Seminar: Senior Capstone

Latin American & Latino/a Studies

How have our histories been recorded?

History has been primarily told and recorded through the lens of dominant groups and individuals, with their own material culture at the forefront. In other words, history has been written by those with power, who write from their own perspective and worldview. With this being the case, it is inevitable that individuals or  groups that lack cultural or political power will be left out or marginalized. Most archival resources (and even history books) primarily focus on white, Western (North American or European) stories and experiences. Marginalized communities are either intentionally left out or indirectly mentioned. These practices turn the archives, and other kinds of publicly accessible history, into inaccurate representations and depictions of marginalized communities and their stories. This, in turn, uncritically reproduces narratives and discourses that are stereotypical, oppressive, ignorant, dismissive and that further marginalize communities. To record and digitize these stories would be to flip the perspective and more accurately represent the past. Instead of being indirect passive components of a top-down  historical perspective, marginalized communities can tell their stories from their points of view and experiences, and position themselves as active agents within their own histories. 

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