Latino Politics In America

In Garcia’s text, Latino Politics in America, discuss the concept of pan-ethnicity as it relates to Latinos as well as the consequences of this term for political action. To start off pan-ethnicity “refers to a sense of group affinity and identification that transcends one’s own national-origin group,” stated by Garcia. Garcia continues by stating that pan-ethnicity identity does not necessarily replace national-origin affinity, but it also includes a broader configuration in defining the group. An example is, the label “Hispanic” and “Latino” as they been serving as an identification in the formation of a Latino community; however, these terms are the meaning beyond the use of the labels that establishes the sense of working community and

It is important to call attention that this type pf policy categorization has other costs to consider such as stigmatization and victimization, in addition to creating benefits for group membership. According to how political and economic institutions treat and interact with people from other ethnic groups can help impose and affect the definition of ethnicity. An example of this that is states in the text is Latinos is the Mexican Americans’ experience since the 1960’s as well as the development of the pan-ethnic term Hispanic. The rem Hispanic became widely used in the 1970’s after critics suggested that the term was a product of Madison Avenue public relations firms, Capitol Hill press corps, major media, outlets, and government bureaucrats. By this happening the rise in marketing efforts reinforced the evolution toward identifying Mexican Americans and other Latinos as Hispanics; which created a blur between distinctions across the various Latino subgroups. Now, “Hispanic” has become the primary term for specific Latino national-origin groups like Mexican Americans or Chicanos as well as other Spanish origin

Individuals should always have the option to be classified under their own ethnicities rather than be confined to one specific subgroup. However, taking into effect how pan-ethnicity helps political action move forward to building a sense of community through the work force it is important to keep moving forward as many Latinos are being held at a higher position. Latinos are a vital instrument in the working industry as they are leading the decision making more and more. Therefore, I must conclude that Garcia’s criteria should be appropriate to move forward with however allow individuals to be able to express themselves in the work force instead of being put into