At times called Chicano/a Studies, La Raza Studies, and Mexican American Studies, an entire course could be taught on the history of changing terms and their moment in history. Inclusive of peoples with origins from across Latin America as well as Mexico, Chicanx/Latinx Studies focuses on the experiences and contributions of Chicanx and Latinx people in the United States.
Why do colleges have ethnic studies classes and departments? Listen to The Long, Bloody Strike For Ethnic Studies, from the podcast Code Switch, to learn about the student activism that led to more ethnic studies classes in higher education.
To see a longer curated list of both print and ebooks, check out our collection Latinx/Hispanic Heritage.
When searching for resources it is helpful to try a variety of terms, as both historical context and a person's identity may dictate which term is used. Terms may tie people together generally, such as Latinx which is a gender neutral term for someone of Latin American origin or descent. More specific terms can refer to a person's geographical place of origin, such as Tejanos, which refers to a Mexican American from Texas. Here are examples of some terms to try: Chicano/a/x, Latino/a/x, Hispanic, La Raza, Mexican American, Cuban American, Puerto Rican American, etc..
We subscribe to over 50 databases that collect articles, reference materials, ebooks, and videos for you to access. Here are a few good databases to try out when searching for articles on Latinx history and culture in the United States.
This link opens in a new window This link opens in a new windowJournals, magazines, and newspapers throughout history to the present. Includes information from government sites such as the Library of Congress and historical societies.
This link opens in a new window This link opens in a new windowOnline streaming of academic related videos.
This link opens in a new windowCross-cultural and ethnographic database that contains descriptive information on all aspects of cultural and social life. The information is organized by cultures and ethnic groups.
Below is a small selection of ebooks related to Chicanx/Latinx Studies. The library has many other ebooks. See something missing from the collection? Recommend a resource!
¡Chicana Power! by 
An African American and Latinx History of the United States by 
Learning to Be Latino by 
U. S. Latino Issues by 
The Undocumented Americans by 
Mexicana Encounters - The Making of Social Identities on the Borderlands by 
Mi Raza Primero, My People First by 
Chicano Satire by Though they haven't opened yet, several great museums focusing on Latinx Americans are due to open in the next few years. These include The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture & Industry of the Riverside Art Museum, The National Museum of the American Latino, and The Mexican Museum.
Until these museums open there are online resources and exhibits that may be useful for research. A selection of resources is below:
