Pandemic Pivoting within Academia and Activism

An Exploration of New Forms of Classroom Pedagogies and Latinx/Chicanx Scholarship

Abstract

With this paper I seek to examine the ways in which I, as a Chicanx scholar and professor, sought to and continue to alter my classroom pedagogies and scholarship to reflect the significant changes facing society. Most notably, pivoting to an online platform allowed for many freedoms like attending and participating in more conferences, symposiums, and webinars. At the same time, I had to develop new strategies like employing the use of applications like Padlet to help my students stay connected all while trying to encourage civic engagement. I argue that Chicana scholar Gloria Anzaldua’s concept of the path of conocimiento and current anti-racism theories like those of Ibram X. Kendi offer an important guide to navigating the numerous arrebatos presented in our lives as Chicanx/Latinx scholars and activists living through a worldwide pandemic, while helping engage in consciousness-raising and spiritual activism.