Carlos E. Cortés?
Okay, that name might not ring a bell with you unless you’re a close follower of credits for animated films and children’s television. He’s probably best known for his two decades as Creative/Cultural Advisor for “Dora the Explorer” and “Go, Diego, Go!” and more recently Creative Consultant for the movie, “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.” In fact, when he gives public lectures and does book signings, sometimes more people show up with Dora books for him to sign for their kids, rather than for books he’s written.
We’ll get to Carlos in a moment.
But before I tell you more about his background – and I’m telling you, there’s a heckuva lot to tell – I found myself on Thanksgiving Day sitting in a nearby coffee café when the front page of a national publication headlined, “Talking politics this Thanksgiving,” with wise advice on “how families can chart a course through, or around, landmine-filled political discussions and enjoy a happy holiday.”
Wow, talk about sheer luck, timing or maybe something divine, the article provided useful insights for my upcoming writing project with Cortés and Deborah Levine, Editor of the American Diversity Report, on divisive language during contemporary times.
Back to Cortés and why he’s the centerpiece of this narrative.
Cortés is currently the Edward A. Dickson Emeritus Professor of History and co-director of the Health Equity, Social Justice, and Anti-Racism curriculum of the School of Medicine at the University of California, Riverside.
So with the blurring line between freedom of speech and claims of antisemitism and islamophobia that’s surfacing on college campuses and the nation in general today, I couldn’t think of a better person to weigh in on this and other challenges facing us in our current days of discontent than the Carlos I’ve long respected and admired. He is one of those rare writers and speakers whose presence isn’t noticed but felt. For example, one can look no further than his landmark “Diversity and Speech” series that predated the highly political mess we find ourselves in today.
So, that’s my answer to any unasked “why him” or “why now” questions about Cortés’ appearance in this narrative.
Now not really knowing how he would respond (strike that, knowing how he would respond), Carlos graciously agreed to avail himself for an interview which will appear in my next column. But first, let’s take a closer look at his extensive background.
Carlos Eliseo Cortés was born in Oakland, California in 1934. His Jewish maternal grandparents immigrated from Austria and Ukraine. His Mexican Catholic paternal grandfather became the first Latino graduate of Stanford University. His parents graduated from the University of California, Berkeley and moved to Kansas City.
Due to his mixed background, Carlos grew up marginally conversant in Spanish and Yiddish. He attended the University of California, Berkeley, earning a degree in Communications and Public Policy. In 1957 he received an M.S. from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
In 1959, following military service, Cortés moved to Phoenix, Arizona, and became editor of the Phoenix Sun. At the University of New Mexico he pursued an M.A. in Portuguese and Spanish and a Ph.D. in History, with a special interest in Brazil.
In 1969, Cortés received his Ph.D. in history. His doctoral research led to his 1974 book, Gaúcho Politics in Brazil: The Politics of Rio Grande do Sul, 1930-1964, which received the Hubert Herring Memorial Award of the Pacific Coast Council on Latin American Studies and was later published in Brazil as Política Gaúcha.
In 1968, he joined the faculty of the University of California, Riverside (UCR) and remained at UCR for the rest of his academic career.
No stranger to upheavals we’re seeing on campuses today, it’s worth pointing out that Carlos joined UCR at a time of higher education turbulence, including the rise of student activism and demands for ethnic studies. As one of only two Mexican-descent faculty at UCR, Cortés was inevitably drawn into these issues.
Active in the Chicano Movement, he helped organize the campus’ first Chicano student organization in 1968 and served on the committee that established UCR’s Mexican American Studies and Black Studies programs in 1969. He introduced UCR’s first Chicano History class in 1970.
In 1994, at age 60, Cortés took early retirement from UCR to focus his attention on being a diversity consultant, scholar, lecturer, and workshop presenter.
In the late 2010s, while well into his 80’s, his career took two new directions. In 2018 he became an inaugural fellow of the University of California National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement. Then, in the summer of 2020, at age 86, Cortés became the inaugural co-director of the UCR School of Medicine’s new Health Equity, Social Justice, and Anti-Racism curriculum.
Capping off a long list of awards, Carlos received an NAACP Image Award for his television work.
In my next column, he will provide answers to key questions I posed to him, among them:
- In 2016, you published an eye-catching piece, “Reflections of a Cranky Old Man.” But on a serious note, as you approach the age of 90 next year, many would love to know your secret to living so long while maintaining your mental sharpness and acuity since clearly you haven’t lost anything. So tell us what has life taught you about the process of aging?
- Given the unprecedented levels of hate, vitriol and threats of violence these days, from your experience, what can help people remain open without judgement to the realities and experiences of others in developing, strengthening or repairing broken relationships?
- If you were tasked with writing a letter of hope, inspiration and advice to a young person today, what would you say at the outset?
Stay tuned!
Oh, yes, back to my “non-political” Thanksgiving Day dinner. I’m happy to report that turkey drumsticks ended up in bellies, and not upside someone’s head.
CLICK for Part 2: “Failing Better”
CLICK for Part 3: The Gift That Keeps on Giving
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