Miranda, L. (2011). Internalized Colonization and Decolonizing Mexican American Youth. Alliant International University. 

Abstract

Examining the process and manifestation of internalized colonization and decolonization on Mexican American youth and young adults can help mental health providers, educators, and other professionals to better understand the population and in forming interventions to decolonize the community. Although there has been similar research in the African American community, there is virtually no research concerning decolonizing methodologies in the Mexican American community.

This qualitative study conducted in-dept structured interviews with four scholar- practitioners in the field of colonization as well as eight Mexican American youth and young adults at-risk of not graduating high school. The scholar-practitioners were interviewed regarding their views of colonization, the implications of it, and their practice of decolonization. Youth and young adult interviewees were asked questions about knowledge of their history, its importance, how it may currently affect them, and any experiences of decolonization. The researcher focused on the impact of internalized colonization on Mexican American’s youth’s ethnic identity, acculturation status, self- efficacy, and anger and resistance. Lastly, decolonizing methodologies gathered from both scholar-practitioners and youth participants were explored.