Histories of the Border

Next class, we're very lucky to have guest speaker Michael Dear. Professor Dear is a newly-appointed professor of City and Regional Planning at the College of Environmental Design. He completed a multi-year 4,000-mile trip along the U.S.–Mexico border and uses this experience to reflect on the current and future status of the line between the two countries. We are hoping that Professor Dear will provide his personal insight on past and present events of the border.

To prepare for this discussion, have a look at this assigned reading handed out last Wednesday. This reading will give you a very brief break down of what the current Mexico-U.S. relationship looks like. Mexico history and U.S. history are heavily intertwined and the border is surely a result of hundreds of years of political, economic, and social processes between the two countries. Notice how even this introduction notes the importance of history.

In addition to this reading, check out this PBS timeline. Pick an event and come to class prepared to tell us a little about it. We recommend looking at outside resources. We hope that you will be able to connect this event to the reading: Can you trace any effect this event has had on present border issues or U.S.-Mexico relations? Why is this event important for us to know?

Please do not choose the NAFTA 1994 event, as we will be talking about this in the following class, though of course, your input is more than welcome then!

COMMENT after this post with your event of choice, in order to avoid people doubling on events, if possible, before Sunday.

This assignment is due Wednesday, February 10th.