Picture and explanation of the resistance of Native Communities to American Indian Boarding Schools Earlier this year, I visited the Heard Museum in Phoenix. I saw Away From Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories , an exhibit that documents the actions of the United States Government to strip our Indigenous brothers and sisters of their culture, language, names, and the land that is their home and ours too.   The photos and the ample sampling of testimonial videos of students at these boarding schools depicted various forms of abuse the children endured. However, it also highlighted the power of resistance and the drive to survive, maintain their agency, and preserve their sense of self. Boarding schools were also a place where artists flourished and leaders were formed. Take a look at this short video I took. One image that I have flashed on repeatedly since seeing the exhibit was the lone barber’s chair surrounded by locks of long black hair, with the following words etched on the glass casing:   “The next day the torture began. The first thing they did was cut our hair while we were bathing our breechclouts were taken and we were forced to put on trousers. We’d lost our hair and we’d lost our clothes, with the two we’d lost our identity as Indians.”   Picture of a glass-encased Barber's Chair and long strands of black hair on the floor, with a Boarding School student's quote about their hair being cut upon arrival.  I flashed back to this image when I saw the masked guards in El Salvador's CECOT Prison shaving the heads of the men that ICE had rounded up and forcibly flown to the notorious facility. In the high-quality video footage released by the Trump Administration, men are on their knees, forcibly held down while their heads are shaved; some men are crying. This act of domination and humiliation intends to strip them of agency over their bodies. Another picture from CECOT, men shoulder to shoulder dressed identically, reminded me of this image I saw at the exhibit. Boys and girls in boarding school photo, standing shoulder to shoulder. The girls are dressed in identical black garments, and the boys are similarly attired in military-style uniforms. As I walked through the various rooms of the exhibit, I felt the sadness I saw on the faces of these children. According to the Heard Museum, the exhibition draws on "first-person recollections, memorabilia, and the writings and art of four generations of Indian school alumni to examine the commonality of the boarding school experience. Exploring an important and untold era of American history, the exhibition incorporated historic images, music, sound, oral histories, memorabilia, and video to immerse visitors in the story being told by the people who lived it.”   As I reflect on the visit, it was as if I were looking into the future, given the current state of our country. The Trump Administration is pushing hard (and illegally, as judged by the number of cases where the courts have blocked their actions) to erase our nation’s history and to replace it with a so-called “patriotic education curriculum.”   The attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and the banning of books written by authors from marginalized communities, including beloved and respected authors I know, are part of the effort to erase the many ways in which people of various racial and ethnic backgrounds built and shaped the United States of America. The Trump Executive Order banning DEI in education is currently halted by court action.   In 2019, The New York Times published the 1619 Project, commemorating the 400-year anniversary of the arrival of enslaved African people in the colonies that later became the United States. Nikole Hannah-Jones, the creator of the 1619 Project, won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for the opening essay that set the stage for the numerous pieces by eminent scholars examining the role of race in American history. The 1619 Project sparked significant interest in American history among the broader American public as we collectively examined the factors that have contributed to the inequality that currently exists in the United States.   The response from conservative factions to counteract the 1619 Project (in addition to demonizing DEI) was the creation of the so-called Patriotic Education Initiative (which later became another Executive Order signed by Donald Trump upon taking office). This initiative seeks to present a false narrative of American history, where white Christian men are glorified as the heroes who brought civilization and have engaged in noble acts that made America great, a state we need to return to by implementing Project 2025. The Administration seeks to defund schools that teach so-called “gender ideology” or “discrimination equity ideology,” terms so vague that teachers and administrators can’t determine what’s permissible. For example, an Idaho middle school teacher was instructed to remove the above poster from her classrooms with the words, "Everyone Is Welcome Here," on the grounds that it expressed a personal political belief that she was not permitted to share in her classroom. This incident led to protests by parents, students, and community members. Ultimately, the teacher resigned, not wishing to work in an environment that would penalize a message of inclusion. At the heart of the Patriotic Education Initiative is the push to use public funding, in the form of parental choice and vouchers, to promote religious education paid for by taxpayer dollars. This theme of religious indoctrination was also part of the Indian Boarding School experience as reflected in this photo and quote. Another image that deeply affected me was a pair of handcuffs, with the opening not much larger than an egg. These were used to restrain elementary school children. These handcuffs reminded me that the first Trump Administration separated more than 5000 children, some as young as toddlers, from their families and warehoused them in large empty buildings in temporary cages built from fencing material. Several hundred of those children are still separated from their families. And of course, ICE has now shown up at several public schools. The deportation of parents has resulted in U.S. citizen children, including some in cancer treatment, being deported along with the adults in their lives. You can learn more about this exhibit on the Heard Museum website , and if you are ever in Phoenix, be sure to visit. I highly recommend seeing this. If the Trump Administration succeeds, and we must stop this from happening, exhibits like this one at the Heard Museum will not be allowed. President Trump repeatedly states that protests or criticism of the US Government are unlawful attacks by people who “hate this country,” and will be met with harsh (and unconstitutional) state violence against protesters.   Criticism does not equal hatred.   Think of all the ways we criticize our spouses, partners, children, and parents. We point out their shortcomings, their errors (and to be sure they do it right back at us), not because we hate them, but because we love them and want them to think about their actions and whether they are helping or hindering their relationships with their family, friends, classmates, and workplaces.  Peaceful protest is not insurrection, and it is not un-American. It is as American as apple pie, and is protected by the United States Constitution. Protesters have been out in the streets for days, in Los Angeles and many other cities, and we will be out en masse this Saturday, June 14. Ordinary folks, like you and me, will be out peacefully demonstrating in major cities and small towns all around the country. DJ T is celebrating his birthday with a military parade expected to cost the U.S. taxpayers between $25 and $ 45 million. I hope you can join a demonstration in a community near you, standing with like-minded neighbors who object to the abuses of this government. For more information about protests in your area, click here . We, the people, have the power to change the course of history, and protest is a powerful means to do so. Let our elected leaders know that we won’t go back to a time when blatant discrimination and violence against targeted groups are everyday occurrences. And we will not allow them to perpetuate lies and rewrite American history.

