We are thrilled to congratulate Monica Martinez, a recipient of the 2021 MacArthur (“genius”) Fellowship. Martinez, associate professor of history at the University of Texas, is a CRRJ Research Collaborator and a close partner of the Project.  

One of 25 recipients to receive this five-year fellowship, Professor Martinez uncovers the histories of anti-Mexican violence in the early 20^th century at the Texas-Mexico border. Her book, The Injustice Never Leaves You: Anti-Mexican Violence in Texas, documents lynchings, racially motivated homicides, and law enforcement killings perpetrated against Mexicans and Mexican Americans. Martinez’s research highlights the work of descendants to preserve their histories and seek justice for their loved ones. She is a co-founder of Refusing to Forget, a non-profit organization that brings public awareness to these histories through museum exhibits, historical markers and curricular materials.