{"id":5084739,"date":"2017-04-05T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-04-05T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ctlatinonews.com\/weve-always-been-the-designated-enemy-john-leguizamo-schools-us-on-latino-history\/"},"modified":"2017-04-05T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2017-04-05T04:00:00","slug":"weve-always-been-the-designated-enemy-john-leguizamo-schools-us-on-latino-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/ctln\/2017\/04\/05\/weve-always-been-the-designated-enemy-john-leguizamo-schools-us-on-latino-history\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018We\u2019ve Always Been The Designated Enemy:\u2019 John Leguizamo Schools Us On Latino History"},"content":{"rendered":"

 
\nActor, comedian, writer, social activist and and overall buena gente <\/em>(good guy) John Leguizamo has a bone to pick with the teaching of American history in our classrooms.
\nIn his new solo piece, “Latin History for Morons,<\/span>” not only does he pick that bone, he unearths the ways in which Latinos have given everything they are to make the United States what it is today.
\nConsidering the current political climate, Leguizamo’s lessons couldn’t be more timely or necessary.
\nWe spoke with John about his play, Latino history and the way he successfully engages with detractors.
\nWhat was your most eye opening moment in Latino history?<\/strong>
\nThere were two stories. One of them was Loreta Velazquez<\/span><\/a>, a Cuban woman that fought in the Civil War. She fought in the battles of Shiloh, Bull Run and more as a man ’cause they wouldn’t let women fight. I thought that was so powerful. It shows Latin people’s tenacity, vivacity and cleverness.
\nThen I learned that 10,000 Latin people participated in the American Revolution. And when I saw that I was like, ‘Wait a minute. We were here fighting, being awarded, honored and you never see that anywhere.’ Ten thousand people in the American Revolution-that was a lot of people back then.
\nYou can’t take this country from me or try and make me feel like a second class citizen when my people have shed blood for this country in every single war this country has ever fought.<\/p>\n

&amp;amp;lt;img class=”img-responsive img_inline” src=”https:\/\/media4.s-nbcnews.com\/j\/newscms\/2017_12\/1943276\/latinhistory0122rr_9e2d82dcc60cbbfba513a68b403a5a47.nbcnews-fp-360-360.jpg” alt=”New York PremiereLATIN HISTORY FOR MORONSWritten and performed by John LeguizamoDirected by Tony TacconeIn a co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre Scenic Design: Rachel HauckLighting Design: Alexander V. NicholsOriginal Music and Sound Des” title=”New York PremiereLATIN HISTORY FOR MORONSWritten and performed by John LeguizamoDirected by Tony TacconeIn a co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre Scenic Design: Rachel HauckLighting Design: Alexander V. NicholsOriginal Music and Sound Des” \/&amp;amp;gt;