Hispanic Nation: Culture, Politics, and the Constructing of Identity

Among Hispanics in the United States, notes Fox, a new sense of group identity is emerging that allows Americans of Puerto Rican, Mexican, Honduran, Chilean and other Latino origins to feel they belong to a homogeneous, unified community. In the most revealing book on Hispanic culture since Earl Shorris's Latinos, Fox examines how Spanish-language television, radio, newspapers, books and magazines create a common set of images that reinforce certain values such as family loyalty. Focusing on the divergent experiences of Puerto Ricans, Chicanos and Cuban Americans, Fox argues that Hispanics, hewing to an old American tradition, are creating a solidarity group as a way to confront perceived injustice, to get ahead and to negotiate better terms of assimilation. His incisive report surveys the web of political, community and voluntary associations through which Hispanics are gaining clout, and also scans memoirs, novels, paintings and music that are helping to forge a sense of shared identity. Fox, a journalist on Hispanic issues, has been a community organizer and has written two children's books. (Dec.)