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Ferris Hosted `Racism: Ain't Nobody Got Time For That!' Workshop

Las Cafeteras

Las Cafeteras as part of a tour through the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia at Ferris State University. They are pictured here Natalia Carvalho-Pinto, from the College of Health Professions, and David Pilgrim, vice president for Diversity and Inclusion as well as founder and curator of the museum.


As part of Hispanic Heritage Month and Beyond: Diversity, Ferris State University hosted Las Cafeteras on Tuesday, Oct. 28 for a workshop and a performance.

The group fuses traditional and modern beats with timely stories from East L.A.’s streets. Their workshop, titled “Racism: Ain’t Nobody Got Time For That!” uses “conscious comedy” to break down Las Cafeterasstereotypes. They use a variety of things to engage students and staff including videos, live acoustic music, honest conversations and break-out discussions to help students deconstruct patterns of oppression.

Performance included a re-mix of Afro-Caribbean Marimbol, spoken word, English and Spanglish to Jarocho instruments like jarana and requinto guitars, a donkey jawbone and the tarima.

Annette Torres, Daniel French, David Flores, Denise Carlos, Hector Flores, Jose Cano, and Leah Rose Gallegos formed the band in 2008 with the purpose of documenting through music. Born in the streets of Los Angeles, the members are immigrant children who are remixing their roots in a modern, musical way. The band has been featured on BBC, NPR, KCRW and in the Los Angeles Times.

This event was sponsored by the College of Health Professions, Diversity and Inclusion Office, Office of Multicultural Student Services, Hispanic/Latino Cultural Center, the Go Beyond Initiative and Music Industry Management Association, and was made possible by partnerships with the Hispanic Student Organization, the International Association for Students of Economics and Commerce and the International Student Organization.