Boston’s Struggle in Black and Brown: Racial Politics, Community Development, and Grassroots Organizing 1960-1985 by Tatiana Maria Fernández Cruz A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (History) in The University of Michigan 2017 Doctoral Committee: Associate Professor Matthew J. Countryman, Chair Associate Professor Stephen A. Berrey Associate Professor Maria E. Cotera Associate Professor Jesse Hoffnung-Garskof Tatiana Maria Fernández Cruz
[email protected] ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0541-7342 DEDICATION For the love of my life, Raul, who believed in me more than I believed in myself. And for our three beautiful children, Raul Jr., Amaya, and Lola, who make all our struggles worth it. I love and adore you all fiercely. In loving memory of my father, Jorgensen Grüssen Fernández, who left the physical world too soon. Siempre te amaré, Pa. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS While I recognize the value of brevity in most situations, acknowledgements are not the place for it. There are just too many people to thank for making this dissertation and Ph.D. possible. Here’s my best attempt to give them each a proper thank you. My interest in African American and Latinx history emerged out of my courses at Williams College. My road there was not an easy one. After struggling to find my place and being asked to withdraw, I returned in the fall of 2008 with an 8-month-old son in tow and a renewed vigor for my education. I was thrilled to receive much more support in my second chance at Williams.