ZORRO: When you think of Zorro, you think of a masked swashbuckler dressed in a black costume with flowing cape; riding a horse and carving a swift ‘Z” on doorways throughout Mexican villages. Did you know there was a real-life Zorro that the story was based on? Although real-life Zorro was a hero he wasn’t as cool as movie Zorro. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was born in 1753. He came from a wealthy Mexican family. Due to his cleverness, he was nicknamed: “El Zorro” — which means “the fox.” Unlike movie Zorro, real-life El Zorro was an ordained priest and taught theology at the college of San Nicolas Obispo. Unsatisfied with being just a scholar, El Zorro vowed to help his fellow Mexicans; and empowered the workers by teaching them to plant grapevines and improve their farming methods. His goal was to help Mexico gain independence from Spain.