Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies Commons^™

Sustainable Pathways For Successful Small Businesses In Chelsea, Massachusetts, Fabián Torres-Ardila, Lorna Rivera, Carolina Rojas-Pion, Daniela Bravo, Henry Chavez

Gastón Institute Publications

This report focuses on the critical role that small business owners and entrepreneurs play in the socioeconomic development of a predominantly Latino community like Chelsea, Massachusetts.

This report compiles the key findings and recommendations that resulted from conducting a qualitative study with small business owners and other individuals who play important roles in advocating for and supporting this community. Assuming an asset-based approach rather than a deficit-based one (Green & Haines, 2011), our study focuses on the skills and knowledge of small business owners and identifies a myriad of possibilities for City administrators to build upon existing practices and behaviors …

A Deeper Look: The Impacts Of Covid-19 Among Latinos In Omaha, Diana Molina

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

The COVID-19 pandemic has manifested worldwide distress, affecting the lives of all population groups. Racial disparities are evident as minority populations are being disproportionately affected by the impacts of COVID-19. Data indicate that the Latino population may experience more severe cases of COVID-19 and have a higher mortality rate. However, little is known about the effects that the pandemic is having on day-to-day life. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate COVID-19's impact on life aspects including employment situation, finances, mental health, and experiences of discrimination among the Omaha Latino community. A survey collected data from 311 participants …

Disparities In Access To Assisted Reproductive Technology Among Hispanic Women In The United States, Madison Gallagher

Honors Thesis

Infertility is a health problem that affects approximately 7 million women in the United States (Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 2015). Due to the high costs of reproductive medicine and infertility treatment, these services tend to be expensive and have limited accessibility without full insurance coverage. Emerging literature outlines the disparities in access to proper treatment for reproductive complications. These existing studies highlight that many minority populations in the United States experience increased challenges regarding access to reproductive medicine and infertility treatment. Among these minority groups are Hispanic women, who are more likely to require reproductive …

Testimonio And Counterstorytelling By Immigrant-Origin Children And Youth: Insights That Amplify Immigrant Subjectivities, Ariana Mangual Figueroa, Wendy Barrales

Publications and Research

This article seeks to amplify our scholarly view of immigrant identity by centering the first-person narratives of immigrant-origin children and youth. Our theoretical and methodological framework centers on testimonio—a narrative practice popularized in Latin American social movements in which an individual recounts a lived experience that is intended to be representative of a collective struggle. Our goal is to foreground first-person narratives of childhood as told by immigrant-origin children and youth in order to gain insight into what they believe we should know about them. We argue for the power of testimonio to communicate both extraordinary hardship and everyday experiences …

Obesity Among Hispanics: The Relationship To Lifestyles, Socioeconomic Characteristics, And Education, Stacey Harmer

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Honorable Mention Winner

In the Hispanic community, there are multiple factors that increase the probability of obesity. Among them are the diets and changes in diets over the past several decades, lifestyles and urbanization that have promoted sedentarism, status in society and stratification, education, and gender. Among the populations, women have higher risk of obesity in the Hispanic community. Education and socioeconomic status plays differing roles in the rates of obesity in developed and developing countries. Socioeconomic status affects the resources and support that are available. Urbanization increases the likelihood of adopting diets that are higher in fats and refined …

La Llorona, Picante Pero Sabroso: The Mexican Horror Legend As A Story Of Survival And A Reclamation Of The Monster, Camille Maria Acosta

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

For centuries, the relationship between Mexico and its infatuation with scary stories has been profoundly complex, but why? Perhaps it is the easiest way to communicate a Mexican culture, although proud and resilient, riddled with haunting narratives. For myself personally, the Mexican horror narrative La Llorona has served as a lens for conversation and communication that is unique and important.

In this thesis, I explore how Mexicans and Mexican Americans alike use the legend of La Llorona as a unique form of communication through personifying what truly haunts us. From using the narrative as a tool for entertainment, cautionary tales, …

An Archival Text Within A Text: Valeria Luiselli’S 'Lost Children Archive', Kayla J. Baur

Publications and Research

The novel Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli is an extremely referential novel, so much so that she creates an archival text of her own to support her story and the ideas she is trying to convey to readers about the border crisis. She crafts this archival text, Elegies for Lost Children by Ella Composanto, as a guide for both the narrators and readers so that they may understand the titular lost children and train themselves to see the book from a political narrative. This peculiar decision to include a made-up literary source as the primary focus of her archive …

