The Criminalization of Mexicans in Contemporary ‘American’ Politics: A Pastoral Theological Response

ABSTRACT This article was presented as a plenary address at the June 2019 annual conference of the Society for Pastoral Theology in Denver, Colorado. Building on Ryan LaMothe's work, the author posits that the criminalization of Mexican people can be understood as a contemporary case of disidentification. The author argues that one way of counteracting this disidentification is to accompany people of color with compassion and a spirit of solidarity. To illustrate his point, he reflects on his own case as a graduate student of color and on the significance of his relationships with his mentor, Robert C. Dykstra.