About Me
I am a writer, a teacher, and a scholar. I earned a Ph.D. in English from Purdue University. Race scholar/philosopher Leonard Harris and cultural/literary theorist Arkady Plotnitsky directed my dissertation, which I completed in absentia while working as an English teacher at Van Nuys High School in the LAUSD. I worked at VNHS for seven years.
As a teacher, I take great pride in the fact that I have been committed and effective throughout my entire teaching career for middle and high school students, university students, and community college students. I take great pride in my ability to speak and teach in different ways that reach a broad range of individuals–poor, urban kids of color; recent immigrants and English language learners; magnet and gifted students; scholars, social activists, and artists.
Regarding my identity, I am of Mexican, Italian, and American descent. My father was an Italian citizen. I have lived most of my life in Los Angeles. My heritage and identity are constantly in motion as I continue to investigate and connect with my roots. At present, I identify as mixed, multiracial, transnational, and human.
My academic publications include “Multiracial Identity in the Post-Civil Rights Era” (2005) in Social Identities, “Jean Toomer and Cane: Mixed-Blood Impossibilities” (2008) in Arizona Quarterly, and “Creating Multiracial Identities in the Work of Rebecca Walker and Kip Fulbeck: A Collective Critique of Liberal Multiculturalism” (2013) in the journal MELUS. In addition, Rudolph Byrd and Henry Louis Gates Jr. selected my Jean Toomer article for republication in the second Norton Critical Edition of Jean Toomer’s Cane (2011).
Trackbacks & Pingbacks
- Mixed Race Studies » Scholarly Perspectives on Mixed-Race » Multiracial Identity in the Post-Civil Rights Era
- Mixed Race Studies » Scholarly Perspectives on Mixed-Race » American Mixed-Race Literature: Cultural History, Precursors, Identities, and Forms of Expression
- Mixed Race Studies » Scholarly Perspectives on Mixed-Race » Jean Toomer and Cultural Pluralism
- Creating Multiracial Identities in the Work of Rebecca Walker and Kip Fulbeck: A Collective Critique of American Liberal Multiculturalism | Gino Michael Pellegrini
Gino Pellegrini 
Thanks for your comments Stephen! I look forward to meeting you at the CMRS Conference
Hello, I am enjoying and learning from your writing. Please keep it up. Stephen M-S
Thanks for your comment! It’s easier to start with WordPress and use one of their free templates, especially if you do not have the time to teach yourself basic coding and a webpage software. I’m still using WordPress with a custom theme. You can also purchase your own domain so your blog doesn’t look like a WordPress free blog. If you are good with computers, then it is better to design your own blog and get hosting with GoDaddy or some other host. Best, Gino
Amazing blog! Do you have any recommendations for aspiring writers?
I’m planning to start my own site soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
Would you propose starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option?
There are so many options out there that I’m totally confused .. Any recommendations? Thanks!
Hey Dr. Pellegrini,
Just wanted to say hey! I like the blog. I read the one on “One Love” and I really like it. I look forward to talking about it with you after class perhaps.
See you soon,
Jack Thorne