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Blackness in Mexico: Afro-Mexican Recognition and the Production of Citizenship in the Costa Chica (New World Diasporas)
by Anthony Russell JerryAn up-close view of the movement to make “Afro-Mexican” an official cultural category Through historical and ethnographic research, Blackness in Mexico delves into the ongoing movement toward recognizing Black Mexicans as a cultural group within a nation that has long viewed the non-Black Mestizo as the archetypal citizen. Anthony Jerry focuses on this process in Mexico’s Costa Chica region in order to explore the relational aspects of citizenship and the place of Black people in how modern citizenship is imagined. Jerry’s study of the Costa Chica shows the political stakes of the national project for Black recognition; the shared but competing interests of the Mexican government, activists, and townspeople; and the ways that the state and NGOs are working to make “Afro-Mexican” an official cultural category. He argues that that the demand for recognition by Black communities calls attention to how the Mestizo has become an intuitive point of reference for identifying who qualifies as “other.” Jerry also demonstrates that while official recognition can potentially empower African descendants, it can simultaneously reproduce the same logics of difference that have brought about their social and political exclusion. One of few books to center Blackness within a discussion of Mexico or to incorporate a focus on Mexico into Black studies, this book ultimately argues that the official project for recognition is itself a methodology of mestizaje, an opportunity for the government to continue to use Blackness to define the national subject and to further the Mexican national project. A volume in the series New World Diasporas, edited by Kevin A. Yelvington Publication of this work made possible by a Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Chambers v. Florida and the Criminal Justice Revolution (Government and Politics in the South)
by Richard BrustThis book explores the history and enduring legacy of Chambers v. Florida, a landmark ruling that banned confessions obtained through mental or physical coercion in criminal trials and contributed to what is now known as the “criminal procedure revolution.”
Of Slash Pines and Manatees: A Highly Selective Field Guide to My Suburban Wilderness (Co-published with Florida Humanities)
by Andrew FurmanThrough stories of nature near at hand, Andrew Furman explores touchpoints between his everyday suburban life and the environment in South Florida, contemplating his place in a subtropical landscape stretching from the Everglades to the Atlantic coast.
The Archaeology of New Netherland: A World Built on Trade
by John P. McCarthy Craig LukezicUncovering the material culture of Dutch colonization in North America The Archaeology of New Netherland illuminates the influence of the Dutch empire in North America, assembling evidence from seventeenth-century settlements located in present-day New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Archaeological data from this important early colony has often been overlooked because it lies underneath major urban and industrial regions, and this collection makes a wealth of information widely available for the first time. Contributors to this volume begin by discussing the global context of Dutch colonization and reviewing typical Dutch material culture of the time as seen in ceramics from Amsterdam households. Next, they focus on communities and activities at colonial sites such as forts, trading stations, drinking houses, and farms. The essays examine the agency and impact of Indigenous people and enslaved Africans, particularly women, in the society of New Netherland, and they trace interactions between Dutch settlers and Europeans from other colonies including New Sweden. The volume also features landmark studies of cooking pots, marbles, tobacco pipes, and other artifacts. The research in this volume offers an invitation to investigate New Netherland with the same sustained rigor that archaeologists and historians have shown for English colonialism. The many topics outlined here will serve as starting points for further work on early Dutch expansion in America. Contributors: Craig Lukezic | John P. McCarthy | Charles Gehring | Marijn Stolk | Ian Burrow | Adam Luscier | Matthew Kirk | Michael T. Lucas | Kristina S. Traudt | Marie-Lorraine Pipes | Anne-Marie Cantwell | Diana diZerega Wall | Lu Ann De Cunzo | Wade P. Catts | William B. Liebeknecht | Marshall Joseph Becker | Meta F. Janowitz | Richard G. Schaefer | Paul R. Huey | David A. Furlow
Crafting Constitutions in Florida, 1810–1968 (Government and Politics in the South)
by Robert CassanelloTracing over 200 years of constitutional tradition in Florida As historical documents, constitutions represent a unique window into the economic, social, and political contexts of the people who debated, drafted, and ratified them. This comprehensive volume examines all constitutions drafted in Florida, from the territorial era to the most recent version from 1968. In addition to the 6 constitutional revisions implemented by the state government, chapters in this book include discussions of the West Florida Republic Constitution of 1810 and the East Florida Patriot Constitution of 1812, both created before Florida became a state, as well as the constitutions of the Seminole and Miccosukee People. Contributors show what aspects of each constitution were borrowed from existing traditions and what parts were influenced by circumstances of the time. Florida has the twelfth most-revised constitution in the nation, offering a useful case study both in comparison to other states and in the flexibility of state constitutions compared to the US Constitution. This volume presents a complete history of the drafting of constitutions and the creation of governments across people and movements in Florida. It provides background information for today’s debates about whether the 1968 constitution should be revised and what the next steps are for the state in this 200-year tradition. A volume in the series Government and Politics in the South, edited by Sharon D. Wright Austin and Angela K. Lewis-MaddoxContributors: M.C. Mirow | James M. Denham | Robert Cassanello | Samuel C. Hyde, Jr. | Andrea L. Oliver | Christopher Day | Mary E. Adkins | R. Boyd Murphree | Andrew K. Frank
