Latinos

I do believe that the Latin@s population will be a decisive factor in politics, but I also believe they are thoroughly assimilated into the American culture. What are Spanish-speaking enclaves, after all, other than Italian, Chinese, Jewish, and other enclaves against whom nativist elements have also agitated?

The enclaves provide important services, such as teaching people how to speak and write English, how to become immigrants (if the DREAM Act could be passed), and many other things beside.

In fact, many of the decline in Chinatowns across the US can be attributed to the fact that people are no longer immigrating from China, or of they are, they are going back rather than staying here. Enclaves speak to the vitality of immigration, whether legal or undocumented.

On that basis, we can be either hopeful or pessimistic about their ability to change our culture for the better.