Episode #159: "I Have SOMETHING To Say" with special guest, Dr. Luis Martínez-Fernández

<p class="x_MsoNormal" data-ogsb="white"><span data-ogsc= "black">Writing is art, and Dr. Luis Martínez-Fernández has mastered it.  He’s our guest in this week’s episode of I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, to talk about his life experiences and his new book “<em>When the World Turned Upside Down: Politics, Culture, and the Unimaginable Events of 2019- 2022.” As</em> a seasoned historian, university professor, nationally syndicated columnist, consultant, and public speaker, he has A LOT TO SAY and shares some of the developments in the United States and across the world that have impacted the world that he highlights in the book, including the parallels of an 1800’s Civil War United States with the current sociopolitical landscape in the nation.</span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal" data-ogsb="white"><span data-ogsc= "black">Dr. Martínez-Fernández describes how by the age of 10 he had already experienced exile from Cuba and migration several times – Miami, Perú, Puerto Rico. All these lived experiences fueled his interest in understanding the history that caused them and writing about them. His college studies at the Universidad de Puerto Rico also afforded him a nurturing learning environment where he began exploring graphic design.</span></p> <p class="x_MsoNormal" data-ogsb="white"><span data-ogsc="black">In Orlando since 2004, Dr. Martínez-Fernández’s expertise in international affairs, Latin America, the Caribbean, education, and US Latinos/Hispanics makes him a valuable asset to the students of the University of Central Florida (UCF), which is classified as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). This means that over 25% of UCF students identify as Hispanic. It’s awesome to learn that his “Puerto Rican History” class is very well attended. He says that for a researcher like him, Orlando is a laboratory of sorts, giving us an idea of the U.S. Hispanic experience, both for U.S.-born and migrating families. </span></p> <p class="x_lead"><em><span data-ogsc="black">“When the World Turned Upside Down: Politics, Culture, and th