The University of Arizona Press
How We Came to Be
An Intellectual Genealogy of Chicano Scholars
This work chronicles the lives and legacies of Chicana and Chicano scholars whose formative experiences in the Chicano Movement shaped the development of Chicano studies and transformed higher education. Originating from the Reuniones de Colegas Chicanas—gatherings of veteran scholars reflecting on their shared histories—the volume features sixteen essays organized into five thematic sections that explore the intersections of activism, scholarship, and institutional change.
The contributors document how grassroots organizing evolved into academic inquiry, leading to the creation of departments, student support systems, and policy reforms that advanced equity and representation in universities. Essays address how community-engaged research influenced urban planning, health advocacy, and cultural production, while also highlighting Indigenous and transnational epistemologies that redefined theoretical frameworks in Chicano studies. The volume concludes with reflections on academic leadership and the breaking of barriers by Chicana scholars in higher education administration.
Together, these essays offer a powerful intellectual history and a testament to a generation’s enduring commitment to social justice. How We Came to Be is both a scholarly archive and a call to action, preserving the legacy of those who built Chicano studies and inspiring future generations to continue the work of transformation within and beyond the academy.
Contributors
José Calderón
Gilberto Cárdenas
Teresa Carillo
Teresa Córdova
Estevan Flores
Yvette G. Flores
Felipe Gonzales
Deena Gonzalez
Francisco J. Hernández
Inés Hernández-Ávila
Francisco Hernández-Vázquez
Aída Hurtado
Larry Trujillo
Avelardo Valdez
Carlos G. Vélez-Ibáñez
James Diego Vigil
“I am in awe of what these scholar/activists were able to do to conceptualize, develop, and situate Chicano/Chicana studies side by side with solidly ensconced academic departments. This is an astonishing accomplishment in face of political resistance and entrenched Eurocentric belief systems that have guided higher education for hundreds of years. The personal narratives in this volume are nothing short of profound truth telling at its highest level. We learn that with courage, persistence, hard work, collaboration, and spiritual nobility what seems impossible can be accomplished. What the Chicano Movement exclaimed long ago still rings true: ¡Si se puede!”—Laura I. Rendón, author of Sentipensante (Sensing / Thinking) Pedagogy: Educating for Wholeness, Social Justice, and Liberation
“As the daughter of Chicano activists, I grew up learning the stories behind the syllabi—the struggles, alliances, and sacrifices that made the field of Chicano studies possible. In a time when Chicano studies faces political erasure, this collection compiles the seeds cultivated by generations of scholars who dared to imagine a place for themselves and future generations in the academy. They grew more than a field—they rooted us in an ecosystem of Chicanismo, a movement that seeks to cultivate not only knowledge but also transformation—for our gente, our histories, and the generations yet to come.”— Rebeca Burciaga, San Jose State University
