‘Against Mexico’ Documentary Explores Texas Secession Battle | PBS NewsHour.
Posted on Newshour May 2012 At first blush, a group reenactment of Texas’ 1836 battle to secede from Mexico has little to do with today’s political environment. But the notion of what it means to be an American is an issue that continues to stir up strong emotions, and resistance to a strong federal government can be seen in elections across the country.
Those emotions are underscored in a short documentary being highlighted by our partners at Latino Public Broadcasting. “Against Mexico: The Making of Heroes and Enemies” looks at the different ways in which Latinos and whites interpret the Texas Revolution, and the tensions between the two groups that continue to resonate 175 years later as Hispanic population growth accounted for 63.1 percent of all growth in Texas in the last decade.
“Against Mexico” delves into the Lone Star State’s complicated history.
To watch the film click here and to view the trailer click the image below.
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Western Sahara: The War of Forgetting and the Forgotten People
A number of years ago I traveled to refugee camps in Algeria to report on the “forgotten people” of Western Sahara. The camp and the crisis was a product of colonialism and the ensuing violence followed by a cease-fire and a promise unfilled by the international community. Western Sahara had been a colony of Spain and later claimed by Morocco, with the backing of the U.S. and much of Europe.
War broke out between the nomadic Sahrawi, which formed the Polisario Front and Morocco. In 1991, a U.N.-brokered ceasefire included a promised referendum for self-determination for the Sahrawi. It was never fulfilled and many of the refugees, generations of families, live in the camps.
I wrote about the desert and the forgotten people in my essay, The War of Forgetting, which was published by Guernica and I shot reported a video piece for Time.
In Nov. 2020, after reports of aggression by Morocco, the Polisario ended the cease-fire. The fighting has resumed.
Michelle García 
Ms. Garcia,
Thank you for your story, “In the Midst of a Border Crisis, Cooking Is About More Than Survival” that appeared in Bon Appetit. A friend forwarded the article tome. I also followed the trail to your website and enjoyed your film “Against Mexico”.
I lived in Latin America for four years and continue my contact with the LA people through ministries in my area.
Thank you again for your social-journalism. Words are powerful. Your perspective is appreciated.
Best of everything to you…Tim Wright
(By trade I’m a commercial photographer/videographer)