Thursday, January 29, 2015

Latino Stats American Hispanics by the Numbers

The Reading Corner

Last Christmas I received in the mail a new book titled Latino Stats by Idelisse Malave and Esti Giordani, a Puerto Rican mother-daughter team who take a closer look at Hispanics in this country. The recently released paperback book (published by The New Press) is now part of my Puerto Rican/Latino library collection, and it is expected to become a go to guidebook for anyone who wants to better understand the new reality of our nation's widely diverse Latino population. It has been described as the go-to book for anyone who wants to understand the future of America.

This book serves as an important resource for advocates, educators, journalists and policy makers because it cuts through the rhetoric and sensationalism in the mainstream media and highlights with actual numbers the reality of Latino life in the U.S.

Latinos are both the largest and fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the country while many continue to fight for status as Americans. There are 53 million Latinos in the U.S.: one in six Americans is Latino. Thirty years from now, it will be closer to one in three. In about 15 years, Latinos will be 40 percent of the U.S. electorate. As of 2013, Latino buying power stands at an impressive 1.2 trillion, with women driving the purchases.

With statistics on jobs, family, lifestyle, identity and more, Latino Stats is a multi-generational source aimed at being a starting point to delve deeper and educate ourselves on the very broad Latino population and work towards a more equitable future.

Here is a snapshot of sample stats from Latino Stats:

On voting, education and social issues
*Seven out of ten Latino registered voters identify with or lean towards the Democratic Party. Latinos accounted for 10.8 percent of all registered voters in 2012.
* Over the past four decades, the number of Latinos receiving college degrees grew by sevenfold.
* With a median annual household income at $39,000, Latinos earn $11,000 less than the median for the total U.S. population and have the lowest weekly earnings out of any other group.

On immigration
* During the Obama administration, a record-breaking 400 thousand immigrants a year have been deported at a cost of billions of dollars.
* Undocumented immigrants contributed $10.6 billion to state and local sales tax, property tax (even if they rent), and income taxes in 010.
* The majority (two-thirds) of Latinos were born in the U.S. Only 17 percent of all Latinos are undocumented immigrants; the number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. has been declining since 2007.

On lifestyle and family
* Just over half (53 percent) of Latinos identify as Catholic. Twelve percent identify as mainline Protestant, 13 percent evagelical Protestant, 6 percent with a non-Christian religion, and 12 percent are unaffiliated.
* Latino millennials living with their parents spend 21 percent of their time with family, and those who live on their own commit 31 percent of their time to family. Latino millennials also spend 14 percent of their time on "me time," slightly more than non-Latinos (10 percent). Interestingly, Latino millennials also carry the least amount of credit card debt compared to their non-Latino counterparts.
* Latinos account for 15.4 percent of same-sex couple households. Contrary to media depictions of Latino homophobia, 59 percent of Latinos also agree that homosexuality should be accepted rather than discouraged by society.

For more information, http://thenewpress.com/books/latino-stats.

Latino Stats will soon be available in the PRSUN aStore as well.






Monday, December 08, 2014

Memories of Puerto Rican Heritage Month '14


For Puerto Rican Heritage Month I attended a series of cultural and social events in New York, including Mayor Bill De Blasio and NYC Council Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito's reception at Gracie Mansion, Mark-Viverito's celebration at the City Council Chambers, the Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.'s luncheon at Don Coqui in the Bronx, and a jibaro Mass in honor of Our Lady of Providence, patroness of Puerto Rico, at St. Luke's Church in the South Bronx. November is always a great Puerto Rican time in New York City. It ushers in the holiday season for sure.

(At the Puerto Rican celebration at City Council Chambers on Nov. 5, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito honored actress and TV personality Rosie Perez.)

Here is an album dedicated to Puerto Rican Heritage Month that I created with more photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/clarisel/sets/72157647098400453/




-- Clarisel

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Like NEW Puerto Rico Sun FB Page

Hi, Puerto Rico Sun Communications is back. I have decided to create a new Puerto Rico Sun FB page, which is an extension of this blog.

facebook.com/prsun



Thank you.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Young Lords Way in El Barrio


By Ismael Nunez

A highlight this summer is the naming of a street in East Harlem in honor of the Young Lords. It finally happened on July 26, a great day and victory for the community. That day the YOUNG LORDS were remembered and honored for their contributions. Former members of the YOUNG LORDS from chapters from New York City, Chicago, and Connecticut, were present as 111th Street was named Young Lords Way.

Here are some scenes from that joyous day in El Barrio. I am honored to live in a neighborhood with a street called Young Lords Way.


Ismael Nunez is a PRSUN contributor.