When people speak of the Hispanic community in Austin, Texas, what are they actually talking about? Is the "Hispanic community" a particular place in the city? Is it a set of census tracts where the majority of the residents are Mexican American? Is it a location where Spanish is spoken by those walking down the street? Where is the Hispanic community in Austin, Texas?
Some people would say the Hispanic community is not necessarily a physical place as much as it is a "state of mind" where relationships are formed by a system of beliefs, customs, traditions and values. Some would say this state of mind is sustained by the history of those who have made their way to Austin, Texas from Mexico and other countries further South, and by those who were raised here by parents with last names such as, Garcia, Guzman, Gonzales, Martinez, Perez and Velasquez.
To be sure, when one speaks of "community" they are by definition referring to something that has to do with the idea of commonality, the idea of association and the idea of belonging. Whether one subscribes to the notion that community is physical or something that is a "state of mind," there is indeed a dynamic at work that is facilitating the reproduction of a culture and people who go by the labels of, Mexican American, Chicano, La Raza, Hispanic and Latino.
This new book, The 2009 Austin Hispanic Almanac is an attempt to highlight the presence and participation of the Latino community in Austin, Texas through the use of statistical tables, graphs, charts, photographs, interviews and short narratives in English and Spanish. Where appropriate, Latinos are compared to other racial groups so as to provide a perspective or context in which to view their participation and presence in the city.
The organization of this book consists of 15 sections, an historical chronology and an index. The book comes in at 322 pages and contains 254 photos, illustrations and commentary sprinkled throughout to provide additional insight into the topic being discussed. Some of the sections include commentary in Spanish.
