Paul Ortiz (historian) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Ortiz
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| Born | 1964 (age 60–61) |
| Alma mater | Duke University Evergreen State College Olympic Community College |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | African American History, Latinx Studies, Comparative Race and Ethnicity, Social Movement Theory, Southern History, Labor History, Oral History |
| Institutions | Cornell University |
Paul Ortiz is an American historian born in 1964. He teaches about labor history at Cornell University. Before that, he directed a special program at the University of Florida called the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program. This program collects stories from people about their lives and experiences.
Early Life and Education
Paul Ortiz was born in 1964. He is special because he was the first in his family to go to college. His family also has a history of serving in the military.
He joined the United States Army from 1982 to 1986. He was a paratrooper, meaning he jumped out of airplanes. He also worked as a radio operator. He reached the rank of sergeant. During his time in the army, he was part of the 82nd Airborne Division and the 7th Special Forces Group. He served in Central America.
In November 1985, a volcano called Nevado del Ruiz erupted in Colombia. Paul Ortiz helped people after this disaster. For his brave actions, he received the US Armed Forces Humanitarian Service Medal.
After his military service, he went to college. He studied at Olympic Community College, Evergreen State College, and Duke University.
His Work as a Historian
As a historian, Paul Ortiz studies many important topics. He focuses on African American history, which is the story of Black people in America. He also studies Latinx history, which includes people from Latin American backgrounds.
He is very interested in how different groups of people interact. He also studies social movements, which are groups of people working together for change. He looks at the history of the American South and the history of workers. He uses oral history, which means he listens to and records people's personal stories.
Helping Others: His Activism
Paul Ortiz believes in helping people, especially those who work. He has been the president and a council member of a group called the United Faculty of Florida. This group is part of a larger union that helps university teachers. Unions work to make sure workers have fair pay and good working conditions.
