José N. Uranga - Author
HISPANIC HISTORY BOOKS
José is a native New Mexican, but has lived throughout the United States.
A retired environmental attorney, Mr. Uranga resides in Sarasota, Florida and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
When José is not researching/writing his books, he has served as Board Director for the Suncoast Waterkeeper ( envt'l litigation/advocacy group), Board Trustee for the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast (a land trust), and as Chairman and Board Director for the New Mexico State University Foundation. Additionally, José has volunteered as a Docent at the Ringling Art Museums and as a Guardian ad Litem in the Florida state courts on behalf of abandoned/abused children. He enjoys playing golf and tennis, and kayaking on the rivers and bays of Sarasota. In Santa Fe, Jose enjoys the SW art, the Opera and the delicious Santa Fe style cuisine. He is a world traveler, speaks Spanish, delights in fine wines, and chairs a city-wide, co-ed, serious literature book club in Sarasota.
All of Jose's books can be ordered online from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or from the publishers.
Jose can be reached at jnuesq1@gmail.com
THE HISPANIC EXPERIENCE IN THE SOUTHWEST AND WEST -- HISTORICAL FICTION BOOKS BY JOSE N. URANGA
All three of the Buenavida books present vignettes of events and issues affecting Hispanics in the Southwest and West from 1849 to the present. A constant theme in the three books is the still current assimilation dilemma facing Hispanics--whether to forfeit their culture and language in order to succeed in the Anglo society. While the books are historical fiction, most of the described events are based on fact.
THE BUENAVIDA TRILOGY (Westwood Publishing, 2022)
The Buenavida Trilogy brings together for the first time all three of Jose N. Uranga's historical fiction books detailing the assimilation of Hispanics into the Anglo society of the United States from 1850 through the 1990's. While all three books are fictional, most of the events and issues addressed by the Buenavida family in the trilogy are based on fact.
THE BUENAVIDA TRILOGY (Westwood Publishing, 2022)
The Buenavida Trilogy brings together for the first time all three of Jose N. Uranga's historical fiction books detailing the assimilation of Hispanics into the Anglo society of the United States from 1850 through the 1990's. While all three books are fictional, most of the events and issues addressed by the Buenavida family in the trilogy are based on fact.
The Buenavida America (2014)
PRAISE FOR THE BUENAVIDA AMERICA:
“Generational novels have that rare gift of granting the reader insights into one’s own past and future. Jose Uranga performs that task exceedingly well, adding the pleasant placement of the Buenavidas into meaningful historical context.”
---Paul A. Garcia, Ph.D, University of Kansas, School of Education, retired
“Sharing a life story is not as easy as just telling a story. Jose Uranga does this with historical references and background that intrigue and educate.”
---Rebecca Dukes, Vice-President, University Advancement, San Jose State University
“Jose Uranga does a fine job providing important food for thought in The Buenavida America and his book highlights poignant cultural threads imbedded in the history of New Mexico.The fictional yet historical based ‘testimonios’ illustrated by the Buenavida family shed light on the complexities, challenges, and victories Hispanics experience while traversing identity in present day America.”
---Maria Martinez Bain, Ph.D, New Mexico State University
“Jose Uranga’s book was so interesting as I found myself thinking of my own history growing up as the son of a Methodist minister in New Mexico, Arizona and California and remembering my chats with my father. The book not only tells the story of the Buenavida family, but it eloquently speaks to so many of us Hispanics who shared similar experiences that have molded our very existence.”
---Danny Villanueva, former NFL player and broadcasting pioneer,
“This book captures fascinating and personal insights and experiences about growing up in a large, extended Hispanic family in New Mexico. Jose Uranga shares vividly how these affect perceptions and values of the generations that follow,with the historical foundations serving as a backdrop to the captivating narratives. A must read for anyone who wants to expand their knowledge of the Southwest and its cultures.”
----Mike Johnson, past chairman, New Mexico State University Foundation,Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The Death of the Brown Americano (2010)
BOOK BUZZ (Book Avolore, 2020)
The Death of the Brown Americano chronicles the life and experiences of the Buenavida family in New Mexico from 1850 through 1913. In this fictional story, Jose N. Uranga tells the very real stories of many Hispanic families as they navigate their new country and, in many respects, their new world.
