Special Topic for Fall 2023: LatinX Experiences of Farming, Cooking and Eating in the United States

Sergio Arau's controversial film A Day Without Mexicans imagines the United States emptied of Latino labor. Beyond the utter chaos that follows, one thing stands out: we would starve. US-based Latin American or Spanish-speaking peoples, today grouped under the term LatinX, are a fundamental force in the US food system. This course explores the US food system through the lens of LatinX experiences. We start from an understanding of the history of people and mobility in the Americas, then focus on examples of food production and consumption. Case studies will range from Central American laborers in Vermont dairy farms, churro stand operators in the NYC subway, and digital nomads in trendy neighborhoods of Mexico City. Students will prepare final projects that support their understanding of their own role in this food system. If your interests gravitate around American history, immigration, (inter)national security, supply chains, food economics, labor rights, food marketing, specialty agriculture or commodity production, and social justice, this course will aid you in researching multidisciplinary responses to questions such as: "From whose farm to whose table?"

Note that this information may change at any time. Please visit the Student Link for the most up-to-date course information.