Uploaded September 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Music historian legend Betto Arcos interviews Oakland band La Misa Negra about their hometown, diverse musical influences and activism.
About La Misa Negra
A seven-piece band from Oakland, California, La Misa Negra has a loyal following thanks to their danceable brew of cumbia music and Afro-Latin rhythms. Their performances explode with energy and infectious dance grooves created by punk rock influences, horn and accordion riffs, and a relentless rhythm section.
La Misa Negra has toured the country sharing stages and festival bills with artists such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Wonder, Lenny Kravitz, George Clinton and Julieta Venegas. Their diverse fan base love them not only for their wild energy and humor, but also for their activism on topics such as gun violence, water scarcity, and gender inequality.
Music historian legend Betto Arcos interviews Oakland band La Misa Negra about their hometown, diverse musical influences and activism.
About La Misa Negra
A seven-piece band from Oakland, California, La Misa Negra has a loyal following thanks to their danceable brew of cumbia music and Afro-Latin rhythms. Their performances explode with energy and infectious dance grooves created by punk rock influences, horn and accordion riffs, and a relentless rhythm section.
La Misa Negra has toured the country sharing stages and festival bills with artists such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Wonder, Lenny Kravitz, George Clinton and Julieta Venegas. Their diverse fan base love them not only for their wild energy and humor, but also for their activism on topics such as gun violence, water scarcity, and gender inequality.


![COVID-19 Monologues - Nunca Me Falto Vida by Jose Alejandro Hernandez
Breath of Fires COVID-19 Monologues
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
More than 544,000 individuals have lost their lives to COVID-19 in the U.S. alone. The sheer magnitude of the numbers can feel detaching, but Santa Ana’s all-Latina theater ensemble Breath of Fire has found a beautiful, intimate way of putting faces to those devastating statistics.
Named simply the COVID-19 Monologues, each spoken presentation illustrates the life of an ordinary person who passed away to COVID-19, memorializing their everyday battles and accomplishments in a tapestry woven with grounding, intimate details and inspiring in their reflective insight.
About Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble
Breath of Fire was described by OC Weekly as “a theater that cares [about] its surrounding community…producing vitally relevant and topical work. Based in downtown Santa Ana and composed of only Latinas, Breath of Fire has become an award-winning company with more than 20 world premieres.
Breath of Fire’s mission is to foster an environment where underrepresented voices can flourish by providing free workshops that teach storytelling, playwriting, producing, and acting and by providing representation, opportunities and leadership roles in the community. COVID-19 Monologues - Nunca Me Falto Vida by Jose Alejandro Hernandez](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lKoPnxf5tZs/mqdefault.jpg)







