Jose R. Vazquez is a Professor of Architecture at Miami-Dade College in Florida. Jose completed his Fulbright US Scholar award in 2022 at the University of Guadalajara, Mexico.
As the Fulbright-Garcia Robles U.S. Studies Chair in Mexico, Jose Vazquez explored the intersections of architecture, identity, and cultural storytelling. His project examined how U.S. architecture both shapes and reflects national narratives, drawing on Michel-Rolph Trouillot’s concept of the “silence of history.” Through discussions ranging from historic memory, to land rights, and climate change, Jose encouraged students to critically engage with the histories embedded in the built environment. By analyzing urban and rural landscapes, together they uncovered stories of resilience, displacement, and transformation, reinforcing architecture’s role as both a tangible structure and a cultural force.
His time in Mexico also helped refine the goals of a digital humanities project focused on one of Miami’s most significant historic neighborhoods—Overtown. Once a thriving Black cultural hub known as the “Little Harlem of the South” and “Little Broadway,” Overtown was home to legendary performers and a vibrant entertainment scene. Now supported by a National Endowment for the Humanities Digital Project for the Public grant, this initiative digitally reconstructs Overtown as it was in the 1950s using AR and VR technology. By creating an immersive, interactive experience, the project brings the neighborhood’s rich cultural history to life in a way that invites deeper public engagement. This fusion of history, technology, and community storytelling is a step toward preserving and reimagining Miami’s architectural and cultural heritage for future generations.
“My Fulbright experience reaffirmed my belief in architecture as a powerful tool for understanding identity, memory, and place.” ~Jose
