Listen more, react less. If you are too busy reacting, you have a much greater chance of misunderstanding. If you are listening, you have a much greater chance of understanding someone who thinks differently than you.
As part of my series about “authors who are making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Ericka Verba.
Ericka Verba is Director and Professor of Latin American Studies at California State University, Los Angeles. Her research interests include the cultural Cold War, the role of music in social movements, and the intersection of gender and class politics in Latin America. She is also an accomplished musician and was a founding member of the LA-based new song groups Sabiá and Desborde.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?
My family moved around a lot, first for my father’s work and later for my mother’s studies. This means by the time I finished high school I had lived in four states and 2 countries. Moving an average of once every 3 years made me good at making new friends and adapting to new surroundings. I think I’ve carried this throughout my life.
When you were younger, was there a book that you read that inspired you to take action or changed your life? Can you share a story about that?
When I was in 6th grade, I discovered the novels by Leon Uris. I remember being particularly moved by Milo 18, his novel set in the Warsaw ghetto that tells the story of Jewish resistance to Nazi rule. I found the main characters’ capacity for bravery and love inspiring.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
My reading vocabulary has always been more sophisticated than my spoken vocabulary. Also, I can’t spell. This led to one of the funnier incidents in my early career as a teacher. I was reading something about someone who had gotten indicted and proceeded to pronounce “indicted” with a soft “i” (as in the word “predicted”). A student informed me, somewhat scornfully, that the word was pronounced “indicted” with a hard “i” (as in the word “invited”). I proceeded to inform them that the author could have chosen to use the word “indicted” (pronounced with a hard “i”) but that they had instead chosen to use the word “indicted” (pronounced with a soft “i”). Apparently, I thought there were 2 different words with the exact same meaning, one of which was spelled “indicted” and pronounced with a soft “i”, another one that was spelled who knows how and that was pronounced with a hard “i.” I made up for my error at the end of class, however, by reminding my students not to become addicted to drugs, pronounced with a hard “i” so that the it rhymed with “alighted.”
I learned two lessons from this early disaster in teaching. The first was to not be too sure of myself. The second was that humor can be very useful when you’re in a tough situation.
Can you describe how you aim to make a significant social impact with your book?
My goal is to introduce a new audience here in the US to the musician and artist Violeta Parra so that we too can draw inspiration from this extraordinary woman. Parra is already well known throughout Latin America. Her songs inspired a generation of musicians in the Chilean nueva canción or New Song movement, a genre of protest music that emerged in the late 1960s and flourished under the Popular Unity government of President Salvador Allende (1970–73) before being brutally repressed under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973–90). During the long years of military rule, Parra’s music became synonymous with resistance in Chile and worldwide. More recently, her songs have become an essential part of the repertoires of student and feminist movements throughout Latin America. I would like more people to know about Violeta Parra so that they too can draw inspiration from her life and work.
Can you share with us the most interesting story that you shared in your book?
This is a tough question because Violeta Parra was a multifaceted artist and a rebel, so she is interesting in every way. Rather than a story, I will share something notable about her artistry: she was self-taught; she never finished high school and had not formal training in either music or the visual arts. Yet she wrote over two hundred songs, many of which are still sung today. Her most famous song, “Gracias a la vida” or “Thanks to Life” (which gives my book it’s title) has been performed by an international roster of musicians that includes country music star Kasey Musgraves, cellist Yo-Yo Ma (instrumental version), Latin pop singer Shakira, tenor Placido Domingo, K-pop duo Davichi, folk singers Joan Baez and Mercedes Sosa, and Cuban singer Omara Portuondo of the Buena Vista Social Club. Her experimental pieces for guitar are considered to be among the finest pieces for guitar ever written by a Chilean composer. And she is the first Latin American artist to have a solo show in the Museum of Decorative Arts, housed in the Louvre Palace in Paris.
What was the “aha moment” or series of events that made you decide to bring your message to the greater world? Can you share a story about that?
I’m not sure there was any one “aha moment” in my case. I think it was more like an idea that I mulled, like wine, for years. As I learned about Parra it became clear to me that I wanted to understand her life and work and then share what I learned with others. From there, it became something of an obsession. And now it is the finished biography, Thanks to Life (The University of North Carolina Press, 2025).
Without sharing specific names, can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
Many people, myself included, turn to Parra’s songs for strength in troubled times.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
I think it would be wonderful if we as a society offered more support to artists, especially in these times when so many corporations seem to think they can be replaced by AI.
I think equality for women is still more of an aspiration than a reality. I think anything we can do to advance women’s rights, starting with our reproductive rights, would be helpful.
I think anything we can do as a society to promote dialogue and to combat hatred would be helpful.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
I value the Zapatista concept of “leading by obeying.” In my own position as director of Latin American Studies, I like to think of myself as the grout that supports my faculty, students, and staff as they go about their amazing work of envisioning and building a more just world.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
1. That I don’t have to be right all the time. It would have avoided a lot of arguments along the way.
2. Listen more, react less. If you are too busy reacting, you have a much greater chance of misunderstanding. If you are listening, you have a much greater chance of understanding someone who thinks differently than you.
3. Make sure to take care of yourself. You are pretty useless to other people if you let yourself become depleted. Take the time to replenish and revive.
4. Build community. It’s the best and often the only way to get things done.
5. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. We learn from our failures.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
I think of the lyric from “Ella’s song,” performed by Sweet Honey in the Rock. The song is dedicated to civil rights activist Ella Baker. It quotes her words: “We who believe in freedom cannot rest.“ The song reminds me of the courage of Baker and countless other activists. It inspires me when I am feeling defeated.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them.
I am a little shy that way. I am happy to share the people who I admire most with the rest of the world and think I would be intimidated to have a private meal with them.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
They can check out my website, erickaverba.com.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
Social Impact Authors: How & Why Author Ericka Verba Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.