Raoul A. Cortez's 118th Birthday

Today’s Doodle celebrates the birthday of Mexican American media pioneer, broadcaster, and community activist Raoul A. Cortez, a trailblazer for Spanish-language media in the United States. The artwork, illustrated by Mexican American guest artist Rafael Lopez, depicts the various roles Cortez played in furthering Latino culture and civil rights in the U.S..

Cortez was born on this day in 1905 in Veracruz, Mexico. His family immigrated to the United States when he was young and settled in San Antonio, Texas. In adulthood, he entered the media scene as a reporter for La Prensa, a San Antonio-based, Spanish-language daily newspaper. By the 30s and 40s, Cortez owned and ran a Theatrical Agency which introduced talented performers from Mexico and other Latin American countries to the U.S. audience. He went on to buy airtime on KMAC Radio producing Spanish songs, comedic acts, and sketches.

Given his love of radio and seeing the growing need for accessible content for Spanish-speaking audiences in the U.S., Cortez applied for his own radio station, which became the first Spanish-language radio station in America. The station went on-air in 1946 with the slogan La Voz Mexicana (The Mexican/Mexican American Voice). With the success of his radio show, Cortez added television to his broadcasting operation, becoming the first Latino-run American TV station in Spanish. 

Cortez was also heavily involved in civil rights advocacy for U.S. Latinos throughout his life, notably overseeing the court case Delgado v. Bastrop Independent School District, which ended the segregation of Mexican Americans in Texas public schools. He also served two terms as president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, and met with the U.S. and Mexican presidents to discuss immigration reform and help develop the Bracero Program, which allowed Mexican farmworkers to migrate back and forth to the U.S. on short-term labor contracts.

Cortez’s legacy lives on through various honors. The National Association of Broadcasters awarded him the media excellence award, and the trade publication Radio Ink created an award—Medallas de Cortez Hispanic Radio Award — to celebrate Latino radio leaders, in his honor.  In 2015, Cortez and his media programs were included in the American Enterprise exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

Feliz cumpleaños, Raoul A. Cortez! 

Special thanks to Raoul Cortez’s estate for their collaboration on this project. Below, Cortez’s grandson, Guillermo Nicolas, shares a statement about his grandfather’s legacy.

Raoul Cortez Sr was an American maverick who had a dream of building radio and television in Spanish. He wanted to entertain, educate and create a platform for Latinos and issues important to us.

Pictured: Raoul Cortez

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Guillermo Nicolas

Go behind the scenes of today’s Doodle

Guest artist, Rafel Lopez, working in his art studio

Early Doodle Draft

Guest Artist Q&A with Rafael Lopez

Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Mexican American guest Rafael Lopez. Below, he shares his thoughts behind the making of this Doodle:

Q: Why was this topic meaningful to you personally? 

A: My Uncle Ruben was the host of a radio program at UNAM in Mexico City called Radio Universidad and we listened each weekday while my mom drove us to elementary school. Given that Raoul Cortez founded first full time Hispanic radio station, “La Voz Mexicana” in the United States, it resonated with me and my memories of listening to my uncle..

Q: What were your first thoughts when you were approached about the project?

A: I felt a rush of excitement along with responsibility to visually tell the remarkable journey of a broadcasting trailblazer and advocate for the civil rights of Mexican Americans. Last year I was challenged and honored to create 57 portraits documenting Latino heritage and culture in the U.S. for the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino in Washington D.C. Like Raoul A. Cortez, these people were often hidden figures in history, people whose contributions were overlooked or marginalized for far too long. I was determined to tell Raoul’s story in a compelling way. 

Q: Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? 

A: Through research, I came across a modern Aztec mask that became a distinct symbol for KCOR broadcasting in San Antonio. It became a powerful symbol of the station's close ties to the Mexican American community. Inspired by this mask, I used an Aztec motif, geometric triangle patterns to acknowledge the vision and influence of Cortez’s truly pioneering work for Mexican Americans.

Q: What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle?

A: Like Raoul, you can make a positive change in life. No matter how big or small your contribution is, the changes will be lasting and remembered.