Latino Cultural Citizenship: Claiming Identity, Space, and Rights

WILLIAM V AUTOR FLORES, RINA AUTOR BENMAYOR

Beacon Press, 1997 - Political Science - 322 pages

"ONE OF THE MOST STIMULATING PROJECTS I'VE COME ACROSS IN A LONG TIME. . .GROUND-BREAKING"--Suzanne Oboler, Brown University, author ofEthnic Labels, Latino Lives While many commentators--from politicians to the authors of the bestselling Habits of the Heart--lament the loss of community in America, the debate has focused myopically and almost entirely on the white middle class. Perhaps the most important untold story is that of real, thriving, growing, if embattled, communities in Latino urban centers all over America, and the way they are reshaping themselves and the United States as a whole.Responding directly to the debate about community, this book paints a vivid portrait of Latino community life, and analyzes its mechanisms and implications. Based on ethnographic work in Latino centers in San Antonio, Los Angeles, New York, San Jose, and Watsonville, California, the book looks at the process of Latino "cultural citizenship"--the use of cultural expression to claim political rights in the larger culture, while still maintaining a vibrant local identity. Chapters detail acts of cultural affirmation in Christmas festival celebrations, cannery strikes, educational programs, and much more.A pathbreaking work of Latino scholarship, this book will help redefine the conversation about the future of community in the United States.

About the author

Rina Benmayor is professor of oral history, Latino studies and literature in the Department of New Humanities for Social Justice at California State University Monterey Bay. She is currently president of the International Oral History Association. Her recent publications include Telling to Live: Latino Feminist Testimonies and Latino Cultural Citizenship. Andor Skotnes is associate professor of history of the Americas at The Sage Colleges in Troy, New York. He teaches courses in working-class. African-American. Native American, and Latin American history and culture, and in oral history.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Latino Cultural Citizenship: Claiming Identity, Space, and Rights
• Editors: WILLIAM V AUTOR FLORES, RINA AUTOR BENMAYOR
• Publisher: Beacon Press, 1997
• ISBN: 0807046353, 9780807046357
• Length: 322 pages
• Subjects: Political Science / Civil Rights; Social Science / Ethnic Studies / General; Social Science / Minority Studies