Castro, Donald S.

About the author: Dr. Castro received his PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles. He has been both a Ford Fellow, and a Fulbright Scholar to Argentina. He is currently Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Professor of History at California State University, Dominguez Hills. His previous publications with Mellen include The Development and Politics of Argentine Immigration Policy, 1852-1914 (1991) and The Argentine Tango as Social History, 1880-1955 (1991).

Afro-Argentine in Argentine Culture. El Negro Del Acordeón

2001 0-7734-7389-0
This study focuses on a discussion of the evolution of Argentine demographic policy as expressed in the dictum ‘to govern is to populate’ and its impact on the role of the Afro-Argentine in an historical context. The Afro-Argentine role in Argentine culture is presented as part of the elite-defined culture, the liberal elites’ views of the Afro-Argentine and the aftermath of Juan Manuel de Rosas with its changes to the cultural images of the Afro-Argentine. In contrast, the Afro-Argentine is also presented as part of the Argentine popular creole culture within a construct that discusses the issue of how site-specific Argentine culture is, and the impact of site definitions on the cultural contributions of the Afro-Argentine. Creole popular cultural expressions of the Puppet Theater, the theater, and the circus highlight the conflicts between immigrant and creole where the Afro-Argentine is clearly defined as a creole and not as a separate cultural entity.

Development and Politics of Argentine Immigration Policy, 1852-1914 to Govern is to Populate

1991 0-7734-9980-6
Focuses on the evolutions of Argentine immigration policies and the discussion of the social, political and economic issues involved in the related political debate. Class, regional and economic interests (particularly self-interest) of the Argentine ruling elites are of special interest.

The Argentine Tango as Social History, 1880-1955: The Soul of the People

1991 0-7734-9923-7
Discusses lunfardo (the language of the tango) and lunfardo poets, the tango in the era of the Guardia Vieja, Carlos Gardel, the Epoca de oro of the tango (1917-1943), and the tango under Perón, (1943-1955). With a selected bibliography on the Argentine tango.