"CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" IS MADE POSSIBLE TONIGHT BY ALLSTATE AND CIBC.

>> GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES".

WE CHERISH EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING AT 5 AND 6.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, AS THE UNITED STATES CELEBRATES ITS 245TH INDEPENDENCE DAY, WE TALK WITH LOCAL LATINO CHICAGOANS ABOUT WHAT PATRIOTISM MEANS TO THEM.

WHAT'S BEHIND CHICAGO'S VACCINATION RATE DISPARITY AND THE LATEST ON THE DELTA VARIANT IN THE CITY AND A FALLBACK TO HONOR A PIONEER WHO DIED THIS WEEK AT AGE 81.

>> THINKING OF 200 YEARS OF LATIN-AMERICANS AND WHAT'S HAPPENED.

>> Alex: A LOOK AT THE TIES BETWEEN THE U.S. AND COUNTRIES ACROSS LATIN AMERICA.

FIRST OFF TONIGHT, THIS WEEK CHICAGO WELCOMED 175 NEW AMERICANS AS THEY TOOK THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES AT WRIGLEY FIELD.

HERE'S THE MOMENT WHEN THEY BECOME CITIZENS.

>> BY THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN THIS COURT, I HEREBY DECLARE YOU TO BE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

CONGRATULATIONS!

[CHEERING] >> Alex: BUT FOR MANY LATINOS, AMERICAN BORN AND IMMIGRANTS, FEELING OF PRIDE AND PATRIOTISM FOR THE UNITED STATES ARE COMPLICATED BY HISTORY, RACIAL INJUSTICE AND CULTURAL ERASURE, LEADING TO QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IT TRULY MEANS TO BE AN AMERICAN PATRIOT.

JOINING US WITH MORE IS ANYINE GALVAN-RODRIGUEZ AND MARCO TORRES, U.S.

COMMANDER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION POST AND MARCO TORRES, VICE PRESIDENT AND ATTORNEY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU, MOISES.

YOU'RE AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY AND YOURSELF AN IMMIGRANT TO THE U.S. WHAT DO YOU HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE YOU WORK WITH ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS OF PATRIOTISM FOR THE U.S.?

>> FIRST, I THINK MANY OF THE PEOPLE I FIND, THEY DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE POLICIES AND RHETORIC THAT ARE NEGATIVE AND THE IDEALS OF THIS COUNTRY, THAT ESPOUSE FOUNDATIONAL IDEALS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL, OF FREEDOM, ALL OF US BEING EQUAL UNDER THE LAW.

I THINK IN THAT WAY, IMMIGRANTS REJUVENATE AND CALL THIS COUNTRY TO LIVE UP TO THE FOUNDATIONAL IDEAS.

I THINK THE PEOPLE ARE SMART.

PEOPLE DISTINGUISH BAD BEHAVIOR FROM IDEALS.

I THINK THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT I TALK TO DON'T SEE THAT AS A CONTRADICTION.

THEY LOVE THIS COUNTRY.

THEY'RE GRATEFUL TO THIS COUNTRY.

AND THEY CAN DISTINGUISH THAT FROM SOME OF THE NEGATIVE NOISE WHICH HAS BEEN VERY LOUD IN RECENT YEARS.

>> Alex: ANYINE, YOU'RE ALSO AN IMMIGRANT TO THE U.S. WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOUR EXPERIENCE MAKES YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE IDEA OF AMERICAN PATRIOTISM DIFFERENT FROM THOSE WHO WERE BORN HERE?

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, TO ME, PATRIOTISM IS HAVING A RESPECT, AN APPRECIATION FOR THE LAND YOU CALL HOME.

AND HOME FOR ME IS DIFFERENT SPACES, SINCE THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, WHERE I WAS BORN THERE, PUERTO RICO, I WAS RAISED THERE UNTIL I WAS 9 AND I CAME TO CHICAGO.

I REALLY RESPECT AND APPRECIATE ALL THOSE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES FOR THE BEAUTY THAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR HISTORY AS WELL AS THE FLAWS THEY HAVE IN THEIR HISTORY.

>> Alex: MARCOS, YOU'RE A CHICAGO NATIVE AND U.S. ARMY VETERAN.

WHAT DOES PATRIOTISM MEAN TO YOU?

