Organic Activists: Undocumented Youth Creating Spaces of Acompañamiento

Abstract

ABSTRACTOur research brings attention to undocumented youth activism as a space controlled by marginalized youth. We discuss the case study of a youth-led grassroots group in Texas to explore how undocumented youth engage a pedagogy of acompañamiento through activism. We worked with undocumented youth activists as allies over the past seven years and recently began to research how undocumented youth create networks of support and solidarity. Specifically, we look at relationships among active members, document acts of civil disobedience, and reflect with youth on their activism to understand the ways in which they transform their illegality into humanity. This research extends the work by Sepúlveda (2011) and Tomlison & Lipsitz (2013) emphasizing the ways in which undocumented youth accompany each other as they create networks of caring and extend notions of kinship among immigrants and allies.