Integrating Black Feminist Ethnography with Afro-Indigenous Cultural Studies
Daisy Guzman is a Garifuna-American scholar and Assistant Professor of Global Black Studies at UMass Amherst. Her work centers on Afro-Indigenous identity, migration, and Black feminist ethnography, with a particular focus on the Garifuna diaspora. Through her research and teaching, Guzman offers nuanced insights into the experiences of Garifuna women, advancing the representation of marginalized voices within academic discourse.
Facts About Daisy Guzman
| Fact | Details |
| Full Name | Dr. Daisy E. Guzman Nunez |
| Daisy Guzman Birthplace | South Bronx, New York (Garifuna diaspora community) |
| Daisy Guzman Nationality | American (Garifuna-American identity) |
| Daisy Guzman Education | Ph.D. in African and African Diaspora Studies (University of Texas at Austin, 2024) |
| Profession | Assistant Professor of Global Black Studies (UMass Amherst) |
| Research Areas | Garifuna diaspora research, Afro-Indigenous studies, Black feminist ethnography |
| Key Work | From La Buga to the South Bronx (Garifuna women migration study) |
| Notable Publication | “Extracting Blackness” (NACLA Report on the Americas, 2025) |
| Fellowships | Miriam Jiménez Román Fellowship (Afro-Latinx scholarship), Black Feminist Futures Institute Fellow |
| Community Role | Board Member, La Fuerza Garifuna (cultural education and advocacy) |
| Teaching Focus | Afro-Latinx history, African diaspora studies, Black feminist theory |
| Public Presence | Instagram @dr.daisy_guzman (academic outreach and Garifuna culture awareness) |
| Key Topics | Afro-Latinx identity, Garifuna cultural studies, migration and identity |
Early Life and Cultural Roots
Daisy E. Guzman Nunez was born and raised in the South Bronx, New York, a culturally rich and diverse environment that profoundly influenced her intellectual journey. Growing up within a Garifuna-American community, she developed an early awareness of identity, migration, and heritage.
The Garifuna people, an Afro-Indigenous group with roots in Central America, carry a unique history shaped by resistance, displacement, and cultural preservation. This background became central to Guzman’s academic focus, as she sought to explore how Garifuna identity evolves across borders and generations.
Her upbringing in the South Bronx, an area known for its vibrant immigrant communities, allowed her to witness firsthand the complexities of diasporic life. These experiences laid the foundation for her later work in Afro-Indigenous studies, Garifuna diaspora research, and Black feminist ethnography.
Academic Journey and Educational Achievements
Daisy Guzman pursued her doctoral studies in African and African Diaspora Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, earning her Ph.D. in 2024. Her academic training reflects a multidisciplinary approach, blending elements of anthropology, literature, and Black studies.
Her dissertation, From La Buga to the South Bronx: Garifuna Women’s Embodied History and Memory, is a groundbreaking ethnographic study. It examines the migration experiences of Garifuna women from Central America to New York, focusing on how memory, identity, and gender intersect in the diaspora.
During her graduate studies, Guzman also gained teaching experience at both the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Virginia. These roles helped her refine her approach to education, emphasizing critical thinking, cultural awareness, and student engagement.
Her academic journey centers on Garifuna women’s migration, African diaspora studies at the Ph.D. level, and Black feminist research methods, while also exploring Afro-Latinx identity and history through a focused scholarly lens.
Academic Career and Teaching Contributions
Following the completion of her Ph.D., Daisy Guzman joined the University of Massachusetts Amherst in Fall 2024 as an Assistant Professor of Global Black Studies in the W.E.B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies.
In this role, she teaches courses that engage with Black feminist theory, Afro-Latinx history, African diaspora studies, and the complex dynamics of migration and identity, offering students a nuanced understanding of culture and lived experience.
Her teaching philosophy is rooted in inclusivity and critical inquiry. By integrating her research into the classroom, she encourages students to examine the intersections of race, gender, and history in meaningful ways.
As an educator, Guzman is committed to mentoring students and fostering a deeper understanding of marginalized communities. Her work in academia reflects a broader effort to reshape curricula and make scholarship more reflective of diverse global experiences.
Research Focus: Afro-Indigenous Identity and Migration
One of the defining aspects of Daisy Guzman’s work is her focus on Afro-Indigenous studies and the Garifuna diaspora. Her research explores how identities are constructed and maintained across geographical and cultural boundaries.
A central theme in her scholarship is the idea that Blackness and Indigeneity are not mutually exclusive. Instead, they coexist in complex and dynamic ways within communities like the Garifuna.
Her research explores the Garifuna diaspora and migration patterns, drawing on Black feminist ethnography to examine cultural memory, identity, and the intersections of gender and migration.
