Chapter 4: The Narrative and our Civicness: Capturing the Identity, Agency, and Membership of the Latina/o/x Communities

The story of Latinas/os/xs is inherently bound to the over 500 recognized Indigenous tribes that call the Americas their native lands. The stories of Latinas/os/xs are articulated through the consciousness of violent colonization by countries such as Spain and Portugal, and of course the United States. The stories of Latinas/os/xs are spoken, sung, and written by Mexican Americans/Chicanos, Puerto Ricans/Boricuas, Cubans, Salvadorians, Ecuadorians, Nicaraguans, Costa Ricans, and all those who claim the labyrinth of Latinidades of the Americas (San Miguel, 2011; Cantú & Fránquiz, 2010). The composite stories showcase an intricate narrative of peoples, who have navigated their contested and multiple belongings for centuries (Flores, 2014; Gómez, 2007; Yuval-Davis, 2006). Indeed, the politics of belonging is “not only the maintenance and reproduction of the boundaries of the community of belonging by the hegemonic political powers but also their contestation and challenge by other political agents” (Yuval-Davis, 2006, p. 205). On one hand, the mark of race, gender, language, and immigration status initiates the state’s denial of rights and privileges (Rosaldo, 1997) narrowing a sense of belonging, for Latinas/os and other marginalized groups. On the other hand, “culture and claim placed on the broader society in which Latinos, or for that matter other marginalized or excluded groups live and interact” (Flores & Benmayor, 1997, p. 11) demands rights, shared space, and a sense of belonging.