3-Part Series: La Historia Uncovered

“La Historia Uncovered” is a series of inspiring, thought-provoking conversations created and hosted by bestselling author Julissa Arce.

Episode 1: The History of Voting Rights in Latino Communities

With University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service Dean, Victoria DeFrancesco Soto

The first episode took place on Tuesday, October 12 and focused on how voter suppression has been systematically harming the opportunity for an equal right to vote in communities of color. Additional resources:

• Informational video: Latinos & Racial Justice: The Racist Legacy of Voting Policies with Isabella Gomez
• And blog post: The racist history of voter suppression laws

Episode 2: The History of Latino Erasure

With Congressman Joaquin Castro and UC Berkeley Professor Ian Haney López 

The second episode of La Historia Uncovered aired on Tuesday, November 8. Julissa, Professor López and Congressman Castro came together to discuss critical race theory and how it impacts Latinos today. The discussion shed light on how the erasure of Latinos in U.S. history books results in a lack of representation in Hollywood, publishing, and every aspect of American culture. Additional resources:

• Video & Blog: What is ‘Critical Race Theory,’ and Why It Matters to Latinos
• UnidosUS position paper: Toward a More Perfect Union: Understanding Systemic Racism and Resulting Inequity in Latino Communities
• New Yorker article about Congressman Castro’s new initiative: The Exclusion of Latinos from American Media and History Books
• Websites: Race-Class Academy, Project Juntos, UnidosUS Civil Rights and Racial Equity

Episode 3: The Roots of Immigration Policy

With Charles Kamasaki, Senior Cabinet Advisor, UnidosUS

The final episode of  La Historia Uncovered aired on Tuesday, December 7. The conversation focused on how race, more than any other factor, has driven U.S. immigration laws. We aim to understand the history of immigration policy in order to combat the outsized impact in Latino communities today. Additional resources: 

• Video: Latinos and Racial Justice
• Books:
  • You Sound Like a White Girl: The Case for Rejecting Assimilation by Julissa Arce
  • Immigration Reform: The Corpse That Will Not Die by Charles Kamasaki
• Articles:
  • “The Structural Racism of Our Immigration System“
  • “US immigration policy: A classic, unappreciated example of structural racism“
  • “Toward a More Perfect Union: Understanding Systemic Racism and Resulting Inequity in Latino Communities”
  • “The Lasting Legacy of Exclusion: How the Law that Brought Us Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Excluded Immigrant Families & Institutionalized Racism in our Social Support System“

The fight for civil rights and racial equity is at the heart of everything UnidosUS does. As we dismantle racism, we’re committed to showing all Americans what structural racism is and what we can all do to end it. For more on UnidosUS’ work on this topic, please visit the Civil Rights and Racial Equity page.