I’m often asked when’s my next performance. I’ve been on hiatus with Why Would I Mispronounce My Own Name? while writing my new play, Class Migrant: de Aquí y de Allá. Happy to report I’m performing a new ( never seen before) 20-minute segment that is part of that play. An effective way of getting my writing done is by enrolling in David Ford’s classes at the Marsh. 10 weeks during which we get to develop and workshop small pieces of our work in the presence of David Ford and other students. Being in the presence of other folks developing their work is a source of great inspiration. Thanks David Ford and the Marsh, for giving us a space to share our truths. I’m delighted to invite you to my upcoming performance at The Marsh Berkeley in San Francisco , on Tuesday 5/6 at 7:30pm . This piece is part of a showcase by students of David Ford’s performance class—an inspiring workshop where writers and performers create original solo work. David Ford is a master teacher who has guided generations of solo artists in developing deeply personal, often humorous, and always thought-provoking pieces. His classes are more than just instruction—they’re a creative incubator, a community, and a practice in storytelling that is raw, vulnerable, and real. Over the past several weeks, I’ve been shaping new material and revisiting old threads of story with his thoughtful direction and the generous feedback of my fellow performers. If you’ve been curious about what I’ve been working on—or if you just want to support a night of brave, bold, and honest theater—I’d love to see you there! 📍 Where:   The Marsh Berkeley 🗓️ When:  5/6 at 7:30pm - 2120 Allston Way (between Shattuck and Oxford) 🎟️ Tickets & Info: Find your tickets HERE starting at 13$ Tickets ALSO available at the door. Thank you, as always, for your support of my creative journey. It means the world. Hope my new work receives the same warm reception that has been generously given to my first one woman show. " A s I sat in the audience, I couldn't help but feel that Irma had looked into my life-- a brown child traipsing through the finest universities and forging a professional life. In one hour, she conveys the joys and pains of living a bicultural/bilingual life, particularly in today's political climate. Gracias, Irma Herrera for telling our stories.” - Ernestina " A beautiful and powerful performance! Combining humor and personal experience and childhood memories into a rich narrative about racial prejudice.  Insightful and also highly entertaining. You will not want it to end.”  - Bruce   Warmly, Irma

It’s been four decades since I stood next to Judge Alex Saldomando, then on the San Francisco Superior Court, before a group of friends and colleagues. I repeated this oath and proudly joined the ranks of California lawyers.  "I solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of an attorney and counselor at law to the best of my knowledge and ability." ​ May 1, 2025 is National Law Day of Action, I will be standing with hundreds of other lawyers at the Federal Courthouse in San Francisco reciting the updated attorney oath, which was amended 11 years ago, with this sentence added, “as an officer of the court, I will strive to conduct myself at all times with dignity, courtesy, and integrity." When we take the attorney oath, we make a covenant to uphold the rule of law.  At the US Supreme Court with client, Betty Dukes, center, and her niece. Betty was the named plaintiff in the Dukes v. Walmart case. As a civil rights lawyer, I spent several decades working to enforce existing laws and advocating for new ones, so that marginalized communities would have the equal protection of the laws and the due process the Constitution guarantees everyone in the United States. I represented people from different ethnic and racial backgrounds, women – white, Black, Latinas, Asians, Natives - members of the LGBTQ community, and immigrants. Never for one second did it cross my mind that I would lie to a court or misrepresent a court’s decision when speaking to the press or addressing a community group. Today, lawyers entrusted with the highest leadership roles, from Cabinet-level appointees such as Attorney General and the Secretary of State, as well as elected leaders in Congress, are engaged in a full-on legal gaslighting project that distorts what our courts are ordering them to do or stop doing, as they shield corruption and subvert democracy. They are bending the law to serve their ambitions and those of Donald Trump’s cruel and unconstitutional directives. They are engaging in equally bad (and sometimes worse) conduct than Trump acolytes who have ended up disbarred, suspended, or subject to disciplinary actions, such as Rudy Giuliani, Jenna Ellis, John Eastman, and Jeffrey Clark, to name a few. Judges at every level – District Court, Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court have issued rulings that Executive Orders are violating the Constitution. And they, along with lawyers and people of all backgrounds, are growing increasingly impatient and angry at the obfuscation and unfounded claims and defenses the government presents.  Earlier this month, US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein rebuked the Trump Administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) to deport alleged migrant gang members without due process. In criticizing the government's actions, he emphasized that individuals were being deported based solely on associations, such as having certain tattoos, without adequate legal proceedings. He underscored the importance of due process, stating: “This is not the Inquisition, it’s not medieval times. This is the United States of America.”  To protect our rights and freedoms, lawyers across the country are coming together on Law Day to recite the oath of office for the legal profession. We object to the escalating attacks on the independence of the judiciary, and we recommit our support for the rule of law.  Big law firms, which have been under direct attack by the Trump Administration, are fighting back (sadly, not all of them). Click here to read this excellent letter  from Lawyers Defending Democracy explaining why the Administration's actions must be resisted and defeated. For more information and to sign up for May First Law Day of Action near you (or online) go to: https://lawdayofaction.org/  Please join attorneys, law students, and judges in opposition to lawlessness.

