Yeidy Rivero

Yeidy Rivero is Professor in the Department of Film, Television, and Media at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, with courtesy appointments in the Department of American Culture and Latina/o Studies. Her research examines how media representations shape and reflect understandings of race, ethnicity, and national identity in Latin America, the Spanish Caribbean, and Latino communities in the United States. She is particularly known for her groundbreaking analysis of racial representation in Puerto Rican television history.

Education:

• PhD, Department of Radio, TV, & Film, University of Texas at Austin, 2000
• MA, Theater, State University of New York at Stony Brook, 1993
• BA, Drama, minor in Communications, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, 1991

Professor Rivero's research explores the complex dynamics where media, race, and national identity intersect. Her work challenges narratives of racial egalitarianism by demonstrating how commercial media have historically marginalized Black and Brown communities while constructing national identities claiming racial harmony. Through meticulous archival research, she reveals how media industries in Latin America and the Caribbean navigate relationships with the United States while developing distinct cultural formations that reflect and shape social hierarchies.

Analysis of Professor Rivero's publication record shows a consistent scholarly trajectory examining media representation across historical periods and geographical contexts. Her work spans from early television in Cuba and Puerto Rico to contemporary transnational media flows and diasporic film production. A recurring theme is how media industries negotiate race, ethnicity, and national identity within contexts of colonialism, imperialism, and globalization, with particular attention to how white performers in blackface and the exclusion of Black actors have shaped televisual representations.

Scientific Awards:

• LSA Michigan Humanities Award (Fall 2012), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• Visiting Resident Scholar, Annenberg School of Communication, University of Pennsylvania (Fall 2009)
• Trustee's Teaching Award, Department of Communication and Culture, Indiana University-Bloomington (2008)

Professor Rivero has made significant contributions to media studies through her research, teaching, and service. Her book "Tuning Out Blackness: Race and Nation in the History of Puerto Rican Television" established her as a leading scholar on race and media in the Caribbean. She actively participates in the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (LACS) at the University of Michigan and contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives examining media representation and social justice. Her work bridges academic research with public engagement, influencing broader conversations about media representation and cultural politics.

As a faculty member at the University of Michigan, Professor Rivero is deeply involved with research groups focused on race, ethnicity, and media representation. She collaborates with scholars across disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, contributing to interdisciplinary projects that examine media production, circulation, and consumption. Her scholarly influence extends through editorial work, conference participation, and mentorship of emerging scholars in the field of critical media studies.