At a mere 6% (in 2014) of the entire population of Wisconsin,[1] Latinxs are slightly underrepresented when compared with the entirety of the Midwest (7.6%),[2] which itself is less than the national percentage. As of 2017, Latinxs constitute 18.1% of the United States’ entire population, nearly 59 million across the country.[3] Not only the largest minority group in the United States, Latinxs are also the fastest growing. By 2050, a quarter of the United States’ population is expected to be of Latinx background.[4] "Pocos, pero bien contados" Although a relatively small percentage, a Latinx presence in the Midwest can be traced as far back as the mid-16th Century.[5] Today, most reside in or near the Chicagoland area, but can be found across the 12 Midwestern states “in urban and rural areas, in factories, service occupations, food processing plants, transportation, and educational institutions.”[6] Despite their growing numbers and long time presence in the United States, the Latinx community has struggled with marginalization in the U.S. The authors of Mi Voz, Mi Vida and Getting College Ready argue that universities are institute where this marginalization is most keenly felt, especially in those that are predominately White. "The United States was my home, but it wasn't mine" In Mi Voz, Mi Vida, this marginalization manifests itself in different ways for different students. it may be a more obvious obstacles such as poverty, language barriers, or tragedy that inhibit students from flourishing in school. For others, their inhibitions may stem from less obvious sources: living away from their family for the first time, struggles with sexuality or morals, or perhaps even feelings of isolation for not being “white enough” as on student had.[7] All of these can have effects on Latinxs’ success and or failure at not only university, but their careers that follow. For these reasons, “above all things, universities should raise awareness… regarding the importance of diversity, and… learn[ing] how to embrace students from other cultures and/or socioeconomic status.[8] "...Latinos must be welcomed in order for them to increase their contributions to the nation's economy; they must be fully integrated into the larger society and their educational and workforce needs must be met." References:
[1] "Demographic Profile of Hispanics in Wisconsin, 2014." Pew Research Center. [2] Ruben O. Martinez and Juan D. Coronado. "Latinas and Latinos in the Midwest: Pocos, pero bien Contados." Diálogo 21, no. 1 (2018): 3. [3] "Hispanic Heritage Month 2018." United States Census Bureau. [4] Christina Gomez, Robert Kilkenny, and Andrew Garrod. Mi Voz, Mi Vida, Latino College Students Tell Their Life Stories. (New York: Cornell University Press, 2007), 1. [5] Martinez and Coronado. "Latinas/os in the Midwest." 3. [6] Ibid. [7] Gomez, Kilkenny, and Garrod. Mi Voz, Mi Vida. 3-13. [8]Hong, J. E. "Are we ready? A review of getting college ready: Latin@ student experiences of race, access, and belonging at predominantly white universities." The Qualitative Report, 24, no. 1 (2019): 57
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above image from: https://collections.lib.uwm.edu/digital/collection/uwmactivism/id/51/rec/23
UW-Milwaukee Photographic Services, 1970-08-28. "Demonstrators look for Spanish-language books at Golda Meir Library / Manifestantes buscando libros en español en la Biblioteca Golda Meir" |