Diana
Michael Higgins passed away suddenly on February 2 in Brazil. This blog shares memories of Michael. We will compile a book for Michael's wife Angeles, his children Siobhan and Tristan and his family. ----- Michael Higgins dejo de existir repentinamente el 2 de febrero en Brasil. Este blog es para compartir sus recuerdos para crear un libro de historias para Ángeles y sus hijos Siobhan y Tristan, y su familia--María Dantas-Whitney (dantaswhitney@gmail.com) y Marta Rees (mwrees@gmail.com)
Friday, February 25, 2011
From Diana Milstein
Queridas, esta es una de las fotos que más nos gustó a los cuatro, va como recuerdo de nuestros amigos comunes
Monday, February 21, 2011
Second "misa"/mass for Michael
The second "misa"/mass for Michael will be held this Friday, February 25th at 7PM at the chapel/"capilla" which is attached to the Guadalupe Church on the Llano where the first one was held.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Party to celebrate Michael's life
The party to celebrate Michael's life will be held on the grounds of Vilma Barahona's home in San Agustín, Etla, this Saturday, February 26th at 3PM. We are asking those who wish to attend to bring/take a "cazuela" which will be enough to serve several people or your own family. You should also take whatever it is you will be drinking. Please wear white or colorful clothes, as it is a celebration, not a wake. Contact me if you need transportation. We will be meeting at Conzatti Park at 2PM and those with room in their cars will pass by there to fill their cars. I will post the address and a map or "croquis" in a couple of days. My phone numbers are: (house) 515-1458 & (cell) 951-188-0424.
Don Kissinger
Don Kissinger
Bill Sughrua
Another email to Michael:
Hello. Hi there. Saludos. Greetings. Hey there. Hey. Un saludo. With one of those words or phrases, Michael, our emails to each other have always begun, and for this present email, I’ve pulled out all those terms. As you know, Michael, we haven’t seen each in person for over two-and-a-half years because during this time I’ve been on leave from the Facultad at the UABJO and outside of Mexico with my family. However, I’ve had frequent and extensive email correspondence with you and Angeles with regard to the various articles and book chapters that we’ve been working on together during these past two-plus years. Well, “working on together” is a ‘euphemism’, as it applies to me -- because my involvement in your and Angeles’ projects simply started with me as a very interested reader who dabbled with surface things. I still remember the moment as I sat in the library in Canterbury, outside the wind howling and sleet hitting the windows, and I opened your email and read: “Hi there. Angeles and I have been talking. With all the work you’ve been doing, we want to make you co-author. We’re serious about this.” And from that email, the byline Clemente, Higgins & Sughrua emerged. As I told you back then, this was a very kind, gracious, and selfless gesture on your and Angeles’ part, because my so-called “work” on the projects was, and still is, merely as a very interested and finicky reader, one who (as Don has jokingly scolded me on more than one occasion) borders on the downright neurotic. It all has been such a fun ride.
Fun but intellectually enriching -- as has been our other academic work together. Do you remember, Michael, the October 2008 international symposium on ethnography that Angeles and the Cuerpo Academico of the Facultad organized? You, Angeles, and I presented a collective paper that attempted to profile and illustrate experimental narrative writing as a type of research repertoire to dialogue with an ethnographic portrait approach. I remember the roundtable discussion was very favorable and enthusiastic towards the ethnographic portrait ‘side’ of the paper (you and Angeles) and bewildering if not completely negative for the experimental narrative stuff (me). Nonetheless, you spent your allotted time of the presentation defending me and the experimental narrative – just as both you and Angeles had done on my behalf on various previous occasions. And after we had finished our collective presentation at that ethnography symposium, and as we stood up from the table, you told me, “Nothing at all to worry about. Everything’s okay. You know, it’s just a matter of space and time.” And you continued, saying, “Space. You just need to put something in the introduction, opening up some space in the introduction, in order to say directly what the experimental stuff is for. No problem.” I was going to ask you about what you meant by “time”, but you then immediately said, “And ‘time’. Well, about that additional stuff you’ll put in the intro section, the people’ll have to take the ‘time’ to read it.”
I thought that was funny. It made the day for me. I mean, it was really clear, direct, and practical advice, but also funny. A few weeks later that same Fall, we all (the Cuerpo Academico) were up at a university in a somewhat northernmost country. Each of us was slated to give a presentation, one immediately after the other, in a three-hour meeting with the faculty members of this university. I remember, right before this was to start, we were all huddled around a table in an office area, checking over the PowerPoint presentations on our laptops, and chatting. There was a notable pause, and for some reason we all fell silent. I would have to check with Angeles and Mario, but my recollection is that we were just cold. Two or three of us were warming our hands on the electric space-heater near the table. It was about 2 minutes before the meeting was to start. And you suddenly said, “Well, let’s get this ‘dog and pony show’ going.” We all laughed; and that set us in the groove for what turned out to be an engaging collective presentation and follow up discussion with the language faculty of the university -- but not without the chuckles and the hip and jazzy attitude a-la-Michael.
It has been a really good ride -- and, as I mentioned above, really moving and inspiring. From you and Angeles, I’ve learned a lot about postcolonialism, coeval ethnography, the crossing of epistemological borders, and the like; and I’ve also been very inspired about the way you and Angeles carefully and meticulously develop the ethnographic portraits of your research participants, such as the young Triqui woman and her family in “Yolanda’s Portrait” [main title] (2010) as well as the students in the creative writing course at the Ixcotel prison in “Thanks for the Blanket you Lent Me on the First Night” [main title] (currently under final review at a journal). The way you and Angeles have written so compassionately, humanely, and respectfully about your research participants -- to be blunt, it just blows me away. It leaves me in awe. You and Angeles, the perfect couple, the couple sharing an internal glow, perfect and complete ‘soul mates’, co-authors and researchers who have shared an authentically felt identification with the people they write about.
In all these recent months, Michael, we’ve continued to be in touch -- regarding two other projects, one in which we’re also working with Don, and the other in which we’re also working with both Don and Mario. A few months into this collaborative work, I opened an email from you, Michael. It was a type of chill-out space within our fun bantering ‘back and forth’ about things to be glossed, biblios to be checked, and so on and so forth, and abstracts to be reduced, and a deadline chasing us down, and so on. In the midst of this, you wedged a space. Your email on that night didn’t mention anything about the ongoing projects. It simply read … no more, no less: “Hi. How’re you doing? How’s things?” That three-line email has really resonated with me. Its directness, its simplicity, its sincerity, the vast ‘whiteness’ or empty space that surrounds all sides of those three lines, its “tip of the iceberg” effect (sorry for the literary cliché) -- all that speaks to your greatness as a person, Michael.
Seriously: receiving such ‘asides’ from you in our email correspondence; working with you and Angeles on the projects over these two-and-a-half years; experiencing a “politics of affinity” (to borrow one of your phrases) with you and Angeles over the ‘performativity’ in research; having always received your and Angeles’ moral support and encouragement for my own work and ideas; and of course maintaining an epistolary academic relationship with you, Michael -- yes, it has been such a wonderful and inspiring journey. It has been really great. Words fail me as I try to articulate my gratitude. Just let me say: many thanks.
And thanks for your email about three weeks ago. This was in acknowledgement of the latest project, the first of the two projects referred to above, the one you, Angeles, Don, and I did. I had written you, the day before, in order to confirm that (on behalf of you, Angeles, and Don) I had sent in the proofread copy to the respective editor. And in your reply email to me, you comment, at the very end: “That was a lot of effort for 1,000 words.” I really liked that line. It’s vintage ‘you,’ Michael. It’s a discourse that is direct, funny, ‘mock’ poker-faced, and hip -- but also, very considerate and sincere, sending thanks all around to all those involved. And now to you, Michael, the friend, colleague, and mentor to me and so many others … thanks again. Heartfelt thanks.
Very best,
Bill.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Pascual I. Rodríguez Cruz
Santa María Ixcotel
Como empezar una carta cuando la persona que lo leerá ni una palabra consuela su dolor y podríamos culpar a la vida y hasta Dios. Pero sólo él sabe por qué pasan las cosas.
En el poco tiempo que llevo de conocerlo he podido percibir esa forma única de regalar alegría y esperanza. Dado que el lugar donde tuve el placer y el privilegio de conocerlos recordándome que en este mundo tan mezquino todavía hay personas buenas, llegaron a nuestras vidas dando a nuestras almas rayos de luz sin importarles nuestro pasado ni el motivo por el cual estábamos en este lugar llamado prisión.
Doctora, sé que la partida de su esposo deja en todos un gran vació pero sé también que él nos ve desde lo alto con esa sonrisa tan peculiar, porque sabe que no lo recordamos tristeza sino como el hombre feliz, impetuoso y dedicado, a cada uno de sus proyectos; esperando siempre dar lo mejor de sí mismo, claro que lo vamos a extrañar, pero también que a él le gustaría que lo recordemos con una sonrisa. Como la que él le gustaría regalar a quien se le acercara, esa calidad humana la he visto en muy pocas personas.
Por ello, con el corazón en la mano le digo, que aunque miles de kilómetros nos separen desde aquí, le mando a usted y a su familia un fuerte pero sincero abrazo, y mi más sentido pésame y recuerden:
HAY PENAS QUE NO SE CURAN, SÓLO SE PUEDEN COMPARTIR.
Atentamente:
Pascual I. Rodríguez Cruz
El Preso
Belem
Michael: It is hard to write knowing that you´re not here anymore. When mi papá died, it took me a while to write to him as well because that made it real. Quiero escribir esto en Spanglish, so I can honor the two languages you knew. Unfortuantely I don’t speak any Portuguese as you and Angeles do, so I´ll stick with Spanish and English. Tengo una lluvia de recuerdos tuyos “Vaticito” (como solía yo decirte) y esos recuerdos te mantienen presente y con nosotros aunque tú no estés aquí. Recuerdo cuando me apodaste “Vaticita” porque un día me saludaste y me dijiste:”Qué onda Vata” corregiste y me dijiste:”Perdón Vaticita porque estás chiquita.” Since then we called each other like that.
