Customer Reviews

Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America

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Harvest of Empire, a book by Juan Gonzalez, gives a history of Latinos in the United States. The book is divided into three sections entitled "Roots," "Branches," and "Harvest." The first section contains three chapters that provide a brief history of the relationship between Latin America and the United States. The second section is composed of six chapters, each one devoted to one of the major groups of Latinos living in the United States. Each of the following groups are described in this section: Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, Cubans, Dominicans, Central Americans, and Columbians and Panamanians share a chapter. Within the six chapters, Gonzalez writes about individuals or families in order to reflect the general migration story of the larger groups. Thus, these individual portrayals serve as representations of the larger collection of immigrants. In the third section Gonzalez discusses several topics relating to Hispanics living in the United States. The topics include politics, immigration, language and culture, free trade, and the state of Puerto Rico.
This book has several strengths. In the first section, Juan Gonzalez provides an informative summary of the history of colonization and expansion in the Americas. The summary is well-researched and easy to read. The main strength of section one is Gonzalez's explanation for why different societies exist today in the United States and Latin America. His theory is that different societies exist as a result of the historical antecedents to our modern society. In section two, the immigrant descriptions help to personalize each of the different groups and allow the reader to identify with their stories. Also, Gonzalez stresses the important differences between each of the various Latino immigrant groups in the United States. Gonzalez combines much historical research with personal interviews he has conducted of various immigrant families. In section three, Gonzalez raises several issues concerning Hispanics living in the United States that are timely. He also asserts six changes he believes are essential to ensure Latino prosperity and assimilation in the United States. The six changes he suggests are thought provoking and stimulating.
Although the book has many strengths, it also has limitations. The most obvious limitation of the first section is its brevity. Gonzalez attempts to summarize more than 500 years of history in less than eighty pages. As a result, much of the history described is generalized and collapsed into short, summary statements. Also, Gonzalez could have better organized sources for further reading and study. He does provide an extensive bibliography, but it is not organized according to subject matter. A better organization of the bibliography would have been more helpful. For example, a list of further readings at the end of each chapter would have been beneficial.
This book is well suited for those wishing to learn more about Hispanics in the United States. It would be ideal for use in a class on Hispanic culture. Also, it would be beneficial for those wishing to learn more about Hispanic immigration to the United States.

This is one of those great books that gives readers a sweep of hundreds of years of history while at the same providing a laser-like focus on current events. "Harvest of Empire" is about the rise of Latinos in America from LA to Miami, from Brownsville, Texas to Brownsville, Brooklyn. It is scholarly without being academic, politically analytical without being polemical. It is about the immense contribution that Latinos have made and are now making to the politics and culture of the U.S. It is about the steady Latinoization of American culture from the big band sounds of Mario Bauza and Machito to Gloria Estefan and Selena. As a veteran newspaperman and columnist,Juan Gonzalez has always been an activist-reporter, someone who refuses to distance himself the events he covers. Now, as historian and writer, he brings the same sense of up-close and personal to his story of Latinos in America. It is history with passion.

"Harvest of Empire" is a must read for Latinos and those who are interested in learning more about the nation's fastest growing ethnic group. Gonzalez has fearlessly examined the history of Latinos from the Spanish and English conquests to the present day.

Gonzalez effectively paints a large overall picture of why Latinos migrated to the United States. As he noted, Latinos migrated to this country because they were responding to the needs of the United States which has often acted as an empire imposing its will on Latin American nations.

The best part about the book, however, is that it examines the history of many different Latino groups. So often, books about Latinos deal solely with the history of Mexicans, Puerto Ricans and Cubans. As the book demonstrates, Latinos and many Latin American countries such as the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua share much more than just a common language.

The book adds a lot of insight into the growing political clout of Latinos as well as the debate over language.

On a personal note, as a Puerto Rican growing up in New York City, the book has helped me to better understand my identity as well as the shame many tried to make me feel. I attended public school in New York and I can't remember one instance where we learned anything about Latino heroes or history. This book has helped to fill that void and should be used in the classroom, particularly in college.

"Harvest of Empire" is the best account to date of who Latinos in the United States are, where they come from and how, historically, US policies have been directly responsible for spawning the huge waves of immigration from Latin America. With Hispanics poised to become the largest minority group in the country within the next 10 years, Juan Gonzalez's work comes not a moment too soon.

