Pedagogies of Survival: Cultural Resources to Foster Resilience Among Mexican-American Community College Students

Abstract

This in-depth case shows how five Mexican-American community college students use their pedagogies of survival to build resistance and navigate through the barriers of community colleges. Pedagogies of survival emanate from social, cultural, economic, and historical struggles of the students, their families, and their communities which engender orgullo (pride) and sabiduría (wisdom) and fosters their resilience. This resilience evolves from a long history of inequitable treatment and is maintained from birth to the present.