Latino Americans: The 500-Year Legacy That Shaped a Nation

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Ray Suarez has a political correct approach in the telling of the story of Hispanics; I am not surprised at all being the liberal that he is.

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According to Suarez, the Mexicans While shedding light into some historical facts, this book is basically a liberal overview of the history of Hispanics in America. According to Suarez, the Mexicans who lived in the Southwest before those territories were American were all discriminated against and have suffered second class citizenship status. The Central Americans have come in droves in the past 30 years because of American intervention in their countries. At times this book reads like a trail of tears, a story of the oppressor white America versus the oppressed Brown Hispanics.

As I said before, I am not surprised about this narrative; this is typical in historical literature today. What bothers me so much is that for Suarez as for many liberals, individuals are not free agents who know what is best for them and hence are unable to make cogent decisions to improve their lives; but rather the individual is stuck in a historical structure where the powerful impose their might on the powerless to their detriment.

It did not occur to Mr. Suarez that all those Hispanics that he writes about have made the decision to either stay or risk their lives to come to America because they perceive it as a better decision than not to come to America. You will not read in this book about the repeated referendums where Puerto Ricans have had the opportunity to democratically decide whether they want statehood, remain as a commonwealth or become a free nation. Time and again, Puerto Ricans have decided to remain a commonwealth. You will also not read anything negative said about the countries where most Hispanic immigrants originate from and the causes that force people to leave.

It has mostly to do with historically corrupt, inept, inefficient, undemocratic and oppressive governments south of the border. Most of these governments were already dysfunctional long before the US intervened politically there, but why bother, right Mr.

What is hard to understand is why, if America has treated Hispanics so badly throughout the years and continues to do so, they have decided to stay and to work here and to have families here too; and why millions more risk their lives to come here every year? It has everything to do with the opportunities to live fulfilled lives here, something that their own countries have been incapable of providing them.

But you will not read that in this book, I guess sob stories about oppressed people sells more.

The fact that currently there are 11 million people who have decided to stay here, working and living in less than prodigious conditions, rather than going back to their countries, speaks volumes about the reality and promise of America than any self-hating modern day liberal victim story. Mar 23, NK rated it really liked it.

I really enjoyed this book even though I don't care much for history. There was so much that I learned from this that I was actually surprised at what I was reading. Actually seeing how much of the US that Mexico actually owned but then it was taken away after they fought each other for the area which w I really enjoyed this book even though I don't care much for history.

Actually seeing how much of the US that Mexico actually owned but then it was taken away after they fought each other for the area which was after it's getting out from under Spain. So it seems like some things never change. That's just wrong on so many levels. Most people don't understand what Latinos have gone though nor what they currently have to endure.

So glad I read it. Aug 09, David Fox rated it really liked it. Good additional information and some personal stories to infuse into my curriculum.

A short companion book to the PBS documentary that isn't quite enough. The book is a good primer for anyone who would like to know more, but the style was off-putting. I did feel I learned a lot: But being written by a journalist and being a companion book to the documentary just made me feel a bit confused.

There are complaints about the book becoming "political" but honestly I'm not really sure why it's a problem. It IS perhaps a bit one-sided Suarez has a section about why Latinos are not natural supporters for the Republican Party in the US but immigration and immigrants remain very topical issues that raise a lot of passion among people.

And there are polls and other studies that support the author's statements. I wasn't bothered by it, but then again I also agree with the author. It wasn't a terrible book but I'm not sure it works without the documentary. I wrote that maybe it's a good introduction to the subject but I'd also add the caveat that it needs other books to supplement this once. So while I felt I learned a bit, it also left me wanting to know more and looking for other books on the subject.

Recommend the library, in conjunction with the show that goes with it if it's available. It can be read alone but I think it needs other sources too.

Latino Americans : the 500-year legacy that shaped a nation

I'm always happy to find a book about Latin history with my library's e-books program; it's pretty rare. This one was heavily biased -- within the first ten pages I was realizing I'd have to do some more research on my own and read with a specific lens -- but I still learned some interesting facts and enjoyed the perspective. Suarez gives a high-level overview of the past years of the Americas, spending a good chunk of time on Spanish and American colonization of Mexico including all parts o I'm always happy to find a book about Latin history with my library's e-books program; it's pretty rare.

Suarez gives a high-level overview of the past years of the Americas, spending a good chunk of time on Spanish and American colonization of Mexico including all parts of the USA that used to be Mexico and the Caribbean.

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You already recently rated this item. Your rating has been recorded. Write a review Rate this item: Preview this item Preview this item. New York, New York: English View all editions and formats Summary: Sharing the personal struggles and successes of immigrants, poets, soldiers, and many others, this companion to the PBS miniseries explores the lives of Latino American men and women over a year-span who have made an impact on history. Allow this favorite library to be seen by others Keep this favorite library private. Find a copy in the library Finding libraries that hold this item Ray Suarez Find more information about:

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