Latina/os Challenge the World to Change the Conversation: Fusing Literatures on Racism, Migration & Globalization

• In Event: 301 - Section on Latino/a Sociology Paper Session. Theorizing New Directions in Latina/o Sociology

Abstract

Three bodies of literature most fundamental to a critical assessment of Latina/os in the United States are Racism (Critical Race Theory), international migration, and globalization. These three bodies of literature taken together birth our ability to understand and further conceptualize Latino/as in a way that levels the playing field by simultaneously stripping away racialized bias and refocusing the unit of analysis away from individuals and onto the world-economy wherein everyone, not just Latino/as, plays a role. The premise of this paper suggests that such a combined approach necessitates a rethinking of Latina/os in the United States by requiring a change of focus away from "illegal" or undocumented migration, "English only," and other presumptive and oppressive racializations of Latino/as, by highlighting US involvement in Latin America, thus humanizing Latino/a experiences and shifting the focus onto Human Rights. This paper stems from a larger, primarily ethnographic research project on the Anti-Immigrant Movement wherein over 50 interviews with both anti-and pro-immigrant activists have been conducted. The fusion of the three bodies of literature is demonstrated via an analysis of racism targeting Latina/os and immigrants by the Anti-Immigrant Movement.

Author

• Carina A. Bandhauer, Western Connecticut State University