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) changed the life of Jesus forever. He was given permanent U.S. residency. Jesus lived a transborder life, traveling back and forth to Mexico and the United States.

He then met Reyna Duran Lopez in the early 2000s, and soon they fell in love. They eventually got married and worked together in the fields for years. Jesus passed away in January of 2019. Reyna helps tell his life story.

Este documental honra la vida de Jesús Guzmán Quezada (Don Chuy). Durante su infancia vivió en la pobreza y vio a su familia luchar por sobrevivir en Jalisco. Tomó la decisión de dejar a su familia y a sus seres queridos con la esperanza de una vida mejor cuando era adolescente. Jesús emigró a California y trabajó en todos los campos que pudo. Eventualmente se encontró en Oregón. La Ley de Reforma y Control de Inmigración de 1986 (IRCA) cambió la vida de Jesús para siempre. Se le otorgó la residencia permanente en los Estados Unidos. Jesús vivió una vida transfronteriza, viajando de ida y vuelta a México y Estados Unidos.

Luego conoció a Reyna Duran Lopez, y pronto se enamoraron. Eventualmente se casaron y trabajaron juntos en el campo durante muchos años. Jesús falleció en Enero de 2019. Reyna ayuda a contar la historia de su vida.

Producer’s Bio:

Angel Saul Escorcia-Nuñez is a third year student at the University of Oregon majoring in Journalism and Communications with a minor in Latinx Studies. He is a first generation Latino student who grew up in Oregon and Mexico. Angel aspires to empower the community through storytelling.

The Latino Roots course has expanded my knowledge of Latino history in the state of Oregon. Through this film I can honor Don Chuy and bring his spirit to the University of Oregon. Thank you to Professor Martinez and Professor Stephen for your support, guidance and efforts.

Angel Saul Escorcia-Nuñez es estudiante de tercer año en la Universidad de Oregón especializándose en Periodismo y Comunicaciones y Estudios Latinx. Es un estudiante Latino de primera generación que creció en Oregón y México. Angel aspira a empoderar a la comunidad a través de historias.

El curso Latino Roots ha ampliado mi conocimiento sobre la historia Latina en el estado de Oregón. A través de esta película puedo honrar a Don Chuy y traer su espíritu a la Universidad de Oregón. Muchas gracias a la Profesora Martínez y a la Profesora Stephen por su apoyo, orientación y esfuerzos.

Synopsis:

Maria Cortes, is an Indigenous woman from Santa Maria, Tindu, Oaxaca. She was raised in a small village alongside with her sister, grandparents, and parents who spoke Mixtec. She migrated to the US as a motivated women searching for opportunities and a better life then her home country. She lived in California for a short period of time but ultimately moved to Oregon, which became her permanent home. She currently resides in Woodburn, OR, where she has made a positive impact on the Latino community. She is a healthy workplace organizer at PCUN where she focuses on the health and safety of Latino farmworkers and supports Latino women in native healing. Maria has dedicated her life encouraging Latino women and Latino farmworkers fight for their rights and empower them to rise above all trials.

Producer’s Bio:

Ruby Velasquez is a first-generation college student at the University of Oregon. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and an Ethnic Studies minor. Her concentration is on Latinx cultural studies. Through this course, she has been able to focus on her personal Hispanic roots and discover an inspiring Latino community where her voice is heard. In the last 6 months Ruby has challenged herself to filming a documentary, where she shares Maria Cortes personal journey to the US and the impact she has made in the Latino community. Her overall goal was to showcase Maria Cortes and her dedication to the Latino community, in hopes to inspire other Latina women.

Synopsis:

This film tells the story of Reyna Lopez and her transformation into a community organizer fighting for the rights of farmworkers in Oregon. Reyna is the first womxn executive director at one of Oregon’s farmworker labor unions, PCUN, Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste, in Woodburn, Oregon as of January 19, 2018. The seeds of her transformation into a powerful community organizer were first planted in the fields where her father worked and nurtured her deep commitment to being an example to her family and community. After completing college, working in low-payment jobs, and learning the in and outs of grassroots campaigning, it was after being arrested and being held at a big warehouse among other movement leaders, that she found her recommitment to the labor movement. Today, some of the many battles she is fighting for include immigrant and farmworker rights and the empowerment of Latinx families and individuals.

Producer’s Bio:

My name is Karina Gonzalez and I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Family and Human Services with a minor in Latinx Studies here at the University of Oregon. The skills and knowledge I have gained through this class have not only affected my understanding of Latino Roots throughout the state of Oregon, but also have aided in the discovery of my own family’s roots. These are skills that I will continue to take with me beyond the classroom. Beginning in 2022 and lasting for five months was a project that entailed tasks that I had never done before. Understanding and telling Reyna’s story as genuinely as possible was the goal of this project.