Blog: ¿Sabías que … ?
Ramona González (1906–1995)
Author: Eloisa Arenas
🎙️Did you know that Ramona González (1906–1995) hid a briefcase filled with her creative writings? For over three decades, her family was unaware of the existence of the poems, short stories, fables, riddles, folk sayings, and chronicles she had authored.
We invite you to discover the vibrant history of the U.S.-Mexico border through the voice of a distinguished Chicana writer—an El Paso, Texas native, resident of the Chihuahuita neighborhood, and El Paso High School alumna.
In 1976, historian Oscar J. Martínez interviewed her over the course of several sessions. This material serves as a deeply personal primary source regarding the 20th-century Mexican-American experience in El Paso, Texas.
Here is why you should listen:
Vivid Tales of Barrio Life:
- Doña Ramona shares heartfelt memories of growing up in El Paso's historic Barrio Chihuahuita and Segundo Barrio.
- From childhood games like La Quemada to family picnics along the shores of the Rio Grande, she paints an unforgettable picture of daily life on the border.
First-Hand Accounts of Labor & Discrimination:
- She recounts her years working in local laundry facilities, medical offices, and shoe stores.
- She provides invaluable historical testimony regarding the wage disparities, gender roles, and ethnic discrimination faced by Mexican-American workers in the mid-1900s.
The Heart of the Neighborhood:
- Learn about her role as a community matriarch operating González Grocery on Missouri Street.
- Her store became a vibrant neighborhood hub where she taught English to local kids, cooked her famous tamales, and hosted lively late-night discussions on culture and global politics.
A Dream Deferred and Reclaimed:
- Though her youthful aspirations of becoming a writer and journalist were put on hold due to financial and societal barriers in the 1920s, she returned to her typewriter later in life.
- She went on to publish early feminist Chicana literature in the landmark journal El Grito and was nominated for the prestigious Premio Quinto Sol.
Whether you are passionate about borderlands history, social justice, or the origins of Chicana literature, Doña Ramona’s remarkable storytelling is an essential piece of history that deserves to be heard
Rosa Guerrero (1934)
Author: Eloisa Arenas
🎙️Did you know that Rosa Guerrero (1934) is one of the most important folklorico dance instructors in this region? Listen to the inspirational story of Rosa Ramírez Guerrero—renowned educator, dance historian, artist, and humanitarian
In Interview No. 711, Rosa Guerrero shares her journey as the first of seven children in her family to earn both her bachelor's and master's degrees from Texas Western College (now UTEP).
Why you won't want to miss this powerful oral history:
- Overcoming Barriers in Higher Education: Hear her candid reflections on navigating ethnic discrimination, prejudice, and rigid expectations as one of few Hispanic female students during the 1950s.
- Determination & Motherhood: Discover how she persevered while pregnant, student-teaching modern dance, and balancing infant care with her studies.
- Grassroots Barrio Education: Learn about her transformative community work teaching English, citizenship, and human relations to women in South El Paso's barrios.
- Building Cultural Bridges: Listen to how she used music, dance, and cultural pride to challenge stereotypes, promote harmony, and empower future generations.
From her early challenges to founding the International Folklorico Dance Group, being inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame, and becoming the first Hispanic woman in El Paso to have a public school named in her honor (Rosa Guerrero Elementary), her voice and story remain an invaluable piece of history.
Her film Tapestry (1974) received the Cine Golden Eagle Award. You can watch this inspirating movie in Texas Archive.
🎧 Tune in today to listen to the full interview and experience her passion, humor, and resilience in her own words!
