Assault on Mexican American Collective Memory, 20102015

Swimming with Sharks

By (author) Rodolfo F. Acuña

Hardback - £105.00

Publication date:

30 May 2017

Length of book:

296 pages

Publisher

Lexington Books

ISBN-13: 9781498548236

This book uses a micro-narrative structure to explore the assault on the collective memory of Mexican Americans in the Southwest United States from 2010–2016. These communities’ survival depends on their histories and identities, which are being quickly erased by gentrification and dispersal, neoliberalism and privatization. This issue is most apparent in the education system, where Mexican American students receive inferior educations and lack access to higher education. Avoiding the overly-theoretical macro-narrative, this book uses case studies and micro-narratives to suggest possible changes and actions to address this issue. It also explores how the erasure of Mexican Americans’ history and identity mirrors society as a whole.
Acuña (emer., Chicano studies, California State Univ., Northridge) organized five years of collective political writings that contextualize current events within Mexican and Latino populations in Arizona and California. His writings focus on Tucson, Arizona, ethnic studies cultural wars and various campus issues in the CSU system. The collection documents and challenges the various status quo political attacks on the Mexican and Latino population and communities. Acuña contributes a strong introductory chapter that outlines the general purpose of this collection of political writings. His historical perspectives and sources, which make the book original and organic, highlight 50 years of the author's contributions to the field of Chicana/o studies. Acuña's leadership is a major contribution for future research and scholarship on this critical subject. Every library should obtain a copy of this book for its ethnic studies and history collections. Summing Up: Recommended. All levels/libraries.