The Car Ride Home, Jonathan Rivera

English Honors Theses

The Car Ride Home explores the coming of age of a young boy into a queer man, searching and sifting through the trauma of home life, and realizing his mother’s addiction affects more than just herself, but an entire family. This realization coincides with views of masculinity, as he carefully watches the men around him. He internalizes these depictions of masculinity when exploring his own confusion and investigation of his own sexual identity and queerness. The poetry collection is broken up into two connected parts. Part one explores the illusion of childhood and nostalgia while introducing subtle glimpses and secrets …

Initial Development Of The Escala De Fortaleza En Jóvenes Para Padres, David Moran

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

National statistics indicate substantial mental health and academic challenges experienced by a sizable proportion of Hispanic children and adolescents in American school settings. School counselors can provide culturally responsive supports to this population and would benefit from contextually grounded, ecologically valid assessments that focus on the positive development of Hispanic children and adolescents. To address this instrumentation gap, this study sought to develop initial items for the Escala de Fortaleza en Jóvenes para Padres in both English and Spanish. A qualitative approach was implemented to explore the perceptions of Hispanic parents/caregivers of their child or adolescent’s resiliency. Eight Hispanic parents …

La Voz Spring 2021, El Instituto: Institute Of Latina/O, Caribbean, And Latin American Studies

La Voz

In this issue:

• Conference Brings Cuba Scholars to UConn
• Performance Art in the Crossfire
• An Evening with Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
• Jesús Ramos-Kittrell Wins AAUP Teaching Innovation Award
• Alumni Contribute to State Latinx History Curriculum Initiative
• New Study: School Employees Help Farmworker Families Access Health Care

Colonial/Modern Gender System & Femicides, Melanie Pangol

Student Publications

The research paper addresses how a decolonial feminism framework has been applied to the anti-femicides movement that are happening in Ciudad Juarez. Furthermore, the paper argues that due to the cheap and exploitative labor force status that has been imposed upon black and brown female bodies, such women have been disproportionately impacted by gender violence.

Leading Hispanic Serving Community Colleges: Latinx Faculty Perceptions About The Aacc Competencies, Sanjuanita Chavira Scott

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Latinx students are likely to enter postsecondary education at a community college. This phenomenon has led to the increase in community colleges being designated as Hispanic Serving Institutions. The designation of Hispanic Serving is not driven by mission, but rather by number of enrolled students who identify as Latinx. This preliminary descriptive study examined the perceptions of faculty at four Hispanic Serving community colleges in Texas regarding their proficiency on leadership competencies for faculty, whether there were differences in the perceptions of Latinx and non-Latinx faculty members, and whether certain leadership competencies influence faculty members’ decisions to pursue leadership opportunities. …

Asian American Perspectives On Immigration Policy, Van C. Tran, Natasha K. Warikoo

Publications and Research

Despite the rapid growth in both documented and undocumented Asian Americans, their attitudes toward immigration policy are not well understood. Drawing on data from the 2016 National Asian American Survey, this article examines both interracial and intra-Asian differences in views toward immigration. Relative to other racial groups, Asians are as likely to support legal migration, but less likely to support undocumented migration. We document significant diversity among Asians. As labor migrants, Filipinos support a congressional increase in annual work visas. As economic migrants, Chinese and Indians support an increase in annual family visas. As refugees, Vietnamese are least supportive of …

Community Engagement In Tpc Programs During Times Of Crisis: Embracing Chicana And Latina Feminist Practices, Nora Rivera, Laura Gonzales

English Faculty Articles and Research

Drawing on lessons gathered while teaching community engagement in technical communication courses during the COVID-19 pandemic, two Latina instructors, one in New Mexico and one in Florida, highlight the value that Chicana and Latina feminism can bring to technical communication pedagogies. The authors share course assignments and student examples that demonstrate their applications of Chicana/Latina feminist practices in technical communication. Through pláticas and testimonios, methodologies and methods grounded in Latina/Chicana feminism, the authors demonstrate how they navigate the challenges of the pandemic while also creating spaces for students to share, heal, and contribute to the activist work taking place in …

School Leaders Supporting Students Of Color In Predominately-White Schools, Jonathan Swan

Educational Studies Dissertations

Legal challenges to racial segregation and changes in the racial composition of many suburbs have altered the racial makeup of public schools in the United States. This phenomenological study looked at how principals in Predominately-White schools (PWS) and educator facilitators for a state desegregation program (DP) learn about the perceptions of students of color (SOC) in their schools, address negative perceptions of SOC, and attempt to support SOC; it also inquired about hindrances to their efforts to serve SOC more effectively. Thematic analysis of transcripts of interviews with five principals and four desegregation facilitators led to 10 findings. Critical Race …

