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VOCES American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos

John Leguizamo on set of AMERICAN HISTORIA
Credit: Jasmine Balais

In this new three-part series, acclaimed Broadway and film actor John Leguizamo travels off the beaten path of history to unearth Latinx stories that have been missing from American textbooks. Each episode combines cultural travel segments, entertaining interstitials and enlightening conversations with notable historians and Latino cultural figures. American Historia features key Latinx game-changers across several categories such as inventors, artists, musicians, artists, intellectuals, war heroes and beyond. Leguizamo acts as guide and storyteller as he takes us on a captivating journey through the known and lesser-known stories of Latino history from the Ancient Empires to the early 1970s. This series was co-created by Leguizamo along with award-winning filmmaker Ben DeJesus ("American Masters: Raul Julia") and presented by The WNET Group, Latino Public Broadcasting and NGL Collective.

Episode 1 premieres Friday, September 27 at 9pm on WNED PBS and will be available on your favorite streaming platforms, including pbs.org and the PBS app.

Hispanic Heritage Month

Events

Photo of a latina woman raising her fist in the air, along with the American Historia and BTPM logos

Saturday, October 19 at 12pm

American Historia Heritage Celebration

Experience a vibrant mix of music, dance, and storytelling from a variety of groups including Amor & Heritage, Fanny Salsa Dance, Saranaide, Salsa for the Soul Dance & Yoga, and featuring music from our newly launched Latino radio station, Radio Bilingüe. Enlighten your mind and immerse in Hispanic culture with a multitude of engaging activities and educational displays provided by the Hispanic Heritage Council. We will also be screening an episode of the brand new three-part series American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos. Following this will be a panel discussion and Q&A by the Hispanic Heritage Council and members of our community. 

Tickets & Information

Sneak Peeks

VOCESAmerican Historia: The Untold History of Latinos | Preview

Join John Leguizamo on a journey into the rich and often overlooked history of Latinos. Watch the premiere of the first episode on WNED PBS on Friday, September 27 at 9pm.

VOCES American Historia: The Untold History of LatinosEpisode 1 | Echoes of Empires | Preview

John 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. Despite the fact that they were ultimately decimated by the conquistadors, these societies had an enduring influence on culture, agriculture, and the sciences. Instead of focusing on the “discovery” of a new world, the episode tells the story of the fall of the great civilizations that were already here before Columbus landed, while also challenging the cultural narrative around our understanding of these great empires and what truly led to their destruction. Watch Friday, September 27 at 9pm.

Produced by Buffalo Toronto Public Media in partnership with VOCES American Historia, a production of The WNET Group, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

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