Community Building in Latino America Chapter 2

Examination of Latino Politics in U.S. Dynamic formulation of community w/ diversities & similarities among its members. Discussion of politics centered on: Substance of power Influence Resources & interest articulation Latino politics represents an aggregation of persons whose origins &/or ancestry can be connected to over 20+ countries in Latin America & on the Iberian Peninsula.

What brings Latinos together? Spanish language Similar cultural values Similar practices As well as similar histories & targeted public policies Underlying this view is the assumption that persons w/ a common ancestry & culture will come together to achieve common objectives & address common concerns.

What is a community? Community: As referenced in your text, refers to the connections between persons that formulate a sense of place, being, & membership in a larger whole.

Hispanic Prevalence Four factors for “Hispanic” as an umbrella term utilized for Spanish speaking community: U.S. history & events Mass media Latino community itself Latino activists Pg. 14-16

Review of Race v. Ethnicity Race discussed in terms of: Phenotype, skin color, biology, social structure, & ancestry. Public policies of one-drop rule reinforced the concept of race as more directly connected to skin color & a defined racial categorization. Ethnicity is commonly associated w/: Ancestry or national origin.

Race & Ethnicity…why are they important to Latino Politics in the U.S. The social & historical context of the terms (race & ethnicity) is an important dimension of politics, power, & influence in American society. From the perspective of your text, Garcia operates on the notion that ethnicity & race are interrelated concepts that establish: Group boundaries Behaviors & inter-& intragroup relations

Identifiable factors as themes Four identifiable factors in Latino development in the U.S. serve as consistent themes & concepts that carry a discussion throughout Garcia’s text: 1. Diversity w/in & between Latino subgroups 2. Common linkages across the subgroups historically, culturally, linguistically, & politically 3. Internal dynamics among Latinos defining, refining, & strategically developing their communities 4. The role of external forces, such as public policies & public opinion & movements that activate the Latino communities.

What does Latino Politics result from? Latino politics results from the interaction of initiatives: Undertaken by persons & organizations across the various Latino sub-communities as well as the: social & political structures practices & attitudes of the larger U.S. political community.

Is There a Latino Community & What Does That Mean? Two bases of community presented by Garica associated w/: Concepts of commonalty of culture Sense of ethnicity may not automatically lead to community action Commonalty of interests If Latino sub-communities can share commonalities of culture & interests, each can work interactively w/ the other. Use cultural cues & symbols to work towards specific goals & objectives Such cultural maintenance & practices can serve as political content of a Latino political agenda. Pg. 18

Demographic Explosion Instead of 1 million Cubans in the U.S., it is advantageous to talk about 45 million Latinos Larger population base & greater national geographic dispersion enhances greater political effectiveness & exposure Simultaneously, such large #s doesn’t necessarily mean guaranteed political power The actual nature of creating a Latino community is a strategic move to increase the potential political resource base by accenting both commonalties of culture & interests.

Beyond Conceptualization of Community…the data Latino National Survey (LNS): A probability survey conducted from 2005 to 2006 of 8,634 Latino adults in fifteen states & metropolitan Washington, DC. It covers subjects such as: Political & civic engagement Identity Transnationalism Public policy preferences Demographic characteristics Attitudes Partisanship & Voting

Beyond Conceptualization of Community…the data Latino National Political Survey (LNPS): Conducted from 1989 to 1990 The first national probability survey of adults of Mexican, Cuban, & Puerto Rican origin. It focuses on: political attitudes & behavior Group identity Policy preferences & other aspects of political life

Examining the Data Spanish Language Use among Latinos Age Structure & Latinos Educational Attainment Levels Household Income among Latinos Religious Affiliation & Religiosity Pg. 19-21

The Pan-ethnic Dimension & the “Latino-Hispanic” Label Pan-ethnicity: Refers to the process of group formation due to common conditions & bases for community Additional critical component lies w/ the situational nature of pan-ethnicity Individuals can consciously choose a group identity that serves a specific utility (usage) i.e. political Pg. 22-23 Example of mixed “Latino” background 4 yr. old little girl

Conclusions Garcia uses concepts of commonalty of interests & culture as two foundational bases for the creation & maintenance of the Latino community. Situations help influence the identity process of individuals Examination of development & existence of community among Latino origin persons in U.S. Primary Goal: explore linkages of community to the political realms of agenda setting, political mobilization, political resource development, & public policy outcomes & implementation.