A Blaxican Theology

podcastOPTalks
Written By Open Plaza

Isabel Gonzalez and Christian Silva talk to Dr. Matthew Vega about becoming a scholar, his dissertation, liberation, and Blaxican theology as an internationalist theology

Gaspar Yanga, el Libertador de Yanga, el Primer Pueblo Libre de América, Veracruz, México, 1971. Born around 1545, Gaspar Yanga, a descendant of royalty, was captured and sold into slavery in New Spain. Along with enslaved Africans and Indigenous people,Yanga orchestrated a significant resistance against Spanish colonial rule in the mountains of Veracruz from 1570 to 1609. The establishment of the city of Yanga stands as a testament to their struggle for freedom, marking it as the first free town in the Americas and cementing Yanga’s legacy as a symbol of resistance and autonomy. Photo: 2008, Erasmo Vásquez Lendechy. Template: Ivanna Azamar Vásquez.

 
 

In this episode of OPTalks, Isabel Gonzalez and Christian Silva—recent MDiv graduate and current master’s candidate at Princeton Theological Seminary—converse with Dr. Matthew Vega, an HTI Scholar and now assistant professor at the University of San Diego. The discussion centers on Dr. Vega’s dissertation on Blaxican theology, which uncovers intersections of Black and Latinx identities. It highlights the complexities of categorizing identities within American public discourse, particularly the tendency to oversimplify racial identities into binaries like ‘Black’ and ‘Mexican,’ along with their historical contexts.

Dr. Vega situates Blaxican theology as a shared struggle for liberation and an internationalist theology, emphasizing that “Black people can't be free unless other people in other parts of the world are free, and Mexican and Mexican American people can't be free unless other people in other parts of the world are free.”

His dissertation defense received the highest praise from his committee, and he shares valuable advice for future scholars preparing for their defenses. Drawing from his journey as a first-generation college student, Dr. Vega discusses the systemic challenges he faced and how they have shaped his theological perspective. The conversation also addresses disrespecting borders, liberation theology, and the dynamics of counterpublics in theological discourse.

 
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Isabel Gonzalez

Isabel Gonzalez is an MDiv graduate from Princeton Theological Seminary (2024) and currently serves as Communications Coordinator at the Hispanic Theological Initiative (HTI) where she amplifies and celebrates the stories of Latine leaders and scholars in higher education. Gonzalez earned her Bachelor of the Arts in Biblical Religious Studies and English at Messiah University (2020). Driven by her passion for research and writing, she plans to pursue a PhD. Gonzalez is originally from Reading, Pennsylvania.

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Christian Silva

Christian Silva is an MA candidate in theology and history at Princeton Theological Seminary. He received his BA from Moody Bible College. As a Chicano, he values the intersection of social justice, theology, and the Mexican-American experience, seeking to do theology and studies pa' la gente. Silva also values his particulars as a biracial Chicano whose familial roots can be traced to pre-Guadalupe Hidalgo, Texas and New Mexico. He enjoys exploring Latinx theologies and histories just as much as he loves cooking family recipes.

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Matthew Vega

Dr. Matthew Vega is an assistant professor of theology and religious studies at the University of San Diego, where he is also an affiliated faculty member with the Africana Studies department. Dr. Vega earned a PhD in theology and religion as well as an MA in religion from the University of Chicago. He holds a BA in biblical and theological studies from Wheaton College. A scholar of race and religion, Dr. Vega's teaching and research explore the dynamics of race and class in Black (USA), Latin American, and majority world theologies of liberation. His work has appeared in various publications, including The Journal of Ecumenical Studies, Sojourners, and The Political Theology Network. Additionally, he co-authored a chapter in the Theology and Pop Culture series published by Fortress Press and Lexington Books, which compares the emergence of Black (USA) theology in the 1960s with the emergence of the Miles Morales Spider-Man. Dr. Vega's scholarship has been funded by the Hispanic Theological Initiative, the Forum for Theological Exploration, and the Anthony C. Yu Fellowship in Comparative Religion.

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