Latino Voices in the USA

Spanish was Always Spoken Here

The Early History of What is Now the United States was

Spanish, not English

• PONCE DE LEON landed in 1513 in Florida and Spaniards probed half of the lower 48 states before the English tried to colonize at Roanoke Island, North Carolina

As Late as 1783, Spain Held Claim to Roughly Half of Today’s Continental US

● From 1819 to 1848, the US increased the nation’s area by roughly a third at Spanish and Mexican expense

●Hispanics became the first American citizens in the newly acquired Southwest territory

In 1898, Puerto Rico was invaded by the US

and began the 20th century under US military rule

The US retains possession of Puerto Rico even today.. An

island nation of 3.9 million people

Hispanics are a Racially Diverse Population

• Combining the Spaniard and other Europeans with the Indian and the African has resulted in “la raza cosmica.” A term meant to reflect an inclusive concept that Hispanics share with all peoples of the world a common heritage and destiny

• Hispanics are affected by limitations that are placed on people of color within American society

There are more than 35 million Hispanics in the USA

• The largest group is of Mexican descent (58.5%)

• Followed by Puerto Rican (9.6%)• Central American (4.8%), South American

(3.8%) and Cuban (3.5%)• The Spanish heritage provides a common

language and cultural unity among Hispanic groups

So Why Do Standard Histories Write the Spanish

Out of Our National Narrative?

US Business Relies Heavily on Hispanic Labor

• Especially in the states of California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Texas

• Yet, in 2006, less than one in five Hispanics worked in managerial, professional, and related occupations

• In 2005, the poverty rate among Latinos was 21.8% compared to 8.3% for whites

The Labor Market Statistics Tell Us That ……

• Unemployment rates are higher for Hispanic men and women then for non-Hispanics

• There are differences in occupational location, education, earnings and labor force participation among Hispanic groups

• Mexicans and Puerto Ricans continue to be uniquely disadvantaged in the labor market

President Bush has Signed into Law the Building of a Wall

• Legislative attempts to allow “illegal immigrants” to start on a path to citizenship have been thwarted

• Yet, illegal crossings are more reflective of the international economy rather than the intensity of border patrol efforts

• Under NAFTA, President Clinton promised that Mexico would prosper from free trade, foreign investment and economic developmentBut economic growth has been slow,and exploitation and insecurity in the midst of plenty remain an issue in Mexico

,

Strong Anti-Immigrant and Anti-Latino Policies were

● marketed in newspapers, on the internet and the

television in the run-up to the November elections in the US

Over the Past Two Decades, the Number of Low-skilled Workers in the US has increased because of immigration, both legal and illegal

• Wages have stagnated for all workers• Some jobs pay “too little” to attract native-born

American workers mainly because of competition from poorly paid immigrants

• The obstacle is not the absence of native-born workers who will do the work, but that employers would have to pay them higher wages

Economic Impacts of Illegal Immigration is

Small • Increased

automation and the growth in global trade have much bigger impacts on wages, prices and health of the US economy

Excerpt fromI have seen the wealth of outsiderstaking a sip of our hospitality While purring in the air with the god spell of false kisses Paralyzing my neighborsWith their hands glued to their kneesLike overtaxed refugees whoseSugar cane dreams turned foulWhen the ghosts of factories Closed down heaven forever..So come and shift winds, AmericaOr hit the road and get off The next exitReturn to yourself And remain to patrol your own heart..But you may never know exactly whereNor perhaps be that awareHome is now a foreign affairWhere American is no longerSpoken anymore