LLS: Consciousness-Raising of the Latino/Communities Diversity

摘要

In Latinas/os everyday lives, their culture and their race are objectified and marginalized. Historically, this is represented in the assumption that Latin-American culture is ???Latino??? culture, when their experiences are in actuality quite different. This conflation led to the establishment of Latina/o Studies here at the University of Illinois. All our group members have been students in Latina/o Studies classes, and we have conducted interviews with people in these classes, observed these classes, and handed out surveys to try and discover the reasons behind students??? interest in Latina/o Studies classes. We also asked these students in our interviews about their experiences as Latinas/os in a predominantly white university, the stereotypes they face, and the extra challenges of being a minority student here. We have come to the conclusion that ethnographic research on the Latino Community is challenging and fruitful, although we have only begun to scratch the surface. There are so many aspects to being ???Latino??? that the array of possibilities cannot be fully determined. We have, however, discussed the challenges that Latinos face in terms of education, stereotypes as well as racisms.