What was the role of “el barrio” for Puerto Ricans living in New York City?
Given the number of Puerto Ricans in New York over many generations, some use the term “Nuyorican” or “Boriqua” or “Boriken” or “Borinquento” to describe this particular identity and experience.
How did these terms come about?
What is their significance to the Purto Rican experience?
Do they unite or divide?
Puerto Ricans voted to become the 51st U.S. state ? again, what would persuade mainland Americans to support their bid, and what does that mean for the 50 states and Puerto Rico?
What is the state of Cubans today in the United States?
Many Dominican people flee to the United States, the land of their oppressors’ support; what effect do you think this has on them?
What were the educational prospects for American Mexicans or Mexican American students, and has it changed?
What personal anecdotes do students like Paula Crisostomo and Carlos Muñoz share to describe how the school system perceived them and their potential?
According to Moctesuma Esparza, what term did students adopt to reference their identity and why?
What is the current state of American Mexicans or Mexican Americans?
What is the state of the Chicana/Chicano identity?
What is going on with Mexican American and Chicana/Chicano Studies?
Why did the Raza Unida Party fail?
Why do we not see more representation of the American Mexican or Mexican American or Chicana/Chicano other than stereotypes, crime, or hypersexualization?
American Mexicans or Mexican Americans played a pivotal role in ending school segregation; why is Brown vs. Board of Education always the reference point?
Who were some of the key players in the effort to organize farmworkers?
Why are Dolores Huerta’s narrative and prominence not as loud as Chavez’s?
Have Cubans ever overcome the view of media portrayal?
What effects has American policy had on Central America over the years, and how has it impacted those here?
Who is responsible for the merger of Spanish and English music fans, Gloria Estefan, Selena Quintanilla, or someone else?
What became the American Mexican or Mexican American, Chicana/Chicano, Hispanic, and Latin movements?
Where does it stand, and does it have significance today?
How did the American Mexican or Mexican American, Chicana/Chicano, Hispanic, and Latin culture become a commodity and product instead of a powerful tool for empowerment and evolution?
Think about social media, major corporations, and other entities that profit or benefit from the cultures but do not give back.
Critique how before social media, the cultures in mainstream society were far from and few that were being exhibited and exposed.
Examine those who had access but did not use this to progress or present the cultures except for self-benefit or profit.
Analyze how the cultures, possibly including you, have excepted scraps over the years from society and the government and to this day beg them to acknowledge and accept them. Yet, we can’t accept ourselves without others’ accolades and affirmation.
How can the narrative of Latins seeking asylum, undocumented immigrants, DACA/DAPA, or those still in the “homeland” create division with and miss the narrative of Latins with citizenship or born within the United States?
Why are there issues between Dreamers, undocumented immigrants, and DACA/DAPA individuals?