The Allure of Immortality: An American Cult, a Florida Swamp, and a Renegade Prophet
by Lyn MillnerWall Street Journal’s Five Best Books About CultsThe true story of cult leader Cyrus Teed and his hollow earth theoryFor five days in December 1908 the body of Cyrus Teed lay in a bathtub at a beach house just south of Fort Myers, Florida. His followers, the Koreshans, waited for signs that he was coming back to life. They watched hieroglyphics emerge on his skin and observed what looked like the formation of a third arm. They saw his belly fall and rise with breath, even though his swollen tongue sealed his mouth. As his corpse turned black, they declared that their leader was transforming into the Egyptian god Horus. Teed was a charismatic and controversial guru who at the age of 30 had been "illuminated" by an angel in his electro-alchemical laboratory. At the turn of the twentieth century, surrounded by the marvels of the Second Industrial Revolution, he proclaimed himself a prophet and led 200 people out of Chicago and into a new age. Or so he promised.The Koreshans settled in a mosquito-infested scrubland and set to building a communal utopia inside what they believed was a hollow earth--with humans living on the inside crust and the entire universe contained within. According to Teed’s socialist and millennialist teachings, if his people practiced celibacy and focused their love on him, he would return after death and they would all become immortal.Was Teed a visionary or villain, savior or two-bit charlatan? Why did his promises and his theory of "cellular cosmogony" persuade so many?Now comes the bombshell news that David Koresh, apocalyptic leader of the Waco Branch Davidians, plagiarized Teed, and did so unwittingly. Released on the 30th anniversary of the deadly events in Waco, this edition of The Allure of Immortality includes a preface about this astonishing discovery. In this book, Lyn Millner weaves the many bizarre strands of Teed's life and those of his followers into a riveting story of angels, conmen, angry husbands, yellow journalism, and ultimately, hope.
Univision, Telemundo, and the Rise of Spanish-Language Television in the United States (Reframing Media, Technology, and Culture in Latin/o America)
by Craig AllenThe first history of Spanish-language television in the United StatesIn the most comprehensive history of Spanish-language television in the United States to date, Craig Allen traces the development of two prominent yet little-studied powerhouses, Univision and Telemundo. Allen tells the inside story of how these networks fought enormous odds to rise as giants of mass communication within an English-dominated society.The book begins in San Antonio, Texas, in 1961 with the launch of the first Spanish-language station in the country. From it rose the Spanish International Network (SIN), which would later become Univision. Conceived by Mexican broadcasting mogul Emilio Azcárraga Vidaurreta and created by unsung American television pioneers, Unvision grew to provide a vast amount of international programming, including popular telenovelas, and was the first U.S. network delivered by satellite. After Telemundo was founded in the 1980s by Saul Steinberg and Harry Silverman, the two networks battled over audiences and saw dramatic changes in leadership. Today, Univision and Telemundo are multibillion-dollar television providers that equal ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox in scale and stature. While Univision remains a beacon of U.S. television’s internationalization, Telemundo—owned by NBC—is a worldwide leader in producing Spanish-language programs.Using archival sources and original interviews to reconstruct power struggles and behind-the-scenes intrigue, Allen uses this exciting narrative to question monolingual and Anglo-centered versions of U.S. television history. He demonstrates the endurance, innovation, and popularity of Spanish-language television, arguing that its story is essential to understanding the Latinx history of contemporary America. A volume in the series Reframing Media, Technology, and Culture in Latin/o America, edited by Héctor Fernández L’Hoeste and Juan Carlos Rodríguez
100 Roses for the South Florida Garden
by Victor LazzariTried and true varieties for tropical FloridaContrary to common belief, many varieties of roses can flourish in Florida’s heat and humidity. A much-needed guide for both home gardeners and landscape professionals, 100 Roses for the South Florida Garden equips readers with the knowledge to successfully grow this popular plant in the state’s tropical climate. Rose connoisseur Victor Lazzari surveys the history of the rose; outlines the main classifications of roses; explains how to best cultivate the flower in the South Florida environment; and offers advice on designing thoughtful, eco-friendly, visually spectacular gardens with roses in this region. Lazzari then provides an illustrated compendium of 100 varieties of roses that work well in South Florida. Each entry contains a beautiful full-color photograph, a brief history of the rose variety, and notes on the variety’s preferences. Complete with a thorough list of local rose retailers and organizations, this book is filled with useful information that has previously been difficult for Florida residents to locate. New gardeners and dedicated rosarians alike will delight in this approachable, eye-catching resource for finding and growing roses that thrive in the southernmost part of the state.
