Out Of The Barrio: Toward A New Politics Of Hispanic Assimilation

by Linda Chavez

Are Hispanics “making it”—achieving the American dream following the pattern of other ethnic groups? This controversial book shatters the myth that 20 million His panics—fast becoming the nation’s largest minority—are a permanent underclass. Chavez considers the radical implications for bilingual education, immigration policy, and affirmative action.

Genres: Sociology

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 30, 1991

Reviews

[Jan Notzon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ms Chavez makes a compelling case that identifying any group as victims of society so that as a group they may accept entitlements tends to keep them dependent and unassimilated. The reason for this is that to continue receiving government largess they must continue to be victims and avoid the blessings of personal achievement and assimilation into the mainstream of the American Dream.
I found her writing to be clear and cogent. To enjoy it, however, one must not be put off by statistics.

[Zaida Chavez · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's a must read to understand the extent of sad self hatred that Latinas who never learned to be comfortable in their skin must feel. Ms Chavez would have us (latinas) paint ourselves white and never look back. Sad, sad, sad....

[Gerardo Herrera · Rating 4 out of 5]

This controversial book presents an interesting argument against bilingual education and for complete Hispanic assimilation to American culture. The final chapter is the most important in that it encapsulates the entire book in about twenty pages.

[Andrés · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book you get the feeling it was originally a 50-page public policy paper. Statistics sometimes appear twice, arguments become fluffy and long, overall you get the impression it was elongated to fit its present length. That being said, her analysis of Hispanic success, the deceptions used by ethnic leaders to preserve their personal power, and her more plural and honest view of Hispanic history, all ring true and are very welcome.

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye-opening data about the advancement of Hispanics. She addresses a number of sub-groups - Mexicans, Cubans, etc. - but the most important detail is that second generation Hispanics generally do as well as any other second generation immigrant group.