Latinos are already the largest minority group in the United
States, and experts estimate that by 2050, one out of three
Americans will identify as Latino. Though their population and
influence are steadily rising, stereotypes and misconceptions about
Latinos remain, from the assumption that they refuse to learn
English to questions of just how "American" they actually are. By
presenting thirteen riveting oral histories of young,
first-generation college students, Mario T. Garcia counters those
long-held stereotypes and expands our understanding of what he
terms "the Latino Generation." By allowing these young people to
share their stories and struggles, Garcia reveals that these
students and children of immigrants will be critical players in the
next chapter of our nation's history.
Collected over several years, the
testimonios follow the
history of the speakers in thought-provoking ways, reminding us
that members of the Latino Generation are not merely a demographic
group but rather real individuals, as American in their aspirations
and loyalty as the members of any other ethnic group in the
country.