The Hispanic Condition

Explains the cultural and behavioral similarities and differences between Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, Central Americans, and South Americans. Discusses whether Hispanics will assimilate into mainstream American society or remain a separate identity.

Addresses the historical origins of Spanish-speaking people in the United States, the rise of stereotypes, the growth of efforts at self-definition, and related matters.

Latinos’ postsecondary educational attainment has not kept pace with their growing representation in the U.S. population. How can Latino educational attainment be advanced? This monograph presents relevant contemporary research, focusing on the role of institutional contexts. Drawing particularly on research grounded in Latino students’ perspectives, it identifies key challenges Latino students face and discuss various approaches to address these challenges. Because so many Latino students are enrolled in federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), it also specifically explores HSIs’ role in promoting Latinos’ higher education access and equity. As a conclusion, it offers recommendations for institutional, state, and federal policies that can foster supportive contexts. This is Volume 39 Issue 1 of the Jossey-Bass publication ASHE Higher Education Report. Each monograph in the series is the definitive analysis of a tough higher education problem, based on thorough research of pertinent literature and institutional experiences. Topics are identified by a national survey. Noted practitioners and scholars are then commissioned to write the reports, with experts providing critical reviews of each manuscript before publication.

When Spanish conquistadores marched north from Mexico's interior, they encountered one harsh reality that eclipsed all others: the importance of water in an arid land. Covering a time when legal precedents were being set for many water rights laws, this study contributes much to an understanding of the modern Southwest, especially disputes involving Indian water rights. The paperback edition includes a new afterword by the author which discusses the results of recent research.

Exploring the many dimensions of Hispanic health issues, this book updates interested readers with recent information and offers a view of the depth, scope, and complementarity of the challenges of providing adequate health care. Accordingly, the book is organized in four sections addressing, first, the conceptual, institutional, and policy elements of the problems and their solutions; second, the clinical evidence about diseases for which Hispanics are disproportionally at risk; third, social and economic factors that have an impact on the health status of Hispanics; and, fourth, future policy options that could improve the health conditions of this increasingly large and underserved group of Americans. While clarifying the issues, the book documents the importance of seeking solutions to Hispanic health problems with determination and haste. Hispanics will soon represent the largest minority in American society. And, 20 million people with Latin American and Spanish origins contribute a large, youthful, and potentially very productive group of workers to our aging labor force. Finally, in searching for solutions to Hispanic health challenges, we learn that in order to improve the health of all Americans, while containing costs, it is necessary to address, proactively, the special needs of our culturally diverse society.

Hispanics and the Future of America presents details of the complex story of a population that varies in many dimensions, including national origin, immigration status, and generation. The papers in this volume draw on a wide variety of data sources to describe the contours of this population, from the perspectives of history, demography, geography, education, family, employment, economic well-being, health, and political engagement. They provide a rich source of information for researchers, policy makers, and others who want to better understand the fast-growing and diverse population that we call "Hispanic." The current period is a critical one for getting a better understanding of how Hispanics are being shaped by the U.S. experience. This will, in turn, affect the United States and the contours of the Hispanic future remain uncertain. The uncertainties include such issues as whether Hispanics, especially immigrants, improve their educational attainment and fluency in English and thereby improve their economic position; whether growing numbers of foreign-born Hispanics become citizens and achieve empowerment at the ballot box and through elected office; whether impending health problems are successfully averted; and whether Hispanics' geographic dispersal accelerates their spatial and social integration. The papers in this volume provide invaluable information to explore these issues.