This is an extremely well documented book that will have the reader marveling about the amount of information it packs in its 346 pages. And it is a passionate, breathtaking narrative of the ongoing adventure of Hispanic immigration, and its multitude of often overlooked contributions to US culture, art, economy, politics and values.

What I loved about this book is that the author gives a narrative of history that wasn't apparent to me before. We're taught that US history moves from East to West, but for millions of Latinos history moves from South to North.

Gonzalez spends time on each Latino group and he demonstrates how each sending country's relationship with the United States impacts how each group is treated. I didn't know that Puerto Ricans were US citizens by birth. Moreover, I had no idea how much immigrant labor from Mexico contributes to America's prosperity--particulary that of California and Texas. (CA is the fifth largest economy in the world.) What I also didn't know is that the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966 made Cuban exiles immediately eligible for public assistance, Medicaid, food stamps, free English courses, scholarships and low interest college loans. They could also secure immediate business and start up loans. Dade county even opened up its civil service list to non-citizens. Some banks even pioneered what is called a "character loan"--an exile who didn't have collateral or credit could get a business loan based on his background or standing in Cuba. Obviously, these programs have had an effect on that group's prosperity.

This book is full of information that has given me new insight about our country's fastest growing ethnic group(s).

I read the book, I loaned it to my 19 year old daughter. We are both latinos born in different countries. The book examines Latino experience accoding to different backgrounds. I am a succesful professional and my daughter a high honors student. We are both fascinated by the book. However, the author is a little harsh in his critisism of the USA. Instead of blaming the US for all our problems we must acknoledge that there has always been Latinos willing to benefit from US policies in Latin America, in detriment of our own countries. This is a must read book for all. There are many misunderstandings between Anglos and Latins, and among Latins. If we wish for a great future for this american nation we must acknoledge everyone's strenghts and weakneses, and stop fingerpointing for someone to blame. Read the book, you will not regret it!

This is a very readable, engaging social history of crucial points connecting Latin America to the United States. Perfect for an undergraduate introduction to Latinos in the United States. The volume of information covered in this very readable book is impressive. Where Acuña's "Occupied America" tells a powerful, but dreadfully long-winded story only of Chicano history, Gonzalez paints a much broader and more encompassing picture, covering an array of Latino Histories that Make American History. In particular, while Gonzalez covers the key junctures of each history he also weaves into each chapter personal accounts from interviews he has conducted over the years, even weaving in his own Puerto Rican family history. This brings a human touch to the book that few other such books do. Gonzalez is unapologetic in his account of the travesties of Anglo abuse of Latin America, but in a way that none of my Anglo students has found unreasonable. Criticisms? The book does far more good than harm; that said, my only criticism is that the expanse of what he covers is so much, more is required to fill the gaps. However, I do believe this book is an excellent source of motivation to do just that.

The book is in excellent condition -shipped on time and the book is just great to catch up of the REAL latin culture. Excellent book to have a better understanding of the latin roots but recommended for anyone wheter you latino or NOT!!!

It's so ironic to hear US citizens talk about an "invasion" of immigrants, while ignoring the way in which the US has been invading other countries for generations - either militarily or economically. It's great to see Juan Gonzalez analyze this elephant in the empire's living room.
With all of our technology, one would hope that people in the US would learn that there are other people in the world that are being harmed by the tax dollars they invest in militarism - a system of force that includes over 700 military installations in 132 countries, the funding and training of proxy armies, harmful behavior by CIA agents and "economic hit men" and other policies that create misery and refugees.
As Christians, or simply moral human beings, US citizens should welcome our Latino brothers and sisters, and maybe even offer an apology for the policies of this country's masters of war and corporate crime. Thankfully, countries like Venezuela and Bolivia are starting to resist the dictates of the World Bank and other institutions of neoliberalism.
For those who appreciate the views of Juan Gonzalez, you can hear him every day as the co-host of the award-winning "Democracy Now!" radio program.

I would also recommend the DVDs "When the Mountains Tremble" and Eugene Jarecki's "Why We Fight" for an understanding of our militarism and the way it causes suffering in Latin America.

"There is at the head of this great continent a very powerful country, very rich, very war-like, and capable of anything. . . The United States seems destined to plague and torment the continent in the name of freedom." -Simon Bolivar

I have to read this book because of my class. However I really enjoyed to read this book. It was pretty interesting and making me to think about Latinos.