Discussion Questions for 9/26 (part 2)

Discussion Questions for “The Politics of Race and Assimilation: The League of United Latin American Citizens 1929-1940” by Benjamin Marquez.

1. The reading discusses two types of theories that describe an ethnic minority group’s organization: group based theories and ethnic based theories (pg. 356). How do the two theories differ? Which theory best explains LULAC according to the author? Do you agree?

2. Do Mexican Americans or Latin Americans in general still (if you agree with the author) organize across economic lines or has there been a shift to group organization? In your opinion, what caused this shift?

3. What was LULAC’s main goal and how did they promote it? (pg. 359).

4. In LULAC’s opinion, how was assimilation achieved? What was holding them back? (pg. 365 and 366). Do you think that the Latin American community still holds these views?

5. Describe the typical member of LULAC. How did the composition of LULAC’s membership affect their political, social, and economic goals?

6. What was LULAC’s position on racism within society? According to LULAC, how does a Mexican-American (or American of Mexican decent) overcome racism?

7. What explains LULAC’s (seemingly) obsession with characterizing Mexican-Americans as “white”? What was LULAC’s aversion to associating or allying with other minority groups, particularly blacks? (pg. 368-369).

8. LULAC claimed in the 1950’s that discrimination against Mexican Americans had been eliminated. Do you agree?

9. According to the author, LULAC advocated for change within the existing social, political, and economic structures rather than calling for structural change itself. In your opinion, why did members of LULAC have so much faith in American institutions?

10. In your opinion, do social activists still advocate in much the same way that LULAC did or has there been a shift towards promoting structural change? Why is that? (i.e. do Americans now have as much faith in “the system” as Americans and members of LULAC did in the early 1900’s and why?).