A Contested Caribbean Indigeneity: Language, Social Practice, and Identity within Puerto Rico Taíno Activism

Followed by a reception in the Friedl lobby. Free parking on Duke East Campus after 5 p.m.

Dr. Sherina Feliciano-Santos, Associate Prof of Anthropology at the University of Michigan, is the author of "A Contested Caribbean Indigeneity," an in-depth analysis of the debates surrounding Taíno/Boricua activism in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean diaspora in New York City. Drawing on in-depth ethnographic research, media analysis, and historical documents, her book explores the varied experiences and motivations of Taíno/Boricua activists and the alternative fonts of authority they draw on to claim what is commonly considered an extinct ethnic category. It explores the historical and interactional challenges of claiming membership in what is an impossible affiliation for many Puerto Ricans. In focusing on Taíno/Boricua activism, Feliciano-Santos aims to identify a critical space from which to analyze and decolonize ethno-racial ideologies of Puerto Ricanness, issues of class and education, Puerto Rican nationalism and colonialism, as well as essential questions regarding narrative, historical memory, and belonging.