Episodes

On 9/11/1973, Salvador Allende’s government was overthrown by the military. Among the conspirators was Chile’s future dictator, Augusto Pinochet. In this episode, Carmen tells Cristina about the day of the coup, and Allende’s final moments. This is part two of a series on Chile. In part one, Historias Unknown covered the life of Allende, leading up to the coup. The next episodes in the series will cover the Pinochet regime and the end of the dictatorship in the next few episodes. If you have top...

Salvador Allende died during the US backed coup of Chile, but other than that, not a lot of people are familiar with who he was. In this episode, Carmen goes over a brief history of Chile, focusing on Salvador Allende, leading up to his presidency and the events that unfolded during his time in office. Allende's upbringing within a politically active family, his education, and his early involvement in left-wing politics. As well as the socio-political context of Chile during Allende's formativ...

On the 18th of April of 1996, 6-year-old Luis Corzo was abducted together with his father Juan Corzo, Jr. from their home by seven rifle-armed intruders. The kidnapping was organised by a group called "Los Pasaco", who were the most feared group of criminals in Guatemala in the early 90s. During the month-long captivity Juan Corzo, Jr. was physically tortured to pressure the family into sending money for ransom. Eventually, Juan was released on the 30th day and told to gather more ransom money i...

La Cucaracha is a popular Mexican folk song, there's no doubt that almost everyone has heard a version of this song. But, where does it come from? On today's episode of Historias Unknown, Cristina tells Carmen about where the popular song came from. If you have topic suggestions, feel free email Historiasunknownpodcast@gmail.com or use this form Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historiasunknown/ Want to support Historias Unknown and access ad-free episodes? Join Historias Unknown Premium: ht...

On December 20, 1989 the United States launched Operation Just Cause, invading Panama, under the guise of capturing dictator Manuel Noriega. This invasion is often told from the US perspective, and the suffering of Panamians is overlooked and minimized. To this day, the number of Panamanians that lost their lives from this invasion is still unknown, but the numbers range from 500 to 5000. On today's episode, Carmen tells Cristina about the US invasion of Panama. If you have topic suggestions, fe...

On July 30, 1975 Salvadoran students were peacefully protesting in San Salvador when they were met by police and national guard, who opened fire on them. This massacre was a turning point in Salvadoran history and directly contributed to the buildup to El Salvador's civil war. In this episode, Cristina tells Carmen about the student massacre of 1975 in El Salvador. If you have topic suggestions, feel free email Historiasunknownpodcast@gmail.com or use this form Instagram: https://www.instagram.c...

Ruben Salazar was an activist, journalist and reporter. He highlighted Mexican American issues during a time when no one else was. He was killed during the Chicano Moratorium, which Carmen discussed in the last episode. In this episode, Cristina tells Carmen about Ruben Salazar. If you have topic suggestions, feel free email Historiasunknownpodcast@gmail.com or use this form Twitter: https://twitter.com/historiaunknown Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historiasunknown/ Want to support Histor...

On August 29, 1970, East LA became the scene for the largest antiwar protest organized by people of color in US history, in which 20,000 to 30,000 people participated in the National Chicano Moratorium to protest against the disproportionate loss of Mexican-American servicemen in the Vietnam War. In this episode, Carmen tells Cristina about the Chicano Moratorium. This is part one of two. In part two, Cristina will talk about Ruben Salazar, who was killed during the Chicano Moratorium. If you ha...

The origins of colonialism in Palestine can be traced back to 1799, during the French invasion of the middle east, when Napoleon issued a proclamation offering Palestine as a homeland to Jewish people, under France’s protection, as a way of establishing a French presence in the region. This planted the seed for a vision of a Jewish state in the Middle East which did not materialize at the time, but was revived by the British in the 19th century. Zionists believe Judaism is a nationality as well ...

Placita Olvera is a historic street in Los Angeles, vital to California history but with some dark moments in its past. In February 26, 1931, La Placita was full with almost 400 people when immigration agents sealed off exits, arrested and deported many, including Mexican-American citizens. On today's episode, Cristina tells Carmen about La Placita Olvera. They also discuss the Golondrina Cafe and how the owners are facing eviction. This is the link to help save La Golondrina Cafe: https://www.g...

Myrna Mack Chang was a Guatemalan anthropologist whose research brought to light the atrocities committed by the Guatemalan government against the Maya. She also fought for better treatment for the Maya; unfortunately, she was assassinated by the government for speaking out, and her family fought a decades long battle for justice. On today's episode, Carmen tells Cristina the story of Myrna Mack Chang. If you have topic suggestions, feel free email Historiasunknownpodcast@gmail.com or use this f...

The roots of Guatemala’s civil war can be tied back to June 27, 1954, when the CIA orchestrated a coup against president Jacobo Arbenz Guzman to protect the profits of the infamous United Fruit Company. Over the next 40 years, a civil war ensued in which over 200,000 people lost their lives and atrocities were committed against the Maya. On today's episode, Carmen gives Cristina a brief history on the Guatemalan civil war, so that next episode, she can share the story of Myrna Mack Chang. If you...

