Both Black and Mexican

In this book,oral interviews were conducted with members of the Thornton family in the second and third generations.Readings in existing identity theories determined how similar or divergent the Thorntons were from those models.Existing work on the history and identity of Afro-Mexicans and Afro-Latinos in the U.S and Latin America were read.Self-identity among the second generation of the Thornton family varied according to gender,parental and external push and pull factors.Cultural and racial identification of the parents proved to be salient to their children s self-perception in varying degrees.Third generation self-identity either mimicked their parents or took other paths.Speaking Spanish was salient in articulating towards or away from a Mexican-Indian or Latina self-identity.The self-identity of the second generation Thorntons is a potpourri of existing models of biracial identity.No one fits neatly into any one model.They exemplify Black identity as inclusive of all parts of their heritage.This can mean not articulating solely to a Black identity or not racially self-identifying at all.The Thorntons redefine race as it makes sense to them and maximize their quality of life.

Autorentext

Alva Moore Stevenson is a historian, oral historian and writer Her Bachelor's degree is in English and Masters in African American Studies, with a Minor in Latin American Studies. From the University of California, Los Angeles. Alva is Program Coordinator in the UCLA Library Department of Special Collections.