A history of Chicano scholarship and Chicano Studies
Interview with Dr. José Limón, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the UT-Autin, former director of the Mexican American Center, and chair of local organizing committee for the Texas NACS (National Association of Chicano Studies) about the history of Chicano scholarly work. Limon first explains that Chicano Studies has its origins in the Chicano Student movement. At UT and other schools throughout Texas, Chicano students organized, developed and demanded Chicano Studies programs. Limon says that even before such programs existed, there were scholars like Carlos Castañeda who were working on Chicano issues and developing Chicano archives.
Before the development of Chicano Studies programs, few universities offered courses on Chicanos or even employed Chicano professors. Once the universities started developing these programs there was a real need for Chicano scholars, and Limon discusses some of the problems facing these early programs. He also talks about the difficulties minority professors encountered when they sought tenure. He explains that minority professors often give a lot of time to their community, students and university, and consequently, their output suffers. Limon then discusses several organizations that offer fellowships for young professors to take time off to devote to writing and research.
Limon then talks about the current state of Chicano scholarship. NACS provides a forum for Chicano scholars to present their work in progress and network with others. Limon concludes with a brief description of the upcoming conference in Texas and at UC-Riverside.
KEYWORDS
Americo ParedesArizona
Benson Latin American Collection
California
Carlos Castañeda
Center for Mexican American Studies
Chicano Culture
Chicano Literature
Chicano Movement
Chicano Scholarship
Chicano Studies
Curriculum
Emilio Zamora
Ethnic Studies
Flor Y Canto
Individualism
J. Frank Dobie
Jose Limon
Laredo State University
MAYO
Mexican American Student Organization
Midwest
Minorities in Higher Education
Minority Professors
National Association of Chicano Studies
National Council of Chicanos in Higher Education (nnche)
Neoconservative
New Conservatism
New Mexico
Political ideology
Political Leadership
Rio Grande Valley
Rockefeller Foundation
Samuel McLemore
Scholarship on Chicanos
Southern Minorities Fellowship Fund
St. Mary’s University
Student Activism
Tenure
Texas
Texas A & I
Texas Farm Workers
Tomas Rivera
University of California Riverside
University of Houston
University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas San Antonio