Margie Brown-Coronel, assistant professor of history, is fascinated by the ever-shifting meaning of the U.S.-Mexico border and the way in which people navigate these changes. Her research areas include 19th- and 20th-century Latina history, and specifically, the Spanish-Mexican women (Californianas) whose families settled in California in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
“Through studying borderlands, we learn that the notion of borders has shifted over time and that there has always been a continuous flow of people and ideas across borders,” she explained. “The experiences and exchanges in these borderlands reveal the nuances of human migration.”
Brown-Coronel will dive deeper into the topic as part of the Fullerton Public Library’s Town and Gown Series. Her Oct. 21 talk, “A History of Borders and Movement” will cover the long-standing pattern of transnational movement of people and ideas across the Americas and offer historical context to current circumstances at play on the U.S.-Mexico border.
“Immigration policies and borders are highly politicized topics and so they often capture national attention,” she said. “Understanding the history of borders allows people to decipher and interpret the onslaught of messages from political candidates, pundits and the media.”
The event takes place from 7-8:45 p.m. in the Fullerton Public Library’s Conference Center Community Room. For more information, call 714-738-6333.