For parochial school kids, Lent and Easter marked a period of reflection and sacrifice, reinforcing our sense of community. The experiences of people who observe Ramadan or Passover are similar. We gather to reinforce our faith, to remember the sacrifices and struggles of our communities, to reflect on fairness and justice, and to show gratitude for all who speak up against injustice.   Folks have been asking when I'll be performing  Why Would I Mispronounce My Own Name?   It’s currently on pause while I’m working on a new play. I will be revising some scenes of my old play to reflect what we are witnessing in our country right now: the rewriting of history, the suppression of dissent, the tearing down of government agencies that provide services WE the taxpayers support, efforts to further enrich the wealthiest, and the abduction and disappearing of immigrants from our communities. Fortunately, many people and institutions are standing firm, we are resisting and saying, Not in OUR Name. Countless court decisions, including an emergency order issued by the US Supreme Court, have told the Trump Administration to cease various activities (at least temporarily) until the courts can evaluate the legality of their MAGA regime’s actions. This Sunday, being Easter, I am sharing the story of an unfortunate situation I experienced many years ago. I never cease to marvel at how someone can be so misguided about the meaning of Easter and the traditions around this holiday/holyday. I told this story on stage at Solo Sundays, a beloved storytelling program in San Francisco, which sadly no longer exists. As many of you know, many theaters have shut down over the past several years and did not survive the ravages of the COVID Pandemic. When you can, support theaters that are still offering live performances, because the closest distance between two people is a story.   Our sense of fairness is innate. Even as toddlers and young children, we know when something isn't right, "he got two cookies and I only got one." That's not fairness. Many things we experience as individuals and a groups are unfair, and it's important we speak up against injustices. Everyone can do something, and most of you already are. Thank you for your commitment to making a difference. It really matters. Pleased to report that I will be the Keynote Speaker at this year’s ILRC (Immigrant Legal Resource Center) Phillip Burton Immigration & Civil Rights Awards Event on May 22, 2025 in San Francisco. ILRC is one of the nation’s most effective organizations, “working with and educating immigrants, community organizations, and the legal sector to help build a democratic society that values diversity and the rights of all people.” They will be honoring NY Congressman Adriano Espaillat ( https://espaillat.house.gov ) and the California Padilla Defenders for their steadfast advocacy of immigrant communities. I hope to see you there, tickets available at https://www.ilrc.org/burton25   Thank you for reading. If you have 20 minutes, I invite you to watch the video of my performance on Solo Sundays from several years ago. Based on past comments from those who attended or have watched this, it will both entertain and outrage you. Sending my best wishes to you and your loved one.

I am performing the latest version of my solo show, Why Would I Mispronounce My Own Name? , on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 7:30 pm and Sunday, October 6, at 2:00 pm at Central Stage in Richmond, California. These are the only San Francisco Bay Area shows I'll have in 2024. Click here to learn how I pronounce my name (in case you don't know). Ear-ma is close enough. My show explores the relationship between  identity, names, and our assumptions about people different from us. I promise you an evening filled with laughter and reflection, and you'll leave knowing a tad bit more about American history. In the post-show talkback, you will also be able to share your own experiences about these themes. A Personal Exploration of Identity and Culture I play  20+ characters  in this solo show  — my parents, teachers, classmates, colleagues, and me at various ages. As I share these stories, I tackle the ever-persistent question that those of us considered not real Americans often face:  “No, but where are you really from?” As someone with deep multi-generational family roots in South Texas, I take pride in the rich cultural heritage of Mexican Americans. And I have first-hand experience with the prejudice and discrimination that has been directed towards my community, not just in Texas but throughout the Southwestern United States. Knowing more about the fraught history of US-Mexico relations over the past two centuries allows us to put the current scapegoating of Mexicans and other Latinos into perspective. Many folks are not aware that the entire Southwestern part of what is now the United States was Mexico until 1848, the year before the Gold Rush. You've heard the expression, we didn't cross the border; the border crossed us. Mexicans became part of the United States through empire-building, and Mejicanos, whether born on this side of the border (or el otro lado), have historically been treated like colonized people. Efforts to strip us of our native language and culture were still commonplace in my youth. However, the porous 2000-mile border between the two countries and the abundance of binational families kept our language and culture alive. For decades, children were forced into segregated, inferior schools, and adults were denied the right to vote, the right to serve on juries, and be tried by a jury of their peers. State-sanctioned brutality of Mexican-Americans at the hands of the police, Texas Rangers, and other state officials was common. Developing My Play Classes at the Berkeley Marsh Theater with David Ford sparked my entry into oral storytelling. Then, I was fortunate enough to participate in a seven-day workshop with Anna Deavere Smith and her creative team, including dialect designer Amy Stoller, with whom I've stayed in touch over the past decade. Working with these folks fueled my confidence and creativity, allowing me to shape this personal story with the universal themes of othering and belonging. You might ask what othering and belonging are. When we feel excluded, marginalized, and treated as if we don't belong in a particular setting, we feel "othered." By contrast, when we feel included, welcomed, and respected, we experience a sense of belonging. These are universal experiences, and we have all been in both situations. There is ample social science research about the social dimensions of othering and belonging, and an institute at UC Berkeley is devoted to research and training on this topic. Click here to visit the Othering and Belonging Institute. I regularly update Why Would I Mispronounce My Own Name? to weave in current events and help us connect the dots about how bias and prejudice demean us all. We all need to be reminded that having been at the receiving end of bigotry and mistreatment does not insulate us against mistreating other people. You will see new material in these two shows even if you've been to previous performances. My Wonderful Support Team I am grateful to have the support of David Ford, with whom I developed this work, and Rebecca Fisher, who has directed my play for the past several years. I am working on a new play, Class Migrant, and David and Rebecca are part of that process. I also sincerely appreciate the No Name Creatives group, which meets regularly to share our work—a handful of women storytellers with much to say. The support of my spouse, our son, and my friends is invaluable. Engaging Beyond the Performance I love the community engagement that follows each show, where audience members share their experiences with prejudice and bias related to names and beyond. I learn so much in these conversations, and some of your stories (with your permission) end up in later versions of my show and in newsletters I write. I Hope You Can Join Me! This performance is not just about my experiences navigating prejudice based on ethnicity, skin color, gender, and socio-economic class; it’s about creating a space to connect, learn from each other, and celebrate our diverse backgrounds and cultures. It's also an opportunity to showcase our resilience and explore how we use our education, access, and all forms of social capital to pay it forward and advance justice for all. I hope to see you in the audience and hear your thoughts after the shows! I'll perform at Central Stage at 5221 Central Avenue, Richmond, CA. Saturday, September 28 · 7:30 - 9pm PDT Sunday, October 6 · 2 - 3:30pm PDT General admission: $28.52 incl. $3.52 Fee Student discount: $17.85 incl. $2.85 Fee

My last show of 2024 is in the stomping grounds of my young adult life: San Antonio. A city I love con todo mi corazon. I’m pleased to close out my 2024 performances at Trinity University's Ruth Taylor Recital Hall on Wednesday, November 13th, at 6:30 pm. It is free to the public, and free parking is available at Alamo Stadium. Did I say it was Free/Gratis? Yes, I did, but I want to bring that point home. The show is an hour long, followed by a half-hour Q&A session with the audience. This performance is part of Trinity’s Festival of the Arts. Thanks so much to Dr. Norma Elia Cantú, a preeminent Chicana Scholar and Author, the Norine R. and T. Frank Murchison Distinguished Professor of the Humanities at Trinity, who proposed my play for the Festival. If you live in San Antonio, please bring your friends/family. If you live elsewhere but know folks in San Antonio, would you be so kind as to forward this and encourage people to see the show? Audience members tell me they laugh, and some report shedding a few tears. Often, they comment on how much they learned about the experiences of Latinos and other groups who have been marginalized and treated poorly in this country. It causes them to think long and hard about prejudice and bias and how important it is to show respect to others. The play is also about how our country has changed to expand opportunities and fulfill the ideals foundational to the founding of the United States. We can love our country while at the same time criticizing its shortcomings, past and present. Although the show's name remains the same, several scenes in Why Would I Mispronounce My Own Name? change in response to current events. One small section of the play isn’t yet written and awaits the election results. Folks who have seen my play four and five times over the years report they leave with a new experience of each performance because of the new material. Even if you’ve seen the show before, have another look. Sharing a few comments: “As I sat in the audience, I couldn't help but feel that Irma had looked into my life -- a brown child traipsing through the finest universities and forging a professional life. In one hour, she conveys the joys and pains of living a bicultural/bilingual life, particularly in today's political climate. Gracias, Irma Herrera for telling our stories.” ~Ernestina "At a time in which the very definition of a real American is hotly contested, Irma Herrera brings intelligence, humor, and grace to the race debate. Many people will see bits of their own experience in her struggle not just to belong, but to thrive in a society that is so often ambivalent about including her. A must-see for anyone who wonders what it will take for us to all get along.”       ~ Rinku Sen, Former Editor, Colorlines Creative, clever, and critical . . . addresses themes of identity, courage, and prejudice in ways that are relevant to America today.”        ~ Sam Pasco, KXSF Radio "A beautiful and powerful performance! Combining humor, personal experience, and childhood memories into a rich narrative about racial prejudice.  Insightful and highly entertaining.   You will not want it to end.”              ~Bruce Wednesday, November 13th @ 6:30 pm Trinity University Ruth Taylor Recital Hall Free parking at Alamo Stadium More information about the show is at Trinity University’s Event Page. Click here . You can learn more about my show and how it was created in Professor Elena Foulis’ Latine Stories Podcast . La Doctora Foulis, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, invited me to her podcast when I last performed at St. Mary's University in San Antonio in late September 2023.   I will be so pleased to see you there. Allí nos vemos. November 5th is election day. Exercise your right to vote. People have died to secure our voting rights. We cannot take our right to vote for granted; we could someday lose it. Gracias Rafael Gonzalez, artista y poeta, who created this graphic and permitted me to use it.

