Chicanas Who Paved Our Path: The Fight for Integration in Northside, Houston

Project Title

Chicanas Who Paved Our Path: The Fight for Educational and Residential Integration in Northside, Houston

Faculty Mentor(s)

Project Description

I am researching Chicana activists who assisted in the fight against educational and residential segregation in Northside Houston. I center on Chicanas for the fact that these women are overshadowed and disregarded both within the Chicano Movement but also in scholarship. In doing so I hope to provide other brown girls with a history that is representative of their experiences and heritage.

Why is your research important?

I center on Chicanas for the fact that these women are overshadowed and disregarded both within the Chicano Movement but also in scholarship. Learning from the oral histories of Mexicanas in Northside allows us to map and supply a face to the intergenerational impacts of systemic oppression within education.

What does the process of doing your research look like?

This summer, I conducted archival research and critical analysis with a feminist perspective; which is code for a lot of reading, thinking, and writing every day.

What knowledge has your research contributed to your field?

Even though the relevant judicial rulings set a precedent. There aren’t many scholars that explore the integration movement in Houston in depth, let alone Northside Houston. Most upsetting, not many authors grace their pages with the experiences of Chicanas during the integration movement. In my research I am doing both.

In what ways have you showcased your research thus far?

I have showcased my research by completing a paper and presenting in panels/ symposiums. In the future I have plans to showcase my research by curating a digital exhibit.

How did you get involved in research? What drove you to seek out research experiences in college?

A professor of mine informed me of the opportunity and I went for it!

What is your favorite aspect of the research process?

Research allows me to explore a topic that does not only interest me, but also a topic I have a personal stake in.

How has working with your mentor impacted the development of your research project? How has it impacted you as a researcher?

As a low-income, first generation Latina, I did not know what the act of research really encapsulated. Having Professor Pérez as my mentor helped me learn what ‘doing research’ means and how to navigate this field with.

How has the research you’ve conducted contributed to your professional or academic development?

I am from Northside, Houston and have experience in working with non-profits and legal firms that advocate and support the Latine and immigrant community in Houston. I believe my service with the non-profits and legal firms and my research orbit around the fight for representation.

What advice would you give to a younger student wanting to get involved in research in your field?

I would say make sure you enjoy and are passionate about your topic.