The Hispanic Outlook on Higher Education

The Hispanic Outlook on Higher Education

February 25, 2008.
Finding Magic in Life & Words
by Sylvia Mendoza

Writing in an eclectic mix of genres – from cookbooks to biographies of Latino writers – the enterprising, up-and-coming Jamie Martinez Wood exhibits a wide-open range of interests, willingness to tackle a challenge and strong desire to connect with and motivate her readers. “I want to inspire and encourage,” she said. Her many projects have been linked “by an underlying theme of inner power that we can draw from, whether from spells, nature, our roots, or our beliefs.”

Her latest book, Latino Writers & Journalists, Facts on File Library of American History, Infobase Publishing, profiles more than 150 poets, playwrights, screenwriters, children’s book authors, journalists, editors, publishers, and others who have worked to advance the roles of Latino in the United States and abroad. The book is part of a series, “A to Z of Latino Americans,” nominated for the Carter G. Woodson Book Award, which honors distinguished social science books for young readers that sensitively and accurately depict ethnic minorities and relations in the United States. The introduction features a history of Latino literature based on native, exile and immigrant experiences and the influence of the civil rights and Chicano movements. The entries by subject matter include Barrio Experience, Border Culture, Gay and Lesbian Issues, Magic Realism, Feminist Issues, Social Protest, Literature and Journalism. The book may provide invaluable insights for high school students and for college courses such as women's studies, Chicano/Latino literature, English and journalism. "That research was fun. I had to look for more than the baby boomers, or those that went through the Chicano movement. I wanted more diversity." Among those she interviewed, journalist Frank del Olmo affected her most. Martinez Wood spoke to his widow around the first anniversary of his death. "His story was our version of It's a Wonderful Life. He was like the Mexican Jimmy Stewart, fighting small-town causes at the expense of his own dreams, but making the biggest impact in the process." She had a starry-eyed encounter with Josefina Lopez. "She is such an incredible Mexican independent producer. I was mesmerized by Josefina's influence through her work like Real Women Have Curves." Gloria Anzaldua reiterated the importance of trailblazers who change the course of tradition. Her influence gave another perspective of feminism and flourishes in women's studies and ethnic studies courses around the world. Isabel Allende, another subject, is her favorite author. “All my life, I wanted to write like her. I thought when I wrote my first novel, it would come out like her language that I so adore. But it didn’t, so now I can go back to admiring and forget emulating her. That’s kind of a relief." Regularly on her website, www.jamiewood.com, including a blurb on how that person's work inspired her.

Finding Roots and Connections
Long before Latino Writers & Journalists, Martinez Woods saw the Importance of connections with one's roots. As a member of the Orange County Mexican American Historic Society, and with a background in Chicano studies and Latino women in literature as well as her mother's influence, she began her journey with the Hispanic Baby Name Book (Berkley Publishing). "Since my mother’s mother died one month before I was born, my mother was still in deep mourning when I came into this world, two days before Christmas. It was heartbreak and healing in one day. My mother wanted to – needed to – recall a happy time in her life.” Thus her mother named her after a childhood best friend. “Then she blessed me with her mother’s name, Della, so that I would always have a guardian angel watching over me.” The joy continued through the nine months it took to do the research. The book is set up with connections of saints, nature and symbolism. She asked her mother to write the forward. “I learned where I got my writing skills that day.”

The Journey
With a B.A. in communications and public relations from California State University-Fullerton Martinez Wood found a lucrative public relations job. The decision to leave it to pursue her writing full time was tough. “I tried to make it work, but I wanted something more, something deeper. I needed to rediscover my passions and wanted a childlike enthusiasm for my work.” It was the right move. She had studied Spanish, Chicano studies and Latino women in literature and now promotes literature and writing workshops in her community. Her projects have been quite diverse, with many of the book ideas coming from editors’ suggestions. Each book has impacted her in different ways. “The first, The Wicca Cookbook (Celestial Arts Publishing), taught me the beauty, creativity, connection and attention that can be cooking. Like Water for Chocolate was my inspiration for this book. This was eye-opening since I had claimed to be a women's libber since I was l0 and had previously thought cooking had been relegated to women because they were ‘lesser beings.’ “The Hispanic Baby Name Book taught me about saints, and I realized there was little difference between what the saints represented to people and what goddesses represented to people. I began to bridge the gap between the ancient pagans and Latino Catholicism. The Teen Spell Book helped me heal from teenage angst. The Enchanted Diary helped me move to empowerment as a young woman. The Wicca Herbal taught me a deeper connection to Mother Earth. The Latino Writers & Journalist book taught me I can do anything I set my mind to. It helped me make connection with some of my literary heroes, who taught me many things. I also learned that magical realism was an integral part of being Latina. Rogelia’s House of Magic, which will be published by Random House, brought me back around to telling stories, something I love to do, And I got to use all my California history.”