Through her work, Guzman sheds light on how Garifuna women navigate migration while preserving cultural traditions and histories. Her approach emphasizes lived experiences, making her research both academically rigorous and deeply human.
Major Works and Scholarly Contributions
Daisy Guzman’s academic contributions continue to gain recognition for their depth and originality. Her dissertation remains a cornerstone of her work, offering a nuanced exploration of Garifuna women’s experiences.
In 2025, she published a significant article titled “Extracting Blackness: Garinagu Fight for Sovereignty in La Buga” in the NACLA Report on the Americas. This work examines issues of sovereignty, identity, and resistance within Garifuna communities in Guatemala.
Her scholarly work also encompasses academic reviews in Afro-Latinx studies, conference presentations on migration and identity, and contributions to interdisciplinary research on the Black diaspora.
These works position her as an emerging authority in fields such as Afro-Latinx scholarship, Garifuna cultural studies, and Black feminist research.
Fellowships, Honors, and Recognition
Daisy Guzman’s work has been recognized through several prestigious fellowships, reflecting her growing influence in academia.
She was awarded the Miriam Jiménez Román Fellowship (2023-2024) at NYU’s Latinx Project, a program dedicated to advancing Afro-Latinx scholarship. This fellowship placed her among a distinguished group of scholars working at the intersection of race, culture, and identity.
Additionally, she was named a Black Feminist Futures Institute Fellow (2024–2025), further highlighting her contributions to feminist and diasporic studies.
These honors highlight her as a thought leader in Afro-Indigenous research, Black feminist theory, and diaspora and migration studies.
Community Engagement and Public Scholarship
Beyond academia, Daisy Guzman is actively involved in community-based initiatives. She serves on the board of La Fuerza Garifuna, a New York-based organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Garifuna culture.
Her work with the organization includes developing community-based curricula, supporting bilingual and cultural programs, and promoting awareness of Garifuna history.
This engagement reflects her commitment to making scholarship accessible and impactful beyond academic institutions. By connecting research with real-world communities, she bridges the gap between theory and practice.
Digital Presence and Public Outreach
Daisy Guzman maintains an active presence on social media, using platforms like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) to share her work and engage with a broader audience.
Through her Instagram (@dr.daisy_guzman), she shares academic insights, community initiatives, and highlights from conference presentations.
Her digital presence plays a crucial role in promoting public scholarship, making academic knowledge more accessible and engaging for diverse audiences.
Recent Activities and Ongoing Work (2023-2026)
In recent years, Daisy Guzman has steadily expanded her impact in both academia and public scholarship. She completed her Ph.D. in African and African Diaspora Studies in 2024, marking a significant milestone in her academic journey.
Following this achievement, she began her role as Assistant Professor of Global Black Studies at UMass Amherst, bringing her expertise in Afro-Indigenous studies and Black feminist research to the classroom.
In 2025, Guzman published her influential NACLA article, “Extracting Blackness: Garinagu Fight for Sovereignty in La Buga,” further establishing her as a leading voice in Garifuna diaspora studies.
Her research continued to gain visibility in 2026 when she presented at the American Historical Association conference, sharing insights on migration, identity, and cultural memory.
Impact and Future Directions
Daisy Guzman’s work represents a significant contribution to contemporary academic discourse. By focusing on Garifuna women, migration, and identity, she brings attention to narratives that are often overlooked.
Her research not only enriches fields like African diaspora studies and Afro-Latinx history but also has broader implications for understanding global migration and cultural identity.
Looking ahead, Daisy Guzman’s work is set to shape Black feminist scholarship, migration studies, and Afro-Indigenous cultural research, solidifying her role as a leading voice in inclusive and transformative academia.
Conclusion
Daisy Guzman exemplifies the power of scholarship that is both intellectually rigorous and socially engaged. Her work on the Garifuna diaspora, Afro-Indigenous identity, and Black feminist ethnography offers valuable insights into the complexities of culture, migration, and history.
Through her teaching, research, and community involvement, she continues to elevate underrepresented voices and redefine the boundaries of academic inquiry. In doing so, she not only contributes to knowledge but also fosters a deeper understanding of the diverse world we live in.
FAQs
Daisy Guzman is a Garifuna-American scholar and Assistant Professor of Global Black Studies specializing in Afro-Indigenous studies, migration, and Black feminist ethnography.
She is known for her research on the Garifuna diaspora, particularly the experiences of Garifuna women migrating from Central America to New York.
She earned her Ph.D. in African and African Diaspora Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2024.
Her research focuses on Afro-Indigenous identity, Garifuna migration, Black feminist theory, and cultural memory.
Her major works include her dissertation From La Buga to the South Bronx and her 2025 NACLA article on Garifuna sovereignty.
