Introducing the Latinx History F.W.G. - a conversation with Irvin Ibarguen

TLP: Tell us about the new Latinx History F.W.G?

II: The Latinx History F.W.G. is a collaborative that will bring together faculty and graduate students both at NYU and from the wider NY metro area who share a topical interest in Latino studies, whether from a historical, sociological, anthropological or other perspective. It will convene a total of 5 to 6 times in the 2019-2020 academic year to discuss the work of featured speakers, some of whom will be invited guest speakers from outside institutions and some of whom will be NYU faculty. The seminars will make NYU a hub for the “latest and greatest” research in Latino Studies.

TLP: What have you planned for this year?

II: This year we have a lecture series that will be kicked off by Natalia Molina (professor, UCSD), author of Fit to Be Citizens and How Race is Made in America, who will be sharing her new work which stands at the intersection of Urban Studies and Food Studies. We are finalizing details to bring similarly distinguished faculty to share their latest work with us at NYU, and will be sharing names and dates through this space in the Latinx Project website, as well as in the newsletter and social media. This working group is made possible by a grant by the Center for the Humanities and we are thankful for their belief in bringing together cutting edge practitioners of Latino studies. Stay tuned!

TLP: Why is collaborative Latinx research so necessary at this time?

II: Because amongst the surest bases of any identity is a shared sense of history. Of course, this history is created in many sites: in art, television, oral histories. But we believe academia also has to be one of those places. For that to happen, practitioners of Latino studies need to be able to come together, share their research with one another, and sharpen it with their reasoned critiques. Moreover, in the course of sharing our research, we will make clear the common links across the various Latino sub-nationalities, including histories of imperialism, labor exploitation, social marginalization, demonization, and so forth.

TLP: As Latinx historians, what trends and lines of research are you most excited about?

II: I would say “transnationalism,” but more than a trend, I think it is a methodology that is here to stay and will be regarded as a necessary part of many Latinx projects. So, what’s most exciting to me as an instructor of Latino history is when Latinos begin to pop up in fields that have traditionally sidelined them: urban history (shoutout Mike Amezcua!), suburban history, food studies (shout out Mireya Loza!), and even US political history. Fields such as labor history, social movement history, immigration history, and so on have obviously long recognized Latinos as central actors, but I think much can be gained by lodging Latinos against unorthodox thematic backdrops. A material history of Latinos–such as a history of religious artifacts or attire–would be quite interesting.

SP 2021 - Lecture Series

On April 20th, 4:00 - 5:30pm EST, Jessica Ordaz, Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, joins us to deliver a book talk on her newly published project, The Shadow of El Centro: A History of Migrant Incarceration and Solidarity. 

On April 28th, 3:30 - 5:00pm EST, Geraldo Cadava, Professor of History and Latina and Latino Studies at Northwestern University, will join interested readers to discuss his book, The Hispanic Republican: The Shaping of an American Political Identity, from Nixon to Trump. Attendees will receive a copy of the book.

On May 10th, 4:00-5:30pm EST, Matthew J. Garcia, Professor of History and Latin American, Latino, and Caribbean Studies at Dartmouth College, will join interested readers to discuss his book, From the Jaws of Victory. Attendees will receive a copy of the book.