Cindy "Renee" Provencio will discuss racial segregation and discrimination in Grant County on Wednesday from noon to 1:00 pm in the ABC Room of the Besse-Forward Global Resource Center on the WNMU campus. This presentation is sponsored by the Silver City Museum and WILL, the Western Institute for Lifelong Learning, and is free of charge.Silver City -- Renee Provencio, a native of Grant County who grew up in the mining district, will discuss racial segregation and discrimination in Grant County as part of the Silver City Museum's ongoing community conversation series, presented in collaboration with WILL, the Western Institute for Lifelong Learning. The presentation will be held Wednesday, August 21, from noon to 1:00 pm in the ABC Room of the Besse-Forward Global Resource Center on the WNMU campus. The presentation is free of charge and open to the public.
A feminist scholar and local activist, Provencio will present her master's thesis, which stands as pioneering work in the study of racial segregation and discrimination in the Southwest. Provencio holds a master's degree in multicultural women and gender studies from Texas Woman's University.
In her presentation, Provencio will amplify the voices and narratives of four people from across different generations, who were pivotal in her oral history project and, subsequently, her thesis research. Her findings underscore distressing realities, including Spanish-speaking students who faced physical and emotional abuse from teachers for using their native language in school, and Mexican-American students who were discouraged from pursuing higher education.
Provencio's research exposes systemic injustices, such as the case of a Mexican-American man who, despite meeting deferment qualifications, was drafted into military service anyway. Another participant, a mine worker and union member drafted into the Korean War, faced accusations of communism in mining company propaganda, when he advocated for safer working conditions, equitable pay and healthcare.
Others recounted recent encounters with racism in New Mexico, highlighting the persistent need for civil rights advocacy. Through her thesis, Provencio illuminates the ongoing struggle against discrimination and inequality, emphasizing the imperative for continued activism in pursuit of social justice.
Provencio's presentation is the final installment in the museum's current lecture series, which is funded by a grant from the New Mexico Humanities Council. It can also be accessed via Zoom, using the following link: https://wnmu.zoom.us/j/8818268280. For more information, please contact Brittany Beers, community engagement manager, at (575) 597-0230, or
The museum's community conversation series will resume in 2025. This fall, museum staff will participate in four community events: Carnitas, Musica y Mas, held Labor Day weekend; Silver City Pride Festival, September 20-21; Southwest Print Fiesta, October 10-14; and the Tamal Festival, held in November.
