The Power of Latino Leadership

Preface

I GREW UP IN THE early 1950s, when Latinos were in a cultural no-man’s-land. These were the days when the sign No Mexicans, No Dogs hung in the windows of Texas restaurants and my mother was embarrassed by her broken English. In fact, the term Hispanic as an official designation occurred only from the 1980 census on. If my mother were alive today she would marvel at how far Hispanics have come. Un milagro—a miracle! Then she would make the sign of the cross in gratitude for divine providence.

Many people believe that the rising Latino influence is a recent phenomenon fueled by our exploding demographics. It’s true that the Latino population in the United States grew by 43 percent in the last decade, accounting for more than half of the ...