You were such a humble, honest, happy and wonderful person. Siempre me pregunto y me lo pregunté cuando mi papá murió: “Why do good people die?” Now I think I have the answer. Porque la gente buena son ángeles que solo vienen a la tierra de paso a darnos felicidad y a cumplir una misión y tú la cumpliste Vaticito. That´s why you´re resting in peace. You made so many people happy and changed their lifes for good. Gracias por escogernos y ser parte de esas personas y compartir tantos bellos momentos juntos, pero sobre todo gracias por hacer feliz a nuestra querida amiga Angeles, a la cual quiero mucho porque ha sido mas que my teacher, my mentor and a great professor, ha sido una gran AMIGA al igual que tú.
Te acuerdas como nos divertimos en Inglaterra? Ahí fue realmente donde te empecé a conocer y es un recuerdo que guardo en mi mente y mi corazón. Recuerdo el susto que nos diste cuando decidiste manejar en Bristol. You were a cafre!!! I was scared, but it was so much fun! Mario y yo siempre recordamos esa anécdota. Qué divertido fue ese viaje contigo, Angeles y Rebe. También cuando nos vimos en Fredonia, Wisconsin and when you and Angeles arrived, Mario and I knew it was going to be fun! You both had una luz especial que los hacía brillar como uno solo. Por eso siempre pasamos momentos muy lindos con ustedes. I also remember cuando un día te dije que me encantaba la comida Indú y tú como el gran chef que eras me dijiste “I´ll teach you an Indian recipe” y así lo hiciste y cocinamos juntos un platillo Indú delicioso! I still have the especies you gave me para que yo lo cocinara en mi casa. Such many memories of you… You know what´s funny? Que solo te conocí por unos años y siento que te conozco de siempre porque así eras tú: una gran persona que era fácil de querer en poco tiempo.
Vaticito, thank you for your nice words when my dad died. Thank you por mostrar interés en mi papá y querer saber mas de él. I remember la plática que tuvimos en tu casa poco después de que mi papá muriera. You told me that you wanted to meet him, but it was too late. He was a wonderful músico y compartían los mismos gustos de la música de los 60s. Ahora ya se conocen y de seguro you both are bonding because of this music. Sabes? Cuando Mario me dijo que habías muerto me dio mucha tristeza y le rogué a mi papá que te ayudara para que todo fuera más fácil y encontraras la luz y la paz que te mereces. I´m sure he helped you porque el era un ángel como tú y ahora están los dos descansando y en un lugar hermoso.
You´ll always be in our mind, memories, but most of all, in our hearts.
Descansa en paz Vaticito.
Belem
Mario
Michael, pocas personas me han enseñado tanto como tú. Tenías el don de saber combinar la felicidad, el gusto por la comida y la buena bebida, y el humor con la academia y el compromiso con los que menos tienen. Tu éxito como antropólogo no debe sólo medirse por el número de comadres y compadres que acumulaste, sino por el gran cariño que inspiraste en todas ellas y todos ellos.
Quiero que sepas que me dolió mucho perderte. Como dicen los gringos “Shit comes in threes.” Primero mi padre, luego mi suegro y ahora tú. Perdí un gran amigo, un colega, pero sobre todo un maestro que me enseñaba con el ejemplo. Gracias por ser mi asesor externo y darme “pep talks” justo cuando más lo necesitaba.
Belem y yo siempre recordaremos los buenos momentos que pasamos contigo en Oaxaca y fuera de México. Viajar contigo siempre era interesante pues sabías encontrar lo mejor de cada lugar. Nuestro viaje a New Orleans simplemente lo pondremos en pausa para cuando llegue el momento de encontrarnos de nuevo. Mientras tanto disfruta de las pláticas de mi padre que es bien platicón y del buen Rock & Roll de mi suegro. Un fuerte abrazo, vato.
Con cariño, respeto y admiración,
Mario
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| Nuestra primera gran aventura con el vato |
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Vilma Barahona
Queridisimas todas:
Michael fue un gran amigo, voy a extrañarlo siempre.
Su eterna sonrisa, amabilidad, su entusiasmo al cooperar
en todas las causa justas y la eterna disposición de
compartir con sus amigos. Recuerdo cuando nos conocimos,
por supuesto, en el bar jardín, hace mas de 30 años,
y desde entonces compartimos alegrías y vicisitudes.
No olvido el festejo de su cumpleaños en casa de Martha Rees:
"la mitad de negro y la mitad de rojo", con sus invitados
transvestis; el entusiasmo al impartir las clases de
rock en la universidad; cuando fuimos a comer
tamales con su "comadre de la Lindavista" una mujer que
le apoyaba en sus entrevistas. Los fines de año que
compartimos..... toda una vida tuve la fortuna de ser
su amiga.
Vilma
Michael fue un gran amigo, voy a extrañarlo siempre.
Su eterna sonrisa, amabilidad, su entusiasmo al cooperar
en todas las causa justas y la eterna disposición de
compartir con sus amigos. Recuerdo cuando nos conocimos,
por supuesto, en el bar jardín, hace mas de 30 años,
y desde entonces compartimos alegrías y vicisitudes.
No olvido el festejo de su cumpleaños en casa de Martha Rees:
"la mitad de negro y la mitad de rojo", con sus invitados
transvestis; el entusiasmo al impartir las clases de
rock en la universidad; cuando fuimos a comer
tamales con su "comadre de la Lindavista" una mujer que
le apoyaba en sus entrevistas. Los fines de año que
compartimos..... toda una vida tuve la fortuna de ser
su amiga.
Vilma
Friday, February 11, 2011
Angeles
Michael, mi esposo, mi amigo, mi amante, mi parceiro, mi hommie,
Todavía no entiendo tu partida. Eu acho que nunca la entenderé.
Este texto va dirigido a ti y está escrito en la forma peculiar en que hablábamos todos los días, that is, mumbling in three languages. Este texto es para darte las gracias….
Gracias por sharing your life with me, y por haber entrado en la mía. Me hiciste la mujer más feliz del mundo.
Gracias for making me feel safe. That has been the best feeling ever. A tu lado crecí, reí, llore, cambie, aprendí, experimente, viví, me sentí mujer. Ame con pasión y me sentí tan, tan amada. Obrigada por a casa segura.
Gracias por ser mi maestro. Mi amor nació de la gran admiración que siento por ti y que día a día crece al saber que tu knowledge, and wisdom, and kindness, and passion and wit, no parecen tener límite. Obrigada por encontrar as palabras quando eu não as tenía. As I always told you: ‘Michael, you’re my framework’.
Gracias por haber entrado en mi mundo y hecho que mi familia amara al ‘pinche gringo’ (como tú mismo te apodabas). Gracias por hacernos reír y pensar. Gracias por jugar futebol y golf sólo para complacer a tus cuñados. Obrigada por enseñar a la familia a jugar poker the right way. Te prometemos no apostar frijoles nunca más! Eu se que “en los Clementes hay muchas mentes”, y sé que a todos los hiciste felices, especialmente a your stepdaughters.
Gracias por enseñarme tus pasiones and por the non-requested, out of the blue oficinas on Springsteen and Miles, por explaning once and again the good politics of Marley and Dylan, for introducing me to música rara and for not giving up on me. Thank you for making me regresar a mis tiempos de Jara y Sosa y Parra. Thank you for always reminding that “por la calle, codo a codo, somos mucho más que dos”. Thank you for las “sorpresas que da la vida”. Totalmente de acuerdo: our happiness was the best surprise life gave to us.
Gracias por haber formado el trio Rebeca-Michael-Angeles. Eramos perfectos, o trio moito legal, ne? especially when le dabas a Bex (with an x) lecciones de vida “estilo Michael”. Ela adorava!! And now we know what is your secret power Michael: Making people happy!
And thank you for the last adventure ….
Y siempre gracias for describing our love as “being painted with the entire explosive colours of the jacaranda and the framboyan flowers”.
Eu fico desolada mas agradecida demais…..
Te amo, your hommie
Angeles
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| una de las ultimas fotos que nos tomamos |
Funeral Mass
A funeral mass for Michael will be held on Wednesday, February 16 at 7PM at the Guadalupe Church (el Templo de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe), which is located at the north end of the Llano Park in the city of Oaxaca. Everyone is invited.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
To MICHAEL From Don
Shit, Michael, this sucks! (I can just hear you saying, “What’s wrong with sucking, anyway? The most maligned word in the English language!) It just isn’t fair! (I know, Michael, “Who says life has to be fair?” You always did have a way with a cliché. How many times did you say: “Many are called but few are chosen.” Whatever the fuck that means! I’d like to say that somehow you imbued it with some profound wisdom, but in reality it’s a perfect example of your renowned flippancy.) The fact is that I could always depend on you to say (directly and wittily) exactly what I needed to hear. Like the time, after I had finally, definitively (I like to think) stopped drinking, and I said that everyone was telling me how I hadn’t changed, which I took to mean that I was still the nice guy I’d always been, drunk or sober. You said: “Well as my father, a reformed alcoholic, always said, ‘once an asshole, always an asshole.’
