Citizens but Not Americans: Race and Belonging among Latino Millennials

Latina/o Sociology

by Nilda Flores-Gonzalez

An exploration of how race shapes Latino millennials’ notions of national belonging Latino millennials constitute the second largest segment of the millennial population. By sheer numbers they will inevitably have a significant social, economic, and political impact on U.S. society. Beyond basic demographics, however, not much is known about how they make sense of themselves as Americans.In Citizens but Not Americans,Nilda Flores-González examines how Latino millennials understand race, experience race, and develop notions of belonging. Based on nearly one hundred interviews, Flores-González argues that though these young Latina/os are U.S. citizens by birth, they do not feel they are part of the “American project,” and are forever at the margins looking in. The book provides an inside look at how characteristics such as ancestry, skin color, social class, gender, language and culture converge and shape these youths’ feelings of belonging as they navigate everyday racialization. The voices of Latino millennials reveal their understanding of racialization along three dimensions—as an ethno-race, as a racial middle and as ‘real’ Americans. Using familiar tropes, these youths contest the othering that negates their Americanness while constructing notions of belonging that allow them to locate themselves as authentic members of the American national community.Challenging current thinking about race and national belonging, Citizens but Not Americans significantly contributes to our understanding of the Latino millennial generation and makes a powerful argument about the nature of race and belonging in the U.S.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sociology

187 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 3, 2017

Reviews

[MetalKing144 · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is heavily leftist, and not very factual. she interviews 97 Latinos, 91 of which are confirmed to have been born and raised in Chicago and its suburbs, and 5 were from a different state and 1 chose not to give that information. But yet she claims that what these kids say are feelings are actually facts and are representative of the whole country. Also, The second person she interviews says that her parents are happy with only saying that they own a house, are raising kids in the U.S., and are sending all of their kids to college, but they are not as privileged as whites. Are you kidding me?! I had to pay for my own college! When the title says "Millennials" you better believe it as they are the most entitled complaints I've heard. There are also many typos in it that even Microsoft Word could have easily found. for example: "As these narratives illustrative, cultural cues are used by others..." (pg 77).

[Bruhman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read it in an english class where we divided into groups and my group chose this. It is not very compelling, even as a hispanic male. I could do so many menial tasks like watching paint dry and come to the conclusion that the self reflection that comes from said tasks are more productive than reading this book.

[Mills College Library]

305.868 F6344 2017