In the heart of California's Central Valley, immigrants arrived in earnest on the heels of the Gold Rush, ranching and farming the land, including the "Father of Manteca," Joshua Cowell, who traversed the Sierras on foot in 1863. Although the town was originally known as Cowell Station, the name Monteca (adapted from the Spanish word for butter) was proposed to distinguish the railroad stop and celebrate the dairy industry. The first tickets printed by the railroad labeled the town as "Manteca"--the Spanish word for lard. Manteca is known for one of the oldest landmarks in the county, East Union Cemetery (established in 1872); the family-owned and -operated Delicato Winery (established in 1924); and notable figures such as baseball great Milo Candini and Rep. John J. McFall. Today, Manteca boasts a population of 80,000; growth has been stimulated over the last 40 years by commuters who work in the Bay Area or Sacramento in exchange for life in a smaller community. This "Family City" is home to Big League Dreams, Bass Pro Shop, and the future Great Wolf Lodge, which will bring back waterslides to Manteca!

Stages of Conflict brings together an array of dramatic texts, tracing the intersection of theater and social and political life in the Americas over the past five centuries. Historical pieces from the sixteenth century to the present highlight the encounter between indigenous tradition and colonialism, while contributions from modern playwrights such as Virgilio Pinero, Jose Triana, and Denise Stolkos take on the tumultuous political and social upheavals of the past century. The editors have added critical commentary on the origins of each play, affording scholars and students of theater, performance studies, and Latin American studies the opportunity to view the history of a continent through its rich and diverse theatrical traditions.--from publisher's statement.

"We defy translation," Sandra María Esteves writes. "Nameless/we are a whole culture/once removed." She is half Dominican, half Puerto Rican, with indigenous and African blood, born in the Bronx. Like so many of the contributors, she is a blend of cultures, histories and languages. Containing the work of more than 40 poets--equally divided between men and women--who self-identify as Afro-Latino, ¡Manteca! is the first poetry anthology to highlight writings by Latinos of African descent. The themes covered are as diverse as the authors themselves. Many pieces rail against a system that institutionalizes poverty and racism. Others remember parents and grandparents who immigrated to the United States in search of a better life, only to learn that the American Dream is a nightmare for someone with dark skin and nappy hair. But in spite of the darkness, faith remains. Anthony Morales' grandmother, like so many others, was "hardwired to hold on to hope." There are love poems to family and lovers. And music--salsa, merengue, jazz--permeates this collection.Editor and scholar Melissa Castillo-Garsow writes in her introduction that "the experiences and poetic expression of Afro-Latinidad were so diverse" that she could not begin to categorize it. Some write in English, others in Spanish. They are Puerto Rican, Dominican and almost every combination conceivable, including Afro-Mexican. Containing the work of well-known writers such as Pedro Pietri, Miguel Piñero and E. Ethelbert Miller, less well-known ones are ready to be discovered in these pages.