I sure will miss you, Michael. I’ve seen you in all kinds of moods but never angry; never have I seen you lose that innate ‘cool’ that was such a remarkable aspect of your character. Easy-going, unflappable Michael. I’ve spent some of the most memorable moments of my life in your company with a group of extraordinary people, which includes, among others, Jane, Adam & Alba (or Eve, as you invariably called her), Lupe, Peter, Mario & Belem, Matthew and, of course, Angeles, and her beautiful family. I marveled at the tenderness with which you treated your godchild, Francisco; the playful yet supportive rapport you developed with Rebeca and your other step-daughters, Jessica and Erika; your immense generosity of spirit, spirits, food, etc. (you certainly helped me through some economically dicey times!); the agility of your mind and the finesse with which you merged your anthropological skills and socialistic background with Angeles’ applied linguistic research and socialistic idealism; and, well, wow, am I ever amazed at your seemingly absolutely perfect relationship with Angeles. (As you know I often jokingly referred to her as a bitch, and I when she reported to me all the chores you were constantly running for her and Rebeca, I would tell her: “He’s a saint”, and, in fact, she recently wrote to me saying what a saint you are.) This is not only a tribute to you, old man, but to your wonderful wife, Angeles, as well! You two were made for each other.
One of the most important aspects of our friendship was our love of music. Not only did you encourage me to revisit and embrace a lot of music from the past (artists, groups and genres), but you were incredibly open to many ‘genders’ of music (as you would say) and artists I introduced you to, only balking at Balkan and Celtic (with a hard initial ‘c’, please!) Our relationship in terms of music was reciprocal, for which I will always be extremely proud. I’ll never forget the time you called to tell me about a new group from one of the Congos that you’d just read about in Songlines (a world music magazine from Britain), Staff Benda Bilili, a group made up of “incapacitados” in motorcycle-like wheelchairs, and I told you that not only had I heard of them, but had just that morning burned you a copy of their CD. It felt so good to be able to astonish you for a change. Something else for which I feel proud is that at the time of your death you had pretty much listened your way through the 20-disc care package I sent y’all for Christmas and commented favorably on all of them. You know how when a particular artist died, you always listened to his or her discs, asked me if I had anything by that person, or if I could get something by that artist? Well, for the past week I’ve been listening to a variety of music that I know you loved. From now on I will always wonder if you would like this or that disc and if you would like for me to burn it for you. Just one of the many ways you will live on in my memory and my life.
Michael, my dear friend, I will miss you more than you could ever imagine. And I’ll never forget you, the finest person I’ve ever known. So many of us have been blessed by your presence in our lives.
Love,
Don
PS: Today is MY 65th birthday. You’ll be pleased to know that the inmates are planning a “convivio” for me today at the prison.
Love,
Don
PS: Today is MY 65th birthday. You’ll be pleased to know that the inmates are planning a “convivio” for me today at the prison.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
JULIA BARCO
DE JULIA
Al final del día me pongo a oir música pensando en Michael, dedicándole unas canciones y compartiendo un vino tinto con el. Oigo algunas de las canciones que por el conocí y me doy cuenta que gran parte de mi elección de música fue influenciada por el. Desde un comienzo compartíamos los mismos gustos pero el me amplió inmensamente la baraja de posibilidades. Mucha de la música que me ha interesado y las antenas que desarrollé para descubrir lo nuevo, se lo debo a el. Le agradezco mucho haberme destapado los oidos.
En el ´82 o quizás ´83, cuando el pasó un año sabático en Oaxca, me invitó a hacer un programa de radio en Radio Universidad sobre la Música del Mundo, Fue entonces que conocí ese término, y esa música. Ska, reggae, soca, ritmos sur africanos. Recuerdo en especial a Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, Marcia Griffith, Johnny Clegg, Olatunji, mucha música brasileña, las multiples conexiones africa-américa y de regreso a africa.
Una vez a la semana nos reuniamos para anotar sus ideas para el programa en español, con su selección de música. Todo el contenido era de el. Realmente lo único que aporté fueron uno o dos programas sobre música de Colombia y, sobretodo, el vallenato.
El se echaba su rollo, siempre muy ameno e ilustrado sobre la música, y mi papel era, cuando fuera necesario, repetir lo que el decía en otras palabras.
Escucho de Bob Marly IS THIS LOVE?, REDEMPTION SONG, GET UP STAND UP, con el corazón en la pluma.
De esa época también recuerdo un manuscrito suyo que me dió a leer. Un análisis de él como persona, como hombre, como hijo, como padre, como amante, como esposo, como antropólogo, mucho antes de que ese tipo de escritos estuvieran en boga. Ojalá se pueda publicar ahora.
Siempre disfruté su companía, su mente inquieta y su gusto por la vida.
EMANCIPATE YOURSELF FROM MENTAL SLAVERY, NO ONE BUT OURSELVES CAN FREE OUR MINDS…
Michael era un adelantado, lástima que se nos hubiera adelantado, y tan intempestivamente.
Buen camino y muchas gracias, Michael.
Al final del día me pongo a oir música pensando en Michael, dedicándole unas canciones y compartiendo un vino tinto con el. Oigo algunas de las canciones que por el conocí y me doy cuenta que gran parte de mi elección de música fue influenciada por el. Desde un comienzo compartíamos los mismos gustos pero el me amplió inmensamente la baraja de posibilidades. Mucha de la música que me ha interesado y las antenas que desarrollé para descubrir lo nuevo, se lo debo a el. Le agradezco mucho haberme destapado los oidos.
En el ´82 o quizás ´83, cuando el pasó un año sabático en Oaxca, me invitó a hacer un programa de radio en Radio Universidad sobre la Música del Mundo, Fue entonces que conocí ese término, y esa música. Ska, reggae, soca, ritmos sur africanos. Recuerdo en especial a Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, Marcia Griffith, Johnny Clegg, Olatunji, mucha música brasileña, las multiples conexiones africa-américa y de regreso a africa.
Una vez a la semana nos reuniamos para anotar sus ideas para el programa en español, con su selección de música. Todo el contenido era de el. Realmente lo único que aporté fueron uno o dos programas sobre música de Colombia y, sobretodo, el vallenato.
El se echaba su rollo, siempre muy ameno e ilustrado sobre la música, y mi papel era, cuando fuera necesario, repetir lo que el decía en otras palabras.
Escucho de Bob Marly IS THIS LOVE?, REDEMPTION SONG, GET UP STAND UP, con el corazón en la pluma.
De esa época también recuerdo un manuscrito suyo que me dió a leer. Un análisis de él como persona, como hombre, como hijo, como padre, como amante, como esposo, como antropólogo, mucho antes de que ese tipo de escritos estuvieran en boga. Ojalá se pueda publicar ahora.
Siempre disfruté su companía, su mente inquieta y su gusto por la vida.
EMANCIPATE YOURSELF FROM MENTAL SLAVERY, NO ONE BUT OURSELVES CAN FREE OUR MINDS…
Michael era un adelantado, lástima que se nos hubiera adelantado, y tan intempestivamente.
Buen camino y muchas gracias, Michael.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Kim Reid
Michael and I were colleagues in Greeley
He laughed uproariously when he and some colleagues introduced me to Rocky Mountain Oysters when I first arrived in Greeley
Several years Michael organized a group of faculty to attend the Telluride Film Festival. We watched movies all day and stayed up for the “midnight special.”
He conducted an independent study in Marxism for my son when John was a senior in high school.
He served as the outside reader on several of my doctoral students’ dissertations.
He invited literally hundreds of people to my party (“Hey, there’s a party at Reid’s Friday night”) the night before commencement. I have to smile when I remember how the faculty procession snaked a bit more than usual the next morning.
Michael, our friend/student Molly, and I attended a Cajun dance in New Orleans
We saw and dissected scores of movies and ate an unknown numbers of meals together--cafeteria lunches (Michael always had salad), Mexican café dinners on the north side of town, straight-laced academic banquets, and relaxed home cooking.
The most entertaining story I have to tell took place the day I met him. I had phoned his office a few months earlier saying that I needed an anthropologist for a grant I was writing. He told me if I got the grant to call him back and he hung up. When I did get the grant, I called him again. He came to my office. Picture this: he wore a yellow shark-skin suit-like jacket, a plaid shirt, Bermuda shorts, argyle socks, and some kind of boots (I can’t quite remember them). He announced aggressively that he was a Marxist within the first thirty seconds—as if he were daring me to include him on the team--and let fly a string of expletives throughout what is generally a very proper and polite discourse. I thought, “What have I gotten myself into?”
Over the three years we worked together on that project we became friends and I came to have a very deep respect for him as a person, colleague, and friend. I read and admired all of his books. When I left for NY to take a job at Columbia , Michael was one of the few people from Greeley
And then he was suddenly gone. A part of me is still in denial; another part deeply saddened. I grieve for my friend and for his wife and family. What a terrible shock. I miss him.
Kim
Kim
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Tanya Coen
My Tribute to Michael (from 1986 – 1996)
Charming, Gift of Gab, Witty, Original, Cerebral, Edgy, Dyslexic, Passionate, Lover of Life -- Social Justice, Diverse Experiences, Cultures, People, Music, Food, Places, & Drugs (pot & hallucinogenics).
Michael was…a character (an understatement), charming and sexy, with a fast-talking style, brash, hip and hilarious with hundreds of unique sayings (a famous one: “son of a male whore”)-- I think he got from his parents & the working class Redwood City neighborhood he grew up in, and the local car club culture his brothers belonged to. Everyone I ever met loved to be in Michael’s presence. Michael, you were one-of-a-kind (another understatement). A working class hero turned intellectual. Unwilling & unable to be anyone but you -- isn’t that the ultimate goal of living a life true to ourselves on this planet. Life was social justice…and a party! And, you pursued both, religiously. There were stories from Greeley to Oaxaca of famous parties you’d thrown.
Michael, I was very privileged to have been able to spend 10 years with you. You were, are -- a profound part of my life. In those years we shared much adventure, passion, fun, novelty, and our own share of craziness. I am happy to hear that in the last 15 years you had found a deep contentment and happiness. I believe people come into each other’s life for a reason. That was an amazing time. But, it is nice to know that we both continued to evolve along our path.
