Program News

Afro-Latinidad in Brazil: An Artist talk with Nia Hampton, April 1, 2019

By Emmanuel Daramola, '19
4/20/19

Nia Hampton is a native of West Baltimore who happens to be an artist, educator, and a journalist, who spent some time in Brazil teaching English to children. During her time in Brazil, Hampton was able to combine and use her interest in artistry in the form of photography, education, and journalism as a way to unveil the numerous injustices and inequalities that people of African descent in Brazil are constantly facing, to the outside world. She does this by drawing on parallels between the people of Baltimore and Salvador, the third largest city in Brazil that has the second highest concentration of Afro-descendants in the world.

Hampton begins her presentation with the picture of a city in which she discloses that those of whiter complexion tend to live in upscale apartments, and those of darker complexion lived in low-end apartments. Already we could see that there is a vast socioeconomic divide that has resulted to some sort of segregation. Hampton delves deeper into the issues faced by people of African descent (Afro-Latinidad), especially in the city of Salvador, by bringing to light that, even though the city is mostly black, the people face police brutality. The white minority controls power and resources and stifles African religion/influences. It’s clear that Brazil is a product of the same system that United States was built on. Being a Baltimore native, Hampton could easily see the parallels between Salvador and Baltimore and so could the people of Salvador. They were able to relate to the Baltimore Uprising and other tragic events that occurred during that time period in the U.S and were able to stand in solidarity with their fellow African descendants, here in the U.S.

Overall, through her photography, film work and writing, Hampton effectively captured the day-to-day lives of the people of Brazil that the outside world does not know. Bringing to light and creating a platform for those who are the majority but are treated like the minority. 

Students from Portuguese 204 (Portuguese for Speakers of Spanish) with Professor Glaydson Vieira on Brazilian Snack Day April 2018.

Trying out Artesanos Don Bosco furniture

exhibition organized by students from

ML392D Introduction to Latin American Studies 

Loyola Notre Dame Library November 12, 2018

Sophomore Regina McCoy explains the Don Bosco mission to students in the Loyola/Notre Dame Library.

Artesanos Don Bosco furniture is built by artisans in Chacas, a town in the high Andes and is transported to a gallery in Federal Hill, Baltimore, where it is sold and earnings are returned to the artisans, thereby eliminating the need for them to migrate to Lima or other location. They can then remain in Chacas and maintain links to their ayllu, or community.

Professor Carey will be teaching an interesting new course for the Fall 2018 Semester!

HS 468: Environmental History in Latin America

This course will explore how humans and the environment have interacted over time in the Americas from pre-Columbian populations to the recent past. The study of historical change in human-nature interactions reveals both how people have affected the environment and how nature has shaped human actions. Because of the wide range of research methods and topics it embraces, the burgeoning field of Environmental History is both compelling and challenging. We will examine diverse views of nature, the ecological effects of shifting agricultural and consumption patterns, the impact of technological advances, political ecology, conservation, and environmental movements. In part, our task will be to define what constitutes “Environmental History” and to determine if there is a coherent set of problems and issues that this emergent field addresses.

TH265D: World Christianity and PO204 Portuguese for Speakers of Spanish count for the LALS Minor!

The minor in Latin American and Latino Studies now accepts its first theology course as part of the LALS curriculum. TH265D: World Christianity looks at Hispanic/Latino/Latin American Christianity in the context of world Christianity.

During the fall 2013 semester the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures began offering PO204 Portuguese for Speakers of Spanish. This class is geared for native and heritage speakers of Spanish as well as students of Spanish who have completed SN104 or higher. Seven countries speak Portuguese as their official language and Brazil, with almost two-hundred million people and a land mass almost as big as continental United States, is the biggest country in South America. Spanish-speaking students who are interested reading and listening to primary materials from Brazil are encouraged to take the course which counts for the Latin American and Latino Studies minor.  Portuguese for Speakers of Spanish will be offered every spring semester. 

The Don Bosco School for Artisans Art Exhibition and Lecture

During the spring semester 2010 Loyola University’s Dr. Thomas Ward, Professor of Spanish and Latin American and Latino Studies, offered students from two of his classes a unique service-learning opportunity. Students from SN201D: Spanish Composition and Conversation and SN351D: Literature and Identity Politics in Peru came together to work with the non-profit organization (NGO) located in Baltimore’s Federal Hill neighborhood known as Artesanos Don Bosco with the goal of lowering. Read "Loyola/Notre Dame Library and Loyola University’s Program in Latin American and Latino Studies Host Successful Exhibit for Artesanos Don Bosco, Peru".

The II International Colloquium on Manuel González Prada

The 2008 Colloquium examined the Peruvian poet and essayist Manuel González Prada’s thorny relationship to the diverse strands of political, cultural and economic thought that made up Peruvian and Latin American liberalism.  As one of the leading Latin American writers of his time, Manuel González Prada  was an influential force shaping how subsequent generations of Latin Americans would engage. Read "The II International Colloquium on Manuel González Prada".