Latino American Experience - The Latino American Experience

Blog: En Mi Opinion

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A decade concludes and a new one opens up. The 2000s—it’s already history and no one knows exactly how to name it—was a decisive period in the growth and consolidation of Latino culture in the United States. As a census effort takes place this year, the mounting evidence of the astonishing demographic increases becomes clearer: around 15% of the nation’s population is of Hispanic descent, with Latinos as the largest, youngest, and fastest-growing minority. The newly gleaned census data will force some redistricting, thus bringing more democratic power to the base. Still, the heterogeneity of the minority remains a concern; it may serve as a springboard for coalition building but constantly fractures potential partnerships. In any case, with power comes responsibility. Latinos lag behind in political representation. Crime is rampant. Police abuse and deportations decimate families. And the unacceptable drop-out rate makes the educational front a mess. Nothing good—jobs, home ownership, small business—is likely to be sustained if education isn’t the priority.

Mexican Independence

Mexico’s independence from Spain, which began in the early 19th century, was not revolutionary. The process reflected the conservative interests of the landed elite and their response to European events rather than specific actions in Mexico; in other words, the process of breaking away from Spain was more reactionary than proactive. The royal Spanish government’s enactment of the Bourbon reforms in the second half of the 18th century exacerbated social, economic, and political conditions within Mexico. With the French seizure of Spain in 1808, the imposition of Joseph Bonaparte on the throne, and the creation of the Cádiz junta, Mexico exploded into crisis. The instability revealed acute social divisions within Mexico. The upper classes sought to establish an autonomous government that would represent their interests, and the lower classes struggled against the dominance of the local elites.

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