100 Questions and Answers about Hispanics and Latinos (Bias Busters) - Softcover

Michigan State School Of Journalism

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1939880440 ISBN 13: 9781939880444

Publisher: Front Edge Publishing, LLC, 2014

Synopsis

"One Hundred Questions and Answers About Hispanics and Latinos" is part of the Michigan State University School of Journalism series in cultural competence. It focuses on the diversity of the largest ethnic group in the United States.

This guide has sections on Hispanic and Latino identity, geography, language, religion, social norms, politics, immigration and deportation, education, work, money, families, culture, health and food. It explains terms such as Chicano, Tejano and Texano, Boricua and deals with deportation and immigration.

The guide is written for those who need quick answers to very basic, introductory questions. It is intended for people in business, schools, places of worship, government, medicine, law enforcement, human resources and journalism who want to get a fast grounding. The guide suggests resources for those who then want to go into greater depth.

We made this guide for individuals who have basic questions about the people around them.

We start with some definitions:

• What does "Latina" mean?
• What do "Chicano" and "Chicana" mean?
• What is the definition of Chican@?
• What does Tejano mean?
• What does Boricua mean?

And then we have other questions:

• What race are Latinos and Hispanics?
• What are their places of origin?
• Which states have the largest Hispanic populations?
• Why is Puerto Rico a territory and not a state or a country?
• Do Puerto Ricans pay U.S. taxes?
• Is Pope Francis the first Latin American pope?

Our hope is that after people read this guide, or any guide in our series, they will continue researching ad learning on their own by reading more and talking to people. Each individual has his or her own take on things, so it helps to talk to many. No single person can tell the whole story.

Thank you!

About this title

From the Inside Flap:

This brief, 100-answer look at the 53 million Americans called Hispanics or Latinos covers origins, identity, citizenship, education, occupation, health, income, immigration, culture and more.

Hispanics or Latinos? Both can be correct. It all depends on how individuals identify themselves and that could be because of origin, language or tradition. A Hispanic could be of Mexican, Puerto Rican or Cuban origin, and a Latino could be, too. In many cases, a second- or third-generation Hispanic/Latino born in the United States might not even speak Spanish but yet identify as one or the other.

The United States is often portrayed as a nation of immigrants, but as history shows, Native Americans and many Hispanics were here before Europeans arrived. The U.S. war with Mexico caused many Mexicans and Spanish-Mexicans to wake up after the 1848 peace treaty in a different country. Without moving, many acquired a new government, language and citizenship. They did not cross over the border; the border crossed over them.

Similarly, after the Spanish-American War ended in 1898, Puerto Ricans found that their original colonizer, Spain, had ceded the island to the United States. In 1917, Congress made Puerto Ricans U.S. citizens.

Migration came later. It followed the Mexican Revolution of 1910-1921 for political reasons and it began in Puerto Rico for economic reasons. Both migrations started a diaspora of Hispanics to the United States. Cuba followed, primarily because of politics, and other pressures pushed more waves of immigration.

Composition
Hispanics make up almost one-fifth of the total U.S. population, 17 percent, up from 13 percent in 2000. Projections are that Hispanics will account for nearly one-third of the U.S. population by 2050.

Almost two thirds of Hispanics in the United States are Mexican, with a significant gap to the second largest group. Puerto Ricans are 9 percent of the Hispanic population, followed by Salvadorans and Cubans at 4 percent each and Dominicans at 3 percent.

Politics

As diverse as Hispanics are, their politics are also divergent. Generally, pundits say that Hispanics tend to be more liberal, but in reality they are as split as the rest of the electorate. Latinos are liberal, conservative and independent. They are Democrats and Republicans, they belong to the tea party movement, the Green Party and the Libertarian Party.

Although their representation in political office does not equal their proportion in the population, it is growing. Some of the most prominent Hispanics serving in both the Clinton and Bush administrations were of Mexican, Puerto Rican and Cuban origin. President Barack Obama appointed Sonia Sotomayor of Puerto Rican descent to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The assumption that Hispanics lean Democratic because they are laborers, migrants, hourly or unionized workers is not accurate. Hispanics have one the highest rates of entrepreneurship and small business ownership in the United States and these Hispanics tend to identify with the Republican Party. Hispanic political affiliation mirrors the nation's population.

The so-called Hispanic Agenda in national politics is as diverse as the American Agenda. Hispanics are portrayed as having three interests: immigration, border control and social welfare. However, the Hispanic political agenda is determined more by generation than by ethnicity. While recent migrants and the first generation might identify those issues as important, subsequent generations focus on education, jobs and health. The agenda is not homogenized. On the contrary, the agenda is as varied as Hispanics themselves. Generation, income, occupation and education are more likely to determine what Hispanics prioritize--in any political party.