Ancient Maya Political Dynamics (Maya Studies)
by Antonia E. Foias"An impressive overview of recent scholarship coupled with the results of a long-term research project at the site and region of Motul de San José. It contributes significantly to the anthropological literature on politics and power."—Daniela Triadan, coeditor of Burned Palaces and Elite Residences of Aguateca"A long overdue and particularly welcome piece of scholarly work. It synthesizes, digests, and makes available the results of the tremendous boom in political studies in the Maya area that has occurred in the last twenty years as a consequence of rapid glyph decipherment, increased archaeological data, and more sophisticated theoretical modeling."—Eleanor M. King, Howard UniversityThe study of politics, a dominating force throughout history, can provide great insight into the lives of ancient people. Because of the richness and complexity of Maya society, archaeologists and anthropologists have spent decades attempting to reconstruct its political systems. In Ancient Maya Political Dynamics, Antonia Foias argues that there is no single Maya political history but multiple histories, no single Maya state but multiple polities that need to be understood at the level of the lived, individual experience. She explores the ways in which the dynamics of political power shaped the lives and landscape of the Maya and how this information can be used to look at other complex societies.
Mary McLeod Bethune the Pan-Africanist
by Ashley Robertson PrestonHighlighting Bethune’s global activism and her connections throughout the African diaspora This book examines the Pan-Africanism of Mary McLeod Bethune through her work, which internationalized the scope of Black women’s organizations to create solidarity among Africans throughout the diaspora. Broadening the familiar view of Bethune as an advocate for racial and gender equality within the United States, Ashley Preston argues that Bethune consistently sought to unify African descendants around the world with her writings, through travel, and as an advisor.Preston shows how Bethune’s early involvement with Black women’s organizations created personal connections across Cuba, Haiti, India, and Africa and shaped her global vision. Bethune founded and led the National Council of Negro Women, which strengthened coalitions with women across the diaspora to address issues in their local communities. Bethune served as director of the Division of Negro Affairs for the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration and later as associate consultant for the United Nations alongside W.E.B. DuBois and Walter White, using her influence to address diversity in the military, decolonization, suffrage, and imperialism. Mary McLeod Bethune the Pan-Africanist provides a fuller, more accurate understanding of Bethune’s work, illustrating the perspective and activism behind Bethune’s much-quoted words: “For I am my mother’s daughter, and the drums of Africa still beat in my heart.” Publication of this work made possible by a Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The Valkyries’ Loom: The Archaeology of Cloth Production and Female Power in the North Atlantic (Cultural Heritage Studies)
by Michèle Hayeur SmithUsing textiles to understand gender and economy in Norse societies In The Valkyries’ Loom, Michèle Hayeur Smith examines Viking textiles as evidence of the little-known work of women in the Norse colonies that expanded from Scandinavia across the North Atlantic in the ninth century AD. While previous researchers have overlooked textiles as insignificant artifacts, Hayeur Smith is the first to use them to understand gender and economy in Norse societies of the North Atlantic. This groundbreaking study is based on the author’s systematic comparative analysis of the vast textile collections in Iceland, Greenland, Denmark, Scotland, and the Faroe Islands, materials that are largely unknown even to archaeologists and span 1,000 years. Through these garments and fragments, Hayeur Smith provides new insights into how the women of these island nations influenced international trade by producing cloth (vaðmál); how they shaped the development of national identities by creating clothing; and how they helped their communities survive climate change by reengineering clothes during the Little Ice Age. She supplements her analysis by revealing societal attitudes about weaving through the poem “Darraðarljoð” from Njál’s Saga, in which the Valkyries—Óðin’s female warrior spirits—produce the cloth of history and decide the fates of men and nations. Bringing Norse women and their labor to the forefront of research, Hayeur Smith establishes the foundation for a gendered archaeology of the North Atlantic that has never been attempted before. This monumental and innovative work contributes to global discussions about the hidden roles of women in past societies in preserving tradition and guiding change.
