Duke University School of Medicine’s annual DALHE!Hispanic Heritage Month events brought together participants to reflect on the often overlooked history of Latin Americans in the South.
“This year’s theme for National Hispanic Heritage Month is ‘Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together,’ and as Duke celebrates its 100th anniversary, we celebrate the contributions of Latinos at Duke University. There is no better time to be excited about the future of “Together we will shape it,” said Raquel Ruiz, MBA, co-director of the Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute’s (CTSI) Equity, Learning Health Community Pillar. said.
Raquel Ruiz, MBA
Dalhae! Employee Resource Groups engage the community, support arts and culture, and organize “virtual cafecitos” to provide a space for Duke Latina/Hispanic staff and allies to grow and connect. Also on September 16, the Heritage Month event “Pasado and Perspectiva: Past and Present” explored the contributions and identity of Latinos in the region.
The panel discussion featured Duke University historian Dr. Cecilia Marquez, Duke University School of Nursing Associate Professor Rosa Gonzalez Guarda, RN, PhD, MPH, and consultant Norma Martí. The panel discussion, moderated by Fernando Orozco, MBA, discussed the complexities of Latino identity, immigrant bias, protecting Latino health, and the history and legacy of Duke’s Latino students, faculty, and staff. focused on the lasting impact of
The Evolution of Latino Activism at Duke University
Marquez, Hunt Family Assistant Professor of History at Duke University, began his keynote address by addressing gaps in public knowledge about Latinos in Southern history.
“If you learned anything about Latino history in school, you probably learned about Cesar Chavez or Dolores Huerta. But it’s mostly a California story, maybe a New York story if you’re on the East Coast. I can’t do it,” she said. “Here in the South, we don’t know any of our Latino history, and that’s what I was trying to uncover.”
Marquez drew from his book Making the Latino South, which traces the stories of Latin Americans from the 1940s to the 2010s, focusing on stories such as that of the Soto family, who immigrated from Texas to Mississippi in the 1950s. This family discovers a surprising level of racial acceptance despite racist laws in Mississippi, and how Southern Latinos are uniquely considered neither black nor fully white. It shows how much species space it occupied.
Marquez also delved into Duke University’s own Latinx history, much of which has been hidden in plain sight.
“So how do we tell the history of Latinx students here at Duke University? It begins with the arrival of international students in the 1910s, and with the arrival of international students in the 1910s, known as Duke University’s first Latinx students from San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1913. Or does it start with the activism of the 1960s and ’70s, when Latino students began organizing and asserting their rights on campus?”
Portilla, a member of the physics and science clubs, was one of the few international students at Duke University at the time. “Like other people classified as white, he had different experiences, but he would not have been able to escape the racial hierarchies of the segregated South. Unfortunately, he graduated from I couldn’t. There was a haze incident in 1917 and I was fired,” Marquez said.
Almost 30 years later, in 1942, Duke admitted Nora Elisa Recio, Duke’s first known Latina student.
“I often hear Latino historians argue that Latino history is American history. It’s not an appendix or part of it, it’s the center of America’s story. And the research I’ve shared today… , I hope it shows that this truth extends here to Duke as well. Duke’s history is Latin American history.”
– Dr. Cecilia Marquez, Duke Historian
“Nora presided over Tau Psi Omega, a fraternity dedicated to the study of language and culture, but did not feel fully welcomed. She considered herself a ‘specimen.’ It was an object of curiosity for my classmates,” Marquez said. Nora later wrote, “I knew their questions were a way of expressing interest in my country’s customs and ideals, but I was forever curious.”
The story of Latinx students at Duke University changed dramatically after the 1969 Allen Building takeover. This incident was an act of the black student movement demanding more fair conditions for minorities on campus.
“This acquisition paves the way for Latinx students to have a more visible presence at Duke University,” Marquez emphasized. One such student was Reginald “Reggie” Howard, whose parents immigrated to South Carolina from Panama. In 1976, Howard became Duke University’s first black student body president. His legacy lives on in the Reginald Howard Memorial Scholars Program.
“By the 1980s, Latino students formed organizations, started their own activities, and promoted social justice on campus,” Marquez said. “Their efforts transformed Duke University, leading to the hiring of more Latinx students, Latinx faculty, and ultimately a change in Duke admissions policy to admit undocumented students.”
Marquez concluded his presentation by noting the continued importance of this history.
“I often hear Latino historians argue that Latino history is American history. It’s not an appendix or part of it, it’s the center of America’s story. And the research I’ve shared today… , I hope to prove that this truth extends here at Duke as well,” she concluded. “Duke’s history is Latino history.”
Facing economic and health challenges with resilience
The panel also addressed the ongoing health and socio-economic challenges facing the Latinx community. They discussed cuts to affirmative action programs that could exacerbate the disconnect between Latino students and faculty, as well as the misconception that Latinos come to the United States for benefits.
The reality is much more complex and rooted in aggressive adoption by southern industries such as manufacturers and poultry plants. The wave of labor migration is driven by the demand for cheap and reliable labor, and Latinos are being aggressively recruited to fill the gap.
While flags from various countries grace the tables during the event, let’s take a closer look at the flags of Peru and Venezuela.
“Latinos don’t just show up, they’re invited, they’re recruited, and they contribute to the economy in ways that often go unnoticed,” the historian said.
Gonzalez Guarda, a nurse scientist specializing in Latino health in North Carolina, said the recovery has been slow for Latino working parents, especially those ages 30 to 45, who are struggling in the aftermath of the pandemic. expressed concern.
“Historically, Hispanics have had a health advantage, but in recent years they have seen that advantage disappear and their life expectancy decline significantly more than other races and ethnicities in the United States.” she pointed out.
There are strategies that can help you stay resilient. Her research highlights the importance of cultural and family ties as protective factors that can improve health outcomes.
Marti, a retiree from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, shared his joy at seeing the group come together to celebrate Hispanic culture and community. She continues to support Hispanic families through meditation classes and by advocating for comprehensive clinical research that provides translation services.
“Thank you to everyone who shined a light so others could see,” she said, closing the event with gratitude and hope for the future.
Photo: Eamon Queeney, Assistant Director of Multimedia and Creative
