Radio Catskill delves into the rich and often overlooked history of Latino communities in the Catskills. Lehman College professor Bret Maney and Manhattan College professor Cristina Pérez Jiménez explore how Spanish and Latin American settlers established vibrant recreational cultures with resorts and hotels beginning in the late 19th century.
Discover the cultural connections between the Latino Catskills, including the historic Las Villas in Plattekill, NY, and the Jewish Borscht Belt, where music, food, and community gatherings created a shared sense of identity.
In conversation with Patricio Robayo, Maney and Pérez Jiménez discuss the profound impact and unique contributions of Latino artists, writers, and diverse nationalities to the region, challenging conventional narratives of Latino experiences in America.
Their project is being developed with the generous support of the 2022 US Latino Digital Humanities (USLDH) Grants-in-Aid program, funded by the Mellon Foundation, as well as the 2024-25 inaugural Rooted and Relational fellowship from the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at CUNY’s Hunter College.
Image: Historic Marker for Las Villas in Plattekill, NY, an effort spearheaded by Ismael ‘Ish’ Martinez in conjunction with the Plattekill Historical Preservation Society
For further reading about this exciting history, Maney and Pérez Jiménez recommend Ishmael “Ish” Martinez Jr.’s Las Villas of Plattekill and Ulster County.