Deborah Santana

Deborah Sara Santana (née King, born January 30, 1951) is a peace and social justice activist for women and people of color, business manager and author. She is the former wife of musician Carlos Santana.[1]

Deborah Santana
Deborah Santana in 2019, wearing a floral top
Santana in 2019
Born
Deborah Sara King

(1951-01-30) January 30, 1951
San Francisco, California, United States
Alma materCalifornia Institute of Integral Studies (MA)
Occupations
  • Author
  • Business Manager
  • Activist
Spouses
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1973; div. 2007)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 2015; div. 2019)​
Children3; including Salvador Santana
Parent
Websitedeborahsantana.com

Early life and education

Santana is the daughter of the blues musician Saunders King[2] and Jo Frances King (née Willis).[3] Santana graduated from the California Institute of Integral Studies and holds a Master of Arts in Philosophy and Religion with a Concentration in Women's Spirituality.[4]

Career

From 1994 to 2007, Santana was vice-president and COO of Santana Management, which involved working in management of her husband's band.[5][6]

Philanthropy

As a philanthropist, Santana founded Do a Little, a non-profit which seeks to empower children and underprivileged women, in 2008.[7][8][9] Santana has also served as a trustee for ANSA (Artists for a New South Africa) and the Smithsonian Institution. She is on the board of directors of the Violence Intervention program in Los Angeles and is a First Century Leader of the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative, as well as a member of the Advisory Committee.[10][11][12] Santana is also a founding donor of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.[13]

In 2005, Santana published Space Between the Stars: My Journey to an Open Heart, a memoir detailing her biracial upbringing as a child of African-American and European-American parents, and her marriage to Carlos.[14] In 2018, Santana edited and co-published the anthology All the Women in My Family Sing: Women Write the World: Essays on Equality, Justice, and Freedom (Nothing But the Truth So Help Me God), a collection of poems and stories written by 69 women of color.[15][16][17][18] She has also contributed to the anthologies Tutu As I Know Him: On a Personal Note (2006), Nothing But the Truth So Help Me God (2012), Life Moments for Women (2012), and 20 Years - Chokecherries Anniversary Edition (2013).[19]

Santana is credited as a producer on five short documentary films focusing on the Daraja Academy, a free secondary boarding school for high performing girls in need in Kenya, and the work of non-profit partners in South Africa.[20][21] Four of these films were directed by Emmy Award-winner Barbara Rick.[22] Santana continues to support the Daraja Academy both financially and by using her celebrity to bring awareness.[23][24]

Personal life

Santana has three children with Carlos Santana, whom she married in 1973 and divorced in 2007.[25] Salvador Santana is a songwriter, band leader, and instrumentalist;[26] Stella Santana, a singer/songwriter/performer;[27] and Angelica Santana, a writer, archivist, and film producer.[28]

References
  1. "Carlos, Deborah Santana divorcing after 34 years". The Mercury News. 1 November 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  2. Meisfjord, Tom (29 May 2020). "The Truth About Carlos Santana's Wives". Grunge.com. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  3. "Jo Frances King Obituary (2006) Marin Independent Journal". Legacy.com. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  4. "Deborah Santana". California Institute of Integral Studies. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  5. "Deborah Santana". YWCA. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  6. Mulrooney, C. Delia. "An Interview with Deborah Santana". Literary Mama. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  7. "'My Passion, My Philanthropy': Deborah Santana Carries Forward Stewardship Tradition". Women's eNews. 26 October 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  8. Danflous, Patricia (30 October 2014). "Do a Little, Make a Big Difference". mcall.com. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  9. "Interview with Deborah Santana". mariaramoschertok.com. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  10. "About". Smithsonian American Women's History. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  11. "Leadership". Violence Intervention Program. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  12. "Violence Intervention Program". Violence Intervention Program. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  13. "Founding Donors". National Museum of African American History and Culture. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  14. Lara, Adair (22 November 2004). "With a memoir, Deborah Santana emerges from Carlos' shadow". SFGATE. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  15. ALL THE WOMEN IN MY FAMILY SING | Kirkus Reviews.
  16. "Author Talk: Deborah Santana". Marin Magazine. 12 February 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  17. Rhor, Monica (27 March 2018). "Anthology by Deborah Santana celebrates strength, resilience of women of color". Chron. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  18. "All the Women in My Family Sing: Interview with Deborah Santana". MissHeard Media. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  19. "Works". Deborah Santana. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  20. "Deborah Santana – iVOW". 23 December 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  21. McClain, James (28 May 2020). "Deborah Santana Goes Way Mod in Los Angeles". Variety. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  22. Rick, Barbara (3 September 2014). "Celebrating Kathy". HuffPost. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  23. Yayoi (8 June 2014). "Deborah Santana Host to Benefit Daraja Academy". The Experience Magazine. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  24. "Donor Desk: Deborah Santana". The San Francisco Foundation. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  25. Rees, Caroline (12 December 2014). "Carlos Santana: my family values". the Guardian. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  26. Aguado, E. J. (14 December 2016). "Salvador Santana, Son of that Famous Guitarist, Carves His Own Musical Path". Fox News. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  27. "Meet Stella, Daughter of Carlos Santana, An R&B Singer-Songwriter On The Rise". Remezcla. 28 July 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  28. "Meet Later Mom Deborah Santana (Interview by Robin Gorman Newman)". MotherhoodLater.com. Retrieved 4 August 2021.

 This article incorporates text by Cinnamongirl Inc. available under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license. The text and its release have been received by the Wikimedia Volunteer Response Team.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.