Good Day Sunshine State: How the Beatles Rocked Florida (Co-published with Florida Humanities)
by Bob KealingThe musical and cultural impact of the Fab Four in Florida In 1964, Beatlemania flooded the United States. The Beatles appeared live on the Ed Sullivan Show and embarked on their first tour of North America—and they spent more time in Florida than anywhere else. Good Day Sunshine State dives into this momentous time and place, exploring the band’s seismic influence on the people and culture of the state. Bob Kealing sets the historical stage for the band’s arrival—a nation dazed after the assassination of John F. Kennedy and on the precipice of the Vietnam War; a heavily segregated, conservative South; and in Florida, recent events that included the Cuban Missile Crisis and the arrest and imprisonment of Martin Luther King Jr. in St. Augustine. Kealing documents the culture clashes and unexpected affinities that emerged as the British rockers drew crowds, grew from fluff story to the subject of continual news coverage, and basked in the devotion of a young and idealistic generation. Through an abundance of letters, memorabilia, and interviews with journalists, fellow musicians, and fans, Kealing takes readers behind the scenes into the Beatles’ time in locations such as Miami Beach, where they wrote new songs and met Muhammad Ali. In the tropical environs of Key West, John Lennon and Paul McCartney experienced milestone moments in their friendship. And the band dodged the path of Hurricane Dora to play at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, where they famously refused to perform until the city agreed to integrate the audience. Kealing highlights the hopeful futures that the Beatles helped inspire, including stories of iconic rock-and-rollers such as Tom Petty who followed the band’s lead in their own paths to stardom. This book offers a close look at an important part of the musical and cultural revolution that helped make the Fab Four a worldwide phenomenon.Funding for this publication was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Bioarchaeology of the Southwest: Volume 1 (Bioarchaeological Interpretations of the Human Past: Local, Regional, and Global Perspectives)
by Clark Spencer LarsenA wide-ranging synthesis of research illuminating the lives of ancient people who lived in the deserts, mountains, and river valleys of the North American SouthwestThe two volumes of Bioarchaeology of the Southwest bring together more than 100 years of research into the lives of the ancient people of the Southwest United States and Northwest Mexico. Featuring contributions from specialists working in academic, museum, and cultural resource management settings, these books make available knowledge from a variety of unpublished sources that have been difficult to access until now.The volume 1 chapters range from Colorado to central New Mexico and the Lower Pecos region of Texas, addressing the bioarchaeology of the Archaic hunters and foragers, the Basketmaker II people, and communities of the Mesa Verde region, Chaco Canyon, the Middle San Juan or Totah region, the Northern Rio Grande, and the Middle Rio Grande. Chapters discuss topics such as morphology and stature, biodistance, paleopathology, dental health, evidence of injuries and violence, and mortuary practice.With chapters representing hundreds of ancient communities dating from the Archaic to the early Historic period, Bioarchaeology of the Southwest demonstrates the range of topics that can be addressed through the contextualized study of human remains, the insights this field offers into the everyday experiences of people in the past, and the challenges and promise of collaborative approaches to this research. Together, these volumes constitute an unparalleled resource for understanding the history of bioarchaeology and critical issues impacting the future of the discipline in the region.Contributors: Anna Osterholtz | Rachael Byrd | Genevieve Woodhead | Ann L. W. Stodder| Kristin A. Kuckelman | Dawn M. Mulhern | Robin M. Cordero | Lexi O'Donnell | Cherie K. Walth | Catrina Banks Whitley | Charles Hilton | Nancy J. Akins | Ann M. PalkovichA volume in the series Bioarchaeological Interpretations of the Human Past: Local, Regional, and Global Perspectives, edited by Clark Spencer Larsen
The Mann Phase: Hopewell Culture in Southwestern Indiana (Florida Museum of Natural History: Ripley P. Bullen Series)
by Michael StrezewskiA comprehensive overview of an important archaeological site from the Middle Woodland Period that represents a unique cultural phenomenon The Mann site, located in southwestern Indiana, is one of the most consequential but enigmatic archaeological sites of the Middle Woodland period. Dating to 200‒600 CE, the site has long been known to archaeologists, but little research on it has been published. This book is the first to provide a comprehensive overview of this and other related sites that together constitute a distinct cultural phase. Spanning over six hundred acres, the Mann site features diverse earthworks, including geometric shapes, platform mounds, and burial mounds. In this book, Michael Strezewski draws on a decade of research in the area to reveal