Introduction to Chicanx Studies

This course studies the meaning of “Chicano/a/x” as both an identity and movement as well as the historical conditions that created it. It utilizes Ethnic Studies frameworks on race and ethnicity to position a study of Chicana/o/x History. Students study the political development of a new radical Mexican-American identity in chronological order. Students begin by studying the early 1900’s conquest of the Southwest, the Mexican Revolution, and the U.S. socio-political terrain to contextualize Mexican-American identity and the rise of Chicanismo. Then, students take on an in-depth study of the emergence of the Chicano Movement of the 1960’s and the cultural productions produced from this time of insurgency including Chicano youth subculture, antiwar politics, and student movements. From here, we engage the rich Chicana feminist interventions and queer Chicanx contributions from the 1980’s and beyond. Finally, students look at the role of immigration and border policy in the making of Chicano identity in the 21st century.