The Hispanic population in the U.S.A. represents one of the biggest minority groups in the country. In 2015, Hispanics made up 17.3% of the total U.S. population (PAW, 2016). Of those, 64% had Mexican origins, while the rest was from other Latin American countries. There is a common misconception that every Latin country is identical, and although they share a similar history, each one has its own traditions, languages, challenges, and a political and social environment. It is true that all immigrants share the belief that a better life for them awaits in America. However, their motivations to leave their countries and their experiences throughout the journey are entirely different.
In the books that I selected for the text set, I tried to present the experiences of immigrants from different Latin American countries. From having to cross the Río Grande at the Mexican border and fleeing from dictators, to simply having an American parent who wants to move back, the books show a wide range journeys and realities. Another aspect that I wanted to portray through the books I selected was the feeling of division and duality that immigrants have because of leaving their homes and families behind. I went to a book talk with Meg Medina, author of some of the books I selected, and she mentioned that her inspiration comes mostly from the feeling of duality that she had while growing up. Families separate, and although immigrants find new support systems, a part of them is always missing. They feel the absence of a family that they might not even know well but with who they share a meaningful connection. This feeling is something that all immigrants share, and I wanted the books to portray the sense of belonging to two different places and cultures at the same time.
All the books in the text set are aligned with many tenets of social justice:
They function as counter-narratives: In recent months, some groups have talked about Hispanic immigrants being delinquents and gang members. This generalizations and stereotypes occur because people do not see the entire picture. The books in the text set help disrupt this discourse by presenting different perspectives and voices that are usually silenced. They portray the different reasons why immigrants come to America and show that systems of oppression marginalize and force them to leave their countries.
The stories serve as windows and mirrors: Each book represent an entirely different experience in the Latino migration, so students will be able to identify with what they are reading. Also, Non-Hispanic students will understand more about the complex issues of immigration.
The characters come from a wide variety of socioeconomic backgrounds: Some of the stories show Latinos that came in harsh conditions while for others it was easier. Also, they each represent different lifestyles once here in America.
The books are what Sims Bishop calls culturally conscious narratives: Hispanics are at the center of the story, and the story is from their perspective. In the text set, all the authors are Hispanic, and most are telling their own experiences.
Show different systems of oppression and abuse of power: The stories show the complexity of migration, especially because of the oppression that the characters face both in their home country and in U.S.A.