that the Mann phase blended traits from Hopewell culture in both Ohio and the Southeast, a unique phenomenon not seen elsewhere. Artifacts made from exotic materials suggest extensive connections across North America. Evidence shows a large population lived near the mounds, unusual for Hopewell communities. Geophysical surveys indicate the presence of thousands of subsurface features related to the village, and various ceremonial elements offer insights into Hopewell rituals. This book demonstrates that the people of the Mann phase, while part of the Hopewell world, continuously created and redefined their cultural identity. Strezewski presents a wealth of evidence that the Mann site is highly significant, perhaps the largest habitation site of its time. The new findings in this volume will impact interpretations of Hopewell culture in the Midwest for years to come. A volume in the Florida Museum of Natural History: Ripley P. Bullen Series
The Letters of Minerva Mirabal and Manolo Tavárez: Love and Resistance in the Time of Trujillo
by Minou Tavárez MirabalFor the first time in English, the stories of two Dominican national icons in their own words The letters between Dominican revolutionaries Minerva Mirabal Reyes and Manolo Tavárez Justo tell an intimate story of life and love under the brutal dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo, who held power in the nation from 1930 to 1961. Leaders in the 14 of June Movement, Minerva and Manolo were imprisoned multiple times. Minerva—one of three Mirabal sisters known by the code name “Las Mariposas” (The Butterflies)—was assassinated with her sisters in 1960; Manolo was killed in 1963. This translation and critical edition of their correspondence brings their stories to the English-language readers of the world. Paired with commentary from the couple’s daughter, political activist Minou Tavárez Mirabal, these 117 letters and telegrams span from the first notes Minerva and Manolo exchanged while courting in law school to the last message Manolo sent to 7-year-old Minou before his murder. Translator Heather Hennes introduces the collection with a history of the Trujillo regime and its opposition, and the book includes a foreword by Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Through this volume, readers will discover the human complexities of the iconic and much-mythologized “Butterfly” Minerva and will appreciate the importance of the couple’s legacy in the politics and democratic growth of the country today.Publication of this work made possible by a Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Situated Narratives and Sacred Dance: Performing the Entangled Histories of Cuba and West Africa
by Jill Flanders Crosby Jt TorresUsing storytelling and performance to explore shared religious expression across continentsThrough a revolutionary ethnographic approach that foregrounds storytelling and performance as alternative means of knowledge, Situated Narratives and Sacred Dance explores shared ritual traditions between the Anlo-Ewe people of West Africa and their descendants, the Arará of Cuba, who were brought to the island in the transatlantic slave trade.The volume draws on two decades of research in four communities: Dzodze, Ghana; Adjodogou, Togo; and Perico and Agramonte, Cuba. In the ceremonies, oral narratives, and daily lives of individuals at each fieldsite, the authors not only identify shared attributes in religious expression across continents, but also reveal lasting emotional, spiritual, and personal impacts in the communities whose ancestors were ripped from their homeland and enslaved. The authors layer historiographic data, interviews, and fieldnotes with artistic modes such as true fiction, memoir, and choreographed narrative, challenging the conventional nature of scholarship with insights gained from sensorial experience.Including reflections on the making of an art installation based on this research project, the volume challenges readers to imagine the potential of approaching fieldwork as artists. The authors argue that creative methods can convey truths deeper than facts, pointing to new possibilities for collaboration between scientists and artists with relevance to any discipline.Publication of the paperback edition made possible by a Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The Market for Mesoamerica: Reflections on the Sale of Pre-Columbian Antiquities (Maya Studies)
by Donna Yates Cara G. TremainDiscussions on the illicit trafficking of precolonial cultural heritage items Pre-Columbian artifacts are among the most popular items on the international antiquities market, yet it is becoming increasingly difficult to monitor these items as public, private, and digital sales proliferate. This timely volume explores past, current, and future policies and trends concerning the sales and illicit movement of artifacts from Mesoamerica to museums and private collections. Informed by the fields of anthropology, economics, law, and criminology, contributors critically analyze practices of research and collecting in Central American countries. They assess the circulation of looted and forged artifacts on the art market and in museums and examine government and