“Pancho: Un Boricua en Oregon” is the story of Francisco López, a dedicated family man living in Oregon for close to 25 years. Francisco (commonly referred to as Pancho) was born and raised in the Caribbean, on the island of Puerto Rico. The film seeks to draw attention to a different yet equally important aspect of immigration in the U.S.: Puerto Rican identity and perspective. What drove Pancho to move all the way to Oregon is a story of love, learning, and family. This is not a story of peril and injustice, but merely a look into what crosses the mind of the individual Puerto Rican when confronted with the duality of their identity, and what it gives and takes.
As an undergrad student studying Ethnic Studies, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of such a special project that highlighted the history of Latinos in Oregon. It has been an amazing experience learning about Oregon’s history and connecting with Izza Porter who emigrated with her family from Monterrey to Oregon. I’m excited to use the skills that I learned while making this documentary later in my life.
My documentary is based upon the life and experiences of Gabriel Sanchez. Currently, (in 2013) Gabriel is an undergraduate student at the University of Oregon studying archaeology and anthropology. He is interested in indigenous archaeology, or the incorporation of indigenous forms of knowledge within the archaeological context. Gabriel's current research project is with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. I am grateful for the opportunity to be involved in this project and to work with Gabriel to share his story
Blanca's story begins with her life in regards to her mother and the importance of family. She moves a few times and talks of the disconnect from her family and community. Blanca discussed the advantage of English, providing a much smoother path for her to become Valedictorian and make her way to college. We discuss the cultural implications of identifying as Latino, and how this has affected her growing up as an intelligent student, a member of her community, and her identity as it is intertwined with her mother.