Hearing audience members’ stories during the post-show Q&A portion is one of the most significant rewards of performing. This was certainly the case at Trinity University in San Antonio earlier this month.   This story, shared by one of my tocayas is most memorable. What is a tocaya, you ask? A tocayo or tocaya is someone who has the same name as you, your namesake. In Spanish, the word carries a sense of affection for one's tocaya or tocayo. Tocayo comes from tocaitl, in the indigenous Náhuatl language from Mexico. It means name, honor, or fame. “I have the same first name as you," the woman said when handed the roving microphone. "Except everyone calls me Er-ma Richardson (I changed her last name). For decades, I’ve let everyone call me that, and it's also how I’ve said my name. It was just easier than correcting people.”   I am quoting her based on memory. She continued.   “My husband told me that after hearing your interview on Texas Public Radio, he understood for the first time the importance of saying someone’s name correctly. From now on," he told me, "I will do my best to say Irma the way you want me to say it.”   The audience appreciated her comment as much as I did and spontaneously applauded. Click here to listen to that half-hour interview on Texas Public Radio's Fronteras Program. Hearing her story reminded me of the importance of speaking our truths. Take a moment and read that again. Not everyone is comfortable speaking out; most of us are terrified to do so. I do lots of things that I find scary and uncomfortable. Usually, after calling up that helpful expression, "feel the fear, and do it anyway." I was also touched that a significant number of folks from the LGBTQ+ community were in the audience, and several shared their concerns about the acts of bigotry and discrimination they expect and are already experiencing following the election of Donald Trump. We must speak up on behalf of targeted groups whether or not we are members. When I had my first run of Why Would I Mispronounce My Own Name?   at The Marsh Theater in San Francisco in the Fall of 2018, Donald Trump and his anti-immigrant rhetoric had already gained enormous traction. The closing image of one of the scenes in my play was this famous poem by Reverend Martin Neimöller. Have you noticed how frequently this poem has been shared lately? I realized I knew very little about Rev. Martin Neimöller, so I put my research hat on. Here is some of what I learned. Martin Niemoeller was the son of a Lutheran Pastor in Germany, and he started his career as a Naval Officer in the Imperial German Navy. He received the highest honor, the Iron Guard First Class, for his role in sinking Allied Ships during World War I. He was a fervent nationalist and anti-communist who was devastated by the German defeat in that war and the collapse of the German Empire. As he strongly opposed the post-war German Government (Weimar Republic), he resigned from the Navy and followed his father’s footsteps; he became a Lutheran Pastor.   In the 1920s and early 30s, he sympathized with many Nazi ideas and supported radical right-wing political movements and antisemitic views. He voted for the Nazi party in the election that brought Adolf Hitler to power. His enthusiasm quickly waned when the Nazis began to interfere with church policy, wanting to portray Jesus as Aryan, denying he was Jewish. Neimöller became an outspoken critic of the Nazis' efforts to remove the “Jewish elements” from Christianity and, in general, objected to the state’s interference with the Protestant Church.   When he and other Protestant church leaders met with Adolf Hitler in early 1934 to discuss their concern about the relationship between church and state, it became clear to him that his phone was tapped and that he and others had been under close government surveillance. Hitler made clear to these church leaders that they had to compromise their faith on behalf of the state. Neimöller was unwilling to do so. After that, he became an outspoken critic of Nazi church policy.   He was arrested by the Gestapo and imprisoned for eight years, most of that time in a concentration camp. He was freed when American troops liberated Dachau in 1945.   Following the war, Neimöller became prominent for publicly acknowledging his own moral failures and those committed by the Protestant Church. He spoke often about the complicity of the German people who stood by quietly as atrocities were committed.   His famous poem has numerous versions because he sometimes named other targeted groups that had been targeted by the Nazis, depending on his audience. Sometimes, when reciting the verses, he included people with physical and mental disabilities, the Roma, homosexuals, political opponents, and Jehovah’s Witnesses.   At my performance at Trinity University, I urged us all to find the courage to act despite our fears. Only by having each other’s backs can we resist acts of oppression.   As mentioned in previous blogs, I am working on a new play. I will perform small segments (15 minutes) at The Berkeley Marsh Theater group shows in early December and late January. I will let you know the specifics in future blogs, and if you are in the Bay Area, I hope you can come. My first play was workshopped as short segments that later became a one-hour show. And that show keeps changing to adapt to current events.   May all of us join others in resisting hate and violence. I wish you good health and joy. I close with these words from Albert Camus. Thanks to all who attended my show at Trinity University. I was especially thrilled to see friends from my hometown and college days and meet many new folks. A few photos from the evening.

I’m working away on my new one-woman show, Class Migrant: de Aquí y de Allá , and I’ll be presenting a 20-minute excerpt as part of Tell It On Tuesday , the monthly program at The Berkeley Marsh Theater that features developing work. If you live in the SF Bay Area (esp. in the East Bay) join us on Tuesday 1/28 at 7 pm in Downtown Berkeley. Tickets are $10 (plus service fee). Available at this link , or you can buy tickets at the door. I am happy to report that  Tell It On Tuesday  is live-streamed on The Marsh’s YouTube channel, so those who live elsewhere (or can’t get to the theater) can watch it in the comfort of their home at this link .   Irma Herrera, Class Migrant: de Aquí y de Allá (Excerpt) Is it the grammar error, the less-than-perfect teeth, or the silence when the conversation turns to childhood summer vacations? What clues reveal whether we grew up poor, middle class, or downright rich? Class Migrant explores the joy and the sadness that come with class mobility. What can she do with all the rage she feels when people born on third base believe they’ve hit a triple every time? Are you a class migrant? Are your socio-economic circumstances much better than those of your family of origin? I would love to hear about your experiences on this topic.   As many of you are not on social media, you probably have not seen the short video clips created to promote my show. Have a look.   In future blogs, I’ll write about issues related to the Trump 2.0 Administration’s drastic rollback of programs created to advance opportunities. For now, my focus is on telling personal stories that highlight how our nation’s history of discrimination and segregation created the gross wealth inequities we see all around us and to explore how opportunity hoarding will impede the socio-economic mobility of ALL poor and working-class people.

