Like Jones-Correa talks about in Between Two Nations, getting the hispanic bloc to unify can be a difficult task. A lot depends on how a hispanic person chooses to define their identity, both culturally and politically. Jones-Correa writes about the "state-sponsored" identity, a label given to all so called "hispanics" by the census bureau. This is a great way to count population but a horrible tool for defining an actual set of people. "Hispanics" can choose whether or not to identify with this label and they can choose when they want to.
State-Sponsored identity gives way to possible advantages for minorities at times and allows them to use thes advatages whenever they see it necessary. Along voting lines, state-sponsored identities is not a time when unity occurrs. "Hispanics" generally vote along a different ethnic identity known as "situational identity."
Situational identity refers to a choice made by a member of the hispanic population as to which ethnic group to belong to. When it comes to voting many hispanics vote along the lines of their country of orgin. As the article below states, Cubans vote with Cubans, Mexicans with Mexicans, and so on.
Mobilization in the hispanic bloc seems to be difficult with voting because this isn't an issue that all hispanics agree on. However, one thing is cetain, if Mexicans wish to gain more power and better rights in the United States they must mobilize their vote better. Even though the Mexican population is young it can still be a powerful group. And along the lines of boarder control, Mexican-Americans need to unify and make some decisions together. If they wish to keep illegal immigrants out that they feel are bringing their ethnic identity down, then they need to vote for better boarder control options. But if Mexican-Americans decide to vote along their state-sponsored identity then they need to unify with Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and the rest of the hispanic population. A task much easier said than done.
http://www.americansc.org.uk/Online/garcia.htm
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The ability to unite becomes even more complicated when you examine the issue of race. Latinos for the most part do not see themselves as a "race" but an ethnic group. But when pressed the majority choose "white." In Queens, NY 47.9 % chose "white" and only 6.1% chose black. 63% of Puerto Ricans chose "white" and 94% of Cubans chose "white." So what is happening is that Latinos are making a faustian (devil's bargain) pact with whiteness. By distancing themselves from blackness and subscribe to "whiteness" for social and economic mobility, but at the expense of African Americans.
I dunno. This post kind of reminded me about a discussion we had in class this week about the groups in america that were helping and sending monetary aid to towns in mexico. The groups can be created and strengthened but like a student in class said, the generation that follows suit isn't as involved. So as far as creating a strong politicaly active latino bloc, it is possible, but would probably be lost in the next generation. Time changes priorities. Things that affected one generation don't always affect another so it is hard to create a legacy persay in political participation.
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