Judging by news coverage of the nation’s fastest growing ethnic
minority, you’d think that “the Hispanic condition” was a
pathology. With the exception of growing power in the voting
booth, the news makes it seem as though we’re all poor, sick and
generally unable to cope with life as well as others. There are
simply too many examples of the negativity that seems to drive
reporting on – and perceptions of – the health and economic
well-being of Hispanics to list here. But let me illustrate my
point with some recent coverage surrounding Latino learners.
“Mexican-American children lag in pre-literacy skills, but not
social strengths, study reveals” was a popular headline based on
research from the University of California. This eye-popping
statement in the university’s press release exemplifies how
these children have historically been cast as underachievers:
“The researchers caution teachers, pediatricians and other
health care providers to ‘not assume social-emotional delays,
even when language or cognitive s