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Resistencia A Travéz de Conocimiento (Resistance Through Knowing): Countervisuality Within the “Fateful Triangle”

Fri, April 10, 1:45 to 3:15pm PDT (1:45 to 3:15pm PDT), Los Angeles Convention Center, Floor: Level Two, Room 301A

Abstract

Purposes
We counterpose photographs and testimonios from an ethnographically-informed photovoice project entitled ¿Dónde Vive la Ciencia en su Comunidad? to stimulate a plática (critical conversation) on the ethical imperative to revision early childhood research to meaningfully include community cultural wealth (Yosso, 2020). What began as a science, technology, engineering, and math-oriented project with Latina/o/e families in Queens, NY quickly morphed into a collaborative inquiry into belonging, community, civic participation, and a life-affirming response to neo-nativist characterizations of im/migrant contamination and criminality (Bhabha in Liu, 2019; Hall, 2017).
Perspectives
The ubiquity of the visual in contemporary life calls attention to the reflexive responsibility of considering visual methods’ socio-cultural baggage, particularly important with aspirationally liberationist methodologies (Liebenberg, 2018; Shankar 2023). Towards this end, we employ Mirzoeff’s (2011) authoritative discussion of visuality, as an instrument of imperial-colonial power, to consider the countervisual resistance reflected in our compañera/os’ (compas) perspectives on living within the “fateful triangle” of race, ethnicity, and nation (Hall 2017) and the accompanying “denigration of the foreigner” by “strongmen selling visions of national purity” (Bhabha in Liu 2019, para. 5).
Modes of Inquiry
Over the course of seven encuentros (meetings) in the summer-fall of 2023, and four follow up meetings in 2024, we collaboratively explored the ethics and processes of visual inquiry, “coded,” discussed, re/interpreted, and thematically re/organized co-researchers’ photographs (Espacio: Familias y Comunidad, 2025). Follow-up refinement occurred in weekly encuentros among the institutional researchers.
Data Sources, Evidence, Objects, or Materials
In addition to 99 photographs, our encuentros were video recorded and field jottings were written by all co-researchers during the meetings to note salient interactions and topics (Saldaña & Omasta, 2021).
Results
The community researchers identified issues of deep significance to their holistic health, among these: rootedness/belonging, civic participation, and the transmission of cultural knowledge within a local and national climate hostile towards im/migrants. Our paper’s title relates to the last theme, exemplified by a testimonio shared by Compa Monica during a discussion of photographic ethics,
Un fotógrafo, me imagino que profesional, con una cámara... tomó fotos a todos los niños... Eso sí, eran blancos.... Yo le digo a mi hermana, "Nos tomaron fotos al cucaracheros aquí..." Entonces, no pidió permiso.... [A photographer, I imagine a professional one… took pictures of all the children… Of course, they were white…. I told my sister, “They took pictures of us, the cockroaches here…” So, he didn’t ask permission…]
Her explicit use of the image cucaracheros can be seen as a reference to the well-worn, racist trope of ascribing dirtiness to immigrants, with this image specifically targeting Latina/o/es (Horton & Barker 2009). Monica’s critique catalyzed the group’s explorations of the countervisual resistance of visually representing and transmitting cultural knowledge for their children (Mirzoeff 2011).
Scholarly Significance of the Study and Work
While our partnership is encountering difficulties sustaining this work, it endures and guides our efforts to challenge our institutions’ commitments to “involvement,” “engagement,” “partnership,” and facile invocations of “funds of knowledge” or “community cultural wealth” during our program self-assessment process.

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