To many people – you, Michael, were music! Home life in Greeley & elsewhere was a daily and endless sonic blast of music. You turned me onto sooo much…early R&B, World Beat,… and gave me a continuing & voracious appetite in music: Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, The Bulgarian Women’s Chorus, The Slits, The Sex Pistols, Billy Brag, Celia Cruz, Traditional Cuban Son’s, Silvio Rodriguez, Pablo Milanes, Ruben Blades, Willie Colon, Afro-Pop: High Life, Ju Ju, Chimurenga -- Fela Kuti, Thomas Mapfumo, King Sunny Ade; early Hip Hop – Gil Scott Heron, Curtis Blow, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, KRS One, Afrika Bambaataa, Public Enemy, NWA, Neneh Cherry, Sistah Soulja, Digable Planets, Brazilian Music: Milton Nascimiento, Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Olodum, R & B and more, more, more: James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Van Morrison, George Clinton and Funkadelic, Sun Ra, Aretha, Ray Charles, Sam Cook, Little Richard, Bob Dylan, Leadbelly, Marianne Faithfull; Jamaican Music: Linton Kwesi Johnson and all the Greats, Tom Waites, The Pogues….And, to all of those of you that knew and loved Michael….this was literally just the tip of the iceberg!
We had a total blast doing our 10 years of research in Nicaragua, during the Nicaraguan Revolution, attending nightly C.D.S. meetings, spending hours drinking rum and passionately discussing the revolution and the state of the world at the Hospedaje Norma, walking the dusty, earthquake and war ridden, post-apocalyptic looking streets of Nicaragua, and even jumping off a train. We were in our element, along with hundreds of revolutionaries from around the globe.
Then, there was Oaxaca…always, always Oaxaca…from the birth of Tristan, to the many people you turned onto it, to your present years. It was hard to crack your bond with your beloved, Oaxaca. Guadalupe and Henet’s home welcomed us for years. Lebanese coffee with cinnamon and amazing feasts, The Zocalo, Linda Vista, our new friends – the transvestites, the group with Polio, street kids, all the Oaxacan crazies that we knew and loved, and the rotating group of other long term Oaxacan friends, and the Greeley “family” that would sometimes meet up with us there.
Food, how can I not mention food? Michael was one of the original “Foodies”. This was almost as much a part of Michael as music, celebration, and social justice. If we weren’t cooking it…we were seeking it out. You loved to cook multi-course feasts. My first taste of this was a 6 course Moroccan meal you prepared. On your 45th birthday, you cooked a Russian Meal, along with Borscht and Braided Saffron Bread. Vietnamese, Thai, Sushi, Nigerian, Ethiopian,… there was always some new recipe!
Michael, I’ve left out a lot…the books, literature, endless philosophical discussions, precocious Siobhan’s teenage years (sliding out the window by a sheet, and stealing my i.d….) -- But, the hundreds of people you touched can fill in a lot, too! You lived life….entered this world by storm and set an example on how to truly live life! Thank You, Dear Michael for having graced us all with your presence! Love, Tanya
Tanya Coen
grapesofcraft@yahoo.com
Charming, Gift of Gab, Witty, Original, Cerebral, Edgy, Dyslexic, Passionate, Lover of Life -- Social Justice, Diverse Experiences, Cultures, People, Music, Food, Places, & Drugs (pot & hallucinogenics).
Michael was…a character (an understatement), charming and sexy, with a fast-talking style, brash, hip and hilarious with hundreds of unique sayings (a famous one: “son of a male whore”)-- I think he got from his parents & the working class Redwood City neighborhood he grew up in, and the local car club culture his brothers belonged to. Everyone I ever met loved to be in Michael’s presence. Michael, you were one-of-a-kind (another understatement). A working class hero turned intellectual. Unwilling & unable to be anyone but you -- isn’t that the ultimate goal of living a life true to ourselves on this planet. Life was social justice…and a party! And, you pursued both, religiously. There were stories from Greeley to Oaxaca of famous parties you’d thrown.
Michael, I was very privileged to have been able to spend 10 years with you. You were, are -- a profound part of my life. In those years we shared much adventure, passion, fun, novelty, and our own share of craziness. I am happy to hear that in the last 15 years you had found a deep contentment and happiness. I believe people come into each other’s life for a reason. That was an amazing time. But, it is nice to know that we both continued to evolve along our path.
To many people – you, Michael, were music! Home life in Greeley & elsewhere was a daily and endless sonic blast of music. You turned me onto sooo much…early R&B, World Beat,… and gave me a continuing & voracious appetite in music: Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, The Bulgarian Women’s Chorus, The Slits, The Sex Pistols, Billy Brag, Celia Cruz, Traditional Cuban Son’s, Silvio Rodriguez, Pablo Milanes, Ruben Blades, Willie Colon, Afro-Pop: High Life, Ju Ju, Chimurenga -- Fela Kuti, Thomas Mapfumo, King Sunny Ade; early Hip Hop – Gil Scott Heron, Curtis Blow, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, KRS One, Afrika Bambaataa, Public Enemy, NWA, Neneh Cherry, Sistah Soulja, Digable Planets, Brazilian Music: Milton Nascimiento, Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Olodum, R & B and more, more, more: James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Van Morrison, George Clinton and Funkadelic, Sun Ra, Aretha, Ray Charles, Sam Cook, Little Richard, Bob Dylan, Leadbelly, Marianne Faithfull; Jamaican Music: Linton Kwesi Johnson and all the Greats, Tom Waites, The Pogues….And, to all of those of you that knew and loved Michael….this was literally just the tip of the iceberg!
We had a total blast doing our 10 years of research in Nicaragua, during the Nicaraguan Revolution, attending nightly C.D.S. meetings, spending hours drinking rum and passionately discussing the revolution and the state of the world at the Hospedaje Norma, walking the dusty, earthquake and war ridden, post-apocalyptic looking streets of Nicaragua, and even jumping off a train. We were in our element, along with hundreds of revolutionaries from around the globe.
Then, there was Oaxaca…always, always Oaxaca…from the birth of Tristan, to the many people you turned onto it, to your present years. It was hard to crack your bond with your beloved, Oaxaca. Guadalupe and Henet’s home welcomed us for years. Lebanese coffee with cinnamon and amazing feasts, The Zocalo, Linda Vista, our new friends – the transvestites, the group with Polio, street kids, all the Oaxacan crazies that we knew and loved, and the rotating group of other long term Oaxacan friends, and the Greeley “family” that would sometimes meet up with us there.
Food, how can I not mention food? Michael was one of the original “Foodies”. This was almost as much a part of Michael as music, celebration, and social justice. If we weren’t cooking it…we were seeking it out. You loved to cook multi-course feasts. My first taste of this was a 6 course Moroccan meal you prepared. On your 45th birthday, you cooked a Russian Meal, along with Borscht and Braided Saffron Bread. Vietnamese, Thai, Sushi, Nigerian, Ethiopian,… there was always some new recipe!
Michael, I’ve left out a lot…the books, literature, endless philosophical discussions, precocious Siobhan’s teenage years (sliding out the window by a sheet, and stealing my i.d….) -- But, the hundreds of people you touched can fill in a lot, too! You lived life….entered this world by storm and set an example on how to truly live life! Thank You, Dear Michael for having graced us all with your presence! Love, Tanya
Tanya Coen
grapesofcraft@yahoo.com
From Alba
I feel so privileged for having met Michael Higgins and shared so many good and not so good moments. Someone here wrote that he loved to connect people, he did. He invited me and Adam to some of the greatest parties we have been to. And when we invited him to hang out with our crowd, he immediately started making new friends. He was always open to recreate world cuisines on his table, although the Brazilian banquet (a.k.a. the puking fest) will be legendary for years to come, that’s how bad it turned out for all those trying out the little balls of something deep fried in coconut oil.
Michael had a way of including everyone in his table, his conversation, his life. He gave us all a chance of being with him. He truly enjoyed us and we truly enjoyed him. He kept expanding our worlds.
We had the best of times at Angeles and Michael’s wedding, dancing in the mud, with Siobah and Tania...
He went to my first conference when I had just finished graduate school and asked me in front of the audience if I spoke Zapotec, a fundamental question to my so called identity regarding my first paper, there was no way for me to be inauthentic in his presence. I once told Matthew Gutman when he was teasing Michael of having retired, I said “once an anthropologist, forever an anthropologist”. Michael really appreciated that.
When I was making a mess out of my life, he said, “In my experience, the 20’s are a bitch”.
Even during the most difficult times being around him and Angeles made everything a little better for us.
We asked them to be godparents of our first child. They picked us up from the clinic on the craziest day of the swine flu after our son Francisco was born. And we toasted when we arrived. In one of his e-mails from Brazil, he mispelled “comadre” as comrade.
Recently, we were celebrating Lupe’s birthday, and Don, Jane and us were thinking of him and his way of keeping everyone on their toes.
He found something interesting about everyone he met. He took us on some unusual tours of the night life in the city, he took Peter and I along to visit his old friends from his research on the newly urban Oaxaca of the 70’s, and they told us stories about him, as a young PhD student, we enjoyed them so much.
He was so funny, so clever, so generous and so loving. There is so much left unsaid...I will miss him very much.
Michael had a way of including everyone in his table, his conversation, his life. He gave us all a chance of being with him. He truly enjoyed us and we truly enjoyed him. He kept expanding our worlds.
We had the best of times at Angeles and Michael’s wedding, dancing in the mud, with Siobah and Tania...
He went to my first conference when I had just finished graduate school and asked me in front of the audience if I spoke Zapotec, a fundamental question to my so called identity regarding my first paper, there was no way for me to be inauthentic in his presence. I once told Matthew Gutman when he was teasing Michael of having retired, I said “once an anthropologist, forever an anthropologist”. Michael really appreciated that.
When I was making a mess out of my life, he said, “In my experience, the 20’s are a bitch”.
Even during the most difficult times being around him and Angeles made everything a little better for us.
We asked them to be godparents of our first child. They picked us up from the clinic on the craziest day of the swine flu after our son Francisco was born. And we toasted when we arrived. In one of his e-mails from Brazil, he mispelled “comadre” as comrade.
