The Presumed Alliance: The Unspoken Conflict Between Latinos and Blacks and What It Means for America – A Timely Study of Community Relations, Political Power, and Paths to Cooperation

by Nicolas C. Vaca

“A hard and unnerving look at how changing demographics will forever alter our country’s dialogue on race.” —  San Jose Mercury News As Latino and African Americans increasingly live side by side in large urban centers, as well as in suburban clusters, the idealized concept of a "Rainbow Coalition" would suggest that these two disenfranchised groups are natural political allies. Indeed, as the number of Latinos has increased dramatically over the last ten years, competition over power and resources between these two groups has led to surprisingly antagonistic and uncooperative interactions. Many African Americans now view Latinos, because of their growth in numbers, as a threat to their social, economic, and political gains. Nicolas C. Vaca debunks the myth of "The Great Union" and offers the hope he believes each community could learn from, in order to achieve a mutually agreed upon agenda. More than simply unveiling the problem,  The Presumed Alliance  offers optimistic solutions to the future relations between Latino and Black America.

Genres: Race, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 6, 2004

Reviews

[R Joseph]

The prefabricated minority groups

I understood Dr. Nicholas perspective on the presumed Native Black and Latino Alliance . However, it was written with jaundiced eyes in my opinion.
The reality is Native Blacks are exceptional and special because of our collective horrendous experience in America. Yes, Latinos have been exploited used, abused and I understand that implicitly. But let me be very clear it will never compare to the ongoing exclusion and abuse that Native Blacks continue to receive at the hands of Racism White Supremacy in America. In America there is a social acceptability order it goes like this ; White ,Yellow, Brown, Red And Black. This social construct hasn't changed in 450 years and that's the problem.

[sascha]

Actually, I'm still working my way through this. It isn't an easy read (still more readable than Kurt V) but it brings up so many powerful points I will often finish a chapter and chew on it for a month or so, then return.

[La Tricia Ransom]

Ultimately, Vaca’s anti-blackness turned me off. He blames Blacks for Latine problems, instead of white supremacy, where it really belongs, and he fails to acknowledge that there are Black Latine folks. I had high hopes when I read this book. They were dashed.

He seems to think Blacks should be responsible for fighting for Latine rights, but does demand the same of Latine toward Blacks. Black Americans are not the ones oppressing Latine!

He also fails to acknowledge the times/eras when Black and Brown people did form alliances to fight oppression.

Oh, and he lacks any class analysis at all, particularly when discussing Cuban immigrants!

His whole book is whining and blaming Black people for things not in Black control or are Black responsibilities!

Zero stars; would not recommend

[Jess]

This is a very informative book. It however reads like a textbook. Some of the chapters talk more about the actual people and other chapters it feels very clinical.

[abby]

ugh, starting required reading for school early.