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Powerful Narrative Addressing Concept of What It Means to Be ‘Latino’ Chosen for 2024–25 Book in Common

This article was originally published by 奇科州立大学 and has been republished by 皇冠新现金网 with their permission.

照片 由杰森·哈雷/奇科州立大学提供

The Book in Common has a 历史 of choosing reads that explore topics relevant to higher education, 皇冠新现金网和奇科州立大学, 更大的社区. 明年的入选名单，是hactor Tobar的我们的移民灵魂: A Meditation on Race and the Meanings and Myths of ‘Latino,’” works to decode the meaning of “Latino” as a racial and ethnic identity in the modern United States and gives voice to the anger and hopes of younger Latinx people.

Tobar translates his experience as a journalist, 小说家, 导师, 领袖, and educator to interweave his own story—and that of his parents—of migrating to the United States from Guatemala as he explores the meaning of “Latino” in the 21^st 世纪. 作为西班牙裔服务机构(hsi), 皇冠新现金网和奇科州立大学 embrace the opportunity to amplify this topic and carry the conversation beyond the classroom into everyday interactions and engaging 皇冠新现金网.

“我们的移民灵魂 received an unprecedented level of enthusiastic support from the campus and community, and this Book in Common selection will lead to a year of reading and programming that celebrates the 多样性 of Latinx identities and experiences,” said Book in Common Committee Chair Laura Nice.

Latinx 学生 make up 37 percent of 加州州立’s student body, and over 30 percent of 皇冠新现金网’s 学生 identify as Latinx. This book will help center the experiences of many of our 学生 and anchor the “serving” nature of our responsibility as HSIs, 不错的说. The book meaningfully aligns with both institutions’ strategic priorities and authentically amplifies their commitments to justice, 股本, 多样性, 和包容. 

This year’s selection was driven by overwhelming feedback on the Book in Common selection shortlist, 在教师, 工作人员, 学生, 管理员, 社区成员提供了强有力的支持, 充满激情的, and compelling arguments for “我们的移民灵魂.” In addition to resounding endorsements from individuals, the book carried the support of the Chicano/Latino Council and the Cross-Cultural Leadership Center.

加州州立 历史 professor Gloria Lopez incorporated some of Tobar’s chapters into her “Mexican American History” course this year and said 学生 appreciated how the author recounts stories of 学生 like them. It quickly became clear that while many 学生 have a working definition of terms like “race,”“种族,”“Latinx,和“西班牙裔”,” many are unsure how the labels affect the everyday lives of their peers on campus and in the broader society. In addition to examining the language aspect, this selection will give Latinx 学生 an opportunity to see and celebrate themselves as individuals whose experiences hold cultural capital.

“It is important to understand that Latine/x identity is comprised of so much more than a shared set of features or cultural practices. Only then can we highlight and celebrate the shared experiences of our 学生 at 加州州立,洛佩兹说. “This book has the capacity to create space for 学生 to voice their self-identity assertively; it explores the messiness of how mixed-status families and mixed-race families navigate their place in this country; and it combats the erasures of Latinx culture and identity in U.S. 历史. My hope is that this book will help us as a community reflect on what it means to truly see and serve these 学生 at a Hispanic-Serving Institution.”

Taking on the impacts of colonialism, public policy, immigration, media, and pop culture, 我们的移民灵魂 decodes the meaning of “Latino” as a racial and ethnic identity in the modern United States, and gives voice to young Latino people who have seen Latinidad transformed into hateful tropes and who have faced insult and division.

“This year’s Book in Common selection will open the door to invaluable conversations on identity and race,奇科州立大学校长史蒂夫·佩雷斯说. “I look forward to seeing how our campus and greater community seize this opportunity to discuss the complexities, 情绪, 政治影响, 历史, 以及拉丁裔身份的其他方面.”

The Book in Common is a shared community read designed to promote discussion and understanding of important issues. It is chosen each year by a group of 加州州立 and 皇冠新现金网 faculty and 工作人员, as well as members of the local community. 和往年一样, 皇冠新现金网, 加州州立, 奇科市, and Butte County will sponsor panel discussions, 讲座, and other public 皇冠新现金网 to celebrate and promote the Book in Common.

For more information and details on resources, 皇冠新现金网, and book discussion groups as they are scheduled, 访问 http://www.csuchico.edu/bic/.

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