From the vibrant rhythms of cumbia, salsa and mariachi at quinceañera parties to the countless taco trucks across the country, Latinos — both immigrants and U.S.-born — have been grappling for generations with the challenge of preserving their identity while navigating American culture.
Despite their long-standing presence, political clout and rising purchasing power, Latinos remain mostly outside the mainstream, writes author and journalist Marie Arana in her new book, “LatinoLand: A Portrait of America’s Largest and Least Understood Minority.”
Featured at this year’s National Book Festival, “LatinoLand” offers a deep dive into Latino history in what is now the United States since the 16th century. As the Library joins in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, Arana’s work serves as a powerful reminder: Latino history is American history.
“We have been here since before the United States was formed and we helped it to form; whole areas were built by Latino hands,” Arana said in an interview. “I want the myth that we are newcomers to go away because we have a long and proud history. Latinos helped build this country and will continue to shape its future. … These facts need to be taught in schools.”
Arana is a Peruvian American author of fiction and nonfiction with a long career in literature and journalism. She has worked as editor-in-chief of The Washington Post’s Book World, studied as a distinguished visiting scholar at the Library’s John W. Kluge Center and later served as the Library’s literary director. In 2020, the American Academy of Arts and Letters recognized her lifetime’s work with their Arts and Letters Award. Her other books include “Bolivar: American Liberator” and “Silver, Sword and Stone: Three Crucibles in the Latin American Story.” Her 2001 memoir, “American Chica: Two Worlds, One Childhood,” was a finalist for the National Book Award.
In this book, Arana takes stock of the current situation of some 65 million Hispanics (which includes Latinos), who make up nearly 20% of the national population. They account for 15% of all eligible voters and wield a purchasing power of $3.4 trillion — “a whole country unto itself,” as Arana notes in an interview. By 2050, there will be some 100 million Americans of Hispanic heritage, nearly 30% of the population, according to census projections. It’s no wonder that historians, cultural institutions, political candidates and advertisers are increasingly focusing on the nation’s second-largest demographic.
To make it clear: Latinos fit into the U.S. Census’ Hispanic category. According to the agency, the term “Hispanic” is an ethnicity and it refers to people who trace their ancestry to Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America and the Spanish-speaking nations of the Caribbean. While people often use Hispanic and Latino interchangeably, the terms are not the same: The first one refers to those of Spanish-speaking nations while the latter includes those from English- and Portuguese-speaking countries and cultures. The recent terms “Latinx” and “Latine” were born of a movement pushing for gender-neutral language and inclusion.
This question of Latino identity has long sparked books, films, TED Talks and heated social media debates about who truly “belongs” here.
In seeking to debunk persistent myths about Latinos and highlight “lives not often seen,” Arana enriches her narrative with stories from 237 interviews with Latinos from diverse backgrounds. These include housekeepers, grape pickers, artists, ambassadors and C-suite executives. She also examines subgroups, like Afro Latinos and “Lasians” (Latinos and Asians). This results, Arana writes, in a “mind-reeling multitude” that is difficult to categorize.
In attempting to explain the core Latino mindset, Arana argues that much like earlier immigrants, full assimilation into the mainstream “is no easy enterprise.” They want to fit in, have their children thrive as full-fledged Americans, work and be counted as citizens. But they also want to retain their customs, language, “motherland senses of identity” and “be valued and respected for it.”
“Here in LatinoLand, in this wildly diverse population, in our yearning for unity, in our sheer perseverance, lives a vibrant force. A veritable engine of the American future,” she writes.
Nicholas Brown-Cáceres, assistant chief of the Library’s Music Division, reflects on the experience of millions of Latinos straddling two worlds, bound by language and history. As a Honduran American, he takes pride in having learned Spanish from his mother and growing up in a bicultural home. He feels equally at home eating baleadas (flour tortillas filled with mashed refried beans, cream and crumbled hard cheese) and burgers, having spent summers and Christmas in Honduras celebrating with his cousins and abuela.
He agrees with Arana’s premise that the bond uniting Latinos “is buried deep” in their history and alive in their culture: “Just go to a fiesta. It is there.”
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