The Politics of Renaming and Domination On the first day of Donald Trump’s Presidency, he renamed the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of America , via Executive Order.  While a seemingly ridiculous move, it is a test of domination and an attempt to humiliate neighboring countries. It makes clear his intention to create a new era of empire and colonization. The more recent move to make English the official language of the United States aims to promote disdain and mistreatment of those of us who dare to speak Spanish outside our homes. Please do not doubt that down the road he will demand we re-name cities in the United States. Will San Francisco become St. Francis and San Antonio, St. Anthony? I suppose that Tornillo, Texas will be christened, Screw, TX, although the Texas Governor may not look favorably on that name change. Will he demand that the state of New Mexico be called New America?  When Donald Trump first suggested he would alter the Gulf’s name and before he issued the Executive Order, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum showed a world map from 1607 that labeled North America as AMERICA MEXICANA and identified the Gulf of Mexico as such—169 years before the United States was founded.  Acceding to Donald Trump’s renaming of the Gulf, both Google and Apple Maps now label the body of water as the Gulf of America. Mexico is threatening Google with legal action. In a playful yet serious moment, signaling that they would not be intimidated, MapQuest rolled out a “Name Your Own Gulf” site, leading to creative maps shared widely on social media. This body of water has been known as the Gulf of Mexico since the mid-16th century. It first appeared on a world map in 1550 and in a historical account in 1552. The name reflects the gulf's geographical location adjacent to land mass known as Mexico, which was colonized and claimed by Spain beginning in the early 1500s. The name Mexico originates from the Nahuatl word Mexica, the name of the indigenous people of the Aztec Empire, which was well established and flourishing before the Spanish arrived.  Before the Spanish colonization, the various coastal tribes native to parts of what is now Florida, Louisiana, and Texas had their own names for this body of water. According to legend, it was also known as Chalchiuhtlicue, the deity in Aztec mythology associated with lakes, rivers, and other freshwater bodies. You can learn more about it, including its pronunciation here. The Associated Press (AP) refusal to call it the Gulf of America, the name assigned to it by the President’s Order, has resulted in AP being denied access to White House Press conferences or onto Air Force One, with the pool of reporters that cover the President. AP’s lawsuit against the Trump Administration is pending. The bombastic bully has also told the world he wants to claim Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal as part of the Trump empire. Although his Executive Orders have been overwhelmingly unsuccessful, with courts putting the brakes on his unconstitutional actions, they continue breaking the laws and disrupting the lives of millions of people. The main reason he's still issuing Executive Orders (knowing most will be blocked) is to telegraph to his base that he’s leading the charge to dehumanize Latinos, Blacks, Muslims, gays, transgender folks, and anyone who opposes his vision of what the United States should be. Millions of us are NOT in line with their vision and what the Administration is doing. We must not stay silent. This is what has led to mass atrocities around the world. Speak up, take to the streets, and raise holy hell. Make good trouble. It’s up to us, We the People, to save our country from the autocratic billionaires who will continue to loot the US Treasury, giving themselves tax benefits while drastically cutting programs we support with our tax dollars, like Medicare, health research, Medicaid, public safety, and so much more that benefits ALL Americans not just the wealthy.   The playbook of autocrats is to bully anyone who opposes them. And they are threatening judges, activists, and the press. Speak up, and don’t be an accomplice in these injustices.   Trump is all about domination, submission, and humiliation.

This is my second time back since graduating from the  University of Notre Dame Law School  four-plus decades ago. Recently, I attended the first-ever Affinity Alumni Reunion Weekend sponsored by the three student organizations: Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA), Black Law Student Association (BLSA) and Hispanic Law Student Association (HLSA) , which in our day was known as La Raza Law Students. BLSA and La Raza shared an office in the law school's lower level, where Black and Chicano students often hung out between classes. There was no APALSA during my time at ND Law because my class had only one Asian student, Dr. Trai Le, a whip-smart, middle-aged woman from Vietnam who had come to the United States with her spouse and young children as a refugee. Dr. Le had already been a law professor and Dean of the law school in Hue, a city that was heavily bombed during the Tet Offensive in the Vietnam War. Dr. Le went on to become a Law Professor at Notre Dame. These organizations, whose very existence the Trump Administration seeks to eliminate, claiming their existence is "divisive," continue to play an essential role in the lives of students and alumni. Special thanks to Ava Moreno, President of HLSA, the HSLA community, and ND Law School's Director of Dignity, Solidarity & Subsidiarity, Max Gaston. A Notre Dame Law graduate, Max previously worked as a civil rights attorney with the ACLU in Florida and in other roles advancing justice. The hard work of APALSA, BLSA, and HLSA is reflected in the successful programs presented and the connections made across groups and generations. Irma with Hon. Martha Vazquez and Vicky Mendoza I had the privilege of serving as one of the lunchtime speakers during Affinity Alumni Weekend at an event sponsored by HLSA. Three Chicanas were in my class, and I convinced them to come for the weekend. Vicky Mendoza is the Executive Director of VARN (Volunteer Attorneys for Rural Nevadans) and Hon. Martha Vazquez, the first woman appointed to the federal bench in New Mexico. We were joined by classmate and dear friend Patricia Dunn, whom I anointed as Hispanic-adjacent since we had been housemates during law school. Although I’ve seen these four friends numerous times over the decades, it was our first time together since graduating in the late 1970s. Each of us had the opportunity to connect with students and share our experiences of surviving law school and the challenges in our lives and legal careers.  