The Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Pittsburgh hosted a screening of the film A Day Without a Mexican as part of the Center’s Border to Border Series. The film is a satircial production that imagines a sudden disappearance of Mexican immigrants in California - and encourages viewers to reflect on how the economy, society, and culture would be impacted.
The screening is a significant component of the Border to Border Series, as the film explores the concept of borders - not just as physical lines on a map - but as societal and metaphorical divisions - and how these divisions affect individuals, communities, economies, and shape our perceptions of identity and belonging.
"From this screening, we hope audiences will learn the importance of humanization in the context of displacement and the many types of borders - physical, mental, and social,” said Luz Amanda Hank, Assistant Director of the Center for Latin American Studies.
A Day Without a Mexican is a film that prompts questions about how to build an inclusive society and bringing attention to the need of humanizing those at the heart of these issues, making their experiences relevant to all. The film encourages in-depth thought about the moral and ethical implications of policies that dehumanize or exclude displaced populations, urging viewers to reflect on how physical and mental borders, even within individuals, shape perceptions and responses to these issues.
The academic work at the Center for Latin American Studies and the Center for Ethnic Studies Research contributes to discussion around immigration and border issues by approaching the topics with respect, humanizing the topics, and understanding the perspectives of those affected. This approach helps to clarify how policies are made and fosters a deeper sense of community and informed discussion.
The event was co-sponsored by the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS), the Center for Ethnic Studies Research (CESR), and the Hispanic Latino Professional Association (HLPA) at the University of Pittsburgh.