Mobilizing Opportunities by
The growth of the Latino population is the most significant demographic shift in the United States today. Yet growth alone cannot explain this population's increasing impact on the electorate; nor can a parsing of its subethnicities. In the most significant analysis to date on the growing political activation of Latinos, Ricardo Ramírez identifies when and where Latino participation in the political process has come about as well as its many motivations. Using a state-centered approach, the author focuses on the interaction between demographic factors and political contexts, from long-term trends in party competition, to the resources and mobilization efforts of ethnic organizations and the Spanish-language media, to the perception of political threat as a basis for mobilization. The picture that emerges is one of great temporal and geographic variation. In it, Ramírez captures the transformation of Latinos' civic and political reality and the engines behind the evolution of this crucial electorate. Race, Ethnicity, and Politics
Translation Nation by
In the national bestseller "Translation Nation," Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Hector Tobar takes us on the definitive tour of the Spanish-speaking United States--a parallel nation, 35 million strong, that is changing the very notion of what it means to be an American in unprecedented and unexpected ways. Tobar begins on familiar terrain, in his native Los Angeles, with his family's story, along with that of two brothers of Mexican origin with very different interpretations of Americanismo, or American identity as seen through a Latin American lens--one headed for U.S. citizenship and the other for the wrong side of the law and the south side of the border. But this is just a jumping-off point. Soon we are in Dalton, Georgia, the most Spanish-speaking town in the Deep South, and in Rupert, Idaho, where the most popular radio DJ is known as "El Chupacabras." By the end of the book, we have traveled from the geographical extremes into the heartland, exploring the familiar complexities of Cuban Miami and the brand-new ones of a busy Omaha INS station. Sophisticated, provocative, and deeply human, "Translation Nation" uncovers the ways that Hispanic Americans are forging new identities, redefining the experience of the American immigrant, and reinventing the American community. It is a book that rises, brilliantly, to meet one of the most profound shifts in American identity.
Latinos by
Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States and will comprise a quarter of the country's population by mid-century. The process of Latinization, the result of globalization and the biggest migration flow in the history of the Americas, is indeed reshaping the character of the U.S. This landmark book brings together some of the leading scholars now studying the social, cultural, racial, economic, and political changes wrought by the experiences, travails, and fortunes of the Latino population. It is the most definitive and comprehensive snapshot available of Latinos in the United States today. How are Latinos and Latinas changing the face of the Americas? What is new and different about this current wave of migration? In this pathbreaking book social scientists, humanities scholars, and policy experts examine what every citizen and every student needs to know about Latinos in the U.S., covering issues from historical continuities and changes to immigration, race, labor, health, language, education, and politics. Recognizing the diversity and challenges facing Latinos in the U.S., this book addresses what it means to define the community as such and how to move forward on a variety of political and cultural fronts. All of the contributions to Latinos are original pieces written especially for this volume.
Herencia by
Herencia (meaning "inheritance" or "heritage") is the first anthology to bring together literature from the entire history of Hispanic writing in the United States, from the age of exploration to the present. The product of a ten-year project involving hundreds of scholars nationwide, Herenciais the most comprehensive literary collection available, spanning over three centuries and including writers from all the major Hispanic ethnic communities, and writing from diverse genres.Here is the voice of the conqueror and the conquered, the revolutionary and the reactionary, the native and the uprooted or landless. Of course, readers will find pieces by such leading writers as Piri Thomas, Luis Valdez, Isabel Allende, Oscar Hijuelos, and Reinaldo Arenas. But what reallydistinguishes this anthology is its historical depth and its rich, complex portrait of Hispanic literature in the United States. Beginning with Cabeza de Vaca's account of his explorations in the New World, the anthology includes a passage from La Florida, a narrative historical poem of 22,000verses, written by Franciscan friar Alonso de Escobedo; an attack on Mexican stereotypes in the nascent movie industry, written by Nicasio Idar, editor of Laredo's La Cronica; and an essay about Coney Island written by revolutionary Jose Marti.Embracing Chicano, Nuyorican, Cuban American, and Latino writings, the voices of immigrants and the voices of exiles, Herencia makes a vital contribution to our understanding not only of Hispanic writing in the United States, but also of the great contribution Hispanics have made to the UnitedStates.