I presented a small excerpt of my one-woman show, Why Would I Mispronounce My Own Name? as part of the HLSA lunchtime program. The short scene I selected was set at Notre Dame. This was followed by a Fireside Chat about my career as a civil rights lawyer, journalist, and playwright/performer. While all the weekend activities were informative, the Saturday morning brunch titled Stronger Together: A Conversation Between APALSA, BLSA, and HLSA Alumni was especially illuminating. Panelists broadly represented positions held by lawyers at major law firms, in-house, social justice advocacy, criminal defense, and philanthropy. There were several overriding messages: hard work is key, especially because Black and Latino lawyers still encounter skepticism about our intelligence and abilities (just 'sayin). Asian lawyers contend with other sterotypes although they are not viewed as less capable. Lawyers from all these ethnic and racial groups still find that, all too often, we are the only ones who look like us in the room. Another overarching theme was the importance of mentorship and networking and paying it forward by supporting students with financial support when possible and by introductions that can lead to job opportunities and other experiences that provide growth and advancement. I attended Notre Dame Law School thanks to a diversity, inclusion, and equity (DEI) program called affirmative action back then. That I was admitted with lower LSAT scores than other classmates didn’t make me unqualified or not merit admission. By taking a broader look, including past academic accomplishments and life experiences, the admissions committee assumed I could complete law school and successfully join the legal profession.  I strongly advocate for all programs in schools and employment that look beyond standardized test scores and grades in determining who is "qualified" and "merits" admission or a chance at a job or promotion. As these DEI programs are attacked and dismantled, those yelling the loudest about merit are among the least qualified persons to have reached the high positions they hold. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, claims we must have “the best and brightest in every position possible, color blind and merit-based.” As a result of the Signalgate Scandal, we can see firsthand that those currently holding these posts to keep our nation safe are, in fact, extraordinarily poorly qualified for their positions. Can anyone doubt that they received these appointments as rewards for their blind loyalty to Donald Trump and for their willingness to abide by and amplify his lies no matter how bold and nonsensical? The highest-level officials of the Trump Administration responsible for national security. This is why DEI was created, as captured so clearly in the cartoon below. When you compare the experiences and credentials of cabinet officers who previously held these posts in both Republican and Democratic Administrations, the differences speak volumes. While an Executive Order declared DEI dead, many schools, law firms, and corporations remain committed to programs that expand opportunities. They recognize the importance of developing leaders who serve communities and a diverse base of customers and constituents. They reject the belief that the default for competence, the so-called "merit," is being white and well-connected to people in power.   Notre Dame’s campus is as beautiful as ever and has many more buildings than my last visit over a decade ago. My early morning walk around the two lakes was invigorating; at slightly below 40 degrees with a light wind, it was a tad bit colder than the milder Bay Area mornings I'm used to. I enjoyed meeting students and other alumni, and students expressed great appreciation for the candid conversations about the challenges of studying and practicing law. Graciela “Grace” Olivárez, ND Law's First Woman Graduate The first woman to graduate from Notre Dame Law School (1970) was Graciela “Grace” Olivárez, a lifelong advocate for the Hispanic community and those in poverty. Grace Olivárez first met Notre Dame's President, Father Ted Hesburgh, when Father Hesburgh was Chair of the US Commission on Civil Rights. Olivárez testified numerous times before the Commission, often chastizing them for not doing enough to address Mexican-American civil rights concerns. Grace, a self-educated advocate who had not graduated high school, impressed Father Hesburgh with her intelligence and knowledge, and he encouraged her to consider becoming a lawyer. He arranged her admission to Notre Dame Law School. After graduation, she continued advancing civil rights and economic access in her various appointed posts and as a law professor. One of the weekend activities was the annual HLSA Graciela Olivárez Banquet, which we attended.   As educational opportunities expanded in this country, thanks to affirmative action and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, folks like me and my Chicana classmates became lawyers. A law degree equipped me to join with others in the community to challenge systems of oppression that relegated us to second-class status. This is why DEI programs are targeted. Our ancestors have endured this and much worse, so keep faith and remember: "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." ~Dr. ML King.

I spent the last week cleaning my office, mostly sorting through papers, including personal letters. Remember when we would write letters to family and friends by hand or sometimes used a typewriter?  Among the most moving was a letter from my friend, José Antonio Burciaga, and tucked in there was a small hand-drawn whimsical caricature of himself on the back of an index card. I wish I’d taken a picture I could share with you today, but I didn’t. But the drawing is currently at a framing shop, where it is being matted and framed. I will think of him every time I look at it. I first met Tony when we were seated next to each other at a MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) fundraising event in San Francisco and we became fast friends. At that time, I was a young lawyer who had just moved to San Francisco to work for MALDEF. He was already well-known, but I was unfamiliar with his work. He was the most versatile artist I’ve ever known. Originally an illustrator and graphic artist, he was equally gifted as a poet, essayist, satirist, and muralist. For several years, he was part of the original comedy troupe Culture Clash, so he was also a comedian. Tony Burciaga's Undocumented Love, American Book Award for Poetry, 1992 In 1992, his book of poetry, Undocumented Love,  won the American Book Award, and in 1995, he was bestowed the Hispanic Heritage Award for Literature. Sadly, Tony died of cancer the following year. I still miss him. El pinche cancer. Click here to learn more about Tony's life and work. If you haven't read any of his books, I highly recommend you do so. They address issues that continue to be central to our political discourse.     In this letter, Tony was encouraging me to write. I had recently left law to become a freelance journalist. I am reminded that friendship is the dearest gift anyone can bestow upon us. As I close out the year, I give thanks to dear friends and family, near and far, whose support has encouraged and sustained me.   