>> PATRIOTISM MEANS TO ME THAT NOT ONLY AM I ALLOWED TO WORK IN THE COUNTRY BUT ALSO A BIG DESIRE TO FIGHT AND DEFEND IT, WHETHER IT BE CIVICALLY, OR THE NATIONAL LEVEL, WHETHER IT'S SERVING IN THE MILITARY, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

IF YOU'RE A PATRIOT, YOU NOT ONLY LOVE YOUR COUNTRY BUT YOU WANT TO SERVE YOUR COUNTRY AND UPHOLD YOUR COUNTRY'S VALUES.

>> Alex: ANYINE, GOING BACK TO YOU, AS AN EDUCATOR, DO YOU THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO FOSTER FEELINGS OF PATRIOTISM IN OUR CHILDREN?

>> I THINK THAT IS DEFINITELY IMPORTANT.

I THINK PART OF FOSTERING PATRIOTISM WITHIN THE CLASSROOM IS ALSO SHARING, AGAIN, THE HISTORY OF A COUNTRY, THE GOOD AND THE BAD, RIGHT, AND GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO DEVELOP THAT IDENTITY AS AMERICANS TO SEE THE BEAUTY OF HOW WE'VE EVOLVED AS A COUNTRY, TO IMPROVE IT, TO BE INCLUSIVE AND TO BUILD A COMMUNITY SO THAT WE ALL FEEL LIKE WE'RE A PART OF THIS LAND THAT WE CALL AMERICA, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

>> Alex: MOISES, IN CHICAGO WE HAVE MANY CULTURES LIKE MEXICAN DAY AND PUERTO RICAN DAY PARADES.

DO YOU THINK THOSE CELEBRATIONS SHOW THAT IMMIGRANTS DON'T THINK OF THEMSELVES AS AMERICANS FIRST?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

I THINK THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY HAS ALWAYS BEEN NEW GROUPS ARRIVING, MEETING AND ESTABLISHING DEEP ROOTS IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT BEING VERY PROUD AND JEALOUS OF THEIR CULTURAL TRADITIONS, THEIR FOOD, THEIR LANGUAGE, THEIR STORIES.

AND I THINK THAT'S PART AND PARCEL OF THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.

I THINK THE IDEA THAT LOVE OF ONE'S CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE PLACES ONE COMES FROM IS SOMEHOW DIMINISHED IN YOUR CAPACITY TO LOVE THE UNITED STATES IS, FRANKLY, NONSENSE.

AND THAT SAME SUSPICION AND RECOGNITION HAS BEEN LEVELED AGAINST PEOPLE WHO COME TO THIS COUNTRY, FROM JEWISH PEOPLE, IRISH CATHOLICS, MEDITERRANEAN EUROPEANS.

I DON'T THINK THAT HOLDS ANY WATER AS AN ARGUMENT.

PEOPLE CAN LOVE THEIR CULTURE AND SHOW THEIR AFFECTION FOR THE PLACES THEY COME FROM AND THOSE TRADITIONS AND LANGUAGE AND DOESN'T DIMINISH IMMIGRANTS' OBLIGATIONS OR LOVE OF THIS COUNTRY.

LOOK AT THE RATE AT WHICH IMMIGRANTS ENROLL IN THE MILITARY, IN WHICH THEY BUY HOMES, IN WHICH THEY ESTABLISH BUSINESSES IN THIS COUNTRY.

I DON'T THINK THOSE AT ALL IN CONFLICT IN ANY WAY.

AND OUR EDUCATION TEACHES US TO APPRECIATE BOTH OF THOSE REALITIES.

>> Alex: MARCOS, YOU CHARTER A NEW AMERICAN LEGION POST FOR LATINO VETERANS WHICH WE COVERED ON LATINO VOICES LAST MONTH BECAUSE YOU FELT LIKE YOU DIDN'T SEE PATRIOTISM IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

DO YOU THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR LATINO AMERICANS TO FEEL PATRIOTIC?

>> I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

GIVEN THE DIFFERENT POLITICAL CLIMATE THAT HAS BEEN OUR COUNTRY, GIVEN WHAT HAPPENED AFTER HURRICANE MARIA IN PUERTO RICO, IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE FEEL PATRIOTIC BECAUSE WE MUST TAKE OWNERSHIP, BECAUSE THIS IS OUR HOME.

