Neither Enemies nor Friends: Latinos, Blacks, Afro-Latinos [Paperback]

Anani Dzidzienyo (Author), Suzanne Oboler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 31, 2005 | ISBN-10: 1403965684 | ISBN-13: 978-1403965684 | Edition: First Edition

In this collection, leading scholars focus on the contemporary meanings and diverse experiences of blackness in specific countries of the hemisphere, including the United States. The anthology introduces new perspectives on comparative forms of racialization in the Americas and presents its implications both for Latin American societies, and for Latinos' relations with African Americans in the U.S. Contributors address issues such as: Who are the Afro-Latin Americans? What historical contributions do they bring to their respective national polities? What happens to their national and socio-racial identities as a result of migration to the United States? What is the impact of the growing presence of Afro-Latin Americans within U.S. Latino populations, particularly with respect to the continuing dynamics of racialization in the United States today? And, more generally, what are the prospects and obstacles for rethinking alliances and coalition-building between and among racial(ized) minorities and other groups in contemporary U.S. society?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Extremely urgent for studies of comparative race relations..."--Jossiana Aroyo, University of Michigan
"A significant and much-needed contribution to study of Afro-Latino issues, and to the comparative study of 'race' and racial formations and transformations in the US today."--Lourdes Martinez-Echazabal, University of California, Santa Cruz
"Timely and path-breaking. This book will be welcomed by all those interested in race, multiculturalism, transnationalism and diaspora in the Americas."--Peter Wade, University of Manchester
"This book is a precious tool for students of Afro-Latino and Latino Studies."--Antonio Sérgio Alfredo Guimarães, Universidade de São Paulo
"Neither Enemies nor Friends is absolutely one of the most outstanding, exciting and well-written collections of essays on the issue of race relations that I have read in a long time. The volume coherently explores the multifaceted dimensions of relations between and among Latinos, Blacks and Afro-Latinos, in a refreshing and unsurpassed manner. Without question, this volume constitutes one of the most unique and formidable compilations of writings on the topic, within the field of Latino and Latin-American Studies."--Antonia Darder, Professor of Educational Policy Studies and Latino Studies, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

About the Author

Suzanne Oboler is an Associate Professor of Latin American and Latino Studies, University of Illinois at Chicago. She is Founding Editor of the journal Latino Studies (Palgrave). Anani Dzidzienyo is an Associate Professor of Africana Studies, and Portuguese and Brazilian Studies, Brown University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; First Edition edition (March 31, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1403965684
• ISBN-13: 978-1403965684
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #874,336 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Valuable Book, December 13, 2007

By 

Jeffery Mingo (Homewood, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Neither Enemies nor Friends: Latinos, Blacks, Afro-Latinos (Paperback)

Legal scholar Rachel Moran once wrote that U.S. Latinos often travel back and forth from the States to Latin America. Thus, she says the difference between U.S. Latinos and Latin Americans can be porous. This book follows that same idea by having chapters on both groups, and including their interactions with each other.

The book's chapters are quite representative of this hemisphere. I never left the text wondering, "Why isn't there a chapter about country X?!" The book actually works against dichotomous thinking, as the title suggests.

Within the chapters, there are many surprises. One scholar says the tensions between African Americans and Latinos is overstated and the two groups agree on a large number of issues. In the United States, I'd say that indigenous people are stereotyped as peaceful and Blacks are stereotyped in the opposite way. In this book, a scholar discusses race in one Central American country and says the views on the two groups are reversed over there.

Let me admit something: I took a class with Dr. Anani and I met Dr. Oboler at Brown University. Honestly, I still wish Dr. Oboler was still there because she was a mentor to many. So I do approach this book with an automatic appreciation for it. Still, there are some things I can criticize. The cover is boring. If this had a photo of P. Diddy and J. Lo together or had some cool painting combining black and brown, then this would catch the attention of potential readers better. Also the title is incorrect: the book shows that dynamics are ever-changing and multi-faceted. A boring title like "Neither Enemies Nor Friends" doesn't accurately portray what is covered in the chapters. These are not two groups "betwixt the two shall never meet." They interact often and surprisingly.