Another item I found in my office closet was a beautiful small print I bought in Cuba on New Year’s Eve in 2017. That was the year that I spent several weeks in Cuba. I had completely forgotten that I had purchased this print, which is also quite memorable. Along with Tony’s caricature, this is also at the framing shop. I will share both Tony's drawing and the framed print in a future blog. I came upon a foot-long tube, tightly rolled in old newspaper. As I unrolled it I was taken aback when I read the crumpled headline: Irma sobre Cuba Front page of September 2017 issue of Juventud rebelde What? No, the story wasn’t about me; it was about the impending hurricane expected to hit the island. The publication was Juventud rebelde,  the Cuban newspaper of the Young Communist League. Although Cuba is no stranger to hurricanes, the story in the September issue explained the measures being taken by the government in anticipation of Irma’s arrival. Hurricane Irma made landfall on September 7,  2017, and its 165 mph winds caused extensive damage to the island. It was the strongest hurricane (Category 5) to hit Cuba since 1925.   I was sorry that I didn’t have the entire newspaper, as there were other stories related to the hurricane. One was about the potential damage it could cause in Havana, especially to the beautiful old buildings along the Malecon. Hurricane Irma caused extensive damage to Havana and other parts of the island. During our time in Cuba, people often pointed to buildings and areas the hurricane had harmed. Note the date: September 8, 2017. The monthly newspaper had gone to print before Hurricane Irma had made landfall. An opinion piece on the second page was intact (if wrinkled), where the writer reflected on the concerns of everyday people awaiting an unknown but potentially devastating natural disaster – a reminder that we have no control over Mother Nature. In times like these, she says, (I’m summarizing) our thoughts turn to family, friends, and community near and far. Those at one end of the island worry about those at the other; people living inland worry about those along the water and about Havana, a city that has lived through so much history.   Cubans worried about their relatives in the United States, who were also on Hurricane Irma's path. The writer noted that we cling to that inexplicable "theory of the soul" that nothing protects us more than being with our loved ones. She closes with this thought: the piece's text provided in Spanish, followed by my own (hopefully good enough) translation.   “Por ahora, el deseo más fuerte es uno solo: que Irma no haga estragos entre los dos mares que amenaza. Lo más importante, lo que no podemos negar es que -- no importa lo que diga Meteorología -- nunca hay categoría más poderosa que la que alcanza el huracán del amor.”   “For now, the strongest wish is only one: that Irma does not wreak havoc between the two threatening seas. The most important thing, what we cannot deny is that - no matter what the Meteorologists say - there is no category more powerful than the reach of the hurricane of love.”   Sending love and good wishes to you and yours as we turn the page to a New Year.

One More Show. You probably know that uno más means one more. The two Bay Area presentations of my updated solo show (9/28 and 10/6) BOTH sold out. Thanks so much for spreading the word and creating these full houses. As many folks could not get tickets, we’ve added one more show on Sunday, October 20th @ 2 pm. Hopefully, the heat wave will be over, and we won’t be roasting in the theater. Here's the scoop for those of you who are NOT in the Bay Area. We had a record-breaking heat wave, and many of us live in homes with no AC. The word insufferable comes to mind. The climate here is relatively temperate year-round, and we have a handful of hotter-than-average days. But this has been a different experience, with the temperature hovering near 100 for days. We are not used to this. Even though Central Stage is airconditioned, it was uncomfortably hot at yesterday’s show. Grateful no one left, and no one fainted. Well, enough of our weather woes. This October 20th show REALLY will be my last Bay Area performance this year, as my calendar is full between now and the end of the year. I am so grateful for the positive reception of my new material. “I love the changes you made to the show. And sad that you’ll always have new material to add,” said a friend’s text. In these politically charged few weeks before the Presidential election – immigrants, LGBTQ+ folks, and women have been at the receiving end of so many lies that incite hate and create the potential for heightened violence. Yes, it is sad and angering that we must fight so hard to be treated with respect and dignity and to protect our rights. Sharing another comment from an email: “Really enjoyed the performance yesterday! Am so happy you offered one close to home. :-) Many thought-provoking moments. Your discussion of "Anglo" reminded me that until my family moved to Arizona from suburban Washington, D.C., in January, 1963, I had never heard the term. But then I found myself going to school with Navajo, Hopi, and a few Hispanic kids (Navajo being the majority); that's when I learned I was Anglo. ;-).” During my childhood, my world had Mexican-Americans and Anglo. I had no concept that white people (Anglos) had any ethnic affiliations. One day at the University of Notre Dame, I said to a friend, “well someone who’s Anglo like you.“ “Anglo? I’m not Anglo, I’m Irish!” We don’t know what we don’t know. At Notre Dame, I learned about the strong ethnic pride of the Irish, Italians, and Poles of the Midwest and East Coasts. It wasn’t until I lived away from South Texas that I began to understand that white folks were not a monolith. When I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, I learned that Latinos came from many different places: Mexico, El Salvador, Colombia, Guatemala, Puerto Rica, Cuba, and more. It is a wonderful thing when we are open to learning and accepting the ways in which we are similar and different. I am keeping this short to put these two things onto your radar screen. 1. FINAL (yes, really the last) Bay Area Performance, October 20, 2024, @ 2 p.m. Don’t wait until the last minute to get your tickets. If the past is a predictor, this show will, too, sell out. Ticket prices are very affordable: $25 for regular admission and $15 discounted (for students and others who need to avail themselves of a lower price). Click here for tickets. 2. I will perform in San Antonio at Trinity University on Wednesday, November 13, at 6:30 pm. I’ll need to make changes to this show based on the election results the previous week. I shudder to think what we might be experiencing in the days after the Presidential Election. Please note that it is FREE and open to the public. Gratis. As soon as I have the ticketing information, I will share it. In the meantime, tell your San Antonio friends and relatives about this show. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this and supporting me in various ways: sharing my blog, attending shows, and telling friends about my work. Muy agradecida.