THIS IS OUR COUNTRY.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALSO LET THE REST OF THE COUNTRY KNOW THAT, HEY, WE ARE HERE AND THIS IS OUR COUNTRY.

>> Alex: THANK YOU FOR THAT.

ANYINE, DO YOU THINK SCHOOLS SHOULD TEACH CHILDREN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF RACE AND RACISM IN AMERICA'S HISTORY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT'S HOW YOU GROW.

PATRIOTISM IS PART OF THIS RELATIONSHIP, KIND OF LIKE A RELATIONSHIP IN THE SENSE THAT YOU LOVE AND YOU CARE, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO APPRECIATE THE FLAWS OF THAT RELATIONSHIP SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP EVOLVE, RIGHT?

SO WITHIN THE CLASSROOM, THERE ARE MANY WAYS THAT DEFINITELY WE COULD HAVE OUR STUDENTS APPRECIATE THE COUNTRY THAT WE HAVE AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT IT PROVIDES FOR THOSE THAT LIVE HERE.

BUT ALSO LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES THAT WE'VE MADE AS A COUNTRY IN THE PAST, RIGHT, HOW DO WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO DO BETTER SO THAT THEY DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES THAT PEOPLE IN THE PAST HAVE MADE, RIGHT, BECAUSE THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF A COMMUNITY IS TO MOVE THE COMMUNITY FORWARD, RIGHT, TO MOVE A SOCIETY FORWARD, TO MOVE THIS COUNTRY FORWARD.

SO PART OF THAT IS ALSO SHARING AND HELPING STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THE MISTAKES OR THE FLAWS THAT OUR HISTORY HAS BUT ALSO THE BEAUTY.

>> Alex: RIGHT.

WHAT DO YOU CELEBRATE THE MOST ABOUT THIS COUNTRY, ANYINE?

>> FOR ME, THE OPPORTUNITIES.

I THINK -- MY MOTHER CAME HERE TO GIVE US A BETTER OPPORTUNITY, TO ACHIEVE, TO TAKE THE LIBERTY OF BEING ABLE TO BECOME THE BEST PERSON THAT YOU CAN BE, THE POTENTIAL THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO REACH IN A SPACE WHERE YOU HAVE THESE LIBERTIES.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

I APPRECIATE THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS THE CONSTITUTION THAT REALLY ALLOWS FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD AND TO REWRITE IT AND TO BE ABLE TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT IS BETTER FOR ALL.

>> Alex: THANK YOU.

I WANT TO CLOSE WITH THE TWO OF YOU ANSWERING THE SAME QUESTION.

WHAT DO YOU CELEBRATE THE MOST ABOUT THIS COUNTRY?

I'LL START WITH YOU, MARCOS.

>> I WOULD ANSWER AND AGREE WITH ANYINE, ABOUT OPPORTUNITY.

MY FATHER CAME FROM PUERTO RICO IN 1966, NOT HAVING A LOT OF EDUCATION, BUT HE WAS ABLE TO WORK FOR A COMPANY FOR 33 YEARS AND THROUGH THAT HE WAS ABLE TO GIVE ME, MY OLDER BROTHER, MY MOM, AN AMAZING LIFE AND A LIFE THAT REALLY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE FOR HIM HAD HE STAYED ON THE ISLAND BECAUSE OF OPPORTUNITIES JUST WEREN'T THERE.

SO IN AMERICA, I BELIEVE THAT -- I LOVE TO CELEBRATE THE OPPORTUNITIES AND THE FACT THAT YOU CAN DREAM.

>> Alex: THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I WANT TO CLOSE AND NOW LEAVE YOU WITH THE LAST QUESTION.

LAST 30 SECONDS.

>> WELL, CERTAINLY OPPORTUNITY AS WELL, BUT I THINK ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW WHERE WE SEE DEMOCRACY UNDER ATTACK AROUND THE WORLD THAT A COUNTRY EXISTS BASED ON THE IDEA THAT POWER COMES FROM THE PEOPLE GOVERNED, NOT FROM A KING, NOT FROM -- THE AUTHORITY COMES FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOVERNED AND ALL THOSE PEOPLE ARE EQUAL UNDER THE LAW.

I THINK THOSE PRINCIPLES ARE ETERNAL AND I LOVE THIS COUNTRY FOR THAT.

