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RIP: Jesse Tafalla, A Leader in N. Texas Hispanic Culture


by Jerome Weeks 2 Jul 2012 3:50 PM

A pioneer in North Texas’ Latino community, he founded the Dallas Mexican American Historical League and helped create the Latino Cultural Center.
CTA TBD

Jesse Tafalla, Sr., founder of the Dallas Mexican American Historical League and a former president of Teatro Dallas, died June 30. He was 60. Tafalla was a major pioneer for North Texas’ Latino cultural community. He was instrumental in the creation of the Latino Cultural Center and was a former member of Dallas’ Office of Cultural Affairs. The image shows him standing next to the historical marker for El Cemento Cemetery, the graveyard for Mexican-American workers in Cement City, West Dallas.

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About Jerome Weeks

Jerome Weeks is the Senior Arts Reporter/Producer for KERA. Previously at The Dallas Morning News, he was the book columnist for 10 years and the drama critic for 10 years before that. His writing has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, Salon, Los Angeles Times, Newsday, American Theatre and Men’s Vogue magazines. View more about Jerome Weeks.

COMMENTS

  • Cora Cardona

    Jesse Tafalla was the perfect diplomat, he could bring together people from opposite ideological and political views to create peace through culture and art. He had an inner beauty that made everyone accept whatever he proposed. He started the first grass roots fundraisers for the Latino Cultural Center at Teatro Dallas, an organization he held close to his heart and where we have received the condolences from artist from different parts of the world. The Dallas community has lost a unique human being, I have lost my brother.
    -Cora Cardona-

  • Cora Cardona

    Jesse Tafalla was the perfect diplomat, he could bring together people from opposite ideological and political views to create peace through culture and art. He had an inner beauty that made everyone accept whatever he proposed. He started the first grass roots fundraisers for the Latino Cultural Center at Teatro Dallas, an organization he held close to his heart and where we have received the condolences from artist from different parts of the world. The Dallas community has lost a unique human being, I have lost my brother.
    -Cora Cardona-

  • Sbersterman0528

    he was a great man! He was a huge part of my life and I was blessed to have such a awesome grandfather in my life for the last 26yrs.

  • Sbersterman0528

    he was a great man! He was a huge part of my life and I was blessed to have such a awesome grandfather in my life for the last 26yrs.