The Latin American and Latina/o/x Studies program at Illinois State University is gearing up for this year’s keynote speaker in honor of Latinx Heritage Month. Dr. Hilda Lloréns, a distinguished cultural anthropologist and decolonial scholar, will deliver this year’s keynote address, “Ecological Knowledge and Sustainable Practices in Afro-Puerto Rico,” on Tuesday, October 17 at 7 p.m. in Felmley Hall of Science Annex 133.
In her upcoming talk, Lloréns will draw from her recent book, Making Livable Worlds: Afro-Puerto Rican Women Building Environmental Justice. The book delves deep into the interconnected battles that Afro-Puerto Rican communities—particularly women leaders—are waging against climate change, ecocide, racism, systemic structural oppression, pollution, contamination, resource extractivism, dispossession, and gentrification. Lloréns contends that local ecological knowledge and Afro-Puerto Rican cultural practices are central to the survival for these communities.
In Puerto Rico, Black and Afro-descended women have been at the forefront of demanding protection of the ecosphere they depend on for sustenance and cultural integrity. They have been stewards of ancestral lands and seas, passing down cultural lifeways and fugitive practices for generations, both in the archipelago and in the diaspora.
“The women documented in my book have defied despair and reshaped a world initially stacked against them,” says Lloréns. “Through kinship, community, and alliance-building, they have illuminated a path toward a reconstructed world that sustains lives, families, and communities.”
Lloréns’ impact extends beyond her scholarly pursuits. At the University of Rhode Island, she teaches courses that touch on crucial anthropological theories, language and culture, gender dynamics, and the study of Latinas/Latinos/Latinxs. Her dedication to understanding the complexities of our world shines through her writings and teachings, inviting us all to question the structures that shape our lives and the power dynamics that drive our societies.
The keynote lecture is made possible by the generous contributions of the following programs: African American Studies, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program, the Dean of Students, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, and the Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment. It is an event not to be missed, and all are encouraged to follow the program’s social media accounts for updates on the event.
As we celebrate Latinx Heritage Month, Lloréns’ work serves as a testament to the enduring spirit, creativity, and resilience of Afro-Puerto Rican women and their vital role in shaping a more just and sustainable world.