Recently, we were celebrating Lupe’s birthday, and Don, Jane and us were thinking of him and his way of keeping everyone on their toes.
He found something interesting about everyone he met. He took us on some unusual tours of the night life in the city, he took Peter and I along to visit his old friends from his research on the newly urban Oaxaca of the 70’s, and they told us stories about him, as a young PhD student, we enjoyed them so much.
He was so funny, so clever, so generous and so loving. There is so much left unsaid...I will miss him very much.
From Jose Zapata Calderon
In hearing about the recent death of my good friend Anthropologist Michael Higgins, I could not help but reminisce about some of the contributions that he gave to me, my family, and to some of our community organizing efforts. I met Michael when he was a professor at UNC and I had returned to organize in the communities of Northern Colorado after completing a B. A. at the University of Colorado in the 1970's. When we reconstructed an old house in the Northern part of Greeley into a community center, Michael was there as a brother always offering his support. I have to share that, in those times, I sometimes did not know where my next meal was going to come from. Michael shared his meals as he shared his love for music from throughout the world. When one of my students not too long ago visited him in Oaxaca, he joked that he had "taught me how to cook." Mostly, he introduced me to the protest music and literature arising out of the seeds of struggle and sacrifice in Latin America. Michael was always there as a colleague when I taught for a time at UNC and his outlook on teaching and learning have been an essential part of my pedagogies. We dialogued on Paulo Freire and looked for ways to connect community-based ethnographic research to our classrooms. Michael was always there when we advocated for immigrant rights or for quality of life issues. When Rose and I married, Michael was there. He treated my sons like they were his. When he retired and left to Oaxaca, we kept in touch. His example of a professor who never lost touch with the community stayed with me as I pursued a PhD at UCLA (and eventually as a professor at Pitzer College). When me and my family visited him in Oaxaca, he took us through the barrios so that we could meet the many friends that were now part of his extended family. We were so impressed with the young people, the viejitos (elderly), and the many families who, because of their deep respect for Michael, welcomed us with open arms. I remember Michael with his laughter and with his love for all that is good in the society. While I am deeply hurt today -- I know that he would have said that we should not mourn. And, as he would have wanted, we will continue to work to create the kind of just and equal society that he always promoted in his writings, e-mails, and in his international spirit. His spirit is very much alive in all that I do, in what my family does, and in all that we will do in the future as it is emerging.
Jose Zapata Calderon
Professor of Sociology and Chicano Studies
1050 North Mills Avenue
Claremont, CA 91711-6101
(909) 607-2852 (909) 621-8479 Fax
Jose_Calderon@pitzer.edu
Jose Zapata Calderon
Professor of Sociology and Chicano Studies
1050 North Mills Avenue
Claremont, CA 91711-6101
(909) 607-2852 (909) 621-8479 Fax
Jose_Calderon@pitzer.edu
Sunday, Feb 6, 2011
Dear Angeles, Siobhan, Higgins and Clemente Santiago family:
This day must be so terrible, I can't stop thinking of you all. I am standing beside you.
Love
Martha
This day must be so terrible, I can't stop thinking of you all. I am standing beside you.
Love
Martha
Cicely & Marc Winter
Dear Ángeles, your daughters, and Michael´s children,
We were shocked and saddened to receive the news of Michael´s passing and send you our most heartfelt condolences. Even though we have accepted that we will be losing friends at an increasing rate now, hearing that Michael was among them was an unusual blow because he was so full of life, energy, and good will-- "todo bom!"--the positive forces which I like to think will keep life going.....
It was wonderful that Michael could have this sabbatical year in Florianopolis and I loved the photos of the excursion to the waterfalls. We deeply respect his ongoing work in support of the marginalized sectors of Oaxaca society and appreciated receiving his carefully selected articles on such a wide range of subjects. I feel sad to see his last mailing in my Inbox the day before he died. Rest in peace Mr. "todo bom!"
Love,
Cicely and Marc Winter
We were shocked and saddened to receive the news of Michael´s passing and send you our most heartfelt condolences. Even though we have accepted that we will be losing friends at an increasing rate now, hearing that Michael was among them was an unusual blow because he was so full of life, energy, and good will-- "todo bom!"--the positive forces which I like to think will keep life going.....
It was wonderful that Michael could have this sabbatical year in Florianopolis and I loved the photos of the excursion to the waterfalls. We deeply respect his ongoing work in support of the marginalized sectors of Oaxaca society and appreciated receiving his carefully selected articles on such a wide range of subjects. I feel sad to see his last mailing in my Inbox the day before he died. Rest in peace Mr. "todo bom!"
Love,
Cicely and Marc Winter
Saturday, February 5, 2011
From Jane Poindexter
Dear Michael,
I remember the day you told me you were getting married. We were standing in the Alameda. With a big smile on your face, you said: "I think this time I finally got it right." And through the years I have been grateful that I knew Angeles’ actual name because if I had not, I might have thought it was "mi amor," because that is what you mostly called her. You were a man so in love.
I remember the wonderful times we all spent together like the time Siobhan came and you and Angeles, Don, Adam, Alba, baby Francisco, Rebeca and I met at the pool at the Hotel Victoria. Alba had just given birth to the beautiful Francisco. We talked about the Steig Larsson trilogy and how we were looking forward to the as yet unpublished third book.
I remember meeting your brother and his wife at the Casa Oaxaca and the improbable but apparently true stories you and he told of your parents. I remember another day at the Casa Oaxaca when you threw a surprise birthday party for Don, and how Angeles told hilarious jokes.
I remember what a good cook you were and those afternoons spent on your porch.
I remember especially your 64th birthday party and the Russian food you prepared. You asked how I liked the borscht and I told you that you had not quite nailed it - your only culinary miss. You took it in stride. You never did sweat the small stuff.
I remember our little ritual. How you would tell anyone who would listen that I thought New York was the world’s capitol and how I would chastise you for being a Yankee’s fan. Really, Michael, a Yankee’s fan? It doesn’t square with your politics. And I remember how on any number of occasions you would look at Francisco and mutter quietly, almost to yourself, "he’s such a beautiful baby."
And I remember the last time I saw you. It was at the small party Don and I gave for you and Angeles at Don’s house just before you left for Brazil. You drove me home even though you were going in the very opposite direction. I told you that I hoped you and Angeles would have a wonderful trip and you told me that I had been a good friend. That was so important to me. Thank you for saying those words out loud.
I remember you, Michael. I remember your kindness, your wit, your intelligence, your generosity, and your openness to people from every walk of life imaginable.
And I know that this small corner of the universe that we call home is greatly diminished by your absence. I miss you.
Love, Jane
I remember the day you told me you were getting married. We were standing in the Alameda. With a big smile on your face, you said: "I think this time I finally got it right." And through the years I have been grateful that I knew Angeles’ actual name because if I had not, I might have thought it was "mi amor," because that is what you mostly called her. You were a man so in love.
I remember the wonderful times we all spent together like the time Siobhan came and you and Angeles, Don, Adam, Alba, baby Francisco, Rebeca and I met at the pool at the Hotel Victoria. Alba had just given birth to the beautiful Francisco. We talked about the Steig Larsson trilogy and how we were looking forward to the as yet unpublished third book.
I remember meeting your brother and his wife at the Casa Oaxaca and the improbable but apparently true stories you and he told of your parents. I remember another day at the Casa Oaxaca when you threw a surprise birthday party for Don, and how Angeles told hilarious jokes.
I remember what a good cook you were and those afternoons spent on your porch.
I remember especially your 64th birthday party and the Russian food you prepared. You asked how I liked the borscht and I told you that you had not quite nailed it - your only culinary miss. You took it in stride. You never did sweat the small stuff.
I remember our little ritual. How you would tell anyone who would listen that I thought New York was the world’s capitol and how I would chastise you for being a Yankee’s fan. Really, Michael, a Yankee’s fan? It doesn’t square with your politics. And I remember how on any number of occasions you would look at Francisco and mutter quietly, almost to yourself, "he’s such a beautiful baby."
And I remember the last time I saw you. It was at the small party Don and I gave for you and Angeles at Don’s house just before you left for Brazil. You drove me home even though you were going in the very opposite direction. I told you that I hoped you and Angeles would have a wonderful trip and you told me that I had been a good friend. That was so important to me. Thank you for saying those words out loud.
I remember you, Michael. I remember your kindness, your wit, your intelligence, your generosity, and your openness to people from every walk of life imaginable.
And I know that this small corner of the universe that we call home is greatly diminished by your absence. I miss you.
Love, Jane
Greeley Tribune 4 Feb
Michael James Higgins:
January 17, 1946-February 2, 2011
Michael James Higgins, Ph.D. was a Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at the University of Northern Colorado having taught anthropology for over 25 years. During his tenure as professor he served as the chair of the Anthropology department as well as the Black Studies department and the Women’s Study department. Dr. Higgins was a prolific writer authoring numerous scholarly articles and several distinguished books in the field of anthropology.
For over 35 years he did urban ethnographic research in the city of Oaxaca, Mexico. His research focused on issues of gender, sexuality, ethnicity and social class dynamics among the urban poor and working class of the city of Oaxaca, Mexico. His most current book (2008) written with his wife, Dr. Angeles Clemente is entitled, “Performing English with a Post-Colonial Accent: Ethnographic Narratives from Mexico”. Residing full time in Oaxaca, Mexico he was currently working on a cultural literacy project among the inmates at one of the state prisons within the city. The Oaxacan community adored him and embraced him as an “honorary Oaxacino”.
Michael’s passion for equality of human rights coupled with his keen intellect and sense of humor gained him great respect and admiration among students and colleagues. He enjoyed music of all tastes and had an extensive library of the great musicians; extending from Miles Davis, John Lennon, Mercedes Sosa to Big Mama Thorton and Robert Johnson. He took his love for music and created a popular class at UNC ‘The History of Rock and Roll’ introducing students to such events as Jimi Hendrix playing the ‘Star Spangled Banner’. His popularity with the students was evident as his classes attracted on average up to 400 students.
