How the United States Racializes Latinos: White Hegemony and Its Consequences

by José A. Cobas, Jorge Duany (Editor), Joe R. Feagin (Editor)

Mexican and Central American undocumented immigrants, as well as U.S. citizens such as Puerto Ricans and Mexican Americans, have become a significant portion of the U.S. population. Yet the U.S. government, mainstream society, and radical activists characterize this rich diversity of peoples and cultures as one group alternatively called Hispanics, Latinos, or even the pejorative illegals. How has this racializing of populations engendered governmental policies, police profiling, economic exploitation, and even violence that afflict these groups?

From a variety of settings--New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Central America, Cuba--this book explores this question in considering both the national and international implications of U.S. policy. Its coverage ranges from legal definitions and practices to popular stereotyping by the public and the media, covering such diverse topics as racial profiling, workplace discrimination, mob violence, treatment at border crossings, barriers to success in schools, and many more. It shows how government and social processes of racializing are too seldom understood by mainstream society, and the implication of attendant policies are sorely neglected.

Genres: Sociology

264 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2009

Reviews

[Meg Petersen]

I loved this collection of articles related to the racialization of Latinos in the US. I wish I had found this book sooner. Thank you, Marc Gonzalez.

[Mike Mena]

As with most of these edited volumes, I have read about half - starting with authors I know and then moving to particular case studies that interest me. So far, this is a solid collection, particularly in regard to the use of statistics and census info. In terms of language use, Jane Hill's and Ofelia Garcia's never disappoint! Overall, solid collection with excellent bibliographies for researchers.