Full Description
This book examines the politics involved in the mobilization of the Latinx vote in America. Delving into the questions of race and identity formation in conjunction with the role of communication media, the author discusses the implications for Latinx voters and their place in the American political and racial system.
Utilizing an in-depth study of the mobilizing efforts of national Latinx groups, along with a rigorous analysis of online media, news media, and electoral results, this book discusses:
How the old notions of white and black America clash with the growing focus on Latinos
How political organizers develop and use messages of racial solidarity to motivate people, what technologies are at their disposal, and what their use means
How the study of new media is vital to exploring race in the 21st century, and why communication cannot ignore the racial legacies of the 20th century
Theoretically located in between the fields of communication and racial/ethnic studies, this book will be of great relevance to scholars and students working in the field of communication studies, political communication, Latinx studies, and sociology.
Contents
Introduction: Dreams of a United Latinx Polity
Cultural and Political Change Meets Latinxs
Introducing the Mediation of U.S. Latinx Identity
Methodology
Outline of Chapters
The Mediation of Latinx Identity Before the Internet
A Note on Terminology
Contextualizing the Political and Economic Moment
Racial Formation Theory Applied
Minimization of Difference
Denationalization
Racialization
New Media and U.S. Latinx Identity
Naming in a Networked Society
The "New Latino" and Online Expression
Navigating American Democracy Online as a Latinx
Political Mobilization in the Post-Modern Digital Era
Digital Politics—Tools, Opportunities, and Vulnerabilities
Campaigns and Political Advertising Online
Voters as Audience-identity Constructions
Post-modern Identity and Politics
Towards a "New Latino" Hybrid
The Professional Political Class of U.S. Latinxs
Minimization of Difference
Denationalization
Racialization
Other Emergent Themes
Latinx Presentation, Digital Representation
Platforms and Messages
The End of DACA
The Shutdown
The 2018 Texas Democratic Primary
New Tools, Old Practices?
Media Coverage of the 2018 Midterms
How the Media Talked About Latinx Voters
Minimization of Difference
Denationalization
Racialization
Telling the Latinx Story
Conclusion
Findings Summarized
Contributions Summarized
Limitations of Study
Recommendations
Future Directions