AND I THINK THE WORLD LOOKS TO US TO KEEP IMPROVING AND ADMIRES THAT CAPACITY TO BE SELF-CRITICAL IN THOSE VALUES, BUT THE PRINCIPLES THAT I THINK OUR CONSTITUTION WEIGHS OUT IS ONE OF THE THINGS I CERTAINLY LOVE MOST OF.

>> Alex: LET'S CELEBRATE THAT.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY TO THE THREE OF YOU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

ANYINE GALVAN-RODRIGUEZ, MARCO TORRES AND MOISES HERNANDEZ, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> Alex: AND WE'LL LOOK AT HOW SOME IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY VIEW THEIR OWN PATRIOTISM.

UP NEXT, WHAT'S WITH THE VACCINE DISPARITY.

STAY WITH US FOR MORE.

>> Alex: WE'RE ONLY A DAY AWAY FROM THE FOURTH OF JULY COVID VACCINATION GOAL OF 70% SET BY PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN.

THE VACCINATION RATES IN CHICAGO OVERALL ARE ON THE RISE WITH THE C.D.C.

REPORTING MORE THAN 70% OF COOK COUNTY ADULTS HAVING RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE.

BUT A CLOSER LOOK DEPENDS ON THE RATE OF WHICH NEIGHBORHOOD YOU LIVE IN.

THE VACCINE DISPARITY IS WIDENING BETWEEN WEALTHIER PARTS OF THE CITY AND MAJORITY BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE.

THE TARGET AREAS OF THE CITY VACCINE INITIATIVE CALLED PROTECT CHICAGO PLUS.

HEALTH OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO URGE THE PUBLIC TO GET VACCINATED, ESPECIALLY AS PEOPLE ARE HEADING BACK INDOORS DURING THE FALL AND WINTER MONTHS.

JOINING US TO PROVIDE THEIR PERSPECTIVES ARE RICARDO FUENTES, VICE PRESIDENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS OF THE HEALTH CENTERS AND DR. JUANITA MORA OF CHICAGO ALLERGY CENTER.

THANK YOU BOTH OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU, RICARDO.

WHAT ARE WE SEEING WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINATION RATES BETWEEN CHICAGO ZIP CODES, THE DISPARITY BETWEEN SOME SOUTH AND WEST SIDE NEIGHBORHOODS AND MORE WEALTHIER AREAS OF THE CITY?

>> WELL, ABSOLUTELY.

AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING ME.

I THINK IT'S NOT SURPRISING.

IT'S DISAPPOINTING BUT NOTHING THAT SURPRISES US.

FROM THE OUTSET WE KNEW THAT INEQUITY WAS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE, STARTING WITH HEALTHCARE WORKERS BACK IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, AN INDUSTRY THAT IS PRIMARILY NON-HISPANIC WHITE.

THAT WAS GOING TO SET THE TONE FOR THE KIND OF INEQUITIES THAT WE SEE TODAY.

I THINK WE ARE SEEING A DECREASE.

EVERYONE AROUND THE CITY IS SEEING A DECREASE IN DEMAND.

BUT IT'S BEEN PARTICULARLY PRONOUNCED ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE AREAS THAT WE SERVE.

AND THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S EXTREMELY WORRISOME TO US.

I THINK THE INEQUITIES ARE DUE TO A NUMBER OF CIRCUMSTANCES BUT CERTAINLY ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY, LACK OF FLEXIBILITY IN THE WORKPLACE.

NOT HAVING ESTABLISHED CARE, PERHAPS, AS THEY MAY HAVE IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS.

THESE ARE ALL ISSUES THAT ARE EXACERBATING THE INEQUITY AND LEADING TO THE DIFFERENCES IN NUMBERS WE'RE SEEING NOW.

>> Alex: DR. MORA, THE PROJECT LAUNCHED AT THE START OF THE YEAR WAS INTENDED TO TARGET THE MOST COMMUNITIES WITH THE VACCINES ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE WITH BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

DID WE FALL SHORT OF THIS?

>> WE DID INEVITABLY FALL SHORT, ALEX.

WE'RE WORKING TO CONTINUE TO GET THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES VACCINATED.

THERE'S A LOT OF MISTRUST WITHIN THEM.

