Harvest of Empire by Juan Gonzalez Book Analysis

In part III, chapter 10 of “Harvest of Empire”, Juan Gonzalez explains five stages of the modern Latino political movement that caused an abrupt increase in the Latino voting bloc by the end of the 2000s.  The Latino voter registration expanded to a 62% overall increase, jumping to a 460% increase in the course of 30 years.  The phases are “The Integration Period: 1950-1964”, “ The Radical Nationalist Period: 1965-1974”, “The Voting Rights Period: 1975-1984”. “The Rainbow Period: 1985-1994”, and “The Third Force Period: 1995-present”.

Phase 1 begins after World War II when Latino veterans returned to their hometowns feeling emboldened to demand equal rights and treatments and the Anglo-Americans.  They served and fought for their country and in return wanted to be treated and seen as full American citizens, but their demands were not met.  These Mexican-Americans then sought out support from other veterans and politicians, resulting in organizational groups like the American G.I. Forum, political support from John F. Kennedy, and the Civil Rights Movement lead to change in the government.  Mexican-American veterans could now get the same benefits as other veterans and thanks to the support of Kennedy and actions of the Civil Rights Movement, the Voting Rights Act was passed and it gave lots of Latinos access to the vote.  The “Integration Period” ended around 1964 due to the start-up of the notorious Watts Riots of 1965.

“The Radical Nationalist Period: 1965-1974” was the phase where Latino activism and involvement were largely seen.  In trying to reject their parents’ attempt of integrating into American politics and society, the Latino youths were organizing and participating in political groups, leading demonstrations, and riots.  This generation of Latinos formed radical nationalist groups which lead to the organization of civil rights groups like the Brown Berets, La Raza Unida,  and the United Farm Workers.  Fueled by the activism of the civil rights movement and anti-Vietnam War movement, Latinos were advocating for Hispanic representation in the government and increasing Hispanic political development.

The “Voting Rights Period” entered by 1975, with a focus on political equality, but this time the goal “was infused with the cultural and ethnic pride awakened by 1960s radicalism.” (Gonzalez 177).  The phase involved called for lower-class workers to get involved in the political change.  Mexican and Puerto Rican immigrants who were previously politically inactive were now registering and voting.  As this was happening, fear grew amongst the Anglos of the political power the immigrants were gaining and their xenophobia lead to backlash.

In the fourth phase, Latinos joined forces with liberal whites and blacks to see a change in the political candidates.  They wanted to see more representatives that mirror who they are and the struggles that they went through as a community.  Their plan to get more Latino and Black political candidates in the elections was to get poor people of color to be on board with their goal.  Poor people of color made up much of these predominantly Black and Latino cities like Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and San Antonio, so they were part of the movement’s target demographic.  The campaign had great success and was able to get many Hispanic and Black leaders in office by 1995.  Eventually, discrimination and stereotyping between the Latino and Black communities caused the end to the “Rainbow Period”

The last phase is the “Third Force Period”, which according to Gonzalez, is the current phase we are in today.  This period deals with the rush to get American citizenship by Latino immigrants, the significant increase of participation in voting, and the new power that Latino hold in politics in America.