AMST 314 - Latinx Migrants in the U.S.

This course focuses on the histories and experiences of Latinx migrants — from Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, and South America — living in the United States. You will study the historical, political, and economic processes that have led to these migrations, as well as the varying ways in which race/ethnicity, class, gender/sexuality, and citizenship affect Latinx migrant lived experience. Our readings will foreground the themes of origins and transitions from the literal movement of people, to the constant back and forth that shapes Latinx lives, to the adjustments Latinx people make given their language, their proximity to other immigrants and communities of color, and their varying acceptance within the United States. We will begin by examining various explanations for Latinx migration. The class will then turn towards series of case studies that will examine Latinx migrant experiences in relation to issues such the legacies of U.S. colonialism, challenges of belonging, occupational niches and hazards, indigenous subjectivities, shifting gender ideologies/relations, race and the cultural politics of class and ethnicity.

Prerequisites & Notes: AMST 203 or AMST 301
Credits: 4
Grade Mode: Letter