A revision of the popular previous edition published more than a decade earlier, this work examines today's U.S. Latino population—now arguably the most important "minority group" in the country, with numbers well over 50 million strong in an increasingly diverse and integrated America.Latinos are the largest minority in the United States, and as such, Latino Americans have a tremendous influence on the culture, workforce, economy, and politics of this country. This second edition of U.S. Latino Issues provides updated content, stats, and data for each topic, and it frames critical questions and multiple viewpoints on Latinos in the United States that will be useful to student researchers. The responses to the critical questions come from Latino experts and scholars and other well-known subject experts, providing readers with insights from various informed points of view—all in a single volume.The book covers hundreds of topics regarding Latino Americans, such as gender, sexuality, indigenous culture, race and cultural identity, health and wellness, education, and interracial dating and marriage, and it offers in-depth comparisons of the Latino groups and shows how events in their native countries affect them. Readers will have access to concise and up-to-date information on controversial topics such as affirmative action, immigration reform, open borders policy versus border enforcement, changing relations between the United States and Cuba, and Puerto Rico's contested status as a commonwealth versus a state.
Rodolfo F. Acuña, PhD, professor emeritus, received his doctorate from the University of Southern California in Latin American studies.
PrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1 Race Classification2 Race and Cultural Identity3 Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Education4 Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies5 Open Borders: Where the Third World Begins6 Affirmative Action7 Interracial Dating and Marriage8 Latina/o Health Issues: Education and Health Care Are Basic Human Rights Issues9 Immigration and Losing Fear: DACA–DAPA10 Changing Cuban Relations: U.S. Military and Political Presence in Cuba11 Puerto Rico's Status: Independence, Commonwealth, State, or Endependence12 Central AmericaAbout the Author and the ContributorsIndex
Although the intended audience is advanced high school and beginning college students, the content and quality of the essays are such that it will be an important resource for general readers and teachers, and suitable for all public libraries and undergraduate collections. Summing Up: Highly recommended. High school through undergraduate students; general readers; professionals/practitioners.