In this episode, I talk to Emmanuel Ortega (Babelito from Latinos Who Lunch) a researcher, curator, podcaster, and recent YouTuber whose work looks to deconstruct the politics of colorism in colonial and contemporary Latin America by analyzing the visual culture of the colonial period and the politics of class and race classification behind the caste system. Springing from his research interests, Ortega has curated in México and the United States. Babelito is one half of one of the podcast that inspired the creation of this podcast, Latinos Who Lunch, and currently is working on a youtube channel titled Unsettling Journeys, dedicated to uncovering the histories behind Mexican, Latin American, and Latinx identities by examining the arts (as well as the visual and material cultures and built environment) created before the invasion of Tenochtitlán, during the colonial period, around the waves of Independence from Europe, and into our contemporary world; that he discusses further in our conversation. 

We talk about the journey of a Mexican scholar into American academia, and the role that the "newly discovered" need for diversity in the Ivory Tower has affected Black and Brown voices. We also talk about modernity and mobility, the role of new media in the creation of academic portfolios, and the accessibility of knowledge. How podcasts, youtube channels, and others are helping to reach larger audiences, but also how these are not yet fully accepted in traditional academic circles as accomplishments through "tenure track" i.e. 

For lack of time, and because what happens when two Juarenses are left to talk about their life experiences in the U.S.?, we didn't get to talk about architecture and space. But the promise for a future recording of an episode where such topics are going to be discussed was made. From colonial architecture and its systems of oppression. Where does it come from? (not just Spain) and, What of it has prevailed in modern and contemporary architecture in Mexico?... and much more to come in a future episode.

Reccomendations

Silencing the Past by Michael-Rolph Trouillot

Unsettling Journeys - Youtube Channel 

Music

Colombian group - Meridian Brothers

Album - Cumbia Siglo XXI

Colombiana by Niño de Elche