Hernandez, Cristian

Hello everyone, my name is Cristian Hernandez, my pronouns are he/him/his, I’m a first-year transfer student from Los Angeles Valley College majoring in Sociology and minoring in Chicana/o Studies. I’m delighted to be in this class with all of you and am excited to learn about a variety of fascinating topics I’m unfamiliar with. My research interest is understanding the impact of post-migrations stressors on the mental health of unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors from Central America. I’m a first-generation Salvadoran-American student, my research interest developed from my parent’s experiences as immigrants from El Salvador who came to America escaping a disastrous civil war to create a life full of promise and opportunities for my family. In my spare time, I enjoy making different items like jewelry, furniture, macrame plant hangers, posters, and more unique projects by hand that I can use to personalize my bedroom. I spent this past fall quarter building my own bed frame, picture frames, clothing rack, and a stool for my bedroom because I made the spontaneous decision to switch bedrooms with my older sister who wanted a smaller bedroom since she didn’t have much furniture. I’m the type of person who prefers to work alone but enjoys the collaborative aspect of working in groups. In the reading ¡Printing the Revolution! The Rise and Impact of Chicano Graphics, 1965 to Now by E. Carmen Ramos I was incredibly interested in the use of graphic arts by Chicanx artists to reimagine the term Chicano from a formerly derogatory term used against Mexican-American people to now explain the changing meaning of Chicano, to advocate for social justice, for political change, and express their great history and culture. The reading demonstrates the vital role of Chicanx graphic artists in the United States where they are often disregarded and undermined throughout different institutions. Chicanx graphic artists have collaborated with pioneers from other marginalized communities to draw awareness to the social inequities in American society that negatively affect their communities.