LatinoLand: A Portrait of America's Largest and Least Understood Minority

Co-presented with KALW

“A perfect representation of Latino diversity” (The Washington Post), Marie Arana’s LatinoLand draws from hundreds of interviews and prodigious research to give us both the little-known history and a vibrant portrait and of our largest and fastest-growing minority, in “a work of prophecy, sympathy, and courage” (Junot Díaz, Pulitzer Prize–winning author). By 2050, census reports project that one in every three Americans will claim Latino heritage. But Latinos are not a monolith. Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Salvadorans, and Cubans—each has a different cultural and political background, very much in flux. Once overwhelmingly Catholic, they are becoming increasingly Protestant and Evangelical. Formerly solidly Democratic, they now vote Republican in growing numbers. “Thorough, accessible, and necessary” (Ms. magazine), LatinoLand unabashedly celebrates Latino resilience and character and shows us why we must understand the fastest-growing minority in America. In conversation with KALW’s Johanna Lopez Miyaki. Donate to reserve a seat, FREE to walk-ups.

Marie Arana was born in Lima, Peru. She is the author of the memoir American Chica, a finalist for the National Book Award; two novels, Cellophane and Lima Nights; the prize-winning biography Bolivar; Silver, Sword, and Stone, a narrative history of Latin America; The Writing Life, a collection from her well-known column for The Washington Post; and LatinoLand. She was the inaugural Literary Director of the Library of Congress and lives in Washington, DC, and Lima, Peru.

Johanna Lopez Miyaki is a KALW Audio Academy Alum and thrilled to return to the newsroom where she supported KALW's engagement and coverage for the 2024 General Election. She has reported on Indigenous communities for El Tecolote and produced and hosted episodes for their podcast, Radio Teco. She has been a producer and editor at KCBS San Francisco and is a freelance journalist, videographer, audio recordist and field producer. Johanna was born in Washington DC, raised in Maryland now calls San Francisco's OMI district home. She lives in Oceanview with her husband, daughter and their rescue, Rocco. She cofounded a neighborhood group, We Are OMI and is the project director for their SF Parks Alliance group, Friends of the OMI Mini Parks. You can find her wandering the SF Crosstown Trails and proudly serving on the SF CT Council.

A New Day with KALW 

A new series, in collaboration with KALW, that seeks to understand the many forces and people behind the rise of American authoritarianism and how we can arrive somewhere better. 

Host or Publisher Litquake, San Francisco's Literary Festival