Perreo 101 Testimonial: McMaster U Spring ‘23

Katelina “Gata” Eccleston joined McMaster University’s course, LATAM 3A03 - Black Latin America: Belonging, Refusal, Resistance, in the Winter 2023 term, to give a lecture on the Black histories of Reggaeton and Reguetón. Katelina’s talk was as engaging as it was generatively informative, and the students were enthralled by her authentic, genuine personality and the skillful way through which she shared her ample expertise on these topics. Through her enlightening discussion framing the socio-historic contexts of the Black and Afro-Latinx music industry in Latin America and the Caribbean, her crucial centering of Black Latinx women creators, artists, and producers, to her relevant examinations of current cultural and political issues pervading these genres and spheres, Katelina’s lecture thoughtfully and artfully invited students enrolled in the course to further consider Blackness—as well as Black joy, life, and living—in the capacious ways in which it has developed artistically and creatively in Latin American locales. By bringing attention to and celebrating Black and Afro-Latinx artists, including remarking on ongoing ventures, initiatives, cultural productions, and their various roles within the thriving Latin American/Latinx/Caribbean music industry, Katelina brilliantly illustrated how Black peoples in these ethnocultural locations are and have always been engaged in socio-cultural and artistic projects that narrate and story the world while imagining collective futures. Our teaching-learning community was fascinated with everything Katelina shared and explained, as her extensive knowledge is radiantly complemented by an affability and amiability that captivate audiences. In short, Katelina Eccleston is an insightful, earnest, and accomplished presenter/speaker whose Perreo 101 Tour is an invaluable experience to engage with in academic, professional, and cultural spaces. It was our absolute pleasure—and honor—to have her presence in our classroom space this term. -- Stacy Creech de Castro (Instructor, LATAM 3A03, McMaster University).