Xicanacimiento: Chicanx Studies as a Life-Giving Force

How do we know in Chicanx Studies? In this episode, we are joined by Dra. Irene Vasquez, Chair of the Department of Chicana/o Studies at the University of New Mexico (UNM), to discuss Chicana/o/x Studies. The Xicana Tiahui crew learns about Irene’s educational journey and the origins of her commitment to Chicana/o Studies. From UCLA’s Hunger Strike to the departmentalization of Chicana/o Studies at UNM, Dr. Vasquez has been on the frontlines of the struggle for Chicana/o Studies and reflects on the lessons learned on this path, the hard realities of navigating academic institutions, and the beauty of working with communities seeking justice and knowledge. As a collective, we dialogue about the values and ethics that have emerged throughout the development of the field and meditate on the future directions of Chicanx Studies in the academy and most importantly within our communities.