THE AMERICAN STUDIES DEPARTMENT
is hosting their Senior Symposium and Graduation Gathering for AMST
Undergraduates on Wednesday, May 2 at 4:00 PM. The graduating seniors in
American Studies will be giving presentations about their senior capstone research
projects. Afterwards, there will be a gathering with refreshments to celebrate
their graduation. Graduate students, undergraduates, and faculty are welcome to
attend. For more information, see below.
From Latin America to Lake Street: Mercado Central's Role in Ethnic Identity Development
By Josh Jamnik
From ethnography, looking at census data, and from interviews with patrons at Mercado Central my research helps us understand how Latino and Latino American’s ethnic identities are shaped by social interactions and experiences shopping at Mercado Central. Focusing on the history of Mercado Central and its location (the Powderhorn neighborhood) helps us better understand how spaces (specifically ethnic grocery stores) such as Mercado Central fight food insecurity and create a sense of ethnic belonging and identity in a new homeland. Further, my research highlights the role nonprofits and residents play together in creating spaces for ethnic identity development/formation to create stronger communities by blending government, business and residents, enabling more members of the Latin community to experience economic inclusion.
An Unconditional Regard: Harvesting Indigenous Identity from the Landscape
By Jonnelle Walker
A common American misconception is that the pieces that make people “authentic” or “Indian” have all been erased, assimilated, or killed. Walker does her senior project with this ghostly racialization in mind and with the intention to show all of the knowledge that has brilliantly and honorably survived while rooted, buried, and hidden. Much of Indigenous knowledge survived underground, planted and seeded to bloom and blossom in the generations to come. It was not legal for American Indian people to practice their spiritualities until 1978, and so this project is also meant to highlight the resiliency and strength that has come along with suffering. Indigenous people are suffering because even though they may have the legal right to be Native again, they do not have complete autonomy and will not have complete autonomy until they regain access to the Land. The Native American Medicine Garden that Walker studied is an example our Indigenous knowledges coming to surface, blooming and blossoming fruits of knowledge meant to strengthen and feed the Indigenous identities of this Land.
