Last year, the Smithsonian Institution accepted charges of “willful
neglect” for the glaring absence of Latino contributions to American
history, culture, and art among its vast national collection. Now that
oversight is about to be rectified as Dr. Refugio Rochin, director of
Michigan State University’s Julian Samora Research Center, assumes the
helm of the 150-year-old institution’s new Center for Latino
Initiatives.
Observing scholars are hoping that with Rochin’s appointment, not
only will Latinos be integrated into the nation’s historical fabric,
but non-Latinos will get help understanding who Latinos are today.
“Historically, [the Smithsonian has] woefully neglected the Latino
population,” says Dr. Antonio Rios Bustamante, a historian and longtime
activist for efforts to create Latino museums nationally. “The result
is that other populations in the United States are not knowledgeable
about Latinos.
“It takes strength to recognize a mistake,” he adds, applauding Rochin’s appointment.
“We welcome Dr. Rochin as a new voice in the Smithsonian
community,” says Smithsonian Secretary Michael Heyman. “His scholarly
work as well as his leadership in research and policy issues affecting
Latinos are the qualities we were looking for in the director of our
new center.”
Rochin views his charge at the Smithsonian as one aimed at creating
an awareness and greater understanding of U.S. Latinos. The
Smithsonian, he points out, has sixteen museums, and his task will be
to identify what — among Latino contributions in areas, such as
history, art, sciences, technology, sports, anthropology, culture and
ethnography — should be included in each museum.
“The objective has to be to impress upon the public the importance
of Latinos. This includes exposing the public to leaders, events and
cultural themes,” Rochin says.
