LOS LATINOS

KEY IDEAS
The Hispanic community--which makes up 11 percent of the U.S. population will soon become the nation's largest ethnic minority group, approximately 30 million people with a median age of 26 (Census Bureau). By 2005, Latinos are projected to make up nearly one quarter of the U.S. population. Latinos are increasingly recognized for their political, economic, and cultural contributions in a global society and a potent, unpredictable political force. Some have a long history in the U.S., for many families, centuries; others are recent arrivals. Find out more: http://www.nclr.org/about/nclrfaq.html

Economics and Education
Economics often frame our lives, especially for our families with children. Nearly 40 percent of Latino children live in poverty, compared to 16.1% of White children and 37.2% of Black children. Poverty rates for Hispanic families and Hispanic children remain disproportionately high. In 1997, more than one-quarter of both Hispanic and Black families lived in poverty (27.1% and 26.5%, respectively), while poverty rates for White families was 11.0%. Poverty is often perpetuated by low educational achievement. Only about 63% of Latinos have graduated from high school. http://www.nclr.org/policy/econ.html

Latinos are also moving up economically to a growing Latino middle class. We spend lots of dollars, about 300 billion dollar$ a year in the U.S. economy. Some of us, represent Generation Ñ--demographic clout, bilingual, more education, middle class. Many native-born U.S. Latinos cross cultural borders, instead of geographic borders.

AMERICANOS

Click on the graphic above to check out "Americanos" web site

"One is that too often this society sees us not as Americans, but as strangers of this land. We have worked hard to help build this country and we continue to do so every day. When people see the face of America, they need to also see our images included. Second, as Latinos we often think of Americanos as the others in this country, not us. We, and especially our children, need to see that we are an integral and equal part of this society. Third, we wanted a title that would recognize and honor our bilingual heritage and would be easily understood in both English and Spanish. And finally, we wanted to illustrate that much like a quilt woven with many intricate and beautiful fibers, Latinos are a proud and diverse people interwoven with indigenous, Spanish/European, African, and Asian roots. We are citizens not only of the United States of America, but of all the Americas and Latin American countries around the world."

--James Edward Olmos

INTERACTIVE COMPONENT
1. Review the web links on ethnographic terms. Interview at least two people from Mexican or Central American origen. Ask them what terms they use to identify themselves and why they chose that particular term. Ask your contacts if they agree with the quote above. http://www.azteca.net/aztec/chicano.html and http://www.mexica-movement.org/in1.html

REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS (Choose two)
1. After visiting this website, http://www.si.edu/ndm/exhib/vergara/neighbor.htm visit a Latino community or neighborhood. What business are operating? What language(s) are spoken? What products are available? What housing options do residents have? Where do children and adolescents hang out? How does neighborhood familiarity inform your knowledge base of Latino communities? How can you use this information as a curricular resource for your classroom? What cultural strengths are evident?
2. Review two of the web sites and/or related links below. Include in your evaluation, how well the following issues are addressed: social, cultural or political issues facing the Latino community; teacher resources for the classroom; timeliness and relevance; authenticity; and communicative capabilities.

3. Search the Web for two other Latino web sites not mentioned below. You might want to browse the sites below first or do a direct search using a search engine. Why would you include these two sites on our class web page? What do they offer for teachers or to Latino community members? What issues do they address effectively? Vote for your two favorite web sites using the list below and your search for web sites.

4. Watch one of the recommended films below. How does this film contribute to your knowledge of Latino culture? Name two specific scenes which are culturally relevant.

5. Review one of the recommended books below. Most are available at a library or bookstore. How did the book increase your knowledge of Latino culture? Explain what specific new cultural information you gained. Why would you recommended this book?

WEB LINKS

NCLR (National Council of La Raza)
http://www.nclr.org/

Brown Pride: A great resource for Latino info
http://www.brownpride.com/links.asp

Latino L.A.
http://LatinoLA.com/

Chicano Studies Internet sites
http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/csrc/library/internet1.html

Chicano Studies Research Center
http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/csrc/

Fast facts about Latinos plus ethnocultural terms

http://www.splcenter.org/cgi-bin/goframe.pl?refname=/teachingtolerance/tt-14.html

Not Hispanic, Not Latino, Not Chicano; MEXICA
http://www.mexica-movement.org/in1.html

Latinos in the news
http://www.latino.com/index.html

César E. Chávez Instructional Center in Interdisciplinary Chicana and Chicano Studies
http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/chavez/

Digital Mural Lab
http://www.sparcmurals.org/product/dml/dml.html

RECOMMENDED FILMS

El Norte (Immigration to the U.S.) (Subtitles)
Selena (Tex-Mex Musical Biography)
My Family (Contemporary Perspective on Familia)
La Bamba (50's Musical of Richie Valens)
Stand and Deliver (Impact of inspirational teacher)
Zoot Suit (40's perspective on injustice w/ music)
Chulas Fronteras (Tejano Music)

RECOMMENDED LIBROS