About the Project
Foreword
The curriculum I received on Latinos/as in my K-12 education, was incredibly inaccurate, ahistorical, and in many instances, completely lacking. The absence of a detailed and nuanced history left room for stereotypes of Latinx folk as deplorable, lazy, monstrous thieves. This lack of historical awareness for myself and my people for most of my childhood left me with a longing. This deprivation led me to search on my own to find the truth about my people and culture. I use the word “deprivation” here as I was deliberately deprived of the true history of the Americas and my people in the K-12 school system.
This individual instruction, investigation, and illumination gave me a deeper appreciation for the importance of an education. It helped me fall in love with the two subjects that I major in today, History and Chicana/o Studies. My exposure to the course material in both History and Chicano/a studies has afforded me a unique lens that I would not have gained in my History courses alone. As a double major, I have been given a grassroots perspective of the history of the Latinx community. My History major provides me with a wide range of skills, including a deeper understanding of world history in general, the ability to view how past events have impacted the world today, and a broad perspective. At the same time, my Chicano/a Studies major provides me with cultural awareness, appreciation and understanding of different ethnic groups, and an in-depth analysis of the history of my people.
Throughout my undergraduate, I have come to understand the significance of research and have grown to enjoy and value it. I feel as though I am truly myself when I have the opportunity to visit an archive, read a book, and/or encompass myself in study. Each discovery is unlocking a new door and getting me closer to the answer.
The following project is near and dear to my heart. I have conducted this research for three years as a part of my Honors project. I formatted it as a website with the hopes of making it accessible to the public. This is for the people!
¡Que viva la Raza!
Monique Garcia, Class of 2021
California State University, Fullerton
Abstract
Immigration reform is a highly controversial topic. This centers around The United States and Latin America's complicated history. The southern border is an infamous topic of discussion every election year, on popular news channels, and even during family dinners. With individuals using terms like "caravan", "wave" and "illegals". Dehumanizing the individuals that take this life-altering and dangerous journey.
Many Americans hold a negative view of the Latinx population. Some view the population as "mentally inferior" and at a "lower racial level". Unfortunately, some Americans tend to vilify Latinx immigrants and hold a negative stigma towards them. Latinx immigrants are seen as "immigrants of an undesirable type" and so throughout history there have been disputes as to what can be done about the Southern border and should there be an increase in immigration reform in order to keep them from entering the United States.
A xenophobic and bigoted ideology has taken over American society. It comes from the desire of many to have the Reaffirmation of America as a Racially homogenous “white” Republic. This new American dream has blinded Americans resulting in the purge of Mexicans living in the United States in the most inhumane and animalistic ways, through their forced removal and placement in cages.
This project explores the disparity of the minority experience by specifically observing detention centers. However, the specific objective is to present the ways in which the treatment of Mexicans has genocidal tendencies.
Photo of migrants inside a gated fence of a detention center in El Paso, Texas - Sergio Flores; Getty Images