In a three-part series on PBS (Channel 13 in NYC), Actor John Leguizamo tells The Untold History of Latinos in this country. It premieres Fridays, September 27 and October 4 and 11, 2024, 9:00-10:00 pm ET.
In 2018, acclaimed Broadway and film actor John Leguizamo embarked on an exploration of Latino history with his Tony-nominated play, Latin History for Morons. Inspired by his quest to uncover Latino and Latina heroes and their contributions, the new three-part series, VOCES American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos, brings Leguizamo’s passion from the stage to the screen. In this series, Leguizamo takes viewers on a captivating journey, delving into both well-known and lesser-known stories of Latino history and contributions, spanning thousands of years from the Ancient Empires to the early 1970s. Through this exploration, he aims to shine a light on the rich and often overlooked history of Latinos while showcasing how Latino history is American history. Created by Leguizamo and directed by Ben DeJesus (“American Masters: Raul Julia”), VOCES American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos premieres Fridays, September 27 and October 4 and 11, 2024, 9:00-10:00 pm ET (check local listings) on PBS, PBS.org, and the PBS app.
Filmed on location in Mexico and throughout the U.S., American Historia features Leguizamo in conversation with over a dozen leading historians, anthropologists, authors and experts. The series also features actors, including Benjamin Bratt, Bryan Cranston, Rosario Dawson, Laurence Fishburne, Ethan Hawke, Edward James Olmos, Rosie Perez, and Liev Schreiber, reading original source materials.
Says John Leguizamo, “If our contributions were written back into history textbooks, can you imagine how America would see us? More importantly, can you imagine how we would see ourselves?”
Episode 1: “Echoes of Empires” – Friday, September 27
Join host John Leguizamo as he examines the accomplishments and rise of the Great Empires and civilizations in Mexico, South America and the Caribbean, from the Taino to the Olmec, Inca, Maya, Aztec, and more. Despite the fact that they were ultimately decimated by the conquistadors, these societies had an enduring influence on culture, agriculture, and the sciences. Instead of focusing on the “discovery” of a new world, the episode tells the story of the fall of the great civilizations that were already here before Columbus landed, while also challenging the cultural narrative around our understanding of these great empires and what truly led to their destruction.
Episode 2: “Threads in the American Tapestry” – Friday, October 4
Explore how Latino DNA was woven into the identity of the United States before its inception and has been pivotal all along the way. John Leguizamo reflects on Pre-Colonial North America, the American Revolutionary War, the Mexican American War, the Civil War, and Westward Expansion as we learn how Latino participation has influenced the course of the nation’s history. Despite facing severe discrimination and violence, Latinos were present and contributed in pivotal ways to the fabric of this nation. This episode highlights key figures and events in the colonization throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Central America, illustrating how Latinos helped build the United States we know today.
Episode 3: “Solidarity in A New Era” – Friday, October 11
John Leguizamo reflects on the rise of the new empire, the United States, and the challenges faced by Latinos in preserving their cultural identity. Throughout the 20th century, Latinos were often relegated to the fringes of mainstream society. Nonetheless, they made profound contributions to the fabric of the U.S. and beyond. Young Latino activists were among the first to fight for civil liberties and equal education, while on the battlefield, Latino patriots overcame discrimination to become heroes. Reflecting on his journey, John learns that Latinos are not just an asterisk in history, but that Latino history is the history of the United States.
VOCES American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos will be available for streaming concurrent with broadcast on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS app, available on iOS, Android, Roku streaming devices, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO.
VOCES American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos is a production of NGL Studios, The WNET Group, Latino Public Broadcasting and ITVS. For The WNET Group: Lesley Norman is Executive Producer and Stephen Segaller is Executive-in-Charge. For NGL: John Leguizamo, Ben DeJesus, Nicole Pritchett, Jill Krikorian and David Chitel are Executive Producers. For Latino Public Broadcasting: Sandie Viquez Pedlow is Executive Producer. For ITVS: Sally Jo Fifer is Executive Producer. Donald Thoms also serves as Executive Producer. Funding for American Historia is provided by PBS, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Anderson Family Charitable Fund, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, The WNET Group’s Chasing the Dream initiative, The Ford Foundation/JustFilms, and Seton J. Melvin.
