The major problem with Democratic Hispanic outreach since the Obama era has been approaching them strategically as a minority racial group, when they aren't one. They aren't a racial group. And they don't share the particular history of a minority racial group in the US. -OS
So the dems should lie to them like the Republicans do?
The Spanish-speaking world is nearly as large as the English speaking world, and probably more diverse. America (Democrats and Republicans alike) sees a monolith of "Hispanics" because it's self-absorbed, stupid, and has no attention span, as is perfectly reflected by its president.
All the Central, South American, and Caribbean countries form themselves into a whiteness hierarchy based on colonialist values. It’s why a lot of them sort of collectively hate Haitians, and why some of them see themselves as white or “one of the good ones”.
Ehh. Latam racial hierarchy doesn’t mean you hate the people below you. Also, it has nothing to do with the fact that a lot Latino voters a) were furious about the increase in cost of living and b) didn’t see themselves in the newcomers coming across the border
What does a racial hierarchy mean, then?
Mostly as a form of genetic aspiration or explaining societal neuroses based on skin color. “Just because those brown people are poorer or those mestizos are worse at school than those white people… doesn’t mean I hate them.” Very common sentiment across all LATAM.
Yet, they value whiteness.
Yes, but they don’t *hate* nonwhiteness (not a word, I know). That level of racial hate is just not common. It’s not like in the US and the issues with Jim Crow.
I think they do.
Yeah and Venezuelans have likewise become an out-group due to the refugee influx across LATAM
You need Hispanic outreaches (plural). You have to consider some Hispanic groups in the US don't actually have much Spanish-speaking ability. Different levels of immersion into particular cultures. Are clustered at different spots on the socioeconomic scale. -OS
A lot of the success that Trump had with particularly Latinos in 2020 and 2024 is as simple is he pitched them in English and as though they were just another group of white guys. -OS
That's quite right! Latinos are not as homogeneous as traditional minorities. They come from different places and have different cultures and stories. If you want to really capture their hearts, you still have to understand their unique backgrounds and not just lump them together.
People forget how many Spanish colonies there were, and how different their histories are.
Maybe just try to talk to people instead of looking for a box to put them in
The Dems have totally forgotten that once upon a time the border crossed millions of Hispanics, not vice versa.
Some fair points. I can say speaking from South Texas is that tRump & MAGA has tapped into the fake masculinity of pickup driving bros and immigrant-haters in Mex-Am community. That’s the nub of it.
Undergrad professor said the issue is are Hispanics Jews or Italians? As income rises Jews become (largely) more conservative, but remain committed Dems. For Italians they switch parties. Of course an oversimplification. & this is what was said in 85
Even this is an oversimplification because your path to the US is very different if you're Mexican vs. Caribbean vs. Central American vs. South American. -OS
It's an interesting metaphor for how race and economic status influence political choices, but it can't be simply applied because the reality is much more complicated.
It's more of a diaspora to my mind.