Thank you Professor Danny Méndez for your visit and kind donation

CUNY Dominican Studies Institute’s Chief Librarian Sarah Aponte is happy to share information about Prof. Danny Méndez’s research visit from Michigan State University and the donation of his book to the Dominican Library
Méndez, Danny. Narratives of Migration and Displacement in Dominican Literature. New York, New York: Routledge Press, 2012. Print.

After requesting this book via interlibrary loan time after time, we finally get our very own copy from the author himself during his recent visit to the CUNY DSI Archives and Library. Prof. Méndez’s book is focused on narratives of migration and displacements in the works of Dominican contemporary writers. Throughout his book Prof. Méndez analyzes the works of Pedro Henríquez Ureña, Josefina Báez, Junot Díaz, and Loida Maritza Pérez while engaging critically with the different process of racial and identity constructions of the Dominican experience in the Dominican Republic before they embark on their journey to the United States. Moreover, he argues that "their representations of immigration and traveling in New York City reflect the racial, ethnic, class, and gender experiences that have marked their internalized conception of dominicanidad” at different historical junctures. Méndez explains that dialogues with past notions of gender, sexuality, and race gained in the Dominican Republic emerge displaced and link to new forms of dominicandad in the context of the United States.

We highly recommended this book for literary scholars and students with an interest in understanding Dominican literature and the works of Dominican authors dealing with themes of immigration, displacement, race, and identity.

During his research visit, Prof. Mendéz consulted The Normandía Maldonado Collection. He is currently exploring the cultural production of Dominican women in the arts particularly dance, music, and acting. To hear him speak, go to the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) Congress in New York City from May 27-30th this year. He will be presenting about his latest research on the figure of Maria Montez. For more information on his presentation you can view the program here.

Jhensen Ortiz

Assistant Librarian