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By
Carla Sierra
December 3, 2025
Summary
Norma Cantú, Trinity University’s Murchison Professor of the Humanities, joined fellow contributors at the Texas Book Festival to discuss ¡Somos Tejanas!, an anthology exploring Tejana identity through personal stories, essays, poetry, and art. The panel highlighted the importance of preserving Mexican American history, amplifying Tejana voices, and expanding representation in Texas literature.

The authors of the new anthology ¡Somos Tejanas! told a Texas Book Festival audience that their work reflects their own varying perspectives of what it means to be Tejanas in each woman’s section of the book. Norma Cantú, Ph.D., Trinity University’s Murchison Professor of the Humanities in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, and co-editor of the anthology, gathered contributors to share personal narratives of Tejana identity, linking their stories to current political tensions, border challenges, and the need for representation. From community resilience during crises to celebrating Indigenous and matriarchal roots, the writers stressed that their voices and Mexican American history cannot be erased. 

Read the article from Reporting Texas, a digital media initiative from the School of Journalism at the University of Texas at Austin.