He was well traveled, bilingual and in touch with the international community. His desire for social justice was echoed in the sentiment he expressed upon retiring from UNC. He had received the professor of the year award from the gay, lesbian and transsexual student organization on campus. He remarked that this was the most important award and the one in which he felt the most honored to be chosen for. He was loved by his students, his friends and his colleagues in whom his spirit for social change will live on in the work he inspired
them to do. He will be dearly missed while leaving a legacy of scholarship, human rights work and a dignity of character borne of truly caring for the concerns and needs of others.
As his friend and colleague, Jose Zapata Calderon eloquently said, “As Michael would have liked, we will continue to work to create the kind of just and equal society that he always promoted in his writings and in his international spirit. His spirit is very much alive in all that I do and will do.” For those fortunate enough to have known Michael, he lives on as a great spirit of life, love, compassion and integrity.
Michael is survived by his wife, Angeles Clemente, his three step-daughters, Rebeca Santiago, Jessica Santiago and Erika Clemente as well as his lovely daughter, Siobhan Higgins and son Tristan Higgins and family. He is the grandfather of two beautiful girls and the beloved brother of Ed Higgins and Frank Higgins. He is also the cherished friend to many people around the world.
January 17, 1946-February 2, 2011
Michael James Higgins, Ph.D. was a Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at the University of Northern Colorado having taught anthropology for over 25 years. During his tenure as professor he served as the chair of the Anthropology department as well as the Black Studies department and the Women’s Study department. Dr. Higgins was a prolific writer authoring numerous scholarly articles and several distinguished books in the field of anthropology.
For over 35 years he did urban ethnographic research in the city of Oaxaca, Mexico. His research focused on issues of gender, sexuality, ethnicity and social class dynamics among the urban poor and working class of the city of Oaxaca, Mexico. His most current book (2008) written with his wife, Dr. Angeles Clemente is entitled, “Performing English with a Post-Colonial Accent: Ethnographic Narratives from Mexico”. Residing full time in Oaxaca, Mexico he was currently working on a cultural literacy project among the inmates at one of the state prisons within the city. The Oaxacan community adored him and embraced him as an “honorary Oaxacino”.
Michael’s passion for equality of human rights coupled with his keen intellect and sense of humor gained him great respect and admiration among students and colleagues. He enjoyed music of all tastes and had an extensive library of the great musicians; extending from Miles Davis, John Lennon, Mercedes Sosa to Big Mama Thorton and Robert Johnson. He took his love for music and created a popular class at UNC ‘The History of Rock and Roll’ introducing students to such events as Jimi Hendrix playing the ‘Star Spangled Banner’. His popularity with the students was evident as his classes attracted on average up to 400 students.
He was well traveled, bilingual and in touch with the international community. His desire for social justice was echoed in the sentiment he expressed upon retiring from UNC. He had received the professor of the year award from the gay, lesbian and transsexual student organization on campus. He remarked that this was the most important award and the one in which he felt the most honored to be chosen for. He was loved by his students, his friends and his colleagues in whom his spirit for social change will live on in the work he inspired
them to do. He will be dearly missed while leaving a legacy of scholarship, human rights work and a dignity of character borne of truly caring for the concerns and needs of others.
As his friend and colleague, Jose Zapata Calderon eloquently said, “As Michael would have liked, we will continue to work to create the kind of just and equal society that he always promoted in his writings and in his international spirit. His spirit is very much alive in all that I do and will do.” For those fortunate enough to have known Michael, he lives on as a great spirit of life, love, compassion and integrity.
Michael is survived by his wife, Angeles Clemente, his three step-daughters, Rebeca Santiago, Jessica Santiago and Erika Clemente as well as his lovely daughter, Siobhan Higgins and son Tristan Higgins and family. He is the grandfather of two beautiful girls and the beloved brother of Ed Higgins and Frank Higgins. He is also the cherished friend to many people around the world.
From Siobhan
Dearest, dearest father,
I know you know how much I love you and I know your love for me. You lived your life right. You are a righteous dude. You set an example. You love us unconditionally. You told us we could do anything. You set that example in yourself.
I'm so sad that you're gone and I miss you terribly. I know you would say que sabe or whatever, basically you would say that we all kick the bucket one day and I'm grateful to be mourning you instead of you mourning me.
Your greatest of many great gifts that you gave me is our family. I'm so grateful that you and Angeles found each other and that I gained three wonderful sisters from the union. I'm grateful for my brother, Tabby, Alianna and Arwyn. I'm grateful for Uncle Ed, Aunt Mary Etta, Cousin Philip, Katrina, Maddie, Lucy, Uncle Frank, Aunt Sharon, Kelly and Richie.
You were an unconventional dad. Between you, my mom and Chris, you guys dragged us all over the world. Tristan was even born out of the country although Oaxaca can hardly be considered foreign.
My heart is heavy and I hope that somehow you can continue to give me fantastic advice from the afterlife. I think of you and 'Lupe dancing together in the afterlife, hardly even aware of our grief. But I know you are concerned for Angeles and we will do our best to shepard her through this very deep valley.
We are so proud of you and the way you lived your life. You were such a good man, an honorable man who loved. You loved people and you loved life. I remember talking to you about depression and you told me that when you had bouts of sadness that eventually being sad would become too boring and you would go back to being happy.
Thank you for all that you did. You introduced me to sushi and NWA. There was always music playing in our home and your office at UNC was plastered with Marvin Gaye posters. You were so accepting of everyone and encouraged people to be as they are.
I want to be a better person because of you. I know you love me and are proud of me but I'm going to be even better. I promise to stop being petty to my brother and Tabby. And, in honor of your memory, I will be as loving and compassionate as you were to all.
I'm so grateful to have had you in my life - to have been borne to you. I know that God loves me because you were chosen as my dad. I'm honored to carry your genes in my body.
I will miss you but try not to be mopey and to live my life by your example - exploring new cultures, expanding minds, laughing, dancing, listening to great music, eating fabulous meals with people I love - being present, aware and unafraid.
My dearest, beloved father, I love you so much.
I'll always remember you ...
Although Michael and I coincided at the University of Northern Colorado for only a couple of years, I cannnot forget how he would come into my office in Candelaria Hall to share his views on the state of the university, Greeley, Colorado, the US, and the world. He was one of those rare guys that both "talked the talk" and "walked the walk." His concern for the downtrodden was an inspiration to all of us who cherish freedom and liberalism. Amusing, however, was the fact that, when he spoke Spanish, he spoke it so fast that he was almost always able to conceal any error made. Michael, you were a good man; I'll always remember you as an enlightened soul.
Jose I. Suarez
Jose I. Suarez
Friday, February 4, 2011
Haiku for Michael
Always principled
Fun loving and generous
Making a difference
We will miss you greatly.
Bonny and Ant
Vancouver
Fun loving and generous
Making a difference
We will miss you greatly.
Bonny and Ant
Vancouver
Rosaria Pisa
What sad news. Best to his family during this difficult time. He will be sorely missed.
Forever Young (Bob Dylan)
This is the live performance link at Newport--Michael went to so many concerts--http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQqQzE2-E9M&feature=related
Once Michael made me a play list of appropriate songs to explain my life.
Rolling Stone: listen to it.
Knocking on Heaven's door
Blowing in the wind
Once Michael made me a play list of appropriate songs to explain my life.
Rolling Stone: listen to it.
Knocking on Heaven's door
Blowing in the wind
Salomon Nahmad y Ximena Avellaneda
Estimada Ángeles e hijos:
Cuanto siento el fallecimiento de Michael fue un gran amigo y colega desde los años 70s. Reconozco su labor e investigación a favor de los marginados y excluidos sociales, publicamos su libro sobre los pobres de Oaxaca en el INI en los años 70s y me siento afectado al recordar mi visita a la Universidad en Colorado donde enseño durante tantos años. Fue una grata e importante experiencia por su sencillez y elocuencia a favor de las culturas urbanas marginales. Su protesta por la guerra de Vietnam y su participación en eventos sociales y políticos en EU y en México y Oaxaca. Lo recordare con gran afecto y les acompaño en estos momentos tan difíciles. Ximena también se une a este sentido acontecimiento y les envía su pésame. Sus amigos Salomón y Ximena que les acompañaremos en la ceremonia en Oaxaca.
********************************
Antrop. Salomón Nahmad Sittón
Investigador Titular C del CIESAS Pacífico Sur
Dr. Federico Ortíz Armengol 201 Fracc. la luz la resolana,
Col. Reforma 68050 Oaxaca, Oax.
Conmutador 951 5021600 al 5021629 ext. 6511
snahmad@ciesas.edu.mx
http://salomonnahmad.wordpress.com
http://pacificosur.ciesas.edu.mx/
Cuanto siento el fallecimiento de Michael fue un gran amigo y colega desde los años 70s. Reconozco su labor e investigación a favor de los marginados y excluidos sociales, publicamos su libro sobre los pobres de Oaxaca en el INI en los años 70s y me siento afectado al recordar mi visita a la Universidad en Colorado donde enseño durante tantos años. Fue una grata e importante experiencia por su sencillez y elocuencia a favor de las culturas urbanas marginales. Su protesta por la guerra de Vietnam y su participación en eventos sociales y políticos en EU y en México y Oaxaca. Lo recordare con gran afecto y les acompaño en estos momentos tan difíciles. Ximena también se une a este sentido acontecimiento y les envía su pésame. Sus amigos Salomón y Ximena que les acompañaremos en la ceremonia en Oaxaca.
********************************
Antrop. Salomón Nahmad Sittón
Investigador Titular C del CIESAS Pacífico Sur
Dr. Federico Ortíz Armengol 201 Fracc. la luz la resolana,
Col. Reforma 68050 Oaxaca, Oax.
