Robert L. Hernandez III, a 2002 graduate and visiting teaching assistant in the ethnic studies program at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has been named recipient of the Frederick A. Cervantes National Premio.
The award is given by the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies and is based on scholarly research that contributes to interdisciplinary study. Hernandez will receive an honorarium and opportunities to submit his prize-winning paper for publication review by the organization and to present it at the annual NACCS meeting in Los Angeles in April, where he will be recognized during an awards ceremony.
Hernandez also is a graduate of CU-Boulder's School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The title of his paper was "A Window Into a Life Uncloseted: Exploring U.S. Queer Latino Cultural Readership and Film Culture."
"The committee was very impressed with the quality of Mr. Hernandez's paper," said C. Alejandra Elenes, chair of the Cervantes Premio Committee. "His essay was very well written and researched. But more importantly, his paper contributes to fill a gap in Chicana/o Studies, which is to have a clearer understanding of how Chicana/o audiences, in this case young Latino queer men, read cultural texts. We are very impressed with Mr. Hernandez's work, and we are sure he will be a great contributor to the advancement of Chicana and Chicano Studies."
Angel David Nieves, assistant professor in the department of ethnic studies and Hernandez's faculty mentor, said Hernandez's work establishes a critical methodological approach to examining queer communities of color in the field of ethnic studies.
"Hernandez's research attempts to critically address the impact of mainstream Hollywood representation on queer men of color -- particularly a growing number of Latinos -- in some new and significant ways," Nieves said.
"The work engages young queer Latinos through exhaustive ethnographic interviews as a way of restoring a sense of self-empowerment and agency to this long-ignored community."
The award is named for the late Frederick Cervantes, one of the first Chicano political scientists and a pioneer in the development of Chicano studies.
The CU-Boulder department of ethnic studies seeks to provide a cohesive framework for the study of ethnic and racial groups and to promote research and critical examination of culture, history and contemporary issues, including domestic and global interactions. Studies also include recognition and incorporation of multicultural definitions and values in the university curriculum.
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