Panel Discussion

Working people have been at the center of the history of modern Latin America. However, traditional textbooks and narratives have usually overlooked or oversimplified their experiences and struggles. In contrast, I argue that bringing a working-class perspective sheds light on the issues that dominate the history of the twentieth century, from questions of economic development and modernization to political tensions. It also allows placing Latin American history into a transnational framework, making global comparisons, and exploring the many different ways workers crossed borders. Based on my teaching experience at CalStateLA, a public university serving minority and first-generation college students in California, I discuss the primary sources, resources, and active learning activities that worked in the classroom. These activities and sources contribute to “visibilize” workers’ experience and understanding how working people have been protagonists of their countries’ history. From a larger perspective, I also reflect on the importance of teaching labor history and how it allows students to understand history from the bottom up, connect to larger struggles for social justice, and become aware of the issues that shape the lives of working people around the world.