Conmutador 951 5021600 al 5021629 ext. 6511
snahmad@ciesas.edu.mx
http://salomonnahmad.wordpress.com
http://pacificosur.ciesas.edu.mx/
de Rebeca, Erika y Jessie
This is Rebeca, Erika and Jessie writting, We can thank enough of the endlles love words and support given to our mother many sweet things and stories you shared about Michael, there are no words to describe how we feel right now.
Today my mom informed us of her plans, she would like to tMichael´s remainings to Oaxaca and have a ceremony with everybody that loved Michael in a week}s time (not sure of the date), and afterwards go back and finish her work in Florianopolis.
Michael´s daughter, Siobhan, is comming on Saturday and the cremation ceremony will be held on Sunday Afternoon. We want to be united.
Thank you all,
P.S. Please share your thoughts at memoriesofmichaelhiggins.blogspot.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hola,
Somos Rebeca, Erika y Jessie, estamos muy agradecidas por las lindas palabras y la ayuda que han brindado a nuestra mamá. nos sentimos muy tristes y nos alegra saber del amor que ha recibido Michael.
El día de hoy, mi mamá nos informó sobre sus planes, ella quiere llevar las cenizas de Michael a Oaxaca y hacer una ceremonia con toda la gente que quiso a Michael en una semana (no sabemos la fecha exacta), y después regresará a terminar su trabajo en Florianopolis.
Siobhan, la hija de Michael, está en camino a Florianopolis, la cremación será el día Domingo en la tarde, queremos estar juntas.
Gracias a Todos,
P.D. Porfavor escriban sus recuerdos en el blog memoriesofmichaelhiggins.blogspot.com
Today my mom informed us of her plans, she would like to tMichael´s remainings to Oaxaca and have a ceremony with everybody that loved Michael in a week}s time (not sure of the date), and afterwards go back and finish her work in Florianopolis.
Michael´s daughter, Siobhan, is comming on Saturday and the cremation ceremony will be held on Sunday Afternoon. We want to be united.
Thank you all,
P.S. Please share your thoughts at memoriesofmichaelhiggins.blogspot.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hola,
Somos Rebeca, Erika y Jessie, estamos muy agradecidas por las lindas palabras y la ayuda que han brindado a nuestra mamá. nos sentimos muy tristes y nos alegra saber del amor que ha recibido Michael.
El día de hoy, mi mamá nos informó sobre sus planes, ella quiere llevar las cenizas de Michael a Oaxaca y hacer una ceremonia con toda la gente que quiso a Michael en una semana (no sabemos la fecha exacta), y después regresará a terminar su trabajo en Florianopolis.
Siobhan, la hija de Michael, está en camino a Florianopolis, la cremación será el día Domingo en la tarde, queremos estar juntas.
Gracias a Todos,
P.D. Porfavor escriban sus recuerdos en el blog memoriesofmichaelhiggins.blogspot.com
Ron Waterbury and Carole Turkenik
Michael was not only a keen scholar of Oaxaca but also a warm and sensitive man, a singular character, and a gentleman of great humor and charm. We still remember and talk about how Michael enchanted the guests during the wedding of our son Jonathan in the Hotel Casa Oaxaca in 2000. Michael attended alone and ended up as the only male at a table of seven young females. At one point he left the event only to return a few minutes later bearing bouquets of flowers, one for each of the young women at his table. He then spent the rest of the afternoon regaling his table mates with stories that kept them in stitches. We remember, too, Michael and Angeles’ story-book wedding in a lovely garden, accompanied by the most ghastly weather. It poured and we all got drenched, but the bride and groom remained radiant through it all. The last time we shared an evening with Michael and Angeles was just a year ago at the birthday party in San Lorenzo Cacautepec of our mutual friend Enrico de Rosa, the Napolitano chef of the Mexita restaurant. The event was outdoors, and although we were in an enclosed tent, it was a bitterly cold evening. Together we huddled around the table downing shots of mezcal and dancing furiously to keep warm.
Michael, you were “unico.” We will miss you.
Ron Waterbury and Carole Turkenik
Michael, you were “unico.” We will miss you.
Ron Waterbury and Carole Turkenik
Manuel Esparza Camargo y Angeles Romero Frizzi
Querida Angeles, aquí todos los amigos están sumamente sorprendidos por la intempestiva noticia de un colega muy conocido. Mike lo conocimos Angeles y yo desde que llegamos a Oaxaca al principio de los 70s. Siempre nos llamó la atención su imaginación tan creativa y novedosa para escoger temas de la Antropología. Entonces nos contaba que daba clases, por ejemplo, de la Antropología del Rock. De hecho mucho del acervo de música de la universidad fue donado por él. Llegó a dar pláticas explicativas por la frecuencia del radio de la universidad BJO. Y qué no decir de sus aportes a la Antroplogía Urbana de Oaxaca, especialmente su interés por los grupos marginales.
Angeles y yo te acompañamos en este momento tan difícil de pérdida de Michael y además por estar en un lugar tan lejano, Manuel.
Manuel Esparza
Dr. Rafael Reyes Morales y el ITO
Del Dr. Rafael Reyes Morales
Instituto Tecnologico de Oaxaca
Al etnógrafo urbano Michael J. Higgins
Fue profesor fundador del programa de doctorado del Instituto Tecnológico de Oaxaca en 1995. Apoyó la elaboración de media docena de tesis doctorales y al menos una tesis de maestría. Junto con Arthur Murphy, Earl W. Morris y Mary Winter iniciaron en el programa de doctorado los estudios urbanos. Aprendí de Michael el arte de conversar con gente de los asentamientos irregulares y a entender a las familias de los migrantes y los migrantes. Michael insistió siempre en el contenido humano de los datos de campo y por esta razón no he abandonado hasta ahora etnografía. Otra contribución fue su visión amplia de los estudios género. Inicialmente Michel se basó en el postmodernismo y lo complemento muy bien con etnografías. Juntos dirigimos tesis de maestría sobre niños de la calle, de los pobres de las periferias de la ciudad de Oaxaca.
Despedimos al maestro Higgins quien nos deja su legado: el compromiso social del académico de abordar los problemas sociales urbanos difíciles como son: la prostitución y delincuencia juvenil. En mi experiencia he encontrado para mi sorpresa que la resistencia abordar temas difíciles radica más bien del lado del profesor que de los estudiantes.
Rafael Reyes Morales
Thursday, February 3, 2011
A Angeles
Angeles hermana mia, no puedo creerlo, ando todo el dia pensando en Michael, en ti.
Queremos saber donde estas, cuando vienes a Oaxaca. Muchos quieren saber cuando y como lo vas a velar.
Queremos saber que paso,
No queremos saber como estas, pero que ya sabemos.
Ya sabes que tenemos un blog con recuerdos, que posteriormente vamos a organizar en libro. Mucha gente ha comentado--historias, recuerdos, photos. Anselmo escribio, Mateo, CIESAS como institucion, y individuos......
La hola de shock y de recuerdos positivos ha sido enorme. Es una gran perdida para todos nosotros, y mas para ti. Por eso quiero que sepas que estamos contigo, estamos puestos para apoyarte en lo que es un tarea inpensable.
Reciba un gran abrazo de mi parte, y de parte de los muchos quienes se han comunicado conmigo, pidiendo que te paso su pesame.
Michael's career (view from here)
Michael studied under Oscar Lewis and Douglas Butterworth at the University of Illinois.
He did his PhD dissertation in the city of Oaxaca, one of the first three (North American) urban anthropologists. Today, Colonia Linda Vista is all built up, but in those days it was barely settled. His book, Somos Gente Humilde, takes up on the poverty analysis of Lewis and Butterworth and shows how they talk about their experience. In his first video, It’s our turn now, the quote, “los machos, esos son los pendejos” is a classic line that sums up the whole thing—class and gender and ethnicity.
Higgins and Cheleen Mehar did a radical thing: they shared a position at the University of Northern Colorado. Michael was always an active, if unaffected parent to his kids, Siobhan and Tristan, both of whom turned into great people. Michael lived frugally and travelled a lot, and because he didn’t hop from university to university, was able to retire at 55. Life is too short, right, Michael?
He wrote Beds, Patios and Streets, with Tanya Coen, a description of the ordinariness of ‘diverse’ people in Oaxaca City. That book, and meeting many of the people in it really taught me a lot about Oaxaca. And parties.
Most recently, although retired, Michael and Angeles worked on an amazing literacy project in the jails of Oaxaca City
As one of the earliest North American urban anthropologists in Oaxaca, Michael continued to produce provocative, timely, and cutting edge works throughout his career and retirement.Thanks Michael
Michael, I must have first met you at a LASA or some such meeting in Indianapolis or Cincinnati—early 1980s. Then I remember in 1982 just before I got married. You always talked the straight talk and I loved it from the beginning.
You told me about Oscar Lewis and Douglas Butterworth. I reconstructed and revived Lewis after talking to you—not the culture of poverty, but an old Stalinist. Reading him right, you see he’s talking about poverty, structural poverty, and not blaming the victims.
You turned me on to Zaretsky, to many other writers.
You taught me to use rock n roll in my classes—anthropology….. You deconstructed thick texts in a few words—you ate them for breakfast seemingly. I was always so impressed at your brain power. My first trip to Oaxaca—you introduced me to Guadalupe, to Cecil Welte, to Oaxaca. At dark moments in my life, you’d get up and walk to the phone on the corner and give me a call to see how I was doing. I wish I could do that for you. How’re you doing Michael?
You introduced me to all the ordinary diverse people in Oaxaca. We held your retirement party in Oaxaca with all your friends. One of the best parties ever. I’m so glad you retired at 55, my friend.
When you met Angeles, I said, 'I thought you said you didn’t want to get into a relationship.' You said, ‘she shows me places in myself I didn’t even know were there.’ Wow.
