Mexican American Raza Studies
Monday, 26 April 2010 19:27
At an early age, Curtis Acosta felt he was different. A mixed child from a white mother and a Chicano father, the place where Acosta belonged was never really solidified.“I self- identify as Chicano. It’s nothing against my mother’s family, it’s just how I live my life,” Acosta said
Acosta was born and raised in northern California. During his high school years, Acosta lived in a suburban community near San Jose called El Dorado Hills.
“That was a big change for me. I started out as the new kid, then turned into the popular kid,” Acosta said.
Although Acosta enjoyed his life throughout high school, becoming more and more aware of his suburban surroundings caused him to grow intellectually.
“It was a formative experience,” he said.. “It made me realize what I didn’t want.”
By the time Acosta went off to college, he was even more aware of his own needs and the types of surroundings that benefited him most.
“Going to a small school was pretty important to me. I needed my professors to notice me.”
So Acosta enrolled at Willamette University in Salem, Ore. and studied humanities for the next four years, eventually receiving his Bachelor’s degree.
While in college, Acosta continued his path of self-discovery.
“Langston Hughes saved my life. He said ‘I sing too America, I’m the darker brother.’ He opened my eyes, and for me, at that moment, I woke up.”
In 1994, Acosta moved to Tucson to obtain his teaching certification.
“I didn’t see myself becoming a teacher. I was just learning who I was.”
Acosta eventually decided to stay and build a life in Tucson.
“I had friends here in Tucson and fell in love with the place. The mountains, the sun, and it was Mexican- friendly. That was something I wasn’t used to.”
Acosta started student teaching at Tucson High Magnet School in 1995 and has taught there every year since, with the exception of the two years he had to transfer to University High School due to a District Mediated Transfer.
“That was not where I wanted to be. I didn’t become a teacher to teach gifted kids. I became a teacher to teach gifted kids who didn’t know they were gifted. Diamonds in the rough,” Acosta said of his two years teaching at University High School.
After his years of student teaching, Acosta became an English teacher, teaching traditional English classes.
In the 2003-2004 school year, Acosta taught his first Mexican American Studies English class, integrating ethnic literature with traditional literature in an effort to make his students more culturally diverse and totally aware of the world around them.
“I am creating scholars from the community. So be it if they become activists, Democrats, Republicans, whatever,” he said.
Now, the Mexican American Studies courses have grown to such a point that it is the only class Acosta teaches, with a full class schedule.
Outside of the classroom, Acosta has helped start a group with former students called, “Four elements; Art, Education, Literacy Team”
“It’s a ‘hip-hop pedagogy’ using hip-hop to teach social justice issues,” Acosta said. “We incorporate MCing, dance, graffiti, art and DJing into our sessions and put on a Unity Festival.”
Now, at the age of 38, married, and with a five-year-old son, Acosta is working on his Ph.D. in teaching at the University of Arizona and plans to eventually teach teachers in the Teacher Preparation Program.
Below, Curtis Acosta describes the Mexican American Raza Studies program and its importance.
Written by Laurann Julia Faye Robinson
News
- Tucson Reacts to TUSD Mexican-American Studies Elimination
- Bombing Range Offers Pristine Wilderness
- Alla Frefer: A Libyan-American Experience
- The Gangs of Tucson
- Local Group Asks Residents for City Planning Advice
- 2011 Democratic Election Night Party Live Coverage
- Tucson Elections
- Immigration live blog
Culture
People
Education
Health
Sports
- Former UA Tennis Player Redirects His Passion for the Game
- Soccer: The New Flavor of Tucson Sports
- 2012 FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup Kick Off
- International Student-Athletes, Bringing More Than Just Competition
- Bikes across borders
- Vacation for Both Sides of the Border
- International Athletes at the UA
- International Tennis Seniors' Final Homestand
Food
- Sushi Chef: Noboru Nakajima
- A Tortilla-Making Family Tradition
- Pin-up Pastries Enjoys Huge Success at Tucson Meet Yourself
- Tucson Eat Yourself: El Guero Canelo
- Tamales for Local Happiness
- A Festival Full of Culture
- Food Vendors Caught on Camera
- Pin-Up Serving Attractive Pastries at Tucson Meet Yourself
Twitter Updates
Who's Online
We have 24 guests onlineBorder Beat Blogs
By: Alexandra Newman
This blog compares Mexican and American women in terms of their culture's beauty ideals and traditional gender roles.
By: Audrey A. Fitzsimmons
The Southwest boasts of diverse ethnic backgrounds and a wealth of interesting personalities. Border Personalities is dedicated to the people of the Southwest and their stories.
By: Brett Haupt
A visual exploration of America’s last frontier -- pictures and videos from different areas of the wall and fence that separate two different worlds and insight into what really stands between the United States and Mexico, ramifications of wall building and what it means for the average citizen.
By: Charles Misra
Stories about martial arts and combat sports with a cultural twist, all finding a home in America's southwestern borderlands.
Culture CrossingBy: Chelsey Barthel
American borders are crossed every day by cultures of all kind. These stories tell the personal experiences of people from different lands, offering further insight into the difference of cultures.
By: Emily Kjesbo
Spotlighting Mexico’s top travel destinations, as well as a few of its hidden gems.
By: Hope Jamieson
Explore dance throughout the borderlands.
Border PeopleBy: Jamie Turow
Profiles of English language learners.
MLS Soccer comes to the DesertBy: Jeff Kessler
All about the 2012 Desert Diamond Cup, a 10 day exhibition soccer tournament featuring four Major League Soccor teams coming to Tucson.By: Jessica Hoerth
Meet some of the people in Tucson who have made the journey across the border as they share what they came in search of and what struggles they may have encountered along the way.
Border ShotsBy: Keith Perfetti
A photojournalist looks at how other photographers have viewed the border and shoots lesser known spots of the southwest.
By: Lauren Inouye
A look at Mexican and Latin films that reflect culture, politics, and society -- reviews, research and analysis.
By: Lauren Urratio
Fashion and how it is impacted by the border and international cultures.
Border AthletesBy: Lauren Sokol
Meet international student athletes at the University of Arizona, a look at the recruiting process that helped them find a temporary home in the desert, and culture changes that the athletes might have endured.
Public Safety and Crime near the U.S./Mexico Border
By: Lucy Valencia
Public safety along the border and any crime-related issues. A look at issues that occur within the justice system when Mexican and U.S. laws overlap.
A City of Musical DiversityBy: Maria Teracena
Tucson musicians influence and are influenced by the sounds of the world.
The Border ProjectBy: Melissa Guz
"The Border Project" is an art showcase located in the University of Arizona's Museum of Art. It has over 40+ art pieces related to border issues.
Athletics and the BorderBy: Preston Fawcett
Get to know high school coachs and athletes from Arizona border towns or from Mexico and their struggles to get to where they are.
A Mosaic AmericaBy: Rachel Kolinski
"Exploring Diversity one Face at a Time"
Educación en la FronteraBy: Shannon Maule
A look at higher education in regard to those who have and have not been able to travel from various countries to the United States. Stories from people in the higher education world relating to the border.
Music of the BorderBy: Steven Schiraldi
Music reviews of musical works by Mexican or other ethnic artists.