Figure 14.5 How individuals self-identify national origin, by language preference and use in
answer to the question “In general, which of the terms that you use to describe
yourself is the term you use first?”
Source: Adapted from data provided by the Pew Hispanic Research Center, 2010
There is reason to be wary about attempts to demonize immigrant
populations. John Tanton, the founder of many different extreme anti-
immigration groups and periodicals, has been vocal about his belief that
Mexican immigrants pose a real threat to Americans: Tanton has warned
of a coming “Latin onslaught” and proposed that high Latino birth rates
would lead “the present majority to hand over its political power to a
group that is simply more fertile.” Tanton repeatedly demeaned Latinos in
the memos, asking whether they would “bring with them the tradition of
the mordida [bribe], the lack of involvement in public affairs” and also
questioning Latinos’ “educability” (Beirich 2009).
In their study of the representation of Latino/as in the media, Penfield
and Ornstein-Galicia (1985) note general trends: Latino/as are almost
always portrayed as violent and with explosive tempers; Chicanos/as in
California’s large cities are drug-pushers, gang-members, pimps. In rural
areas they are migrant farm workers. Just as Disney never thought to give
the character of a carpenter (or a fire fighter, or a street sweeper) a French