institutional policies aimed at fighting trafficking. They also ask if and how scholars can use materials removed from their context to interpret the past. The theft of cultural heritage items from their places of origin is a topic of intense contemporary discussion, and The Market for Mesoamerica updates our knowledge of this issue by presenting undocumented and illicit antiquities within a regional and global context. Through discussion of transparency, accountability, and ethical practice, this volume ultimately considers how antiquities can be protected and studied through effective policy and professional practice. Contributors: Cara G. Tremain | Donna Yates | Martin Berger | Allison Davis | James Doyle | Rosemary Joyce | Nancy L. Kelker | Guido Krempel | Christina Luke | Sofia Paredes Maury | Adam Sellen A volume in the series Maya Studies, edited by Diane Z. Chase and Arlen F. Chase
Rooted Jazz Dance: Africanist Aesthetics and Equity in the Twenty-First Century
by Wendy Oliver Lindsay Guarino Carlos R. A. JonesNational Dance Education Organization Ruth Lovell Murray Book AwardUNCG | Susan W. Stinson Book Award for Dance EducationStrategies for recovering the Africanist roots of jazz dance in teaching and practice An African American art form, jazz dance has an inaccurate historical narrative that often sets Euro-American aesthetics and values at the inception of the jazz dance genealogy. The roots were systemically erased and remain widely marginalized and untaught, and the devaluation of its Africanist origins and lineage has largely gone unchallenged. Decolonizing contemporary jazz dance practice, this book examines the state of jazz dance theory, pedagogy, and choreography in the twenty-first century, recovering and affirming the lifeblood of jazz in Africanist aesthetics and Black American culture.Rooted Jazz Dance brings together jazz dance scholars, practitioners, choreographers, and educators from across the United States and Canada with the goal of changing the course of practice in future generations. Contributors delve into the Africanist elements within jazz dance and discuss the role of Whiteness, including Eurocentric technique and ideology, in marginalizing African American vernacular dance, which has resulted in the prominence of Eurocentric jazz styles and the systemic erosion of the roots. These chapters offer strategies for teaching rooted jazz dance, examples for changing dance curricula, and artist perspectives on choreographing and performing jazz. Above all, they emphasize the importance of centering Africanist and African American principles, aesthetics, and values.Arguing that the history of jazz dance is closely tied to the history of racism in the United States, these essays challenge a century of misappropriation and lean into difficult conversations of reparations for jazz dance. This volume overcomes a major roadblock to racial justice in the dance field by amplifying the people and culture responsible for the jazz language.Contributors: LaTasha Barnes | Lindsay Guarino | Natasha Powell | Carlos R.A. Jones | Rubim de Toledo | Kim Fuller | Wendy Oliver | Joanne Baker | Karen Clemente | Vicki Adams Willis | Julie Kerr-Berry | Pat Taylor | Cory Bowles | Melanie George | Paula J Peters | Patricia Cohen | Brandi Coleman | Kimberley Cooper | Monique Marie Haley | Jamie Freeman Cormack | Adrienne Hawkins | Karen Hubbard | Lynnette Young Overby | Jessie Metcalf McCullough | E. Moncell DurdenPublication of this work made possible by a Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
A Revolution in Movement: Dancers, Painters, and the Image of Modern Mexico (Dancers, Painters, and the Image of Modern Mexico)
by K. Mitchell SnowHonorable Mention, Latin American Studies Association Mexico Section Best Book in the HumanitiesHow collaborations between dancers and painters shaped cultural identity in MexicoA Revolution in Movement is the first book to illuminate how collaborations between dancers and painters shaped Mexico’s postrevolutionary cultural identity. K. Mitchell Snow traces this relationship throughout nearly half a century of developments in Mexican dance—the emulation of Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in the 1920s, the adoption of U.S.-style modern dance in the 1940s, and the creation of ballet-inspired folk dance in the 1960s.Snow describes the appearances in Mexico by Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova and Spanish concert dancer Tortóla Valencia, who helped motivate Mexico to express its own national identity through dance. He discusses the work of muralists and other visual artists in tandem with Mexico’s theatrical dance world, including Diego Rivera’s collaborations with ballet composer Carlos Chávez; Carlos Mérida’s leadership of the National School of Dance; José Clemente Orozco’s involvement in the creation of the Ballet de la Ciudad de México; and Miguel Covarrubias, who led the "golden age" of Mexican modern dance. Snow draws from a rich trove of historical newspaper accounts and other contemporary documents to show how these collaborations produced an image of modern Mexico that would prove popular both locally and internationally and continues to endure today.