NOW THERE'S A BIG TRUST WITH USING WELL RESPECTED LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS JESSE JACKSON IN THE ACTUAL BLACK COMMUNITY AS WELL TO GO INTO SITES AND REALLY PROMOTE THE VACCINATIONS AND THE SAFETY, THE EFFECTIVENESS.

AND ALSO THAT THEY SAVE LIVES.

>> Alex: RICARDO, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS DRIVING THE WIDENING DISPARITY BETWEEN VACCINATION RATES?

>> LIKE I SAID EARLIER, I THINK THE FACT THAT -- FIRST, WE NEED THE TRUSTED MESSENGERS TO DELIVER THE MESSAGE OF THE NEED FOR VACCINATION AND WHAT DR. MORA JUST MENTIONED, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE CRUCIAL IN THAT REGARD, GOING DOOR TO DOOR, HAVING PERSONAL CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE SO THEY SEE THE REAL NEED FOR VACCINATION IS GOING TO BE -- IS GOING TO BE REALLY CRITICAL.

BUT LET'S FACE IT, SOME OF OUR COMMUNITIES ARE MORE CONNECTED THAN OTHERS.

SO THESE DISPARITIES HAVE EXISTED LONG BEFORE COVID ARRIVED, AND I THINK WE'RE NOW STARTING TO SEE THE RAW UNDERBELLY OF THAT DISPARITY.

PEOPLE, ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO DON'T HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY WITH TIME AS PEOPLE IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS MAY HAVE TO TAKE THE TIME TO GET VACCINATED, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE SEEING.

LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, I THINK HAVING ESTABLISHED CARE PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

WE SERVE A COMMUNITY WHERE THEIR PRIMARY INCOME MAY NOT HAVE ESTABLISHED CARE PREVIOUSLY.

AND SO THOSE DYNAMICS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE NOW WHEREAS IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN CONNECTED TO CARE ARE GETTING MORE ACCESS TO THE VACCINE.

>> Alex: RICARDO, IS HESITANCY STILL A CHALLENGE?

>> HESITANCY IS STILL A CHALLENGE.

I THINK BEFORE SAYING THAT THE REMAINDER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT GOTTEN VACCINATED ARE HESITANT, I WOULD SAY FOR SOME PEOPLE IT'S JUST INCONVENIENT.

I KNOW IT SOUNDS A LITTLE STRANGE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC WITH LIFE-ALTERING CONSEQUENCES, BUT I THINK FOR PEOPLE WHO JUGGLE MULTIPLE JOBS, MAYBE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE OFF, THEY HAVE KIDS, THEY HAVE ALL THESE RESPONSIBILITIES.

IT MAY JUST BE HARD TO FIT IT IN.

I THINK WE NEED TO BE COGNIZANT THAT ACCESS IS NOT JUST ABOUT HAVING A SUPPLY OF VACCINES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUT MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE TIME TO GET IT, WHEN THEY -- WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT TO THEM.

>> Alex: DR. MORA, REGARDING THE VACCINE, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING AT THE CLINICS AND PRACTICES FROM YOUR PATIENTS?

>> WELL, I THINK A LOT OF THEM -- LIKE HE SAID, VACCINE HESITANCY.

WE STILL HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO DO.

A VOLUNTEER SPOKESPERSON FOR THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION AND, YOU KNOW, AS A PHYSICIAN WHO HAS SEEN COVID-19 IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT, I THINK THE BEST THING TO DO IS REALLY PROVIDE GREAT INFORMATION FOR THEM.

AND A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN FIND IT IS AT LUNG.ORG.

WE HAVE A VACCINE TRACKER WHERE THEY CAN FIND ALL THE INFORMATION IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, ALEX, AND, YOU KNOW, EVERY ONE OF THE VACCINES, THE SCIENCE BEHIND THEM, SIDE-EFFECTS PROFILES, WHY THEY SHOULD THINK ABOUT GETTING VACCINATED AND THEN WHERE TO FIND THE VACCINE AS WELL, TOO, SO THEY CAN EVEN FIND IT ON THE WEEKENDS.

>> Alex: DOCTOR, WE'RE VERY LIMITED ON TIME, BUT I WANTED TO TOUCH ON THE DELTA VARIANT.

WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

CAN YOU GIVE US A BROAD VISUAL IMAGE OF WHAT THIS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE MONTHS?

>> OKAY.

