Justice and Space Matter in a Strong, Unified Latino Community

Justice and Space Matter in a Strong, Unified Latino Community provides a detailed analysis of colonias along the Mexico–United States border, examining the intersection of culture, education, language, literacy, race, religion, and social class in Latino immigrant communities. The researchers investigated Corazón, a colonia in South Texas, as a case study of these unincorporated border settlements, consisting of mostly Mexican heritage residents and lacking many basic living necessities. Highlighting over ten years of research findings, the authors consider structural inequalities alongside the unique strengths of Corazón. Their acute observations dispel myths about such high-poverty communities and demonstrate how residents overcome the odds through activism, faith, and ganas. In presenting a portrait of the Corazón colonia, the authors offer a deeper level of understanding of one Latino community to inspire the development of a more equitable, compassionate world. This book will be invaluable to students and scholars of all fields who work with culturally diverse people in poverty, and will be ideal for courses in ethnic studies, multicultural studies, ethnographic methods, and socio-cultural applications for education.

“"This book makes a unique contribution to contesting the deficit discourses that pervade discussions of the education of the poor. Through long-term engagement with members of a Latino colonia in Texas, the authors demonstrate how different people can work together in third spaces in local neighborhoods to fight for justice. Educational researchers, teacher candidates, religious communities, local elders and advocates, health workers and others can work with youth in slantwise ways to exercise power for change. This book is an intriguing account of collaborative approaches to strength-based analysis and action to build place-based educational capability and enduring community resources across generations."Barbara Comber, Ph.D., Research Professor, University of South Australia"Justice and Space Matter in a Strong Unified Community makes an important and timely contribution to the literature on critical issues facing school and society. Using an engaging case study approach, the volume reveals the hopes and dreams of community members living in Corazn, an unannexed border community in South Texas that, unlike other unannexed colonias, enjoys basic services and is organized politically. Guided by these research questions-What are Corazn's strengths? How do we work with and in community, while acknowledging power and privilege imbalances? How do residents engage in hybrid or blended practices to confront obstacles?-the researchers conclude that Corazn's strengths include hope, ingenuity, and unity. Despite its positive attributes, however, the researchers note that the community faces many obstacles, including local, state, and national policies, as well as multifactor discriminatory treatment based on group categories. Undocumented Latinos, for example, may be more frequent victims of hate crimes. The book sheds important light on a variety of pertinent issues, concerns, and possibilities facing marginalized communities and schools while reminding scholars, students, teachers, parents, communities, researchers, counselors, school administrators, and policy makers that equity, excellence, inclusivity, and social justice are worth preserving in our nation of nations."Carlos J. Ovando, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Arizona State University, USA"Justice and Space Matter is a labor of love - a testament to the authors' authentic and sustained commitment to Corazn, a South Texas colonia whose inhabitants stubbornly resist marginalization. A vivid chorus of community voices, woven throughout the text, invites us to reflect on the role of collaborative research in the pursuit of educational justice."Brendan H. O'Connor, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Arizona State University, USA"Corazn, the strong, unified, Latino community that Kathy Bussert-Webb, Mara Eugenia Daz, and Krystal A. Yanez write about, is an unannexed colonia on the Mexico-Texas border. Living in high poverty and abandoned by government, residents develop resilience, resourcefulness and slantwise, rhizomic and translanguaging strategies for contesting power. This is an uplifting story told with care and respect that will fill you with admiration for the many people you will encounter, and indignation at the inequity of the policies that govern their lives."Hilary Janks, Ph.D., Retired Full Professor, Wits University, South Africa”

«[...] the ideas in this book are applicable to anyone interested in Latino education in the United States, community activism, or social justice work.»
(Mary Amanda Stewart, Journal of Latinos and Education Vol.17 2018)

Kathy Bussert-Webb is Professor in the Department of Bilingual and Literacy Studies at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She received a Ph.D. in language education from Indiana University.

María Eugenia Díaz is Assistant Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She received an Ed.D. in curriculum instruction from the University of Texas at Brownsville.

Krystal A. Yanez is a doctoral student at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in curriculum instruction, specializing in higher education.

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