Debating Race, Ethnicity, and Latino Identity : Jorge J. E. Gracia and His Critics

The philosopher Jorge J. E. Gracia engages fifteen prominent scholars on race, ethnicity, nationality, and Hispanic/Latino identity in the United States. Their discussion joins two distinct traditions: the philosophy of race begun by African Americans in the nineteenth century, and the search for an understanding of identity initiated by Latin American philosophers in the sixteenth century. Participants include Linda M. Alcoff, K. Anthony Appiah, Richard J. Bernstein, Lawrence Blum, Robert Gooding-Williams, Eduardo Mendieta, and Lucius T. Outlaw Jr., and their dialogue reflects the analytic, Aristotelian, Continental, literary, Marxist, and pragmatic schools of thought. These intellectuals start with the philosophy of Hispanics/Latinos in the United States and then move to the philosophy of African Americans and Anglo Americans in the United States and the philosophy of Latin Americans in Latin America. Gracia and his interlocutors debate the nature of race and ethnicity and their relation to nationality, linguistic rights, matters of identity, and Affirmative Action, binding the concepts of race and ethnicity together in ways that open new paths of inquiry. Gracia's Familial-Historical View of ethnic and Hispanic/Latino identity operates at the center of each of these discussions, providing vivid access to the philosopher's provocative arguments while adding unique depth to issues that each of us struggles to understand. Charles W. Mills, Northwestern University:Philosophical discussions of race have come a long way in the last twenty years, but they have been dominated by the black American experience. In a United States where Latinos are the largest ethnoracial minority, who will be central to the projected demographic shift to a nonwhite majority by the year 2040 or so, the marginalization of their experience and of Latino/Latin American Philosophy more generally is deplorable. Especially for readers unfamiliar with the literature, this collection of discussions and critiques of Jorge Gracia's work, together with his replies, will provide an invaluable introduction both to crucial philosophical issues of Latino identity and ethnoracial status, and to the writings of one of the major figures of the field, who has been thinking deeply and rigorously about these matters for decades now. Naomi Zack, Professor of Philosophy, University of Oregon:This contemporary collection brings issues of Hispanic/Latino identity and philosophy into a well-deserved leading role in philosophy of race and ethnicity--it both disrupts the black/white binary and moves the whole discussion forward. The leading scholars who contribute chapters engage key ideas from Jorge J.E. Gracia's magisterial and comprehensive contributions to the field of race and ethnicity. They examine positions developed by Gracia on Hispanic/Latino identities and histories in terms of philosophy, race, ethnicity, and nationality. And they critique him on philosophy, metaphysics, society, identity, politics, and the descriptive-normative divide. Gracia's incisive responses succeed in refocusing and reanimating d Table of Contents Preface Introduction, by Iván Jaksic Part I. Race, Ethnicity, Nationality, and Philosophy 1. Writing a Check That Philosophy Can’t Cash, by Lucius T. Outlaw Jr. 2. Mapping the Boundaries of Race, Ethnicity, and Nationality, by Linda M. Alcoff 3. Race, Ethnicity, and Philosophy, by K. Anthony Appiah 4. Race, Ethnicity, Nationality, and Philosophy, by Lawrence Blum 5. Race, Ethnicity, Nationality, and Philosophy: A Response, by Jorge J. E. Gracia Part II. Hispanic/Latino Identity 6. Is Being Hispanic an Identity?, by J. L. A. García 7. The Boundaries of Hispanic Identity, by Richard J. Bernstein 8. Hispanic Identity, Its Origin, and Hispanic Philosophers, by Robert Gooding-Williams 9. The Role of Culture in Hispanic Identity, by Gregory Pappas 10. The Language Prism, by Ilan Stavans 11. The Second Reconquista, by Eduardo Mendieta 12. Hispanic/Latino Identity: A Response, by Jorge J. E. Gracia Part III. Hispanics/Latinos and Philosophy 13. Hispanics/Latinos, Labels, and Latino Philosophy, by Renzo Llorente 14. Ethnic Philosophy and Latin American Philosophy, by Susana Nuccetelli 15. Latino and Latin American Philosophy, by María Cristina González and Nora Stigol 16. Affirmative Action for Latinos, by Howard McGary 17. Hispanics/Latinos and Philosophy: A Response, by Jorge J. E. Gracia Closing Thoughts, by Jorge J. E. Gracia Appendix. Original Panels and Discussions References Contributors Index This text recounts a series of discussions between philosopher Jorge J.E. Gracia and fifteen scholars on race, ethnicity, nationality, and Hispanic/Latino identity in the United States. These debates relate to two distinct traditions: the philosophy of race begun by African Americans in the nineteenth century, and the search for an understanding of identity initiated by Latin American philosophers in the sixteenth century "This book brings together some of the most prominent scholars in the philosophy of race and ethnicity in conversation about issues of ethnic and racial identity, nationality, and ethnic philosophy. The book contains the best defense by Jorge J.E. Gracia of his familial-historical view of Latino identity"--Provided by publisher.