Writing New Mexico White: A Critical Analysis of Early Representations of New Mexico in Technical Writing

Jennifer Ramirez Johnson Texas State University ; Octavio Pimentel Texas State University ; Charise Pimentel Texas State University

Abstract

In this article, the authors analyze early technical documents produced by the New Mexico Bureau of Immigration (NMBI), including “The Legend of Montezuma” and “Illustrated New Mexico.” The purpose of these documents are clear: to increase the number of white Americans to create a clear white majority when New Mexico became a state and thereby prevent the Mexicans from gaining power. In analyzing these documents, the authors use theoretical frameworks from studies in the history of business and technical writing (SHBTW) and critical whiteness theory to show how early textual representations of New Mexico reproduce racist constructions of native New Mexicans and represent whiteness as the norm.

Journal
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Published
2008-04-01
DOI
10.1177/1050651907311928
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (14)

  1. Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  4. Technical Communication Quarterly
  5. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Show all 14 →
  1. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Communication Design Quarterly
  3. College Composition and Communication
  4. Technical Communication Quarterly
  5. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  6. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  7. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  8. Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  9. Journal of Business and Technical Communication

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