On January 28, 1917, seventeen year old Carmelita Torres refused to exit the trolley on the Santa Fe Bridge and follow US health officials to a chemical bath. 30 women followed after her. Soon, that 30 became hundreds and then thousands. This would be called "the Bath Riots" and it lasted 2 days. Newspapers referred to the women as Amazons and called Carmelita Torres the red haired amazon. Not much is known about her, but she inspired thousands. If you have topic suggestions, feel free email His...

On July 24, 1973, twelve year old Santos Rodriguez was brutally murdered by Dallas Police Officer Darell Cain, but the murder pushed the Mexican American community of Dallas to demand justice. On today's episode, Carmen tells Cristina about the violent and tragic murder of Santos and how the Mexican American community came together in the aftermath. TW: murder of a child, police violence, mention of suicide If you have topic suggestions, feel free email Historiasunknownpodcast@gmail.com or use t...

During opening weekend, Oppenheimer, raked in$80.5 million, second to Barbie. While the film Oppenheimer is about physicist Robert Oppenheimer and his efforts to create the atomic bomb, what many movie goes do not know, is that this "near-desolate" land where all this was taking place, was actually not empty. It was home to indigenous people and to several Hispano families. They were displaced for Oppenheimer's labs, then, on July 16th, 1945, these same communities, the downwinders, lives were c...

Luisa Moreno was Guatemalan labor movement activist, she unionized workers, led strikes, and brought together first national Latino civil rights assembly in 1939. She paved the road for future labor movements like the United Farm Workers, yet her name is not as well known. On today's episode, Cristina tells Carmen about Luisa Moreno If you have topic suggestions, feel free email Historiasunknownpodcast@gmail.com or use this form Twitter: https://twitter.com/historiaunknown Instagram: https://www...

Pedro Zamora gained notoriety as a cast member in season four of the Real World. As a Real World cast member, Pedro touched many lives and humanized AIDS/HIV. Prior to the Real World, Pedro was an AIDS educator and he even testified before congress advocating for better HIV/AIDS educational programs. On today's episode, Carmen tells Cristina about Pedro Zamora.. If you have topic suggestions, feel free email Historiasunknownpodcast@gmail.com or use this form Twitter: https://twitter.com/historia...

Did you know, the first openly gay candidate to run for a public office in the United States was a Latino man and a drag queen? Jose Sarria was an instrumental activist to the LGBTQ+ community, he was a veteran, a drag queen and an empress. On today's episode, Cristina tells Carmen about the historic and iconic, Jose Sarria If you have topic suggestions, feel free email Historiasunknownpodcast@gmail.com or use this form Twitter: https://twitter.com/historiaunknown Instagram: https://www.instagra...

Jessie Lopez De La Cruz was a Mexican America Farm worker and activist. She was the first women to work as a recruiter for the United Farm Workers and she was responsible for the signing up the highest amount of new members. She also worked at the first UFW hiring hall, which was located at her house in Parlier, CA. She joined every strike and protest she could, she was a community organizer and she also taught English to farm workers. On today's episode, Cristina tells Carmen about this histori...

On March 20, 1969, students of West High in Denver, CO walked out of their classes to protest racism. This became one of the most violent student protests in US history. The students were demanding bilingual classes, the firing of a racist teacher, for teachers to quit steering students toward the armed forces and more. On today's episode, Carmen tells Cristina about this moment in US History. If you have topic suggestions, feel free email Historiasunknownpodcast@gmail.com or use this form Twitt...

The 1960s were a time of revolution, with many movements co-occurring across the United States. Inspired by these movements, one neighborhood made history. Barrio Logan in San Diego, California came together to stop the construction of a highway patrol substation and instead built their own park, now known as Chicano park. In this episode, Cristina tells Carmen about the occupation that led to Chicano park. If you have topic suggestions, feel free email Historiasunknownpodcast@gmail.com or use t...

Camilo Torres Restrepo was a Colombian Roman Catholic priest and sociologist, who abandoned the priesthood for the revolution and became a guerrillero. Camilo is often referred to as “the revolutionary priest,” and during his life, he attempted to reconcile Marxism and Catholicism. Camilo paved the way for liberation theology, and is known as a pioneer of liberation theology. Listen to this episode to learn more about the revolutionary priest. If you have topic suggestions, feel free email Hist...

In the 1980s, a network of religious congregations became known as the Sanctuary Movement. It started with a Presbyterian church and a Quaker meeting in Tucson, Arizona. They began legal and humanitarian assistance to Salvadoran and Guatemalan refugees in 1980. After two years, none of the refugees they assisted had been granted political asylum. That's when Rev. John Fife of Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson announced — on the anniversary of the assassination of Salvadoran Archbishop Osca...

On December 15, 2005, the House of Representatives passed HR 4437, also known as the Sensenbrenner Bill. This bill sought to criminalize undocumented people, give the government extraordinary powers to detain non-citizens without meaningful review (and more). Many felt this was unconstitutional, including the immigrant community and the Latino/Latine community. They began to mobilize in numbers that had never been seen and on March 25th, 2006, made history, when millions protested HR 4437. It is...