Fordham Law Professor Tanya Katerí Hernández shared her inspiring journey from her upbringing in New York City to her current role at Fordham Law, on the Blazing Ember Podcast with hosts Diana Santos ’10 and Maria Fernandez, emphasizing the importance of following one’s passions and intuition over conventional definitions of success. The discussion highlights the challenges Latino lawyers face, particularly the low representation of Latinas, and underscores the vital role of mentorship and support networks like Lawtina.
Prof. Hernández also addresses misconceptions about critical race theory, framing it as an essential tool for understanding systemic racial disparities, while discussing her book, Racial Innocence: Unmasking Latino Anti-Black Bias and the Struggle for Equality (Beacon Press, August 2022), which challenges preconceived notions about racism and bias, revealing how a historically marginalized group can experience discrimination while also being discriminatory. She highlights the anti-Black bias that affects Afro-Latinos and African Americans across various sectors, including the workplace, housing, and education.
Listen to the complete Feb. 18, 2025 episode, “[Season 2,] Episode 20: Tanya K. Hernández.”