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

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. Review “Latinos now constitute the largest racially defined ‘minority’ group in the United States. Not only has their racial identity been fiercely debated, but also the Latinization of U.S. culture and politics remains a contentious issue. This book systematically explores these questions, examining both the past and present dynamics of the Latino/a experience in the United States. Looking at census politics, panethnicity, violence and lynching, immigration and urbanization, education, language politics, and indeed the meaning of race itself, Cobas, Duany, and Feagin's volume is an indispensable resource for scholars, teachers, and students seeking to make sense of contemporary U.S. racial conditions. Highly recommended for course adoption!” ―Howard Winant, University of California, Santa Barbara “The wait is over. We finally have a comprehensive book on the racialization of Latinos in the USA that is theoretically sophisticated, historically rich, and that deals with the multiple realities they face. ... A very important contribution!” ―Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, Duke University “How the United States Racializes Latinos should leave no doubt that many Latinos have been and continue to be subject to the pernicious effects of racialization. Cobas, Duany, and Feagin’s splendid collection of articles by noted scholars provides valuable lessons for how the United States will or should integrate today’s large influx of Latino immigrants and their descendants. It will become essential reading for those interested in how the American prism of race is used to categorize, treat, and stratify this nationally, culturally and phenotypically diverse group.” ―Edward E. Telles, Princeton University "For scholars in Latino/a Studies who are working on the historical and social construction of racializations and race, this collection is indispensible." ―Ronald L. Mize in Latino Studies "...a compelling narrative for understanding the processes by which immigrant groups, particularly those from Latin America and the Caribbean, become stigmatized in the contemporary era of vigilant nativism. The book is a collection of intriguing and timely analyses..." ―Luis F. Nuno, William Paterson University About the Author José A. Cobas is Professor of Sociology in the School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University. Among his recent publications (with Joe Feagin) are “Latinos/as and the White Racial Frame: The Procrustean Bed of Assimilation,” Sociological Inquiry (February 2008) and “Language Oppression and Resistance: Latinos in the United States,” Ethnic and Racial Studies (February 2008). Dr. Jorge Duany is Professor of Anthropology at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras. He has published extensively on C