Justus Peña Berman

Professional Bio

Justus Peña Berman is a PhD Candidate in the department of English. Peña Berman's work examines the contradictions between literary and activist conceptions of social liberation in 20th century Latina/o and Asian American literature, politics, and culture.

Peña Berman focuses on the work, thought, and art of activists and artists who emerged from the Chicano and Asian American movements and who theorized and fought for social transformation during the 1970's and 1980's that occurred in the wake of the progressive fever pitch of 1968.

Reading these revolutionary politics from the perspective of critical ethnic studies —and critical ethnic studies from the perspective of these historicized revolutionary politics— Peña Berman's work asks what scholars and activists concerned with liberation can learn from these histories and movements.