April J. Mayes

About the Author

April J. Mayes is a distinguished historian and scholar whose work illuminates the intricate intersections of race, class, and national identity in the Caribbean. With a PhD in Latin American History from New York University, she has dedicated her career to uncovering the socio-political dynamics that shaped Dominican society, particularly through the lens of racial hierarchies and cultural narratives. Her groundbreaking book, The Mulatto Republic: Class, Race, and Dominican National Identity, offers a nuanced exploration of how Dominican elites constructed a national identity that both embraced and obscured its multiracial heritage during the 19th and 20th centuries. Mayes' research draws on extensive archival work and interdisciplinary approaches, blending history with cultural studies to challenge dominant historiographies. Currently an associate professor at Oberlin College, she continues to influence academic discourse on Latin American identity politics through her teaching and forthcoming publications.