Capoeira Connections: A Memoir in Motion
by Katya WesolowskiThis book is freely available in an open access edition thanks to TOME (Toward an Open Monograph Ecosystem)—a collaboration of the Association of American Universities, the Association of University Presses, and the Association of Research Libraries—and the generous support of Duke University. A portrait of the game of capoeira and its practice across borders Originating in the Black Atlantic world as a fusion of dance and martial art, capoeira was a marginalized practice for much of its history. Today it is globally popular. This ethnographic memoir weaves together the history of capoeira, recent transformations in the practice, and personal insights from author Katya Wesolowski’s thirty years of experience as a capoeirista.Capoeira Connections follows Wesolowski’s journey from novice to instructor while drawing on her decades of research as an anthropologist in Brazil, Angola, Europe, and the United States. In a story of local practice and global flow, Wesolowski offers an intimate portrait of the game and what it means in people’s lives. She reveals camaraderie and conviviality in the capoeira ring as well as tensions and ruptures involving race, gender, and competing claims over how this artful play should be practiced. Capoeira brings people together and yet is never free of histories of struggle, and these too play out in the game’s encounters.In her at once clear-sighted and hopeful analysis, Wesolowski ultimately argues that capoeira offers opportunities for connection, dialogue, and collaboration in a world that is increasingly fractured. In doing so, capoeira can transform lives, create social spheres, and shape mobile futures. Publication of this work made possible by a Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Latino Orlando: Suburban Transformation and Racial Conflict (Southern Dissent)
by Simone DelermeInside the experiences of immigrants from Latin America and the CaribbeanLatino Orlando portrays the experiences of first- and second-generation immigrants who have come to the Orlando metropolitan area from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, and other Latin American countries. While much research on immigration focuses on urban destinations, Simone Delerme delves into a middle- and upper-class suburban context, highlighting the profound demographic and cultural transformation of an overlooked immigrant hub. Drawing on interviews, observations, fieldwork, census data, and traditional and new media, Delerme reveals the important role of real estate developers in attracting Puerto Ricans—some of the first Spanish-speaking immigrants in the region—to Central Florida in the 1970s. She traces how language became a way of racializing and segregating Latino communities, leading to the growth of suburban ethnic enclaves. She documents not only the tensions between Latinos and non-Latinos, but also the class-based distinctions that cause dissent within the Latino population. Arguing that Latino migrants are complicating racial categorizations and challenging the deep-rooted Black-white binary that has long prevailed in the American South, Latino Orlando breaks down stereotypes of neighborhood decline and urban poverty and illustrates the diversity of Latinos in the region. A volume in the series Southern Dissent, edited by Stanley Harrold and Randall M. Miller
Moving through Life: Essential Lessons of Dance
by Naomi Goldberg HaasA story of resilience, joyful creativity, and the empowering potential of dance Moving through Life traces the journey of influential dancer, teacher, and choreographer Naomi Goldberg Haas. Sharing her lifelong love of movement, her experiences as a dancer with chronic health conditions, and accessible exercises from her work with dancers of all ages and abilities, Goldberg Haas encourages readers to integrate dance into their lives and to move with awareness, creativity, and joy. Goldberg Haas describes her early years as an emerging dancer at the School of American Ballet and how she explored and reveled in many dance forms throughout her career. She takes readers from a focus on fundamentals such as balance, strength, and flexibility to a deeper understanding of dance as a transformational community practice. With a unique perspective informed by navigating a degenerative neuromuscular disease, Goldberg Haas conveys a positive message: dance is an opportunity for renewal and growth at all stages of life. Alongside Goldberg Haas’s story, this book provides insights and step-by-step instructions from the Movement Speaks® curriculum developed by Goldberg Haas for her nonprofit Dances for a Variable Population, a program that brings dance to older adults in New York City. Readers will learn from Goldberg Haas to exercise both their bodies and minds in ways that work for them. They will discover for themselves what Goldberg Haas’s life illustrates—the value of dance in improving physical, mental, and social wellbeing. In a memoir of personal struggle, resilience, and celebration, Goldberg Haas portrays many of the changes that can come with aging and embraces the empowering potential of dance. From childhood memories to moments of epiphany later in life, this account from a leading figure in the dance community shows how movement can enrich and improve the lives of everyone.
