On October 1st, 2025, the English Department welcomed Dr. Aja Martinez, the 2025 Magliocco Lecturer. Dr. Martinez is a professor of Latina/Latino Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Dr. Martinez presented “Counterstory: The Rhetoric and Writing of Critical Race Theory” at the Western Illinois University Art Gallery. Dr. Martinez explained that “counterstory” is both a rhetorical form and political strategy focusing on the lived experience of marginalized peoples. Stories of their personal experiences with the law, public policy, and social norms make visible these often unjust social structures. Their stories become modes of both affirmation and resistance.

Throughout the talk, she argued that counterstory is a strategy of moving debate out of an abstract realm in which laws and policies are considered without reference to the deeply-lived experiences of people. By putting the experiences of individuals that are affected by systematic inequalities at the center of the conversation, people have to think through these issues in far more concrete and emotionally charged ways that more effectively challenge injustices. Throughout her talk, Dr. Martinez acknowledged the long history of counterstory strategies, particularly visible in the work of Richard Delgado, Derrick Bell, and Patricia J. Williams. Dr. Martinez also emphasized the key role of storytelling in the humanities, and emphasized the potential of stories to help us explore, understand, and act in the world.

Dr. Martinez spoke to an audience of undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty, and her talk was conversational and engaging. Throughout, she looked to her listeners to contribute and ask questions, and she was generous with her time, speaking with audience members at length after the talk. A few students and faculty also had a chance to meet and talk with Dr. Martinez at other events, including a visit to Dr. Alisha White’s class and a lunch and dinner.

Edited by Karissa L. Geisinger