Latinos and Latinas at Risk by
This two-volume collection of essays addresses the Latino/a experience in present-day America, covering six major areas of importance: education, health, family, children, teens, and violence. The Latino/a presence in this country predates the United States itself, yet this group is often marginalized in the American culture. Many noted experts explore the ideology behind this prejudicial attitude, examining how America views Latinos/as, how Latinos/as view themselves, and what the future of America will look like as this group progresses toward equitable treatment. Through the exploration process, the book reveals the complexity and diversity of this community, tracing the historical trajectories of those whose diverse points of origin could be from almost anywhere, including the Americas, Europe, or other places. Written with contemporary issues at the forefront, this timely collection looks at the resolve of the Latino people and considers their histories, contributions, concerns, and accomplishments. Pointed essays address disparate quality-of-life issues in education, health, and economic stability while depicting individual and group efforts in overcoming barriers to mainstream American society. Each chapter discusses key challenge areas for the Latino American population in everyday life. An engaging "Further Investigations" feature poses questions about most of the essays, leading to critical thinking about the most important topics affecting Latino/as today. Provides information from authoritative sources and data based on recent research Includes ancillary tables, figures, and statistics for visual support Features thoughtful questions and reflections on the chapters that support readers' further exploration of the topics Shares some first-hand accounts and autobiographies along with selected interviews
Atlas of Hispanic-American History by
Building on the authoritative text of the award-winning first edition, ""Atlas of Hispanic-American History, Second Edition"" chronicles the important cultural, historical, political, and social experiences of Hispanic Americans through the years. Completely updated and revised, this comprehensive atlas examines Spanish, Native American, and African influences and how they combine in different ways to form the varied cultures of Hispanic America. Numerous full-color maps engage readers with easy-to-grasp facts, figures, and images of everyday life.Coverage includes: The Roots of a People - the multicultural background of Hispanic America and the blending of races and cultures; Spain in the Americas - Columbus' arrival in the Caribbean and voyages to America, the fall of the Aztec Empire, and Florida and the Spanish Caribbean; Independence in the New World - the Spanish and the American Revolution, Independence from New Spain, and Mexican Independence; Manifest Destiny and Hispanic America - the Texas independence movement, the U.S.-Mexican War, the California gold rush and Chilean mining communities; A Time of Transition - Hispanic Americans and the U.S. Civil War, the Basques in America, and the Spanish-American War; and, The Age of World Wars - revolution in Mexico; World War I and World War II, Puerto Rican Americans in the 1920s and 1930s, the rise of the Hispanic labor movement, the Great Depression, and the zoot suit riots.It also includes the Hispanic American Civil Rights Era - the bracero program; Operation Wetback; the question of Puerto Rican statehood; the Cuban Revolution; A Changing Community: The Late 20th CenturyHispanic America Today: the Mexican-American immigration debate; Hispanic religion, artists, writers, musicians, actors, and athletes.
Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture by 
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States by
A landmark scholarly work, The Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States offers comprehensive, reliable, and accessible information about the fastest growing minority population in the nation. With an unprecedented scope and cutting-edge scholarship, the Encyclopedia draws together the diverse historical and contemporary experiences in the United States of Latinos and Latinas from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Central America, South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Over 900 A to Z articles ranging in length from 500 words to 7,500 words written by academics, scholars, writers, artists, and journalists, address such broad topics as identity, art, politics, religion, education, health, and history. Each entry has its own bibliography and cross-references and is signed by its author. Essential for scholarly and professional researchers as well as the classroom and library, The Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States will fill a void in the historical scholarship of an under-served population.
The Hispanic American Almanac by
This resource describes all major aspects of the culture and civilization of Hispanic Americans living in the United States. Chapters cover such topics as: Spanish explorers and colonizers Significant documents Historic landmarks Labor and employment Women Religion Literature Art Prominent Hispanics Military Business Race And moreThe format of each chapter varies, based on the subject being discussed. Overall, the text is narrative, augmented by more than 450 photographs, maps and charts. A bibliography has been included at the end of each chapter to facilitate further research. The Almanac also includes a glossary and a keyword index.
