1. Latino Subgroups in the United States Ch. 4

2. Understanding Latinos Latinos political involvement can be accomplished by: – examining the formation of a community & intergroup linkages. Social surveys on the national and regional levels: – Portray many Latinos as more familiar – & interactive w/in their own national-origin group than with other Latinos.

3. Mexican-Origin Communities: Growing throughout the United States History of Chicanos: – The Mexican origin community has been described as: “an awakening minority” – 3/5 of total Latino population Must assist in blending Latino sub-groups – In U.S. (prior to U.S. occupation) since early 16 th century Due to the Spanish empire – Mexicans utilized to build missions (CA, TX, AZ, NM)

4. Mexican-Origin Communities: Growing throughout the United States Cultural/Family values: – “Mexico’s proximity & continuous migration have also served to maintain cultural contact & economic exchange w/ family relatives” i.e. Remittances – Long standing residence & continuous international migration coexists as the context for Chicano political life & issues.

5. Mexican-Origin Communities: Growing throughout the United States Important information: – Mexican-origin: largest & oldest Latino sub-group. – From the Treaty of Guadalupe in 1848 to the present Mexicans have been concentrated in 5 southwest states – Heavy Manufacturing: Steal, Auto, & railroads influenced noticeable migration to Midwest – Migrate towards places of work (meat plants, textile manufactures in Arkansas, Florida, N. Carolina) – The Rise of 3 rd Party called: “La Raza Unida” – 1990’s California: Propositions 187, 209, 237 Stimulated Mexican-Americans to mobilize & register to vote – Mexicans as the largest Latino sub-group need to join other subgroups at the elite & grass-roots level for mobilization.

6. Mexican-Origin Communities: Growing throughout the United States Organized by Region: – Southwest (Southern Texas, Northern New Mexico, & Southern California) Provides examples of power & economic relations for Mexican Americans Organized by Occupation: – Mexicans serves as a labor force & flexible labor pool for the agricultural economy. Organized by Social Networks: – Mexican American community has established social networking traditions & culture practices that contribute to the definition & maintenance of community.

7. Mexican-Origin Communities: Growing throughout the United States Organizations currently established: – La Raza Unida: Saw a # of city councils, school boards, & county offices secured by Latinos (1960s) – This movement set foundation for subsequent political efforts & organizational development – National Council of La Raza: Primary Goal: – Economic development, social services, & advocacy Mexican community influenced by many push-pull factors: – Continue to serve as “players”, yet engage in continuous political struggle to maintain their political positions.

8. Mexican-Origin Communities: Growing throughout the United States Policy Issues: – What are they? Mexican-origin communities focus on civil rights, access to representation in economic & political arenas, education quality & greater political empowerment. Redistricting, activism, anti-immigrant & nativism movements increased Chicano political awareness & activity.

9. Mexican-Origin Communities: Growing throughout the United States Do they overlap w/ other Latino sub-groups? – Issues do overlap, however this community must enjoin themselves w/ other Latino subgroups at the elite & grassroots level. Mexican American organizations have been able to diversify their goals & objectives as well as their constituency base, incorporating other Latino subgroups into their membership – An example of sharing political issues is the (NCLR): » The organization took advocacy for all Latinos w/ a national base.

10. Mexican-Origin Communities: Growing throughout the United States Policy Issues: – The Mexican origin community share many of the political issues that other Latino subgroups concern themselves with such as: Immigration, Educational attainment, & mobilization. Unique issue to Mexican community: – California proposition 187 was passed in 1994 Prop. 187 barred undocumented immigrants from public education as well as other social services. – Would have directly had a huge bearing on Mexican communities because they compromise such a large part of California’s population. » Prop. 187 ruled unconstitutional by the Federal Court

11. Mexican-Origin Communities: Growing throughout the United States Mexican origin community affected by other subgroups: – Latino based organizations composed of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Salvadorian, and central & South American ancestry are fine with the term Latino Latino National Political Survey (LNPS) conducted in 2000 in Chicago showed the Latino identity was evident – Broadening intergroup contact & incorporating a pan- ethnic identity serve as building blocks for the community. Will affect the scope of public policy agenda Has the role of helping to coalesce all of the Latino subgroups.

12. Puerto Ricans History: – Puerto Rico became U.S. possession (commonwealth) due to the Spanish-American War – 19 th Century Puerto Rican migration to the Northeast – Large # of Puerto Ricans migrated to New York post WWII – Jones Act of 1917: Allows commonwealth a congressional “observer” w/o congressional vote

13. Puerto Ricans July 25, 1952: – Independence movement Pushed for the island to become a free associated state Policy Issues: – Commonwealth status is most important – 2 nd option is Statehood- favored by conservatives – 3 rd option is independence- favored by liberals

14. Puerto Ricans Policy Issues – Commonality w/ other Latino sub-groups is the inability to discuss & vote on policies i.e. including the general election for president – Similar public issues as other Latino-subgroups: Inadequate housing, lacking in educational resources & attainment, higher rates of unemployment (especially among younger generations)

15. Puerto Ricans Puerto Ricans as a whole are very organized (politically) on the island of Puerto Rico. – Decline in organization w/in the U.S. Puerto Ricans in the U.S. & on the island come together to create a louder voice. The focus of the Puerto Rican community is: – Empowerment – Active political engagement – Culture preservation – Targeted policy advocacy From their own perspective