Pinturas Del Artista Plástico Maya, Marcelo Jiménez Santos

Maya America: Journal of Essays, Commentary, and Analysis

Originario de la comunidad maya de Noh Cah, en el municipio de Felipe Carrillo Puerto, en el estado de Quintana Roo, México. Desde 1976 hasta la fecha, han sido incontables las exposiciones pictóricas en las que ha participado, ya en forma individual, ya en forma colectiva y su labor pictórica, didáctica, de promoción, gestión y difusión cultural ha sido ininterrumpida. Sus acciones en el contexto de la creación, promoción y difusión han contribuido para que las propuestas del arte y cultura maya actual tengan presencia en nuevos escenarios y destinatarios, tanto en el ámbito cultural local, regional, nacional e internacional.

¿Hacia Dónde Va La Lengua Maya De La Península De Yucatán? Entre Institucionalización Y Patrimonialización, Fidencio Briceño Chel

Maya America: Journal of Essays, Commentary, and Analysis

En este comentario se esboza brevemente lo que significa la institucionalización de las lenguas indígenas nacionales en México y se discute el nuevo planteamiento de la patrimonialización de la lengua maya. Se revisan los planteamientos, objetivos, alcances y tareas que han llevado a un ejercio efectivo y crítico de la refuncionalización de la lengua maya en la Península de Yucatán.

Migración, Familias Transnacionales Y Vejez En La Experiencia Maya Yucateca En Yucatán, Adriana Cruz-Manjarrez

Maya America: Journal of Essays, Commentary, and Analysis

Este artículo discute el impacto de la migración internacional en la población adulta mayor en Yucatán. Se presentan cinco estudios de caso de veintitrés entrevistas a profundidad realizadas a familias transnacionales. En este estudio encontramos que los padres y madres envejecidos que tienen hijos emigrados en California desarrollan un sentido de bienestar y calidad de vida positivo con base en el sostenimiento de redes familiares transnacionales e intergeneracionales, los trabajos del cuidado realizados por la parentela local, y el envío de remesas para el mejoramiento del patrimonio familiar. El análisis de las redes comunitarias y el activismo grupal transnacional, en …

Complete Issue Maya America Vol. 3 Iss. 1, Adriana Cruz-Manjarrez, Ana Bella Pérez Castro

Maya America: Journal of Essays, Commentary, and Analysis

The complete first issue of Volume 3 of Maya America

Auto®Ficción Latinx De Nueva York (1999–2020), Jacqueline Herranz Brooks

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This research on the intersection of Literary Criticism, Latino Studies, Persona Studies, and Performance Studies has led me to question the accepted definitions of autoficción (Doubrovsky, Gasparini, Alberca, Casas, Schlikers) and expand that definition into a more multifaceted and operational term. Hence, I created auto®ficción, a new term describing the hybrid creations of a group of underrepresented contemporary Latinx authors living/producing/circulating their work in New York City, during the first two decades of the 21^st Century. For these authors, their life experiences and quotidian uses of this city’s spaces are the subjects of their work. Auto®ficción draws attention …

Introductory Note, Adriana Cruz-Manjarrez, Ana Bella Pérez Castro

Maya America: Journal of Essays, Commentary, and Analysis

English Introductory Note

“Aquí La Haces, Aquí La Pagas”: La Ética De La Palabra En Algunos Exempla Del Yucatán Contemporáneo, Abrahan Jesús Collí Tun

Maya America: Journal of Essays, Commentary, and Analysis

El presente artículo explora la tradición oral yucateca contemporánea y se enfoca en algunos géneros didácticos relacionados con la performatividad enunciativa y con las retóricas corporales en contextos premorten, para dilucidar algunas pautas axiológicas de los narradores y la forma en que aquellos inciden en la confección de marcos éticos y morales sobre la comunicación en sus contextos sociales.

Nota Introductoria, Adriana Cruz-Manjarrez, Ana Bella Pérez Castro

Maya America: Journal of Essays, Commentary, and Analysis

Spanish Introductory Note

La Universidad Ixil Y La Descolonización Del Conocimiento, Giovanni Batz

Maya America: Journal of Essays, Commentary, and Analysis

La academia es considerada por muchos como un eje del colonialismo que monopoliza la producción del conocimiento. Fuera de las paredes de la torre de marfil de la academia, existen muchos esfuerzos de las comunidades indígenas y grupos marginados para crear sus propias formas y espacios de producción de conocimiento y educación. Los Mayas en la región Ixil, Guatemala están teorizando y debatiendo estas preguntas sobre las funciones de la educación a través de la Universidad Ixil, fundada en 2011, y la cual se esfuerza por enseñar a los estudiantes formas del conocimiento Maya-Ixil, sus saberes, valores y tichajil (el …