Documents of the Chicano Movement by
This book provides original source documents--from firsthand accounts to media responses to legislation--regarding the Chicano movement of the 1960s through 1970s. Readers will understand the key events, individuals, and developments of La Causa: Chicanos uniting to free themselves from exploitation. The 1960s was a time of the burgeoning black Civil Rights movement, when society and politics were divided over the war in Vietnam and public violence became "normal" in the form of police response to protests and assassinations of leaders. It was also a time that witnessed the beginning of a movement to secure justice and rights on behalf of Mexican-Americans and other Latinos. It was the Chicano movement. Documents of the Chicano Movement: Eyewitness to History presents some 50 primary historical documents, each prefaced by a succinct introductory essay. Because the Chicano movement comprised disparate groups and leaders from across the nation, the book will be divided into several sections that acknowledge these separate but connected efforts, each headed by its own introduction. Through its detailed coverage of approximately two decades, the book highlights key topics that include the fight of farm workers to establish a union; the so-called "Land-Grant Struggle" to reclaim areas of the Southwest ceded in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago; the establishment in New Mexico of the Crusade for Justice, an organization that promoted a nationalistic agenda; the growth of the urban Chicano student movement and its drive for educational reform; the Chicano Antiwar Moratorium protests; and the eventual rise of Chicano political power with the birth of the La Raza Unida Party. The breadth of primary documents include materials from archives, manuscript repositories, newspapers, government documents, public speeches and addresses, first-person accounts from individuals who participated directly in the Chicano movement, legal decisions, pamphlets, and essays. The documents not only tell a vivid, engaging story but also provide students and researchers with valuable resources for use in other works. Provides readers with original source documents that trace the origins and accomplishments of the Chicano movement--a national effort of a minority group to gain civil rights, to strive for political and social advancement, and to establish and take pride in their unique cultural identity Presents compelling insights into how numerous Chicano individuals during the turbulent era of the 1960s-1970s were inspired to stand up and fight against the social, cultural, and legal injustices suffered by Latinos in the United States for generations Offers historical documentation of how political activism and organization can not only challenge entrenched interests but sometimes succeed
Sabrina and Corina by
NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST * Latinas of Indigenous descent living in the American West take center stage in this haunting debut story collection--a powerful meditation on friendship, mothers and daughters, and the deep-rooted truths of our homelands. "Here are stories that blaze like wildfires, with characters who made me laugh and broke my heart."--Sandra Cisneros WINNER OF THE AMERICAN BOOK AWARD * FINALIST FOR THE STORY PRIZE * FINALIST FOR THE PEN/ROBERT W. BINGHAM PRIZE FOR DEBUT SHORT STORY COLLECTION Kali Fajardo-Anstine's magnetic story collection breathes life into her Latina characters of indigenous ancestry and the land they inhabit in the American West. Against the remarkable backdrop of Denver, Colorado--a place that is as fierce as it is exquisite--these women navigate the land the way they navigate their lives: with caution, grace, and quiet force. In "Sugar Babies," ancestry and heritage are hidden inside the earth but tend to rise during land disputes. "Any Further West" follows a sex worker and her daughter as they leave their ancestral home in southern Colorado only to find a foreign and hostile land in California. In "Tomi," a woman leaves prison and finds herself in a gentrified city that is a shadow of the one she remembers from her childhood. And in the title story, "Sabrina & Corina," a Denver family falls into a cycle of violence against women, coming together only through ritual. Sabrina & Corina is a moving narrative of unrelenting feminine power and an exploration of the universal experiences of abandonment, heritage, and an eternal sense of home. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The New York Public Library * Kirkus Reviews * Library Journal "Sabrina & Corina isn't just good, it's masterful storytelling. Fajardo-Anstine is a fearless writer: her women are strong and scarred witnesses of the violations of their homelands, their culture, their bodies; her plots turn and surprise, unerring and organic in their comprehensiveness; her characters break your heart, but you keep on going because you know you are in the hands of a master. Her stories move through the heart of darkness and illuminate it with the soul of truth."--Julia Alvarez, author of How the García Girls Lost Their Accents "[A] powerhouse debut . . . stylistically superb, with crisp dialogue and unforgettable characters, Sabrina & Corina introduces an impressive new talent to American letters."--Rigoberto González, NBC News
When I Was Puerto Rican by
Magic, sexual tension, high comedy, and intense drama move through an enchanted yet harsh autobiography, in the story of a young girl who leaves rural Puerto Rico for New York's tenements and a chance for success.
The House on Mango Street by
In hardcover for the first time--on the tenth anniversary of its initial publication--the greatly admired and bestselling book about a young girl growing up in the Latino section of Chicago. Sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes deeply joyous, this novel depicts a new American landscape through its multiple characters.
How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by
Uprooted from their family home in the Dominican Republic, the four Garcia sisters-Carla, Sandra, Yolanda, and Sofia-arrive in New York City in 1960 to find a life far different from the genteel existence of maids, manicures, and extended family they left behind. What they have lost-and what they find-is revealed in the fifteen interconnected stories that make up this exquisite novel from one of the premiere novelists of our time.
