Decolonizing Epistemologies: Latina/o Theology and Philosophy

by Ada María Isasi-Díaz (Editor), Eduardo Mendieta (Editor)

Overview

Decolonizing Epistemologies builds upon the contributions of liberation and postcolonial theories in both philosophy and theology. Gathering the work of three generations of Latina/o theologians and philosophers who have taken up the task of transforming their respective disciplines, it seeks to facilitate the emergence of new knowledge by reflecting on the Latina/o reality in the United States as an epistemic locus: a place from which to start as well as the source of what is known and how it is known.

The task of elaborating a liberation and decolonial epistemology emerges from the questions and concerns of Latina/os as a minoritized and marginalized group. Refusing to be rendered invisible by the dominant discourse, the contributors to this volume show the unexpected and original ways in which U.S. Latina/o social and historical loci are generative places for the creation of new matrices of knowledge.

Because the Latina/o reality is intrinsically connected with that of other oppressed groups, the volume articulates a new point of departure for the self-understanding not only of Latina/os but also possibly for other marginalized and oppressed groups, and for all those seeking to engage in the move beyond coloniality as it is present in this age of globalization.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823241354
Publisher:	Fordham University Press
Publication date:	11/01/2011
Series:	Transdisciplinary Theological Colloquia
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Ada María Isasi-Díaz is Professor of Ethics and Theology (Emerita) at the Theological School of Drew University.

Eduardo Mendieta is Professor of Philosophy at Stony Brook University.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction: Freeing Subjugated Knowledge Ada María Isasi-Díaz Eduardo Mendieta 1

Knowing Reality

Decolonizing Western Epistemology / Building Decolonial Epistemologies Walter Mignolo 19

Mujerista Discourse: A Platform for Latinas' Subjugated Knowledge Ada María Isasi-Díaz 44

Methodological Notes toward a Decolonial Feminism María Lugones 68

An(other) Invitation to Epistemological Humility: Notes toward a Self-Critical Approach to Counter-Knowledges Otto Maduro 87

Latina/o Locus Historicus

Anti-Latino Racism Linda Martin Alcoff 107

The Act of Remembering: The Reconstruction of U.S. Latina/o Identities by U.S. Latina/o Muslims Hjamil A. Martínez-Vázquz 127

If It Is Not Catholic, Is It Popular Catholicism? Evil Eye, Espiritismo, and Santería: Latina/o Religion within Latina/o Theology Michelle A. González 151

"Racism is not intellectual": Interracial Friendship, Multicultural Literature, and Decolonizing Epistemologies Paula M. L. Moya 169

Mapping Latina/o Futures

Epistemology, Ethics, and the Time/Space of Decolonization: Perspectives from the Caribbean and the Latina/o Americas Nelson Maldonado-Torres 193

Thinking Bodies: The Spirit of a Latina Incarnational Imagination Mayra Rivera Rivera 207

Decolonizing Religion: Pragmatism and Latina/o Religious Experience Christopher Tirres 226

The Ethics of (Not) Knowing: Take Care of Ethics and Knowledge Will Come of Its Own Accord Eduardo Mendieta 247

Notes 265

List of Contributors 311

Index 313

Editorial Reviews

Finally, a liberating book of essays that demonstrates with verve and nerve that the flourishing of life in our Americas is intimately tied up with a flourishing of new thought.
Confronting the long and vicious tradition of lies about Latina/o history and knowledge, these terrific essays present not only the visions of the poor but also the hopes of interracial friendships and thinking, and the unheard voices that are still speaking the truth to us. ¡Qué Viva Decolonizing Epistemologies!”

Harvard Divinity School - David Carrasco

Twenty-first-century ‘de-colonization’ is a promise of egalitarian modes of ethics, justice, and democracy. This book provides one instantiation of that promise. Here, routes are mapped for reconnecting continents, peoples, cultures, and being. Each chapter experiments with transdisciplinary, postcontinental methods for linking the human, social, and natural sciences. In this book, imperialist, exploitative cultural forms are disturbed and transformed, because now they must pass through the ‘ethnic studies turn.’”

author of Methodology of the Oppressed andPerforming the U.S. Latin@ Borderland - Chela Sandoval

The outstanding significance of this book emerges from the fact that the increasing centrality of Latino populations in the United States is transforming the political, economic, and cultural selfperception of the United States. The new face of America is now a reality. Its unfolding will be the most important story of the next fifty years. If you want a glimpse of the future, you must read this book!”

author of What If Latin America Ruled the World-yet - Oscar Guardiola-Rivera

“The outstanding significance of this book emerges from the fact that the increasing centrality of Latino populations in the United States is transforming the political, economic, and cultural selfperception of the United States. The new face of America is now a reality. Its unfolding will be the most important story of the next fifty years. If you want a glimpse of the future, you must read this book!”

author of What If Latin America Ruled the World? - Oscar Guardiola-Rivera

In this collection, a diverse group of Latina/o philosophers and theologians raise a sustained challenge to entrenched conceptions of what counts as knowledge, while offering a wealth of information on a range of Latina/o ideals of social justice and their epistemic repercussions.

University of South Florida, Tampa - Ofelia Schutte

“This book is the definitive collection of philosophical and theological voices grounded in the most significant yet overlooked sources in American life—Latina/o doings and sufferings. We owe Ada María Isasi-Díaz and Eduardo Mendieta a deep debt for unleashing these profound and powerful essays into the world!”

Cornel West

“This text brings together established and up-and-coming figures of Latino/Latina/Latin American philosophy and theology to develop a critique of colonized epistemologies, as well as take the first fundamental steps toward decolonized ways of knowing and thinking. Critical theory, phenomenology, and transphenomenological reflections from hitherto suppressed ways of thinking are represented in this book. The set of essays in this text will be a trailblazer in the development of an epistemology of the philosophy of ‘Our América.’”

Le Moyne College - Mario Saenz

"The outstanding significance of this book emerges from the fact that the increasing centrality of Latino populations in the US is transforming the political, economic and cultural self-perception of the United States. The new face of America is now a reality. It's unfolding will be the most important story of the next fifty years. If want a glance of the future, you must read this book!"-Oscar Guardiola-Rivera, author of What If Latin America Ruled the World?

From the Publisher