Soy El Hijo Del Sol, Jesus Cristobal Pat Chable (Pat Boy)

Maya America: Journal of Essays, Commentary, and Analysis

En 2009 inicio su carrera de rapero como solista, promoviendo su primer rap en lengua maya. Eligió su nombre artístico Pat Boy, ya que “Pat” significa darle forma a algo o crear algo nuevo, una palabra en la lengua de sus ancestros mayas (como Jacinto Pat) que fueron luchadores de a guerra social maya. Su trabajo se enfoca en el fortalecimiento de la lengua maya y con sus canciones la difunde más allá de las fronteras para los jóvenes y personas de todas las edades. Si objetivo es llegar a nuevos horizontes, marcando su propio estilo. Sus temas hablan sobre …

Homenaje Póstumo A Felipe Tapia Chablé, Alma Delia Pech Gutiérrez, Bernardo Caamal Itzá, Alberto Pérez-Rendón

Maya America: Journal of Essays, Commentary, and Analysis

Homenaje póstumo a Felipe de Jesus Tapia Chablé, se presenten tres notas póstumas al entrañable activista maya Felipe de Jesús Tapia Chablé por Alma Delia Pech Gutiérrez; Bernardo Caamal Itzá; and Alberto Pérez-Rendón. Felipe de Jesus Tapia Chablé nació en Peto Yucatán en el año de 1977. Fue colaborador de dos estaciones de radio: la Xepet “La Voz de los Mayas” en su pueblo natal y en la Radio Canal, una radio comunitaria en San Rafael, California. En su juventud emigró a Estados Unidos a trabajar y también realizó trabajo comunitario transnacional. A su regreso a Yucatán continuó con el …

Los Vecinos De Este Pueblo Quieren Fiesta: Celebraciones Patronales Y Corridas De Toros Durante La Prohibición Revolucionaria En Yucatán, Julián Dzul Nah

Maya America: Journal of Essays, Commentary, and Analysis

Este artículo explora una época que las corridas de toros celebradas en Yucatán —llamadas paywakax en lengua maya— fueron suprimidas por el régimen revolucionario de Salvador Alvarado y algunos de sus sucesores socialistas en la gubernatura del Estado (1915-1924). Aunque la información al respecto contenida en documentos locales de la época se antoja parca en detalles, ésta es útil para esbozar la complejidad de un momento en que mientras la política estatal se daba a la tarea de “desbarbarizar” y “desfanatizar a los indios”, los habitantes del Yucatán rural —algunos de ellos militantes o autoridades socialistas— se empeñaban en mantener …

Biographies/Biografías, Adriana Cruz-Manjarrez, Ana Bella Pérez Castro

Maya America: Journal of Essays, Commentary, and Analysis

Author Biographies

Los Conflictos Del Gran Consejo Maya: Dinámicas De La Relación Entre Los Mayas Macehuales Y El Estado De Quintana Roo, Hilda Landrove Torres

Maya America: Journal of Essays, Commentary, and Analysis

En los dos últimos años, los ‘dignatarios’ mayas macehuales de la zona central de Quintana Roo se han visto enfrentados a un conflicto que ha causado una profunda división. El objetivo del presente artículo es explorar, a través de un acercamiento etnográfico complementado con información histórica, la relación entre el grupo maya macehual y las instituciones creadas para atender a las comunidades mayas del Estado de Quintana Roo, así como los mecanismos que permiten regular la actuación de los jefes que forman parte de dichas instituciones. Poniendo atención fundamentalmente en los mecanismos que son puestos en juego en dicha relación, …

¡Estás Calurosa, Te Vas A Pasmar!: Niños Mayas Como Expertos En Salud Y Enfermedad, Deira Jiménez-Balam, María Dolores Cervera Montejano, Fidencio Briceño Chel

Maya America: Journal of Essays, Commentary, and Analysis

Presentamos resultados de un estudio sobre los saberes y prácticas de niños mayas en torno a salud y enfermedad. El objetivo es describir sus conceptualizaciones sobre la salud, las enfermedades que conocen, sus causas, tratamiento y prevención. El estudio lo realizamos con 12 niños mayas de Noh-Cah, Quintana Roo, México, que tenían entre 6 y 12 años. La metodología consistió en la elaboración de dibujos y entrevistas. Los resultados mostraron que para los niños estar sano significa estar felices y hacer lo que les gusta (jugar al aire libre o tomar bebidas frías). Los niños describieron enfermedades reconocidas por el …