Hispanic Spaces, Latino Places : Community and Cultural Diversity in Contemporary America

Hispanic Spaces, Latino Places was inspired by a series of special-paper sessions presented to the March 2002 Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers in Los Angeles. The editor of this volume organized and asked participants to contribute to the project. Authors were selected for their expertise in Hispanic/Latino subgroups in their respective locales. The chapters thus represent both original and authoritative writings. The editor thanks all contributors who responded to the original request to participate. Their cooperation throughout the project has made the transition from professional presentations to print smooth. At Arizona State University, senior research associate and staff cartographer Barbara Trapido-Lurie graciously acted as graphics editor for the volume, drafted and redrafted many maps and graphs, and provided sage advice on conversions of print, slide, and digital images to acceptable formats. On behalf of all contributors, I thank Barbara for her tremendous assistance in this critical role. Kate Berry expresses thanks to the University of Nevada, Reno for an International Activities Grant that helped support the project that resulted in Chapter 11. She is thankful as well to Marcel Fernando Schraer and others at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Northern Nevada, without whom the project never would have happened. ''Muchas gracias'' are extended to Brian Bonnefant of the University of Nevada Small Business Development Center for his assistance with maps. Thanks go as well to Marina Flood and Vanessa Burch for their tremendous efforts on this project, and to the students who contributed to the study as part of their course work in ethnic geography and Latin American geography classes at the University of Nevada, Reno. Brian Godfrey gratefully acknowledges a grant from the Vassar Committee on Research to support fieldwork that was critical to Chapter 4. He thanks his former research assistant, Thomas Conoscenti (Vassar College class of 2002), for preparation of the San Francisco maps. He also benefited from the generous assistance of Hispanic American Legacy, Latino American Diaspora / Daniel D. Arreola -- The Plaza In Las Vegas, New Mexico: A Community Gathering Place / Jeffrey S. Smith -- Social Geography Of Laredo, Texas, Neighborhoods: Distinctiveness And Diversity In A Majority-hispanic Place / Michael S. Yoder And Renée La Perrière De Gutiérrez -- Barrio Under Siege: Latino Sense Of Place In San Francisco, California / Brain J. Godfrey -- Globalization Of The Barrio: Transformation Of The Latino Cultural Landscapes Of San Diego, California / Lawrence A. Herzog -- Barrio Space And Place In Southeast Los Angeles, California / James R. Curtis -- Changing Latinzation Of New York City / Inés M. Miyares -- Soccer And Latino Cultural Space: Metropolitan Washington Fútbol Leagues / Marie Price And Courtney Whitworth -- The Cultural Landscape Of A Puerto Rican Neighborhood In Cleveland, Ohio / Albert Benedict And Robert B. Kent -- Latinos In Polynucleated Kansas City / Steven L. Driever -- Se Venden Aqu:̕ Latino Commercial Landscapes In Phoenix, Arizona / Alex Oberle -- Hispanics In The American South And The Transformation Of The Poultry Industry / William Kandel And Emilio A. Parrado -- Hispanization Of Hereford, Texas / Terrence W. Haverluk. Daniel D. Arreola, Editor. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 293-322) And Index. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 293-322) And Index. Hispanics/Latinos are the largest ethnic minority in the United States--but they are far from being a homogenous group. Mexican Americans in the Southwest have roots that extend back four centuries, while Dominicans and Salvadorans are very recent immigrants. Cuban Americans in South Florida have very different occupational achievements, employment levels, and income from immigrant Guatemalans who work in the poultry industry in Virginia. In fact, the only characteristic shared by all Hispanics/Latinos in the United States is birth or ancestry in a Spanish-speaking country. In this book, sixteen geographers and two sociologists map the regional and cultural diversity of the Hispanic/Latino population of the United States. They report on Hispanic communities in all sections of the country, showing how factors such as people's country/culture of origin, length of time in the United States, and relations with non-Hispanic society have interacted to create a wide variety of Hispanic communities. Identifying larger trends, they also discuss the common characteristics of three types of Hispanic communities--those that have always been predominantly Hispanic, those that have become Anglo-dominated, and those in which Hispanics are just becoming a significant portion of the population "In this book, sixteen geographers and two sociologists map the regional and cultural diversity of the Hispanic/Latino population of the United States. They report on Hispanic communities in all sections of the country, showing how factors such as people's country/culture of origin, length of time in the United States, and relations with non-Hispanic society have interacted to create a wide variety of Hispanic communities. Identifying larger trends, they also discuss the common characteristics of three types of Hispanic communities--those that have always been predominantly Hispanic, those that have become Anglo-dominated, and those in which Hispanics are just becoming a significant portion of the population."--Book cover