Hispanic political power is growing. Hispanics had an impact in 2012 swing states and it is clear that to win the presidency, candidates need the Hispanic vote.

Immigration

Immigration unifies and separates Hispanics. Some favor legislation that allows more open-door policies and facilitates family reunification. Others want more controls and limits. How is it possible that immigration can be a polarizing factor among Hispanics? Simple. It is generational. Recent immigrants and the first generation born in the United States tend to be more supportive of lax policies on immigration. Subsequent generations are more inclined to support restrictions.

This guide describes waves of immigration, whether pulled by the U.S. need for workers or pushed by economic need and politics. Yet all create pressure for families to reunite. There are variations of age, gender, education, and English proficiency within each wave.

The notion that most Hispanics arrived in the United States as undocumented, illegally or as visa abusers is not entirely accurate. Most Hispanics in the United States are citizens. Others may have temporary permits, permanent resident visas, family reunification allowances, company transfers, tourist, investor and student visas. In many states, corporations with operations in Mexico have significant movement of staff in both directions. These individuals tend to be professionals in engineering, business, logistics, research and development.

Undocumented or illegal immigration happens not only across the U.S. border with Mexico, but also across the border with Canada and through coastal ports more accessible to Europe and Asia. Many of these immigrants arrive with tourist permits to later engage in work, which is strictly prohibited. The most widely known group of immigrants, however, are individuals who enter from Mexico and who spread to states from California to South Carolina and as far as New York. Recently, they are more likely to be Central Americans from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexicans are not crossing the border as they used to, in part because of a strengthening Mexican economy.

Destination is another facet of immigration. While Hispanics are concentrated in the Southwest and Florida, in the past 10 years there has been a trend for migrants to move to states that have not historically had large Hispanic presences.

Culture

Lastly, Hispanic culture is rich, diverse and dynamic. Food and drink, traditions and music have become part of the mainstream American fabric. This is a remarkable achievement not seen often in an American culture that tends to be ethnocentric.

Architecture, for instance, has heavily influenced the look of California, Arizona, Texas and Florida. It has extended to many suburbs. Styles reminiscent of old Spanish-Mexican patios, hacienda roofs and tiles, open kitchens, fountains, gardens and plants are popular all over the country. Ironically, in many areas where there has been a persistent backlash against Latinos, as in Arizona, the dominant architectural style is of Mexican origin.

Food and drink is another manifestation of Hispanic culture. Foods ranging from  Mexican mole, tacos, burritos and enchiladas to Cuban masitas de puerco and ropa vieja, to Argentinian churrasco, to Peruvian ceviche, and to empanadas of anything have caught on in the United States. Salsas with multiple flavors and intensities rival ketchup at the condiment counter. Tortillas outsell white bread, and tamales and burritos are preferred for quick lunches in major metro areas across the nation. Food trucks of Hispanic food that started as taco trucks in downtown Los Angeles have popped up all over the country, and corporate franchises selling Hispanic foods attract investment. Margaritas, tequila, Mexican beer, mojitos and pisco, have displaced other spirits and drinks. The popularity of churros as a sweet dessert makes them standard at major sport events and state fairs.

Hispanic music has also gone mainstream. Salsa and other forms of Caribbean dance are popular among young and old dancers. Artists such as Carlos Santana, Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez, Los Lobos and Linda Ronstadt doubled their potential audience by singing in Spanish and English.

From the Back Cover:

• What are the differences between Hispanic and Latino?
  
• Is Puerto Rico a country, colony or commonwealth?
  
• What is a quinceañera?
  
• What is Spanglish?
  
• What is a green card?
  

100 Questions and Answers About Hispanics and Latinos is part of a series of guides published by the Michigan State University School of Journalism.

This cultural competence guide is about America's largest minority. Hispanics and Latinos are now America's most numerous minority group and are expected to number about 30 percent of the U.S. population by 2050. In several states, they will soon be larger than any other race or ethnicity. Still, stereotypes persist.

Common questions and misconceptions about Hispanic and Latino culture, origins, religion, politics and economics are answered in this guide. In the book, these questions are posed in the simple wording we hear every day at work, at school and among friends. Answers are clear and concise.

We hope this cultural resource leads you to greater understanding and face-to-face conversations with this growing American demographic group.

About this edition

• Publisher: Front Edge Publishing, LLC
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1939880440
• ISBN 13: 9781939880444
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 68