Toward Justice: Parrying the Press's Pathologizing in Poetry and Pictures

• In Event: 14.043 - Roundtable Session 1
  In Roundtable Session: 14.043-20 - Roundtable 2: Language

Abstract

This May 2013 study examines how the media marginalize a colonia, or unincorporated Southwestern U.S. settlement; however, colonia residents’ words and photos disprove the media’s disparaging language and images. Participants were 14 preservice teachers who tutored the children; 32 children, and eight guardians. Data sources were candidates’ focus group discussion and written reflections, child interviews, and parent surveys; all participants were Latinos/as. Using poetic inquiry and word clouds, I analyzed a news station’s articles about the colonia from February to August 2013 and participants’ words and photos. Emerging themes were officials’ and educators’ marginalization of the colonia, media stereotyping, and participants’ parrying. This study positions a high-poverty, recent immigrant colonia as powerful and beautiful, full of hope.

Author

• Kathy M. Bussert-Webb, The University of Texas - Brownsville