The Root of It
Raised as a Christian Scientist, Martinez Wood believed there is the sense of having power from within that is connected to your God Source, which is very similar to spellwork, she said. Already a tree-hugger, she found that Wicca is primarily an earth-based spirituality. And she connected to that. She felt at home with spirits and angels because of her late grandmother. Another grandmother was a Tarot reader, providing her with a link to the metaphysical. “My mother felt shunned by the Catholic Church, but once you're Catholic, it’s part of who you are.” There was always a love of ritual and saints there, which became her goddesses. Manifesting thoughts and desires came through praying - and she realized that a spell is no different from a chant in church. “One thing that felt weird, out of sync, was that I wrote my Wicca books from the Celtic perspective when I was a staunch Latina. When I wrote the Latino Writers & Journalists book, I discovered how ingrained magical realism is to the Latino culture, and I didn't feel so much like a fish out of water.” Of her teen spell book, she noted, “There was more curandismo than Harry Potter. “The book offers ways to help heal self-destructive behavior, broken relationships, apathy. “I knew what it was like to feel fragmented at that age. I played REO Speedwagon, peeled out, was rebellious in my own way. We all go through it, some in more despair than others.” Martinez Wood said she loves getting letters and testimonials of what that book (The Teen Spell Book) has done. “Everything is on such high volume for young girls, it hurts. I felt like I was being a mama to the girls who need stories and connections that help them know they are okay. The letters say things like ‘my son - or daughter – was in the deepest despair and came out of it.” That is powerful and humbling.”

Reclaiming Latina-ness
Of her roots, she said, “I was a pocha because I never learned the language, and had a couple of walls painted a neutral color.” She sought more connection. Her grandfather, whose family was from Guadalajara, served in World War II. “He was born here, the last of nine kids, determined to assimilate and be all-American in order to find more opportunities for himself and his family. “I wanted to know more. Growing up, if I lived in Santa Ana, I was not brown enough. “In Orange, Calif., just a few miles a ways, he was too brown, she said. There was a premonition of fear based on the stories she had heard. “I thought, ‘Will I be kicked to the curbside? Will I be deported? Is immersion the answer? I wanted to reclaim my Latinaness, but it was so elusive. What was the recipe of what made you? I was mad. I didn’t get the prejudice growing up in the ‘70s. There was no Spanish spoken in our home. We were propagandized, told that if we assimilated, all would be better. “ When she was able to get through her indignation, she developed a compassion for her grandfather and his choices. Her first young adult novel, Rogelia’s House of Magic, to be released this year, brought her full circle. “I just wanted to show Latinaness comes from different places. One of the young protagonists grows up not knowing the language, but wanting to learn the language. I needed to find the extent of my Mexican-ness, to come back to the Latino/a spirit of overcoming obstacles, like prejudice, and try to understand what he went through.” What she has learned through her writing projects is that there is no “normal” way to connect to your Latino roots. “Connecting to Latino roots could be through the language or the dichos - sayings- or how often someone visits their abuela or church. Some people experience some kind of discomfort in how or whether or not they stood up against prejudice or were refused grants based on ethnicity rather than performance. The need for connection has to come from within and how to be comfortable in your connection. Now I am a Spanish heiress, a conquistadora, and celebrate my Latina-ness however I can.”

Holding Women Close
Martinez Wood runs “Wild Women” retreats and an ongoing “Authentic Sexual Self class that aims to honor the wholeness of women. “I want to move away from our fragmentation, our inconsistent doubts on morality.” She also volunteers at Girls Inc., a nonprofit organization that empowers girls through skills, such as writing, which she teaches. “I don’t believe women of our generation support younger women from being exploited. There's a big gap between women’s lib and women’s reality.” A simple way to lift up girls is by supporting them as they try to unearth their unique gifts, she said. “It can be singing. writing, listening, drawing, math, riding horses, but they (girls) need us to reaffirm they are special connections to each of us, with something to offer this world.”