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Comparative Racialization: Culture and National Origin in the Latino/A Communities

2002; RELX Group (Netherlands); Linguagem: Inglês

1556-5068

Kevin R. Johnson,

Latin American and Latino Studies

Ths essay is part of a symposium of papers published to memorialize the fifth annual Critical Latina/o (LatCrit) Theory conference in 2000. Within the contours of critical Latina/o (LatCrit) Theory, analyzes how society constructs, or racializes, or others, various national origin groups in different ways. Such comparisons in no way seek to demonstrate that one group is more disadvantaged than another, but rather strive for a deeper understanding of racial formation and the roots of racial subordination. In so doing, we must recognize the vast differences between various Latina/o communities. This essay investigates the comparative racialization of Latina/o national origin groups. Scholarship on the growing popularity of certain aspects of Latin among Anglos. A rich cultural analysis teaches much about the Latina/os able to achieve mainstream popularity, the hierarchy among Latina/o national origin groups, and the stereotypes that they reinforce. Multiculturalism teaches tolerance of racial and cultural diversity. The relationship between race and has been the subject of increasing legal, including LatCrit, analysis. Contrary to popular belief, is not some monolithic, fixed, and static essence. Any is constantly changing, affected by interaction with other cultures, especially in an era of globalization. We must acknowledge, for example, that Anglo in this country has been indelibly influenced by Mexican while Mexican has been forever transformed by its interaction with Anglo culture. Indeed, with technological innovation over the last century, culture has influenced the world. To add to the complexity, in any society also is the subject of continuing internal dissent and debate over its contours. This line of analysis, of course, represents a gross over-simplification. In fact, no single Mexican, Latin, or American exists. Consistent with Critical Latina/o Theory's commitment to anti-essentialism, care must be taken not to homogenize cultures from nations, which vary dramatically. The essay also discussed the tragic case of Elian Gonzalez, in which a young Cuban boy who journeyed by raft to the United States, lost his mother on the way, and became the center of a controversy over whether the United States should return to his father in Cuba. This case also suggests that immigration law creates distinctions between Latina/o national origin groups - effectively racializing them differently - and reinforces their differential treatment. The fluidity of racial constructions can be seen in the differentiation of immigrants of Mexican and Cuban ancestry over time, and the evolving legal responses to each group.