The Latino Wave: How Hispanics Are Transforming Politics in America – The Largest Minority's Electoral Power and Influence on the Nation

by Jorge Ramos

With a population of 40 million and growing, the United States witnessed Latinos becoming the largest minority in America in 2003—creating a voting bloc with the potential to determine the outcome of elections throughout the nation.
 In The Latino Wave , award-winning journalist Jorge Ramos argues that the political party that can correctly understand the wants and needs of Hispanics will triumph at the polls. Ramos deftly clarifies these points, among many others, and explains why it's necessary to bridge the gap of misunderstanding that exists between Latinos and non-Latinos. With insight from the nation's Latino political luminaries and interviews with Hispanics living across the United States, Ramos reveals who these New Americans really are—and what it means for the country.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Immigration

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 16, 2007

About the author

Jorge Gilberto Ramos Ávalos is a Mexican-born American journalist and author. Regarded as the best-known Spanish-language news anchor in the United States of America, he has been referred to as "The Walter Cronkite of Latin America".

Reviews

[Luisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me encanto este libro de Ramos. Una buena fuente de información sobre los latinos en Estados Unidos. El tema central del libro es: “…es que los latinos son distinto. Sí, se están integrando rápidamente a esta sociedad—sobre todo a nivel económico y político—pero no terminaran asimilándose por completo a nivel cultural” (Prólogo, XIX). Pero no sólo eso, Ramos expande en las ideas de porque somos distintos y como los políticos nos pueden enamorar para obtener nuestro voto. Además, habla sobre nuestras diferencias entre nosotros mismos, no sólo las diferencias entre nosotros y el resto del país. Pero que al final todos los latinos nos unimos cuando hablamos de educación, trabajos, oportunidades, inmigración y pobreza.
Recomiendo este libro a todos los que quieran aprender más sobre los latinos en Estados Unidos porque Ramos también explica e ilustra los beneficios de la inmigración y lo bueno que sería para el país que los millones de indocumentados obtuvieran una forma de legalizarse. Y un punto que me gustó mucho fue como los latinos están “latinizando” a Estados Unidos y como Estados Unidos está “americanizando” a los latinos. Por lo general me impresiono la forma en que Ramos presento sus ideas. En serio, recomiendo este libro.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another one of the books I read in early 2005. The following are notes about the book from my journal:

>>According to the author, "this book's central argument is that Latinos are changing this country in many significant ways" (226). When the book was advertised, it was billed as a book about how Latinos will elect the next President of the U.S. And he does address that using the example of the 2000 Election and the techniques Republicans used to court the Latino vote. But this book is about so much more.

One way to look at this book is as a primer about Latinos in the U.S. The author does an excellent job of highlighting our differences and yet showing what traits and issues we share in common. Issues like education and poverty are issues we all share.

The book also explains and illustrates the benefits of immigration, especially the economic contributions that immigrants, legal and illegal, make to the U.S., even illustrating how more often than not those immigrants give more to the U.S. than they get, no matter what the racist anti-immigrants say. They probably should read this book and think a bit, but odds are they won't since railing against immigrants is easier than fixing problems and dealing with the issues. The U.S. has a pattern of often using immigrants as scapegoats. But, as Ramos argues, the Latino Wave is here, and it is inevitable. By 2059, whites will no longer be the majority. And most interesting is that while America (the U.S.) is getting "latinized," Latinos are getting "americanized" as well, even as they preserve their culture. Many second and third generation immigrants do not speak Spanish, yet they are proud Latinos. Just one example that things are not simple, but rather diverse. We should embrace this diversity, why can't others see it?

Overall, this is for me a highly recommended book. Anyone wanting to learn more about Latinos in the U.S. without some stuffy academic text should read this.<<

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never really finished this book.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

have i mentioned how awesome he is...

[Merrill Clark]

The English version is: The Latino Wave: How Hispanics will elect the next American President. Excellent observations on hispanics in the US.

[Mario · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talks about the Latino influences in politics and the American culture.

[Lloyd Masel]

People who are interested in the future of the United States should become well acquainted with the facts contained in this book. Certainly, thought provoking and well written.