Barbara Martinez Jitner
Filmmaker and Human Rights Activist
Femicide at our U.S. Border: To Be a Woman in Juarez is a Death Sentence
The bordertown of Juarez, Mexico has been nicknamed “The City of Murdered Women” because over 400 women have been found raped and murdered there. Yet not one of their killers has been brought to justice. Almost all of these women have worked in American-owned factories that have been built along the U.S./Mexico border. Filmmaker and Human Rights Activist, Barbara Martinez Jitner, gives a moving and personal look at the crippling poverty and gender discrimination that has made this “expendable workforce” - expendable human beings. Working with Amnesty International and superstar Jennifer Lopez, Martinez Jitner will outline steps that will empower listeners so they too can help stop the femicide that is occurring less than 50 feet from our borders.
On the Border of a New America: Wall of Shadows
Latinos are transforming the face of America and have made enormous contributions to our national heritage in the arts, sciences, and military. The history of Latinos in America even predates the founding of the United States. Latinos are both the oldest and newest residents of this country.
On the Border of a New America: Wall of Shadows tells the story of two such Americans. Jose has lived in the US his entire life, but was wrongfully deported and is now trapped on the border. Manuela must cross the border because of an economic crisis in her homeland and come to the US.
Barbara Martinez Jitner’s presentation explores the remarkable legacy of Latinos in the US and how what is happening at our southern border has not only affected this community, but has penetrated the entire country – creating a new dichotomy in the Latino national identity.
The Transformative Power of Education
Barbara Martinez Jitner is the first ever Latina to be nominated for a Golden Globe and an Emmy as a producer and writer of a miniseries, and has garnered major awards and critical acclaim for her work.
However, in college, she believed she was a failure and dropped out.
Raised by her Mexican grandmother, Martinez Jitner spoke only Spanish until she began elementary school. Often humiliated by her teachers because she could not speak English, she was made to feel ashamed about her heritage, and even her own family. Her growing frustrations over not fitting in reached their peak in college, and after years of facing cultural barriers, she finally gave up.
But, the death of her grandmother changed her life. It awakened a desire to make everyone understand the beauty of her culture and family. In order to do so, she had to go back to school to learn the tools of writing. She then earned not only a bachelor, but a master’s degree in fine arts.
Today, Martinez Jitner has dedicated her life to celebrating her Latino heritage through film and television. Including American Family – Journey of Dreams, she has also executive produced Bordertown, starring Jennifer Lopez and Antonio Banderas. She recently wrote, produced, and directed Behind the Mask of Zorro, a documentary on Joaquin Murrieta for the History Channel. She is now slated to executive produce and write NBC’s upcoming miniseries California and the T.V. series Borderlord for USA network.
Barbara Martinez Jitner’s deeply personal and heartfelt lecture features clips from her award-winning films and Television shows, as she speaks to students about pride in heritage, the strength of family, and the liberating power of education.