From the first Latinos' arrival in pre-Columbian America to the Alamo, Santeria, Desi Arnaz, the exodus from Castro's Cuba, and the 2006 immigration rallies, this volume illuminates the most critical-and some not as well-known-events in Latino history. Chronological entries organized by subject explore categories such as Civil Rights and Protest, Arts & Music, Literature, Religion, Economics, and Legislation. Inclusive of all Latino subgroups, this accessible Chronology is the most current and concise reference source on the history of Latin Americans in the U.S., a must-read for students of Latino culture and American studies, past and present. Chronological entries organized by subject explore categories such as Civil Rights and Protests, Arts and Music, Literature, Religion, Economics, and Legislation. Illustrations of key political and cultural figures, barrios, rallies, and foods illuminate the events. Other helpful reference features include creative sidebars and a glossary including the most popular Spanish words in use in the U.S. as well as Spanglish terms. The Latino Chronolgy is the most current and concise reference source on the history of Latin Americans in the U.S., a must-read for students of Latino culture and American studies, past and present.

This riveting expose reveals how a distorted belief in Anglo superiority necessitated the rewriting of American western history, replacing heroic images of Mexican and Spanish cowboys with negative stereotypes. Early Anglo settlers in the Old West crafted negative images of Latinos in part to help justify the takeover of land occupied by Mexicans and Spaniards at the time. Unfortunately, these depictions were perpetuated throughout the 20th century in art, popular culture, and media ... eventually reshaping the narrative of the American West to the exclusion of the non-Anglo people. This book contrasts dominant lore with historical reality to provide a broad overview of the history and contributions of Latinos in the Old West. Author D. H. Figueredo sets out to debunk the myths and falsehoods of the American West by chronicling the cultural perceptions that led to such historical inaccuracies. Through spellbinding accounts, chapters address such topics as the legends behind the caballeros, Mexican culture in the Old West, and the search for cities of gold in the Southwest. Arranged chronologically and thematically, the book examines how popular culture diminished the role of the Mexican vaqueros and illustrates how the image of the Anglo cowboy became the iconic symbol of the Old West. Introduces topics unfamiliar to most readers, such as the role of Spanish-Mexican Jews, the presence of the Spanish Inquisition in the United States, and the real Yellow Rose of Texas Reveals the duplicity of la leyenda negra to illustrate prejudices of the time Traces the development of stereotypes such as the Black Legend, banditos, greasers, Zorro, the Cisco Kid, and "loose women," and how these characterizations came to depict Latinos in the Old West in the popular imagination Documents Latinos' participation in the conquest of the territory west of the Mississippi

A Brief History of the Caribbean is an overview of the historical events that have taken place and shaped the islands of the Caribbean Sea - beginning with an account of the indigenous populations before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492 and ending with the major political and economic developments in early 2007 in Aruba, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico, among others.The historical perspective is enriched by allusions to the culture, manners, and morals of particular periods, often highlighting the connection between literary activities and politics, such as the Negritude Movement, and literary figures and politicians, such as Juan Bosch in the Dominican Republic. Complementing the narrative are sidebars with important and unusual information on topics such as women pirates, meals eaten by slaves, and the cultural preference for strong leaders in the region. The authors attempt to give readers a multicultural perspective that will allow them to understand events from both an insider's and an outsider's viewpoints.

Presents more than 700 articles written by 80 contributors on all aspects of Cuba's fascinating history, its complex present situation, and its land, culture, and relationship with the rest of the world, especially the United States. This wonderfully comprehensive two-volume encyclopedia features more than 700 entries, covering history; politics; current issues; the Cuban Diaspora; geography and the environment; and culture, including religion, the arts, literature, food, holidays, and sports and games. The Encyclopedia of Cuba presents a balanced and objective view of Cuba, with 80 distinguished scholars and researchers reporting the broad sweep of all of Cuba's tempestuous history up to the present. This important work also tells the stories of Cuban exiles, both in the United States and in other countries. The Encyclopedia includes more than 200 illustrations, including photographs, maps, tables, and graphs, as well as historical and legal documents. This encyclopedia is arranged in A-Z order within 12 topical chapters, with chapters on national symbols; geography, urbanization, and the environment; the history of the colonial period (pre-Columbian to 1901), the Republican period (1902 to 1958), and the revolutionary period (1959 to the present); contemporary economy and society; literature and social sciences; performing arts; plastic arts; popular culture and religion; sports; and the Cuban Diaspora. Appendixes include historical documents, U.S. laws relating to Cuba; lists of governors and presidents; important works of Cuban literature; and important Cuban films. The Encyclopedia will be useful to students from high school through university, to scholars, and to the general public.