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“If our contributions were written back into history textbooks, can you imagine how America would see us?’ says Leguizamo. “More importantly, can you imagine how we would see ourselves?” Photo: Creator and host John Leguizamo on the set of AMERICAN HISTORIA./ Credit: NGL Studios

Inspired by his quest to uncover Latino and Latina heroes and their contributions, this new three-part series brings acclaimed Broadway and film actor John Leguizamo’s passion from the stage to the screen. 

Educational Resources:

American Historia PBS LearningMedia Collection: (6-12): Video clips and classroom resources

Backgrounder Interviews

Podcast: NPR Fresh Air October 2, 2024 show interviewed John Leguizamo about how he was helping his son with a school project because his son was being bullied. He learned how little Latino history, if any, was represented in textbooks and classes. It led him to research Latino role in U.S. history and changing his whole outlook on representation and little-known history. This eventually led to VOCES American Historia, a three-part PBS docuseries he co-created with director Ben DeJesus. The series features interviews and facts that highlight Latino contributions to American history and culture. 

PBS Filmmakers Q&A: Join actor John Leguizamo on a quest to uncover Latino and Latina heroes and their contributions. In this new three-part series, Leguizamo takes viewers on a captivating journey, delving into both well-known and lesser-known stories of Latino history, spanning thousands of years, from the Ancient Empires to the present, and shining a light on the rich and often overlooked history of Latinos. Filmmakers Q&A

The full series is available to watch on Passport if you are a WXXI Member
Episode 1: Echoes of Empires: Join host John Leguizamo as he examines the accomplishments and rise of the Great Empires and civilizations in Mexico, South America and the Caribbean, from the Taino to the Olmec, Inca, Maya, Aztec, and more. Although they were ultimately decimated by the conquistadors, these societies had an enduring influence on culture, agriculture, and the sciences.

Episode 2: Threads in the American Tapestry: Explore how Latino DNA has been woven into the identity of the United States since before her inception, and has been pivotal all along the way. Despite facing severe discrimination and violence, Latinos were present and contributed in pivotal ways to the fabric of this nation. Highlighting key figures and events, host John Leguizamo shows how Latinos helped build the United States we know today.

Episode 3: Solidarity in a New Era: Host John Leguizamo explores the rise of the new empire, the United States. While Latinos were often relegated to the fringes of mainstream society, they made profound contributions to the fabric of the U.S. and beyond. Reflecting on his journey, John learns that Latinos were not just an asterisk in history, but that Latino history is the history of the United States.

See the Extended Preview Trailer

Produced by Latino Public Broadcasting, the acclaimed PBS documentary series VOCES features the best of Latino arts, culture and history and shines a light on current issues that impact Latino Americans. Devoted to exploring the rich diversity of the Latino experience, VOCES presents new and established filmmakers and brings their powerful and illuminating stories to a national audience.

Curated by Latino Public Broadcasting and showcasing the work of both emerging and established Latino filmmakers, this anthology of narrative and nonfiction work explores issues such as identity, economy, arts, and community.

Explore an anthology of narrative and nonfiction work from Latino filmmakers.

Sentir el Son: Sentir el Son is a poetic documentary short about an Afro-Mexican woman in search of her ethnic and gender identity through the West African and Afro-Mexican practices in music and dance. This is a heroine’s journey about the struggle of ethnic invisibility and the hidden African Diaspora in Mexico.

Sabor Ártico: Latinos En Alaska: Latinos face unique challenges in the Arctic environment where things can be extreme, remote, and sometimes inaccessible. “Sabor Ártico: Latinos En Alaska,” a short documentary, introduces viewers to a growing population of Latinos in Alaska through poignant interviews that give insight on the importance of food and culture in adapting to the Arctic environment and in forging their identity.

When It’s Good, It’s Good: A filmmaker returns to her hometown in West Texas to document the effects of the boom-and-bust nature of the oil industry. An intimate portrait of family, memory, and economy, “When It’s Good, It’s Good” centers around life in an oil town called Denver City, Texas.

The Kill Floor: The Kill Floor, by Carlos Avila, is a narrative film inspired by the true-life situation that many Latino meat industry workers found themselves in during the early days of the Coronavirus pandemic. Forced to choose between making a living by working in unsafe conditions or to go without income, many workers were forced to choose between their livelihoods and their lives.