When you all came through Atlanta last year, I pulled you aside to ask your advice, I knew you’d give me the straight answer, as always. You said, 'if you don’t feel comfortable, don’t do it.'
Just last week, I told you to be sure to do exercises with your cast on because your muscles would atrophy. You said thanks.
CV
Research Interests
Anthropology; Urban Studies; Modernization; Gender/Sexuality/Ethnicity; Applied Linguistics; Urban Social Struggles and Social Class; Language Studies. Michael has worked with young students at the state university in order to explore how they perform English in the multicultural and multilingual context of Oaxaca. One of the future domains of research involves students’ location in the overlapping social fields of learning cultures, communities of practices, and imagined communities.
Education
Ph.D. University of Illinois, USA, 1973
B.A. Colorado State College, USA, 1968
Awards/Honors
Fullbright Grant, Mexico, 2003
Senior Fulbright, Specialist Scholar, Mexico, 2003
Scholar of the Year, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, USA, 2000
Educator of the Year, Greeley Gay and Lesbian Alliance. University of Northern Colorado, USA, 2000
Wenner-Gren Grant, USA, 1988
Teaching Fulbright, Mexico, 1983
Professional Service
Associate Professor, University of North Colorado, USA, 1972-2001
Visiting Fulbright Scholar, Institute of Sociology, Universidad Autonoma Benito Juarez de Oaxaca, Mexico, 1983
Publications
Higgins, M. & Clemente, A. (2008).Performing English with Post-Colonial Accent: Ethnographic Narratives from Mexico. London: Tufnell Press.
Higgins, M. & Coen, T. (2008). Streets, Bedrooms and Patios: The Ordinariness of Diversity in Urban Oaxaca. Austin: University of Texas Press.
Higgins, M. & Clemente, A. (2005). Whose English is it Anyway: Language, Culture and Identity. In Papeles de Trabajo sobre Cultura, Educación y Desarrollo Humano (Working papers on Culture, Education and Human Development. (An online journal:http://www.es/ptcedh) Departamento Interfacultativo de Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación, (Interdisciplinary Department of Evolutive Psychology and Education) Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
Clemente, A. & Higgins, M. (2003). The Production of Learning Cultures: The Interface between Applied Linguistics and Anthropology, Proceedings from Congreso de Lingüística Aplicada,3-5 May 2003, Mexico D.F.: CELE-UNAM.
Higgins, M. (1997). Somos Tocayos: La Antropología de Urbanismo y Pobreza. (We share the same name: Anthropology of urbanism and poverty). The Cultural Institute of the State of Oaxaca: Oaxaca.
Higgins, M. & Coen (1994). Can there be a Post-Modern/Multicultural Revolutionary Consciousness?" Journal of the High Plains Society of Applied Anthropology 8 (Spring): 3s-44.
Higgins, M. & Coen, T. (1992). Oigame! Oigame! Struggle and Social Change in a Nicaraguan Urban Community. Boulder, Colorado: WestviewPress.
Higgins, M. (1990). Martyrs and Saints. In Popular Religion in Mexico and Central America, Edited by Dow and Stephens, 187-2006. SLAA Publication Series, vol. 10. Washington, D.C.: Society for Latin American Anthropology.
Higgins, M. (1988). Portraits of Urban Poor Women in Oaxaca, in Mujeres de Oaxaca (Women from Oaxaca). Dalton and Musalem (eds.) State Gov. Publications, Oaxaca, Oaxaca.
Higgins, M. (1986). Quienes Son Los Migrantes al Teatro Urbano del Valle de Oaxaca (Who are the immigrants to the Urban Theatre of the Oaxacan Valley), in Ethnicidad y Pluralismo Étnico en Oaxaca (Ethnicity and ethnic pluralism in Oaxaca). Barabas and Bortolome (eds.), Colección Regiones de México, México.
Higgins, M. (1986). Care, Culture, and Praxis, in Care: A Transcultural Approach. M. Leininger (ed.), Charles B. Slack, Inc.: Utah.
Higgins, M. (1974). Somos Gente Humilde (We are humble people). D.F. México: Instituto Nacional Indigenista.
Higgins, M. & Clemente, A. (In press). Is sex safer in Spanish or English, in Applied Linguistics in the Field: Local Knowledge and HIV/AIDS, Editors: C. Higgins & B. Norton. London: Multilingual Matters
Anthropology; Urban Studies; Modernization; Gender/Sexuality/Ethnicity; Applied Linguistics; Urban Social Struggles and Social Class; Language Studies. Michael has worked with young students at the state university in order to explore how they perform English in the multicultural and multilingual context of Oaxaca. One of the future domains of research involves students’ location in the overlapping social fields of learning cultures, communities of practices, and imagined communities.
Education
Ph.D. University of Illinois, USA, 1973
B.A. Colorado State College, USA, 1968
Awards/Honors
Fullbright Grant, Mexico, 2003
Senior Fulbright, Specialist Scholar, Mexico, 2003
Scholar of the Year, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, USA, 2000
Educator of the Year, Greeley Gay and Lesbian Alliance. University of Northern Colorado, USA, 2000
Wenner-Gren Grant, USA, 1988
Teaching Fulbright, Mexico, 1983
Professional Service
Associate Professor, University of North Colorado, USA, 1972-2001
Visiting Fulbright Scholar, Institute of Sociology, Universidad Autonoma Benito Juarez de Oaxaca, Mexico, 1983
Publications
Higgins, M. & Clemente, A. (2008).Performing English with Post-Colonial Accent: Ethnographic Narratives from Mexico. London: Tufnell Press.
Higgins, M. & Coen, T. (2008). Streets, Bedrooms and Patios: The Ordinariness of Diversity in Urban Oaxaca. Austin: University of Texas Press.
Higgins, M. & Clemente, A. (2005). Whose English is it Anyway: Language, Culture and Identity. In Papeles de Trabajo sobre Cultura, Educación y Desarrollo Humano (Working papers on Culture, Education and Human Development. (An online journal:http://www.es/ptcedh) Departamento Interfacultativo de Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación, (Interdisciplinary Department of Evolutive Psychology and Education) Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
Clemente, A. & Higgins, M. (2003). The Production of Learning Cultures: The Interface between Applied Linguistics and Anthropology, Proceedings from Congreso de Lingüística Aplicada,3-5 May 2003, Mexico D.F.: CELE-UNAM.
Higgins, M. (1997). Somos Tocayos: La Antropología de Urbanismo y Pobreza. (We share the same name: Anthropology of urbanism and poverty). The Cultural Institute of the State of Oaxaca: Oaxaca.
Higgins, M. & Coen (1994). Can there be a Post-Modern/Multicultural Revolutionary Consciousness?" Journal of the High Plains Society of Applied Anthropology 8 (Spring): 3s-44.
Higgins, M. & Coen, T. (1992). Oigame! Oigame! Struggle and Social Change in a Nicaraguan Urban Community. Boulder, Colorado: WestviewPress.
Higgins, M. (1990). Martyrs and Saints. In Popular Religion in Mexico and Central America, Edited by Dow and Stephens, 187-2006. SLAA Publication Series, vol. 10. Washington, D.C.: Society for Latin American Anthropology.
Higgins, M. (1988). Portraits of Urban Poor Women in Oaxaca, in Mujeres de Oaxaca (Women from Oaxaca). Dalton and Musalem (eds.) State Gov. Publications, Oaxaca, Oaxaca.
Higgins, M. (1986). Quienes Son Los Migrantes al Teatro Urbano del Valle de Oaxaca (Who are the immigrants to the Urban Theatre of the Oaxacan Valley), in Ethnicidad y Pluralismo Étnico en Oaxaca (Ethnicity and ethnic pluralism in Oaxaca). Barabas and Bortolome (eds.), Colección Regiones de México, México.
Higgins, M. (1986). Care, Culture, and Praxis, in Care: A Transcultural Approach. M. Leininger (ed.), Charles B. Slack, Inc.: Utah.
Higgins, M. (1974). Somos Gente Humilde (We are humble people). D.F. México: Instituto Nacional Indigenista.
Higgins, M. & Clemente, A. (In press). Is sex safer in Spanish or English, in Applied Linguistics in the Field: Local Knowledge and HIV/AIDS, Editors: C. Higgins & B. Norton. London: Multilingual Matters
CENTRO DE INVESTIGACIONES Y ESTUDIOS SUPERIORES
EN ANTROPOLOGÍA SOCIAL
DIRECCIÓN REGIONAL UNIDAD PACIFICO SUR
SU MEMORIA NOS DA FUERZA Y ENTUSIASMO POR LA VIDA.
DESCANSE EN PAZ
FEBRERO 3 DEL 2011
A nuestro entrañable amigo Michael Higgins lo conocí a principios de la década de 1990, gracias a Martha Rees y Arthur Murphy, en mi época de estudiante cuando solíamos reunirnos en los eventos del Instituto Welte o en la casa de Martha. Para mí Michael siempre fue muy respetuoso, amistoso, de buen humor y generoso. Recuerdo que una vez mi equipo de trabajo se reunía para cenar en un restaurancito del Centro Histórico de Oaxaca y de repente empezamos a recibir ramitos de gardenias, esas flores blancas y de aroma dulce que venden las niñas y niños para ganarse unos pesos, los cuatro o cinco miembros del equipo que estábamos en la mesa, incluye El Director del equipo, recibimos flores, al principio yo le dije a la niña que las flores no eran para nosotros que se trataba de un error y la niña contestó que no era un error, que nos las mandaba el Sr. de alado, volteamos a ver y era Michael con su enorme sonrisa que nos contagiaba a todos. Ojalá y ahora mismo yo pudiera mandarle esas hermosas gardenias a Michael a donde quiera que él se encuentre.
Saludos afectuosos para la familia de Michael.
Dolores Coronel
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