Notable Latino Americans: A Biographical Dictionary

by Richard A. Garcia, Matt S. Meier, Conchita F. Serri

Overview

U.S. Latinos have made important contributions to American society, and this biographical dictionary is devoted to celebrating those contributions. All 127 men and women profiled in this work have immigrated to or been born in the United States and have made major contributions to American life and culture. Cuban Americans, Puerto Ricans, Mexican Americans, and others of Spanish, South American, Central American and Caribbean heritage—more than one-third of them women—represent 35 fields of endeavor and all 50 states. From historical figures to the newest sports champion, figure-skater Rudy Galindo, this work provides profiles of both prominent and important but less-familiar people who have made significant contributions in their fields. Many of those profiled can be found in no other biographical source. A selection of photos complements the text.

All biographies have been written by experts in their ethnic fields. Those profiled range widely from distinguished scientists to sports stars, from actors to activists, from businesswomen to political personalities, from literary luminaries to labor organizers. All are potential role models for young men and women, and many have overcome extreme odds to succeed. These colorfully written, substantive biographies detail their subjects' goals, struggles, and commitments to success and to their ethnic communities. Among the 127 people profiled are: Nobel Prize-winning scientist Luis Alvarez; Treasurer of the United States Romana Acosta Bañuelos; actor/composer/activist Rubén Blades; classical dancer Fernando Bujones; baseball player José Canseco; U.S. Secretary of Education Lauro Cavazos Jr.; writer Sandra Cisneros; fashion designer Oscar de la Renta; U.S. Congressman Lincoln Díaz-Balart; teacher Jaime Escalante; composer/singer Gloria Estefan; tennis players Gigi Fernández and Mary Joe Fernández ; playwright Mara Fornés; U.S. Men's 1996 Figure Skating Champion Rudy Galindo; physician/political activist Héctor García; Coca-Cola CEO Roberto Goizueta; labor leader Dolores Huerta; U.S. Ambassador María-Luci Jaramillo; artist Marisol; civil-rights activist Vilma Socorro Martínez; businessman/politician Jorge Mas Canosa; federal judge Harold Medina; graphic artist Nicholasa Mohr; U.S. Surgeon General Antonia Novello; astronaut Ellen Ochoa; Nobel Prize-winning biochemist Severo Ochoa; TV personality Geraldo Rivera; U.S. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen; educational psychologist George I. Sánchez; newspaper editor Roberto Suárez; women's rights activist/businesswoman María Elena Toraño-Pantín; New York State Supreme Court Judge Edwin Torres; mystic Teresa Urrea; film producer/director Luis Valdez. For ease of use, the heading of each profile identifies ethnic group, field of endeavor, birthdate and, where appropriate, death date. Each profile concludes with a suggested reading list of books and periodical articles about the subject. An ethnic index, field of endeavor index, and a general index make research easy. This much needed reference work is essential for school and public libraries.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313291050
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	05/28/1997
Series:	Computer Science; 4
Pages:	448
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	12 Years

About the Author

MATT S. MEIER is Patrick A. Donohoe, S. J. Professor Emeritus at Santa Clara University in California. A pioneer in researching and teaching the history of Mexican Americans, he is author of Mexican American Biographies (Greenwood, 1988), the update of Carey McWilliams's North From Mexico (1990), and Bibliography of Mexican American History (Greenwood, 1984), and coauthor with F. Rivera of Dictionary of Mexican American History (Greenwood, 1981, ALA Outstanding Reference Book of 1982), Mexican Americans/American Mexicans (1993), Readings on La Raza (1974), and Chicanos: A History of Mexican Americans (1972). In 1985 he received Santa Clara University's Ethnic Studies Distinguished Service Award.

CONCHITA FRANCO SERRI, J. D., is President of Serri Compliance Training and specializes in AB 1825 Sexual Harassment Prevention Training. Born in San Juan, she earned her undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of Puerto Rico. She then came to the mainland to obtain her M.A. in education at Harvard University and for her law degree went to Boston College, where she wrote for the Uniform Commercial Code Reporter-Digest and was editor of the law school's Third World Law Jourbanal. She is actively involved in children's education and research.

RICHARD A. GARCIA is Professor of Ethnic Studies at California State University, Hayward. He is an American cultural and intellectual historian who specializes in ethnic and cultural studies. He is author of Rise of the Mexican American Middle Class: San Antonio, 1929-1941 (1991) and coauthor with Richard Griswold del Castillo of Cesar Chavez: A Triumph Of Spirit (1995).

Table of Contents

Introduction
The Biographies
Appendix A: Fields of Professional Activity
Appendix B: Ethnic Subgroups
Index

Editorial Reviews

Well known for his many reference and academic publications concerning Mexican Americans, Meier (North from Mexico, Greenwood, 1990) here offers 127 biographies of men and women of Latino descent who were born in or immigrated to the United States and have made a noteworthy impact. The majority of those profiled are writers, sports figures, actors, or political activists, though some lesser-known personalities in the sciences, education, and the arts are also included. The entries average three pages and generally include a picture and a short bibliography of additional sources. Publications like Richard and Rafael Chabran's The Latino Encyclopedia (Marshall Cavendish, 1995. 6 vols.) provide greater coverage for university and research libraries, but this volume will be of value to public, school, and undergraduate libraries.Mark L. Grover, Brigham Young Univ., Provo, Ut.

Library Journal

Gr 7 Up--Profiles of 127 people who have made important contributions to American society. Included are politicians, writers, musicians, educators, social activists, scientists, and actors--such familiar personalities as Cesar Chavez, Roberto Clemente, Jaime Escalante, and Linda Ronstadt, as well as less-familiar individuals such as author Reinaldo Arenas and Coca-Cola Company CEO Roberto Goizueta. While many Latino heritages are represented, the majority of those included are Mexican American, with Cuban Americans and Puerto Rican Americans the next most-represented groups. The three-to-four page biographies are clear and detailed and often give real insight into the person's life's work. While the focus is on the individual's main field of accomplishment, the authors do not shy away from the personal or controversial. A brief listing of articles and books in English and Spanish follows each entry. Black-and-white portraits, mostly photographs, accompany 27 of the entries. The coverage, especially of contemporary figures, is good. Nevertheless, one can still lament the omission of individuals such as librarian and folklorist Pura Belpre, authors Julia Alvarez and Gary Soto, artist Carmen Lomas Garza, and singer Selena. Appendixes categorize individuals by career and ethnic group. The general index is less useful; e.g., although astronaut Ellen Ochoa has a main entry, there is no listing in the index for either NASA or astronaut; and while there is an index entry for Nobel Prize, it does not refer to every occurrence of the term in the text--even references to Nobel Prize winners are missing. All but three of the women profiled here are also in Notable Hispanic American Women (Gale, 1993), but the broader scope and currency of this work make it a useful companion source. This book also complements Hispanic American Biography (UXL, 1995), which is similar in scope and depth without a significant amount of overlap.--Lauren Mayer, New York Public Library

School Library Journal

Profiles 127 U.S. Latinos who have made important historical or recent contributions to American society. Cuban Americans, Puerto Ricans, Mexican Americans, and others of Spanish, South American, Central American and Caribbean heritage<-->more than one-third of them women<-->represent all 50 states and 35 fields of endeavor, including business, government, the performing arts, fine arts, literature, education, social service, and sports. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews