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"Reflections of an Afro-American Woman in Mexico", Cultural, Diario de Morelos, 1/6/1991 

     My experiences have been different than those of the majority of other students that come here.  I am an Afro-American woman from the United States.  Black Americans there are oppressed socially, economically and politically.  In the US racism can reveal itself subtly or be openly viscious.  Just the simple act of seeing my black skin creates hostility, admiration or unity among other people. 

I have realized that racism also exists in Mexico.  I didn't come to Mexico looking for racism.  On the contrary, racism has sought me out.  My experiences demonstrate that some Mexicans are prejudiced against black people. ... 

     I ask myself: What do Mexicans know about their compatriotas that are from African descendence? Do the Mexicans know that the conquistadores brought African slaves all the way here?  Do they know that these slaves formed communities in Mexico?  I think Mexicans need to recognize all of the work the African slaves did on the sugar plantations here in Morelos.

     The mass media in Mexico projects negative images of blacks.  These erroneous images are products of ignorance and serve to perpetuate oppression. 

- Student, Spelman University

"Traveling through Central America with such a diverse and motivated group of students was the most incredible and life-changing experience I've ever had.  I feel like I learned more in those 3 1/2 months than I have during the last 2 1/2 years of my college career.  The trip was challenging, yet valuable.   I recommend that everyone take advantage of a chance to participate in such a unique learning environment."

- African American student, Duke University, Central America Semester Program, 1998

“As a Native North American I sometimes feel isolated in my colonized experiences. Traveling with the Center for Global Education helped me to realize that Indigenous peoples are actually the majority population in this hemisphere. I attribute this experience to furthering my critical consciousness by giving me a better understanding of the commonality of the Indigenous experience around colonization." 

- Former President, Red Lake Nation College

"It is important to remember that discrimination affects us all, whether positively through privilege or negatively through under-privilege. Thus, successfully combating discrimination requires self-reflection, honesty and interaction on both parts. We cannot consider ourselves as a part of the effort to eradicate this social illness without being willing to confront the oppressive mentalities and practices that are ingrained in our culture."

- Student, Fordham University, Central America Semester Program

“As an Indigenous academic …I have attempted to educate and conscientize myself so that I might act upon my world in a more informed and intentional manner and pass that practice on to my students.  The Center for Global Education has played a very important role in that journey.  In 1994-95, I participated in a travel seminar with the Center to the Dominican Republic and Jamaica where the western hemisphere was first invaded and colonized.   There I listened to stories that told of the extinction of entire nations and devastation of landscapes that once offered prosperity, but now offer poverty and despair.  Later, in Guatemala, I was privileged to visit a country rich with Indigenous people, culture and languages but continuing to struggle against genocide in all its forms even 500 years after the first conquistadors entered Maya homelands.  Most recently, I co-led a group to Namibia again with a majority of beautiful Indigenous peoples but also recovering from the effects of colonization, genocide, and apartheid.  All of these experiences inspired me to new levels of consciousness and action but especially in those places where Indigenous peoples had not only survived but were able to maintain culture and language under overwhelming odds such as Guatemala and Namibia.”

“The Center for Global Education has not only been one of those progressive models of social inquiry and critical analysis over the past 25 years but has consistently demonstrated this model working in collaboration with Indigenous communities globally. Because of their tireless efforts Indigenous communities have gained allies in their struggle for recovering historical memory, nation building and decolonization.”

            “Thank you, Center for Global Education, for being an ally in insuring Indigenous voices are heard.”    --- -Roxanne Gould, faculty, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, "Critical Pedagogy: A Tool for Decolonization, " Global News & Notes 25th Anniversary Issue, Summer 2007