WE NEED EVERYONE TO GET VACCINATED, ALEX, BECAUSE THE DELTA VARIANT IS NO JOKE.

IT'S IN INDIA, THE ONE THAT CAUSED ALL THE DEVASTATION.

50% MORE CONTAGIOUS.

ONLY 33% EFFECTIVE WITH ONE PFIZER VACCINE HAS PROTECTION AGAINST IT.

WHEN WE DO TWO, IT'S UP TO 88%.

WE NEED EVERYONE VACCINATED BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE THAT TOOL TO GET US ALL OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

ONCE WE GET INDOORS, WE ALL FACE DANGER AGAIN.

WE CANNOT LET THIS VIRUS MUTATE MORE AND CAUSE MORE DAMAGE THAN IT'S ALREADY DONE.

>> Alex: EXCELLENT.

I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH, RICARDO FUENTES AND DR. JUANITA MORA FOR JOINING US TODAY.

EXCELLENT INFORMATION.

THANK YOU BOTH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Alex: UP NEXT, LATIN AMERICA, THE REVOLUTION AT THE NEWBURY LIBRARY.

SO STAY WITH US.

>> Alex: AMERICANS CELEBRATING THE FOURTH OF JULY THIS WEEKEND MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT OUR COUNTRY'S BATTLE FOR INDEPENDENCE WAS DEEPLY INTERTWINED WITH LATIN AMERICA'S STRUGGLE AGAINST COLONIALISTS.

A NEW EXHIBIT USES MAPS, MANUSCRIPTS AND REAL BOOKS TO ILLUSTRATE THE TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS OF COUNTRIES FROM MEXICO TO CHILE AS THEY FOUGHT FOR THEIR OWN INDEPENDENCE.

THE EXHIBIT'S CURATOR GAVE "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" A TOUR.

>> THIS EXHIBIT IS LATIN AMERICA AND THE AGE OF REVOLUTION AND THE TIME PERIOD WHEN THE LATIN-AMERICAN NATIONS FROM MEXICO DOWN TO CHILE WON THEIR INDEPENDENCE IN THE 1800'S THROUGH THE 1820'S.

WE REALIZE THAT 2021 WAS GOING TO BE THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES WINNING THEIR INDEPENDENCE, DECLARING THEIR INDEPENDENCE, AND SO THE TIMING SEEMED RIGHT TO PUT TOGETHER THE EXHIBITION AND THINKING ABOUT THE CONNECTION TO THE PRESENT DAY, THINKING ABOUT 200 YEARS OF LATIN AMERICA INDEPENDENCE, WHAT HAS CHANGED, WHAT HASN'T, WHAT ISSUES ARE WE STILL TALKING ABOUT.

>> SO THIS IS A VILLAGE LAND BOOK ESSENTIALLY WHERE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN CENTRAL MEXICO ARE ASSERTING THEIR RIGHTS TO THE LANDS THEY'VE LIVED IN FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.

IT'S A MIX OF THE LANGUAGE, FROM THE AZTEC EMPIRE, MIXED WITH ILLUSTRATIONS IN SPANISH STYLE AND IN THEIR STYLE.

THEY'RE DOCUMENTING FOR SPANISH ADMINISTRATORS SPECIFICALLY SAYING WE HAVE AUTONOMY ON THIS LAND, WE HAVE SOVEREIGNTY ON THIS LAND.

HERE IS THE LAND THAT WE KNOW AND HERE'S HOW WE'RE DOCUMENTING OUR LAND.

IT'S NOT SPANISH ADMINISTRATORS TO TAKE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE POINTING OUT IN THIS EXHIBIT IS THAT ALL OF THESE INDEPENDENT STRUGGLES HAPPENED AROUND THIS TIME PERIOD, SOME OF THEM PROVOKED BY THE UNITED STATES SUCCESSFUL REVOLUTION AND WINNING OF INDEPENDENCE.

>> THIS MODEST-LOOKING BOOK IS QUITE EXCITING.

THIS IS A BOOK THAT TRANSLATES TO NECESSARY IDEAS FOR THE INDEPENDENT AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE FREE.

IT IS A COMPILATION OF THE U.S.

FOUNDING DOCUMENTS AND WRITINGS BY PEOPLE LIKE THOMAS PAYNE AND JOHN ADAMS, COMPILED BY AN ECUADORIAN PATRIOT.

