by Héctor Tobar
First published 2023
Héctor Tobar addresses young Latinos directly in this personal and historical examination of what "Latino" means in contemporary America. The Pulitzer Prize winner traces the forces that have shaped Latino identity, from colonialism and immigration policy to media representation and popular culture. Tobar weaves together his own family's story of migration from Guatemala with his travels across the country, seeking to understand how this rapidly growing but loosely defined racial category has evolved. He confronts the anger and hopes of young Latino people who have watched their identity reduced to harmful stereotypes while facing ongoing discrimination. Drawing on his experience as journalist, novelist, mentor, and educator, Tobar decodes the complex meaning of Latinidad in the twenty-first century. The book offers both historical context and personal insight into the social forces that continue to define Latino experience in the United States.
Genres: american, non-fiction, 21st-century, ethnic-studies, cultural-studies, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-narrative, social-commentary
Setting: Guatemala, United States
Period: 21st-century
256 pages · Hardcover · MCD