Comments by Angel Oquendo

Abstract

In this talk I will give a summary of the concept of what I call the Latino(a) race. I think this will be helpful for my own clarification and perhaps may contribute to opening a dialogue. I started developing this concept in a tentative and, hopefully, reflective way last year while working with Margaret Montoya and others on a panel at the Law & Society annual meeting. I also have talked about this with some of you and, of course, a fair amount with Celina Romany who is also going to be speaking here today. Next, I want to move from a description of this concept to a reflection on "practical" applications. I use quotation marks because I intend to take issue with the ordinary understanding of the practical, especially in the area of law. The concept of the "Latino(a) race"-again in quotation marks; maybe this whole talk should be in quotation marks-is a concept toward which I have moved using, in part, the philosophical writings of the Spanish philosopher Miguel de Unamuno and critical race theory's rich literature. I have in mind the work of Derrick Bell, among others, and also the work of people who probably would not consider themselves part of this movement, such as Anthony Appiah and Cornel West. I focus on two experiences, or maybe I should call them two aspects, of the Latino(a) experience in the United States. The first is the historical experience. This dimension is very important because it is here that the Latino(a) community distinguishes itself from all other immigrant communities in the United States. The Latino(a) community did not come to the United States; the United States came to the Latino(a) community. The two largest groups in this community, Mexicans and Puerto Ricans, are part of the United States territorial system due to the colonial expansion that took place last century. In the case of Mexicans, Mexican-Americans, and Chicanos, I am alluding to the expansion toward the Southwest and the annexation of large portions of Mexican territory. In the case of Puerto Rico, the process began with the 1898 invasion of the island and continued with Puerto Rico's subsequent colonization by the United States military initially, and later by civil forces. In both cases, the imperialistic onslaught immediately made a group of Latino(a)s part of the United States reality and created the necessary historical conditions for the subsequent massive Latino(a) migrations to the United States mainland. (In due course, I will submit that, though different, the historical experience of other Latino(a)s parallels that of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans in relevant ways. My contention will be that the concept of the Latino(a) race, which is originally founded in the Mexican and the