7 Research Reflection by Gabriela Merida

Faculty Mentor: Andrea Baldwin (Ethnic Studies and Gender Studies, University of Utah)

Engaging in undergraduate research has been a transformative experience, shaping both my academic trajectory and my broader commitment to social justice. My research critically examines the economic and political impacts of U.S. and British imperialism in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a particular focus on the role of the banana trade in destabilizing Guatemala and Jamaica. Through a rigorous mixed-methods approach-including literature review, archival research, and document analysis-I have examined the long-term impacts of imperialist interventions, challenging dominant historical narratives and proposing alternative frameworks rooted in decolonial theory.

This research is deeply personal to me. As a Guatemalan woman of Indigenous K’iche’ Maya descent, I view historical inquiry as a means of advocating for justice and systemic change. My work allows me to critically examine the historical forces that have shaped my homeland and my community, bridging my personal history with my scholarly pursuits. Studying these histories is not merely an academic exercise but a necessary step toward dismantling the systems that continue to oppress Indigenous and working-class communities in the Global South.

Beyond my individual scholarship, I have actively contributed to the research culture at the University of Utah by fostering spaces for critical dialogue and political education. My leadership in Mecha de U of U and the United Campus Workers union has allowed me to bridge research with direct action, organizing political education workshops and labor initiatives that challenge imperialism, capitalism, and racial oppression. Additionally, my participation in the Oxford Consortium for Human Rights and my study abroad experience in Mexico have strengthened my ability to connect theoretical frameworks with lived experiences of resistance, further refining my research approach.

These experiences have solidified my future aspirations. I plan to pursue an MSc in Empires, Colonialism, and Globalisation at the London School of Economics, where I will deepen my analysis of imperialist structures and their contemporary manifestations. Ultimately, I hope to become a professor, researching the enduring effects of imperialism in Latin America while empowering the next generation to critically engage with historical injustices. Through teaching, research, and activism, I aim to amplify transnational efforts centering Indigenous knowledge, resilience, and decolonial practices to advance a more just and equitable world.