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Latino Rights And Justice In The United States: Perspectives And Approaches

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This is not the first Hispanic studies type of book that I have read. Of these texts, this one is of a very introductory level and probably of limited use for referencing by serious students. The author provides a Reader's Digest style of discussion on various issues from current social problems of immigration, crime, drug use, etc., to the historical foundations of Hispanic-American history. All of this done in less than 300 pages.

The author gives his conclusions on various matters that always fall on the side of the Hispanic-American as the victim of oppression. For some problems, the author's conclusions are justified (eg., the Mexican-American history of mistreatment by the Los Angeles police is well documented in many more sources than cited in this book). However, the author fails to provide deeper understanding of any one problem. For example, is the Latino facing oppression due to being Latino, or is it part of the usual fate of those immigrating to the U.S.

The author also fails to consider prejudicial treatment by groups other than the white culture. Furthermore, the author's use of some statistics to prove his position is less than perceptive and sometimes confusing. For example, he seeks to show Hispanics are disproportionably imprisoned. He does this by lumping Hispanics with black prisoners thus claiming that as a group, they are over represented in prison, and this can only be due to discrimination. However, when he gives statistics for Hispanics prisoners only, as compared to the total prison population for 2002, the percentage of Hispanics is just over 18% as compared to about 15% (as I recall from the last census) of Latinos in the country. Even if I am overestimating the total Hispanic population by a couple of percentage points, the difference is not a drastic amount to call in the devil of bigotry.

Don't get me wrong, as a Mexican-American, I certainly have experienced various forms of prejudice. I just don't believe that the Hispanic is victimized around every corner and prejudice explains every problem. The increase in Latinos in prisons may only reflect the growing Hispanic population in this country. Actually, given how these communities are in such a state of flux, it is a wonder why greater problems have not emerged. That it is not with greater troubles, I think is a fact for commendation of the Hispanic cultures, not a moment for self-pity.