Woman Made Gallery reading with Jenny Priego, Ching-In Chen, Maureen Flannery, Susan Slaviero and Kristine Uyeda.

The reading paralleled the art exhibit: “After Adelita”, marking the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Mexican Revolution. For many decades, the name Adelita has evoked multiple meanings. Various interpretations of Adelita identify her as a hero, a myth, and a revolutionary. Popular ballads tell the story of Adelita as a young woman who fought during the Mexican Revolution. While some believe that she is an actual historical figure, others see her as a composite of the many women who joined in battle during the Revolution. The image of a female revolutionary, with blouse, skirt, sombrero, and ammunition across her chest, serves as an iconic representation of the Revolution and of Mexican history. Songs, books, plays, films, and calendars have interpreted Adelita as a sex symbol, a brave champion of the people, and a proto-feminist.