By Rita Urquijo-Ruiz and David Garcia Video by Larissa Mercado-Lopez August 31, 2012, is the last day that renowned Chicana, feminist scholar Dr. Norma E. Cantú will be at the University of Texas, San Antonio’s English Department. To honor her work, Dr. Larissa Mercado-López (one of her former students) led a group of volunteers who organized an amazing mini-symposium on the life and work of Dr. Cantú. Other Chicana scholars and some of Dr. Cantú’s former students presented papers highlighting the multi-faceted aspects of Cantú’s work. As part of the panel on “Chicana Literary Expressions,” David F. García, and Dr. Rita E. Urquijo-Ruiz collaborated by writing her a corrido entitled “Destino al andar.” The day closed with an after party at the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center co-organized by another one of Dr. Cantú’s former students, Dr. V. June Pedraza, and Dr. Antonia I. Castañeda, Dr. Elsa Cantú Ruiz and another group of volunteers. People visited from all over the country to honor and thank Dr. Norma E. Cantú for all the work, passion and love that she has shared with thousands of people in her communities. This corrido is just a little “regalito” for her. Mil gracias, Norma! De todo corazón.
Written and performed by Rita E. Urquijo-Ruiz and David Garcia at UT San Antonio on Friday, August 24. Video by conference organizer Larissa Mercado-Lopez.
| “DESTINO AL ANDAR” Al empezar a cantar Pedimos permiso ahora Para rendir homenaje A una ilustre doctora.Ella es de la frontera En los dos Laredos criada Chicana de tal carrera Por todos muy apreciada Norma Cantú es su nombre Es persona de renombre Esta doctora sí cura Para ayudar a estudiantes Escribe nuevas historias Brindamos a la maestro Al andar se hace el destino Vuela, vuela golondrina ¡Viva la Dra. Norma Cantú! |
“DESTINY AS WE WALK” As we begin singing We now ask for your permission To pay tribute To an illustrious doctorShe is from the border Raised in the two Laredos A Chicana with such a career Respected by everyone Norma Cantú is her name She is a renowned person This doctor does cure At working with students She writes about new (hi)stories We toast our teacher Destiny is created as we walk Fly, fly away, swallow ¡Viva la Dra. Norma Cantú! |
Dr. Rita E. Urquijo-Ruiz is a professor of Spanish and Transnational Mexican Popular Cultures at Trinity University in San Antonio, TX. Her book entitled Wild Tongues: Transnational Mexican Popular Culture was published in July 2012 in the UT Press Chicana Matters Series. David Garcia is a musician/composer of Chicano/Mexican music from northern New Mexico. He is a Queer Xicano/Manito anthropologist who studies popular culture, foodways and the production of public space. Garcia is currently a Ph.D. student in the in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Texas at Austin.