The Uvalde tragedy resulted in extensive media, punditry, and political attention. Yet, has anyone asked what the children’s families and predominant Latino community want? The failed communications and understanding of their wants serve as a microcosm of what happens across Latino communities.
Latino economic disparities cut across wages and benefits, median income, home ownership, debts, and savings. Their middle class and wealth-building status affect choices to strengthen family bienestar (well-being), civic involvement to gain political power and policy influence, and structural changes needed.
The people and vital services least able to handle increased costs for food, gas, housing, and utilities are the ones least likely to benefit from inflation-related adjustments. Yet, the Texas Senate Finance charged with examining Texans’ current tax exemptions and whether adjustments are merited because of inflation are looking for more ways to keep businesses […]
The Texas Winter Storm, in February 2021, disproportionately impacted Latino, Black, and low-income peoples. The winter disaster occurred while they were struggling with pandemic conditions and its concurrent disproportionate economic and health effects.
The U.S. Census is about power and money, and Texas Latinos have so far lost on both counts; in electoral power and federal funding that helps support important vital infrastructure and health and human service needs. Rogelio Saenz’s pre-2020 Census potential ‘undercount’ impact brief was predictive.
A Reunion and Celebration of the Legacy of Raza Unida Party –One of the Most Influential Organizations of the Chicano Movement. Participants will review the history and legacy of the Raza Unida Party, and its relationships to the current social, economic, and political status of Mexican Americans. Presentations will connect the present to future influence […]
There are 2.5 more uninsured Latinos today than their total population of 1.8 million during the 1968 U.S. Civil Rights Commission Hearing conducted in San Antonio. It’s a social justice issue that requires change from the decades of increasing right-wing political obstruction and discriminatory policies.
Texas’ classroom censorship law, Senate Bill 3 (SB 3) will make it even more difficult to undo the myths of the Alamo. In particular, the myths and lies of its so-called heroes who supposedly died for liberty as opposed to the TRUTH – to protect slavery and to marginalize native Mexicans, and steal their land.
Texas needs a Latino-focused Think Tank. It is confounding and disconcerting that none currently exist. Preferably, the Think Tank should be an independent non-institutional organization that can contribute to critical policy dialogue and a catalyst to impact public and private policymaking.
Latinos are a diverse population that also encompass their respective achievement of social and economic progress across the states’ 12 distinct economic regions. The authors argued that much more progressive policies are needed than even before the Covid-19 pandemic. That Latino political engagement and messaging must increase to influence policymaking.