Illinois State University’s Latin American and Latino/a Studies Program will host Alfredo Mirandé, a leading scholar in the field of Chicano-Latino studies, to help celebrate Latino Heritage Month.
“Our events this year encompass a great deal of community building by promoting the work of scholars that are here and whose work contributes to the field of Chicano/Latinx Studies,” said Director of Latin American and Latino/a Studies Maura Toro-Morn.
Alfredo Mirandé
The keynote for the month will be a talk by Mirandé titled “Behind the Mask: Gender Hybridity in a Zapotec Community,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 11, in the Center for Visual Arts, room 147 at Illinois State.
A 1963 graduate from Illinois State, Mirandé is a distinguished professor of sociology and ethnic studies at the University of California.
Born in Mexico City and raised in Chicago, Mirandé will share his most recent work about the third gender in the Zapotec community of Mexico. This work comes from a book entitled Behind the Mask: Gender Hybridity in a Zapotec Community. In his work, he combines historical analysis, ethnographic field research, and interviews conducted with Los Muxes of Juchitán over a period of seven years. Mirandé observed community events, attended Muxe velas, and interviewed both Muxes and other Juchitán residents.
Along with a bachelor’s degree in social science from Illinois State, he earned master’s and doctoral degrees in sociology from the University of Nebraska, and a law degree from Stanford University. Mirandé’s research interests are in Chicano sociology, masculinity, constitutional law, civil rights, and the relationships among law, race, class, and gender. He has written nine books, 47 research articles, and 25 book chapters.
Maura Toro-Morn
“We are exceedingly excited to discover that our roots in the larger ethno-racial landscape that constitutes the founding of these interdisciplinary areas cuts through ISU,” said Toro-Morn of Mirandé’s ties with Illinois State.
Other events throughout campus will include:
The International Seminar Series
“We are excited about this year’s collaboration with the Office of International Studies and Programs. We have worked together to bring to campus leading scholars, lawyers, and activists who are at the forefront of intellectual and policy developments dealing with immigration” added Toro-Morn.
This semester’s series will focus on immigration, with speakers addressing climate refugees after Hurricane Maria, the politics of immigration enforcement, and the experiences of undocumented immigrants. The International Seminar Series will be at noon Wednesdays in the Bone Student Center. A schedule can be found on the Office of International Studies website.
Day of the Dead Culture Presentation
The Spanish Club will present the Day of the Dead Cultural Presentation and Costume Party at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 30, in the Escalante Room of Manchester Hall at Illinois State. A cultural presentation will be held during the opening hour followed by the annual costume party.
More details on Latino Heritage Month will be available on the Latin American and Latino/a Studies website.
