Raza Struggle and the Movement for Ethnic Studies

presents an investigation of decolonization in the context of education, and what this means for Ethnic Studies projects. It accomplishes this exploration by looking at the history of communities, defined broadly as the Indigenous and mestizo working class peoples from Latin America.

“Miguel Zavala’s work on the struggle and movement for studies and ethnic studies could not be timelier or more critical in this era of the rise of fascism and its fear-based reaction to the demographic shift that has taken place in public schools, particularly in the U.S. Southwest. His insight into Indigenous epistemologies, critical pedagogies, and the critical analysis of political-economy’s impact on Chicanx peoples as viable possibilities for decolonizing and liberatory educational models—far from what we have seen in the traditional binary ‘either/or’ education proposals for the racialized and economically exploited—provides a nuanced yet solid foundation from which educational scholars and practitioners can operationalize and transform the institutional structures to make them responsive to the holistic needs of Raza youth.” —Sean Arce, Educational Consultant at the Xicanx Institute for Teaching and Organizing

“ is a timely text that challenges Xicanx educators, organizers, and scholar activists to contextualize the historical conditions impacting communities and to critically reflect upon the discourses and frames utilized when mobilizing around ethnic studies so as to not perpetuate colonizing practices. Miguel Zavala asks the readers to do so by co-existing with him in a praxis of reflection, dialogue, and healing that consciously situates our work and individual selves as part of a decolonizing collective movement.” —Margarita Berta-Ávila, Professor in the College of Education at Sacramento State University