My Positionality.

I identify as a cisgender, Latino male with a bicultural orientation (2003) from a working-class background.  I consider this construct through intersecting identities of race, gender, social class, and acknowledge the privilege and power I hold due to my dominant identities as well as the responsibility that comes with those identities to advocate for social justice. Given that systems of oppression constantly reinforce dehumanizing patterns of thought and behavior, I acknowledge my respective positionalities which limit our perspectives and require us to continually deconstruct internalized hegemonies and reconstruct new ways of being that promote justice, healing, and liberation.  Therefore, I consider my positionality as an educator a privilege. I am responsible for communicating the values, foundations of knowledge, and research methods of my profession. This is a form of cultural transmission which can bring striking—and welcome—changes as a result of the intellectual pursuits of my students. I believe my students can act as leaders and serve as potential transformative agents to education organizations to disrupt systems of power and oppression.