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AUSTIN, Texas – Monica Muñoz Martinez, historian at the University of Texas at Austin, received a MacArthur Fellowship, often referred to as the “Engineering Grant.” The award recognizes his work to recover untold stories of racial violence along the US-Mexico border.
Martinez is one of 25 selected for the five-year scholarship – an unconditional scholarship, of $ 625,000 “Investment in the originality, insight and potential of a person. “ Recipients are named on the basis of their proven talent, originality and extraordinary dedication to their creative endeavors.
Martinez’s research and public history projects bring long-obscured cases of racial violence to the fore along the Texas-Mexico border so communities can reflect on their pasts and work towards racial healing. Her work combines traditional archival research with oral histories and memories of descendants of victims to piece together a more complete picture of the past and transform modern narratives.
“People have the right to learn true stories of history in schools, museums, the news and popular culture, even when those stories are disturbing,” said Martinez, associate professor at Department of History. “This is especially important when the lessons of the past can help inspire a more inclusive and equitable future. “
To amplify his research, Martinez wrote an award-winning book, “Injustice Never Leaves You: Anti-Mexican Violence in Texas” in which she chronicles a period of state-sanctioned racial terror against Mexicans in the early 20th century. She co-founded the nonprofit Public History Refuse to forget increase public awareness of these events through museum exhibits and educational materials and by placing historical markers in areas where such killings have taken place.
His current project builds on his earlier work by establishing the first national record of racist violence to recount lesser-known lynchings, homicides, police shootings, bombings, physical assaults and community bans.
“Dr. Martinez’s work as an academic and public historian is a shining example of rigorous and engaged scholarship in the humanities,” said Ann Huff Stevens, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. The history of racial and ethnic violence comes at a time when society continues to grapple with the past and work for a better future. His genius, commitment to community and the accessibility of his work are all tributes to the Dr Martinez and the role of public research institutions.
Martinez is one of nine UT Austin faculty members to have received MacArthur Foundation scholarships: Livia Schiavinator Eberlin (Chemistry, 2018), Jacqueline Jones (History, 1999), David Hillis (Integrative biology, 1999), Nancy Moran (Integrative Biology, 1997), Nora C. England (Linguistics, 1993), Philippe Uri Treisman (Mathematics, 1992), Thomas G. Palaima (Classics, 1985) and Karen K. Uhlenbeck (Mathematics, 1983).
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