Students find belonging in Latinx Studies

Latinx Studies, taught by English teacher Julia Toscano, is an English class focused on appreciating and learning about Latino culture. 

Class units change year to year, because they focus on current events happening to Latinx people, including the issues around having a Latinx Studies class at all. 

Toscano also uses fiction to structure her units. The story collection“Sabrina & Corina,” by Kali Fajardo-Anstine, is Toscano’s favorite unit to teach. 

Units that Toscano wants, and tries, to talk more about involve Afro-Latinos, Indigenous Latinos, and the Cuban Revolution. Toscano finds that, even with the large amount of the Latino community fitting into these subgroups, these subjects and people aren’t talked about enough.

Students in the Latinx Studies class are able to attend a field trip to the Portland celebration, “El Grito.” There, students get the opportunity to try cultural foods and buy items from vendors. 

Latinx people from around Oregon come to talk to students about their upbringing and their current occupations. This gives students familiar figures to look up to, as well as helping to think about their futures.

Toscano’s goals for the class include helping students find a sense of community and friendship within the class, and encouraging students to have strong opinions that they are able to share. 

Latinx Studies became a class in 2021, with Toscano being the only teacher asked to teach it. Toscano finds challenges with support in the class since she’s the only staff member involved in it.  

“I was that person that was ashamed of her culture,” said Toscano.  It was when she went to college that she realized she didn’t need to be ashamed of who she was. Toscano said that being able to meet other welcoming people in her culture helped her become more involved and proud of being Latina. 

“If you’re feeling shame, it’s probably because you’re alone,” Toscano said. “Find community, go to LSU, take Latinx Studies. I promise you, once you are surrounded by community, you will feel so much pride.”