Like most Hispanics in this time, the Buenavidas had to survive and adopt in this new environment while striving to preserve their own cultural values. Through the individual lives of the Buenavidas, we are given the opportunity to know the history of Hispanics in the Southwest and how they influenced the society that they were thrust into and eventually became a part of. Their story also gives us a glimpse of how history has impacted the social structure and the lives of Hispanic families then and in the present day.
The Death of the Brown Americano is a lesson in history thoughtfully weaved into a heartwarming family story. It speaks about opportunities as well as injustice. It tells a story that many immigrant families are familiar with, which is that of obstacles and the resulting triumphs or defeat. It is a mirror of families who may have had the foresight of the Buenavidas to face their obstacles head-on and proactively take advantage of the opportunities that were on their horizon. These families thrived and experienced unprecedented success. Others, unfortunately, were not able to do the same and did not have the same success. Both of these stories need to be told because we can learn from both.
This story follows on Uranga's The Buenavida Dilemma and flows in the same vein. For the present generations of Hispanic families, The Death of the Brown Americano is a reminder of the challenges of assimilation that their ancestors have faced. It is a book that appreciates the sacrifices and the courage they had to muster to thrive in an unfamiliar world. For others, this book serves to expand one's knowledge and understanding of the plight of immigrants and how Hispanic families have contributed to the communities that they became a part of.
PRAISE FOR THE DEATH OF THE BROWN AMERICANO
“I could imagine my own ancestors in these situations (those of the Buenavidas)—in fact much of what Jose Uranga recounts is probably very similar to what most early Hispanics experienced. Some had the foresight and courage to cope with the situations proactively as the Buenavida family did, but others obviously did not and many opportunities were lost or not fully exploited. Many, however, through the generations not only persevered but succeeded wildly”.
--Manuel Pacheco, PhD, Phoenix, Arizona, President Emeritus, University of Missouri, University of Arizona
“A touching story of a traditional Hispanic family which brings to life key events in the history of New Mexico during the late 1800’s by weaving them with family history. An excellent supplement for New Mexico history teachers”.
--Cynthia Castañeda, PhD, Professor of Government, Eastfield College, Dallas, Texas
“Having been born and raised in New Mexico in an Anglo/Hispano environment, I found that the author Jose Uranga has provided us with an honest look at the history of New Mexico’s journey to statehood. It is seen through the eyes of an unique Hispanic family settling and living in an area we still refer to as ‘little Texas.’ The issues the Buenavida family and their community dealt with are strikingly relevant to the immigration debate today.”
--Nick Franklin, Esq., Newport Beach, California, President, The New Mexico State University Foundation
“This is a heartfelt account of the lives of the Buenavida family as they struggled to survive in New Mexico in the latter half of the 19th century. The book’s characters are simple people whose lives illustrate the importance and strength of the family and the powerful value of education. As a descendant of earlier Spanish settlers in northern New Mexico, I highly recommend this book.”
--Robert Vigil, Santa Fe, New Mexico
“I could imagine my own ancestors in these situations (those of the Buenavidas)—in fact much of what Jose Uranga recounts is probably very similar to what most early Hispanics experienced. Some had the foresight and courage to cope with the situations proactively as the Buenavida family did, but others obviously did not and many opportunities were lost or not fully exploited. Many, however, through the generations not only persevered but succeeded wildly”.
--Manuel Pacheco, PhD, Phoenix, Arizona, President Emeritus, University of Missouri, University of Arizona
“A touching story of a traditional Hispanic family which brings to life key events in the history of New Mexico during the late 1800’s by weaving them with family history. An excellent supplement for New Mexico history teachers”.
--Cynthia Castañeda, PhD, Professor of Government, Eastfield College, Dallas, Texas
“Having been born and raised in New Mexico in an Anglo/Hispano environment, I found that the author Jose Uranga has provided us with an honest look at the history of New Mexico’s journey to statehood. It is seen through the eyes of an unique Hispanic family settling and living in an area we still refer to as ‘little Texas.’ The issues the Buenavida family and their community dealt with are strikingly relevant to the immigration debate today.”
--Nick Franklin, Esq., Newport Beach, California, President, The New Mexico State University Foundation
“This is a heartfelt account of the lives of the Buenavida family as they struggled to survive in New Mexico in the latter half of the 19th century. The book’s characters are simple people whose lives illustrate the importance and strength of the family and the powerful value of education. As a descendant of earlier Spanish settlers in northern New Mexico, I highly recommend this book.”