Archaeology, Heritage, and Reactionary Populism (Cultural Heritage Studies)
by Alfredo González-Ruibal Randall H. McGuireA timely collection on the role of public archaeology in an era of reactionary populism Reactionary populism, seen in radical anti-intellectual movements around the globe, is changing how politics are practiced and how people view themselves and others. Amid increasing polarization and extremism, the social role of archaeology is more relevant but also more difficult. This volume explores how populist politics present new challenges to public archaeologists in North America, South America, and Europe. Archaeology, Heritage, and Reactionary Populism shows that the field of community archaeology must do more to address how these movements can distort history. Contributors demonstrate why researchers and heritage managers should be aware of the interests their work advances, discuss the ethics of working with communities that promote extreme populist values, and examine the ways governments affect heritage regulations. Acknowledging that community archaeology is often very localized, they argue that it can and should connect with and inform broader historical narratives. Written by practitioners from different subfields of public archaeology, this collection problematizes commonly held assumptions about community, the public, and political action. At the same time, it moves beyond critique to propose practical forms of engagement. This reflective and critical approach will help archaeologists mobilize their work to engage with the growing influence of reactionary populism. A volume in the series Cultural Heritage Studies, edited by Katherine Hayes
Shaping Dance Canons: Criticism, Aesthetics, and Equity
by Kate MattinglyExamining a century of dance criticism in the United States and its influence on aesthetics and inclusion Dance criticism has long been integral to dance as an art form, serving as documentation and validation of dance performances, yet few studies have taken a close look at the impact of key critics and approaches to criticism over time. The first book to examine dance criticism in the United States across 100 years, from the late 1920s to the early twenty-first century, Shaping Dance Canons argues that critics in the popular press have influenced how dance has been defined and valued, as well as which artists and dance forms have been taken most seriously. Kate Mattingly likens the effect of dance writing to that of a flashlight, illuminating certain aesthetics at the expense of others. Mattingly shows how criticism can preserve and reproduce criteria for what qualifies as high art through generations of writers and in dance history courses, textbooks, and curricular design. She examines the gatekeeping role of prominent critics such as John Martin and Yvonne Rainer while highlighting the often-overlooked perspectives of writers from minoritized backgrounds and dance traditions. The book also includes an analysis of digital platforms and current dance projects—On the Boards TV, thINKingDANCE, Black Dance Stories, and amara tabor-smith’s House/Full of BlackWomen—that challenge systemic exclusions. In doing so, the book calls for ongoing dialogue and action to make dance criticism more equitable and inclusive.
Bound Labor in the Turpentine Belt: Kinderlou Camp and Misdemeanor Convict Leasing in Georgia
by Thomas AielloUncovering a little-known system of bound labor in the post-Reconstruction South After the constitutional end to slavery in the United States, southern white landowners replaced labor by enslaved people with systems of bound labor in which people worked to pay off debts or legal fines. Through the story of a labor camp in Georgia, Thomas Aiello takes a close look at the Deep South’s dependence on debt peonage and convict leasing systems during the post-Reconstruction era and draws attention to a form of bound labor that has not been discussed by scholars of racialized incarceration. At the center of this study is the Kinderlou labor camp, which was owned by the prominent white McRee family of Valdosta. In south Georgia and north Florida, debt peonage and felony convict leasing operated separately from an often overlooked third system: misdemeanor convict leasing. This system was largely unregulated by prison officials, leading to abuses of persons with convictions working in the turpentine industry and the kidnapping of many Black residents of the area who had never been charged with crimes. Unlike other work camps, Kinderlou deployed all three systems to bolster its workforce, making it a unique manifestation of the region’s exploitative labor operations. Through deep archival research, Aiello uncovers injustices that drove local individuals who were imprisoned to work with federal prosecutors to seek relief and publicize the abuses they saw and experienced. The nexus of racism, work, and incarceration seen at Kinderlou is shown here to have been a form of slavery a half century after slavery’s official “end.” It also casts a long shadow on today’s carceral system. Publication of this work made possible by a Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.