16. Puerto Ricans Organizations: – Community Improvement ASPIRA Puerto Rican Community Development Program – Economic Issues Puerto Rican Merchants Association Puerto Rican Civil Service Employees Association – Political Issues Puerto Rican Legal Defense & Education Fund Institute for Puerto Rican Policy

17. Cubanos History: – 1850’s Cubans started coming to the U.S. started living in Florida – 1959 Cuban Revolution: President Fidel Castro & his communist regime helped create an exile community for many Cubans. Business owners, upper class, wealthy They came to the U.S., categorized by American government as political refugees. – They were provided jobs, English instructions, college loans, house subsidies, food stamps via American policies

18. Cubanos Policy Issues: – Anti-Castroism & anti-communism are central elements of many Cubans’ politics & activities – Family members have been restrictive, failing to inflict political instability on the Castro regime as intended

19. Cubanos Additional Information: – Cuban migration community have significant socio- economic, racial, & political activities. – Racially Cubans include more Afro-Cubans instead of the predominantly white. – Cubans are more successful because they get more opportunities than other Latino sub-groups.

20. Cubanos Additional Information: – Second-generation Cubans express lower levels of trust in the U.S. government Show greater diversity in Partisan preference Identify less w/ Cuban community Favor decreased government spending – Second generation more likely to use pan- ethnicity identity.

21. Central & South Americans History: – Migration occurred in the late 1800’s & early 1900’s – Includes Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador, & Costa Rica Sometimes Brazil – Foreign born among Central & South Americans exceeds 3/5 of their residential population Top states for migration – CA, TX, FL, IL, NY – Most Central & South Americans share the same problems as Latinos

22. Central & South Americans Guatemalans – Sixth largest Latino sub-group (986,000) – 69% are foreign born or among the 1 st generation born in the U.S. – 70% arrived in 1990 33.9% in California Overlap Mexican subgroups culturally – 40% are without Health insurance in the U.S.

23. Central & South Americans Guatemalans – There was a Civil War (1960-1996) It helped re-established representative democracy They have struggled to enforce the rule of law & have suffered a high crime rate – Migrated in order to: Find better jobs, economic reasons, escape poverty, & search for a new life

24. Central & South Americans Salvadorans: – Fourth largest Latino group – 58.4% arrived in the U.S. since 1990 – Heavily foreign-born group 64.7% – Geographically located: 40% California, 14% Texas, the rest are scattered throughout the U.S.

25. Central & South Americans Salvadorans: – Highest priority on issues of social & economic well-being: Securing asylum as political refugees Along with U.S. immigration policy in general – Ex. Civil War

26. Central & South Americans Colombian Community: – Half a million Colombians live in the U.S. – 1.5 undocumented could be in the U.S. – Since May 2001, there has been a 60% increase of Columbians since 1990 – Found in Northeast part of U.S. New York 22% New Jersey 14% Florida 31% California & Texas: – Recent states where Colombian migration is taking place

27. Central & South Americans Colombian Community: – Policy issues which overlap w/ other Latino sub- groups: Political Clout, Representation, Health Care Coverage & improving educational opportunity for their children – Greater levels of political involvement: Expanding national network centering on immigration, legislation & proposal. – May 2001: First Convention of Colombian organizations in the U.S. – Georgia, CA

28. Central & South Americans Policy Issues: – Political instability & Revolutions El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, & Nicaragua – Forced many Central Americans out of their homes to neighboring Mexico & U.S. – The difficulty of achieving political refugee status for Central Americans has had a direct bearing on undocumented migration since the 1900s Individuals caught in the cross fire btwn. gov. & rebel forces were considered victims of a civil war or political instability rather than political dissidents.

29. Central & South Americans Policy Issues: – Immigration policy & rights are central issues for Central Americans – Global economic forces of devaluation high rates… ect. in Central & South Americans’ home countries contribute to their migration.

30. Los Dominicanos History: – Growing since the 1960’s 12 year regime President Joaquin Balaguer (1966-1978) – High unemployment – External debt crisis – High International rates – Deterioration of commodity Primary Residency – New York

31. Los Dominicanos Policy: – Primarily persons from: Rural areas Less educated Unskilled Of lower socioeconomic status Overlap the Cuban population Becoming 3 rd largest Latino sub-group

32. Los Dominicanos Policy: – Not unique, same as other Latino sub-groups Confronting issues of: – Culture – Political identity – Political orientation Organizations: – Centro Civico Cultural Dominicano – Asociacion Communal de Dominicanos Progresistas – Club de San Juan Pablo Durante Ties w/ other Latino organizations – LULAC, NCLR, NALEO, ASPIRA

33. Los Dominicanos Organization: – Continue to grow Advance Dominicans political development as a community – Greater activity & involvement will open more interactions within New York & other Latino sub- groups

34. Los Dominicanos Additional information: – Ranks ninth in naturalization (U.S.) – 13% of Latino voters 3.5% of all New York Dominican poverty rate: – 45.7% vs. 37.2% for all Latinos

35. Conclusion: Latino America- Rich in Diversity & Commonalties Immigrant strand prevalent among the Latino subgroups: – Helps define much of the Latino experience in relation to: Continued ties w/ one’s home country Adjustment to most phases of life in the United States & focus on cultural maintenance The overlap of residential location in areas w/ significant concentrations of: – Puerto Ricans, Cubans, & Mexican- origin persons- Affords opportunities for different kinds of interactions, particularly for Central & South Americans.