MONDAY, JANUARY 18.

PROGRAM # 6001   12:00 PM PST

BLACK MEXICO. On the holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr, this pre-taped program features conversations with promoters of Mexico’s third cultural root, the African ancestry. The program looks into the quest to achieve recognition for communities of African descent in Mexico, the Black president of Mexico, and relations between Afro-Mexicans and African Americans.

Guests: Maestro Francisco Ziga, Rural sociologist, member of non-profit organization Púrpura in Santiago Jamiltepec, Oaxaca, co-author of the book “De Afro-Mexicanos a Pueblo Negro”; Dr. Eduardo Díaz, Director, Smithsonian Latino Center, Washington, DC, former director of National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque, NM, host of exhibit “The African Presence in Mexico”.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19.

PROGRAM # 6002  12:00 PM PST

THE CREDIT CARD ACT. The Credit CARD Act includes sweeping changes to the marketing practices of credit card companies. The law, which stricter provisions go into effect on February 22, prohibits card companies from raising interest rates and introduces consumer protections. In anticipation, card companies have began cutting credit lines and raising interest rates. A consumer advocate gives advice on how to protect against these eleventh-hour squeeze.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20.

PROGRAM # 6003  12:00 PM PST

REFORMING WALL STREET. The U.S. Senate is considering legislation that would create a consumer financial protection agency, consolidate bank regulators and impose new restrictions on credit rating agencies. The departure of the chair of the banking committee, Christopher Dodd, is raising questions on the final scope of the bill. This is a discussion on the proposed reforms.

Guests: Graciela Aponte, Legislative Analyst, National Council of La Raza, Washington, D.C., www.nclr.org; Aracely Panameño, Director of Latino Affairs, Center for Responsible Lending, Washington, D.C., www.responsiblelending.org.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21.

PROGRAM # 6004 12:00 PM.

COVERING MEXICO. Popular Mexican radio journalist Carmen Aristegui, author of the recent book “Transición,” has been invited to comment on Mexican politics, freedom of speech in Mexico, and the state of media and journalism in Mexico. This program is hosted by Martha Elena Ramírez from Mexico City.

Listen to the full program!

FRIDAY, JANUARY 22.

PROGRAM # 6005 12:00 PM.

Guests: Family members of former bracero workers, deported immigrants and electrical workers; Luis Espinosa Rueda, President, Canacintra, Puebla, Mexico, www.canacintrapuebla.org.