--Robert Vigil, Santa Fe, New Mexico
ForeWord Book of the Year Finalist!!
The Death of the Brown Americano is a 2010 Book of the Year Award finalist in the Historical Fiction category. You can read more about the ForeWord awards at this link: http://www.bookoftheyearawards.com/ 4/22/11
The Buenavida Dilemma: Whether to Become "Gringos" (2003)PRAISE FOR THE BUENAVIDA DILEMMA
“The author has written a compact and poignant treatment of the subject (the experiences of the Hispanics who settled the Southwest) which not only informs us of the history of Hispanics in the Southwest, but also of the impact of that history on the social structure of southwest society and the success of Hispanic peoples”. --Barbara Couture, PhD, President, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico "The Buenavida Dilemma has brought back so many memories of what it was like for me, a Chicano, growing up in a home where Spanish was the predominant language. Jose Uranga's book has put into words what I (and I'm sure what many others) have felt about being Chicano in an Anglo dominated culture. More importantly, it has given me a historical perspective that has helped me to understand why I feel the way I do. The Buenavida Dilemma is both informative and courageous." --Michael A. Vasquez, Esq. San Francisco, CA. “Jose Uranga has successfully interwoven the history of Mexican Americans in the Southwest with the experiences of the Buenavida family. To be or not to be is a dilemma that many Latinos faced when they encountered Anglo society and the United States or local governments. The Buenavida family’s journey on that path of adjustment always meant choices of giving up or suppressing their native culture in order to work with the larger Anglo culture.More often, choices were made for Latinos in terms of schools and classes, who their friends would be and what kinds of jobs they could have. This is an excellent book for anyone who wishes to more fully understand the historical contexts of Mexican Americans in the Southwest and West and the impact of Anglo society on Latinos.This book would be a fine addition for those teachers who also wish to have cultural materials for their classes at the middle, high school and college levels.” -- Raymond Sandoval, PhD., University of Washington, Professor, Richland College, Dallas, Texas “ The U.S./Mexico border is a challenging, inspiring place in the 21st Century. Jose Uranga’s book, The Buenavida Dilemma helps us understand how this region has come to be through the painful decisions a family was forced to make when international boundaries changed a century and a half ago.As I work and travel on the border today, I see my neighbors through a clearer lens after reading this insightful book. It is an American story in the broadest and best sense.” --Judith L. Messal, College Assistant Professor New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico |
NEWSPAPER REVIEW
Las Cruces Sun-News, 6/26/2003 review by S. Derrickson Moore, Sun-News Reporter, of the Buenavida Dilemma:
"The Buenavida Dilemma by Jose N. Uranga, is a short but intense and informative exploration of Hispanic history in the United States through a fictionalized account of five generations of the Buenavida family. It is a readable and insightful story of injustice, persistence and eventual triumph by native New Mexican Uranga........
Uranga thoughtfully explores everything from ingrained corruption in Mexican government to U.S. employment, military and educational policies and environmental regulations that unjustly target and oppress minority groups.
Trying to fit a lot of information into a format of a short fictional family saga is at times ackward, but Uranga does an admirable job of conveying aspects of history too long neglected, misrepresented or even completely ignored.
This is a concise, compact, valuable work that deserves a place on the bookshelves of school and public libraries and in the personal collection of those who want to understand more about the largest minority group in the United States."
"The Buenavida Dilemma by Jose N. Uranga, is a short but intense and informative exploration of Hispanic history in the United States through a fictionalized account of five generations of the Buenavida family. It is a readable and insightful story of injustice, persistence and eventual triumph by native New Mexican Uranga........
Uranga thoughtfully explores everything from ingrained corruption in Mexican government to U.S. employment, military and educational policies and environmental regulations that unjustly target and oppress minority groups.
Trying to fit a lot of information into a format of a short fictional family saga is at times ackward, but Uranga does an admirable job of conveying aspects of history too long neglected, misrepresented or even completely ignored.
This is a concise, compact, valuable work that deserves a place on the bookshelves of school and public libraries and in the personal collection of those who want to understand more about the largest minority group in the United States."