Josefina Lopez

Josefina López (born 1969) is a Mexican-born Chicana playwright.

Quotes

• Oral tradition is really how Chicano literature came to be. I was not exposed to the written word, but I had the greatest teacher. I always tell people that my mother was my inspiration because she was the best chismosa, and she had the best stories. And if anyone taught me about drama, it was my mother because she knew how to tell a story. And my grandfather also told stories. One of the reasons why I waned to be a writer was because I was fascinated by stories of La Llorona, supernatural stories and things like that and I love hearing chisme (gossip)…
  • On her earliest influences in “JOSEFINA LÓPEZ – IN HER OWN WORDS” in Latinopia (2010 Mar 6)

• In the beginning I felt like I wasn’t represented on stage or on film. As Latinos, we have been told in every which way that we don’t matter, that we are invisible — especially people who are indigenous, people who value their Native American roots. We’ve been eradicated, made invisible, and that’s one way that we’ve been disempowered. So, I realized the most powerful thing you can do is to own your humanity…
  • On her experiences in theater and arts as a whole in “Josefina López: ‘I became the protagonist of my story’” in Boyle Heights Beat (2018 Sep 19)

• I became the protagonist of my story and the protagonist of my life. I realized we’ve all been left out of this story. We are always the supporting characters, and we have to say no. My job is to show people that everyone belongs in the theater, everyone belongs making films, everybody has something important to teach someone else. And that’s why stories are so important.
  • On making Latinos the center of the story in “Josefina López: ‘I became the protagonist of my story’” in Boyle Heights Beat (2018 Sep 19)

• A privileged position can help you to think that you are entitled to everything, and are above others. Reverse that and you can see how it isn’t true.
  • On a prevalent theme in her work that a true friendship is impossible in an unequal state in “Interview with Josefina López for “Clean Start” at Casa 0101 – Los Angeles theater report” in Arts Beat LA