What can Octavia Butler, Melissa Cardoza, Lisa Alther, and Ariana Brown tell us about the varied lived experiences of mixed ancestry, Black, Latinx, and Indigenous people in the United States border regions?

Combing complexity pedagogy and convivial tools of the commons in analysis of literary works, Parables of Latinx and Mixed Ancestry aims to give insight into the varied experiences of mixed ancestry, Black, Latinx, and Indigenous people in the United States border regions.

Through analysis of the works of African American author Octavia Butler, author D. Emily Hicks focusses on themes of trauma and resistance. Insight into Afro-Honduran identity is provided through the work of environmental activist Melissa Cardoza, and the works of Melungeon author Lisa Alther are used to examine the formation of a mixed ancestry Melungeon community in the Southeastern United States. Finally, Hicks delves into Black Mexican poet Ariana Brown’s work, to highlight differences in the experience of Mexican Americans and Dominican American immigrants.

Exploring key themes of identity, border culture, and migration, this book is ideal reading for students of Literature and related courses, Latinx Studies, Black Studies, American Studies, Gender Studies, Migration and Border Studies, as well as performers of spoken word and slam poetry.

D. Emily Hicks PhD is Professor Emeritus at San Diego State University where she taught in Chicana/o Studies and English and Comparative Literature.