MINDY ROSS/ Daily Bruin Senior Staff Law professor and
ex-State Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso gives
Carlos and Deborah Santana the
Cesar Chavez Spirit award.
By Marcelle Richards
Daily Bruin Reporter
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Carlos Santana will be making room
on his shelf full of Grammy awards for the Cesar E. Chavez Spirit
award he and his wife Deborah received Wednesday at UCLA’s
faculty center.
UCLA established the award in 2000 to commemorate the civil
rights leader who fought for social justice and founded the United
Farm Workers union.
“The Santanas have given selflessly,” said co-Master
of Ceremonies and former UCLA MEChA chair, Jo Anna Ley, a 2000
alumna in Chicana/o studies.
“I can’t think of more deserving individuals,”
she added.
The ceremony, sponsored by Arista Records and Sony Pictures
Entertainment, was only one in a series of events to commemorate
the newly designated state holiday of Chavez’s birthday, the
first of which was held on Saturday.
The event drew roughly 350 guests, including mayoral candidates
Antonio Villaraigosa and Xavier Becerra.
Ticket revenue will support the Cesar E. Chavez Spirit
Scholarships that are awarded to Chicana/o studies students who
contribute to the community both as scholars and activists.
The Santanas earned the award for the Milagro Foundation, which
they founded in 1998, to aid at-risk, underrepresented and
otherwise disadvantaged youth.
Carlos referred to the Milagro Foundation as “the head of
God” ““ raising consciousness, healing and giving hope.
Literally, it translates to “miracle.”
Carlos Santana, who has outlasted musical fads of the past three
decades and sold over 90 million records, has played benefits for
San Francisco Earthquake Relief and Tijuana Orphans.
Much less visible to the public eye, by choice, is his wife, the
other half of Milagro’s success.
“I’m usually in the background and I prefer to do my
work in the background,” she said. “It’s humbling
to have our names spoken with Chavez’s.
“Education is the key to our spiritual, social and
economic progress,” she continued. “I always tell my
children they have to start by being smarter than the ones who try
to hold them back.”
Milagro uses funds from ticket sales and corporate contributions
to increase educational opportunities and make health services
available ““ by providing grants to organizations at all
corners of the world.
The Dikelle Children’s center in Sri Lanka, a refuge for
homeless orphans who are war victims, and the Organization for the
Support of Albania’s Abandoned Babies are some of the global
groups who benefitted from the funds.
Within the U.S., the urgency to ensure opportunities for
children strikes close to home for the Santanas, as they see the
decline of students of color within universities and colleges.
“We have to continue with our courage. This is just the
beginning. Like you, I’m witnessing this incredible nightmare
that’s happening to our children in schools,” Carlos
said.
Many of Milagro’s national efforts are geared to provide
tutoring and exposure to the arts.
Carlos said students must be given more support, mentioning the
state spends only $4,500 per student a year in California while
state prisoners cost $35,000 annually.
“We can put pressure on those who have the power,”
he said. “We constantly dream. It’s better to dream
than curse the darkness. Accentuate the light.”
Blending music and tribute to dually honor Chavez and the
Santanas, the evening commenced with a reception and dinner for the
honorees and attendees, while Carlos Santana’s recent hit
“Smooth” appropriately fading in and out of the chatter
and clink of wineglasses.
Poised humbly in the center of the crowd were the Santanas,
quietly shaking hands of congratulatory fans who approached their
table before dinner.
A singer and a quartet from the UCLA ethnomusicology graduate
department performed traditional Mexican music. Slightly nodding
and tapping his fingers to the beat of the music was the Latin
music legend himself, who raised his hands and applauded after each
number.
Both Villaraigosa and Becerra had the opportunity to speak and
commend the Santanas, acknowledging that the ever-present student
activism at campuses indeed shows solidarity among students,
educators and community leaders like the Santanas.
“Deborah and Carlos, you’d be proud to know that
almost two weeks ago, a number of students of color came
together,” said Becerra, in reference to the affirmative
action protest last quarter.
“We came here to debate, the students decided it was time
to debate affirmative action. They understood what you do for
children.”
Commemorative bike jerseys, UCLA apparel and a painting
symbolizing the struggle of immigrant farm workers were also given
to the Santanas, who smiled and stepped on stage again to accept
these unanticipated gifts.
“We absolutely believe in a brighter future for our
children,” said Carlos as he stood at the podium in his
acceptance speech. “I don’t believe in flags, I
don’t believe in borders; I believe in eyes, I believe in
hearts. This is an award for me that means the most, this award is
not bought ““ it represents the best of my family.”
His speech was punctuated by the instantaneous rumble of voices
shouting, “Carlos!” “Viva!” as the man
smiled, nodded and stepped off the stage, arm in arm with his
wife.