Lalo Alcaraz Visits A&M-Commerce

By Sarah Northam

Texas A&M University-Commerce is honored to host Lalo Alcaraz, a nationally known Chicano artist, writer and cartoonist, on Monday, April 4. The event will be at 6 p.m. in the Hall of Languages, room 203, on the campus of A&M-Commerce. Admission is free, and the event is open to the public.

According to Dr. Christopher González of the A&M-Commerce Literature and Languages Department, “There is only one syndicated, Latino-themed, daily comic strip in the U.S.: “La Cucaracha,” and the only cartoonist brave enough to engage in the political debates that impact the Latino community is Lalo Alcaraz. Like all political satirists working in the cartoon medium, Alcaraz’s combination of wit and art forces readers to engage with some of the most salient issues of our time: immigration, labor, equality, voting and more. Whether in his comic strip, in his work on the FOX animated show “Bordertown,” or in his other creative endeavors, Lalo Alcaraz’s incisive pen cannot help but speak truth to power.”

Alcaraz is the creator of the syndicated daily comic strip, “La Cucaracha,” published in the Los Angeles Times and other papers nationwide. Additionally, he serves as a consulting producer and writer for FOX television's “Bordertown,” an upcoming animated series from executive producer Seth MacFarlane. He is also a team member of the 2017 Pixar film “COCO,” consulting on the Dia de Los Muertos themed animated movie.  A prolific political cartoonist, Alcaraz is winner of five Southern California Press Awards for Best Editorial Cartoon and numerous honors from across the country. His work in comics and satire has been featured in The New York Times and hundreds of other publications, as well as internationally, and on just about all American TV networks in English and Spanish, and even on basic cable. His illustrations are included in The New York Times Best Seller “A Most Imperfect Union,” a U.S. history written by Ilan Stavans (2014) and “Latino USA: A Cartoon History, 15th Anniversary Edition” also by Stavans (2012). Alcaraz's own works include “Migra Mouse: Political Cartoons on Immigration” (2004) and “La Cucaracha” (2004). He is also Jefe In Chief of satirical website Pocho.com, co-host of KPFK Radio’s satirical talk show, “The Pocho Hour of Power,” heard Fridays at 4 p.m. in L.A. on 90.7 FM.

Alcaraz's visit is made possible in part by the grant, Latino Americans: 500 Years of History, which was awarded to A&M-Commerce Libraries. The grant supports the American public's exploration of the rich and varied history and experiences of Latinos who have helped shape the United States over the last five centuries.

The cornerstone of the project is the six-part documentary film, “Latino Americans,” created for PBS in 2013 by the WETA public television station and supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The award-winning series chronicles Latinos in the U.S. from the 16th century to present day. (Learn more about the series at www.pbs.org/latino-americans/en/.)

Latino Americans: 500 Years of History is offered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and American Library Association (ALA). It is part of an NEH initiative, The Common Good: The Humanities in the Public Square.

Texas A&M University-Commerce sponsors of the event include: The Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, The Department of Literature and Languages, The Office of Hispanic Outreach, ¡Profes! and the Library.

To request ADA accommodations, please communicate your needs to Sarah Northam at 903-886-5714.