For critical studies of mestizaje in Mexico

Abstract

This paper has been organized in five chapters. First, in the introduction, I talk about a concrete case that sparked these discussions, which consists on how mixed-race people, particularly heterosexual mixed-race women of the working class, do not see themselves as racialized, let alone question their racism. Secondly, I explain the methodology to which I adhere and make my locus of enunciation explicit. In the third section, I explain how the mestizo is also racialized and how the contradiction is present in the mestizo experience living racism and being racist. Next, I define what I mean by the racial project of mestizaje, as well as the pillars that make it up and the repercussions of the Mexican nation state's cultural approach to racism. Then I discuss the impact of transnational projects on the Mexican anti-racist turn and how this impacted on a rhetoric of color and the discourse of race. As a fourth moment, I show what discussions are being carried out, how debates on mestizaje are being conducted, and what opportunities are being opened or closed down, as the case may be. Finally, I close with some brief conclusions.