IT'S PUBLISHED IN SPANISH.

PROBABLY INTENDED TO BE SMUGGLED INTO LATIN AMERICA OR TAKEN INTO LATIN-AMERICAN COUNTRIES THAT HAD ALREADY WON THEIR INDEPENDENCE, BUT IT WAS EASIER TO PRINT IT IN PHILADELPHIA AND THEN WORK IT IN, THANKS TO THE CHAOS OF THE WARS OF INDEPENDENCE.

>>> THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE, FAMOUS AND LARGEST MAPS OF SOUTH AMERICA EVER PRODUCED.

IT IS TYPICALLY REFERRED TO AS THE CRUZ MAP AFTER THE PHOTOGRAPHER.

IT WAS CREATED IN 1775.

IT WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE SPANISH CROWN, THE SPANISH ADMINISTRATION TO UNDERSTAND THEIR LAND IN SOUTH AMERICA, THE LANDS THEY CLAIMED RIGHTS TO AS COLONIES OF SPAIN.

>> THIS IS A BOOK CALLED ESSENTIALLY IT TRANSLATES TO SPELLS AND INCAN -- INCANTATIONS.

IT'S A BOOK OVER FIVE CENTURIES.

THIS BOOK FORMS NICE BOOKENDS FOR THE EXHIBIT THINKING ABOUT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S PLACE IN THE FREEDOMS STRUGGLES, WHICH CONTINUES TO TODAY AND TO THEIR STORIES AND RIGHT TO TELL THEIR STORIES IN THE WAY THEY SEE FIT.

>> Alex: IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT, THE EXHIBITION RUNS TO YOU NEWBURY LIBRARY THROUGH JULY 24TH.

>> THIS WEEK, THE FOUNDER OF THE PIONEERING CHICAGO CHAIN DIED AT AGE 81.

HE CAME TO THE U.S. FROM MEXICO AS A TEENAGER AND WORKED IN CALIFORNIA BEFORE MOVING TO CHICAGO.

HE FOUNDED THE FIRST RESTAURANT IN 1973.

IT'S MEXICO CITY STYLE TACOS BECAME A HIT.

IN TONIGHT'S THROWBACK, HIS DAUGHTER IS TALKING ABOUT TACOS AND HER DAD AT THE FLAGSHIP LITTLE VILLAGE LOCATION ON THE PILOT OF WTTW'S RESTAURANT REVIEW SHOW "CHECK PLEASE" IN 2001.

>> MY DAD STARTED THE BUSINESS.

WE STARTED ABOUT 29 YEARS AGO.

HE STARTED WITH MEXICO CITY-STYLE TACOS WITH MINIATURE SIZED TORTILLA.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT IMMIGRANTS FROM MEXICO ENJOYED COMING HERE AND SEEING THEIR HOMETOWN BACK IN CHICAGO.

IT KIND OF GREW FROM THERE.

THANKFULLY WE HAVE ALL THIS BUSINESS NOW BECAUSE OF GOOD FOOD.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE GONE TO OTHER TACO RESTAURANTS AND THEY'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF THE HARD SHELL, THE HARD SHELL CORN TORTILLA.

A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO TRY THE SOFT SHELL TORTILLA.

INSTEAD OF THE GROUND BEEF, THE TRAPPED BEEF IS BETTER.

CILANTRO IS SOMETHING TO COMPLEMENT THE MEAT AND THE FLAVOR.

AND USUALLY THE HOME CONVERTERS, WE CONVERT THEM OVER TO THE TRADITIONAL STYLE TACO WITH THE TRADITIONAL CONDIMENTS ON IT.

WE WANT TO MAKE OUR CUSTOMERS FEEL AT HOME.

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SERVING HIM ARE HIS RELATIVES, IT'S IMPORTANT TO TREAT CUSTOMERS THAT WAY.

>> Alex: VERY GOOD, WITHOUT A DOUBT.

WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS SATURDAY NIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUR WEBSITE AT WTTW.COM/NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS.

JOIN BRANDIS FRIEDMAN TOMORROW NIGHT FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES AND TUNE IN TO UNIVISION EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING.

I'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU.

I'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES", I'M ALEX HERNANDEZ.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR HOLIDAY WEEKEND WITH US.

GOODNIGHT.