Link to article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/01/28/tom-brokaw-apologizes-after-saying-hispanics-should-work-harder-assimilation/?utm_term=.aa5f358a6468

This week’s readings explore the patterns of assimilation displayed by Hispanic immigrants. In his controversial piece “The Hispanic Challenge,” Samuel Huntington contends that the entrance of Hispanics into the United States compromises the dominance of the English language and threatens our foundational Anglo-Protestant values (rule of law, work ethic, individualism, etc.). This stance does not go unchallenged, however. Citrin et. al test whether Hispanics are truly as unwilling to assimilate as Huntington suggests. Supported by data from national surveys, the researchers report typical rates of acculturation in Hispanic migrant populations.

The article from The Washington Post discusses the claim that immigrants should adopt American culture more readily (Tom Brokaw). His tirade includes expressions of fear towards “racial mixing and a majority-minority nation.”Although Brokaw issued an apology, the comment nevertheless reflects racist and xenophobic sentiments held by a sizable portion of American citizens. This is deeply troubling because studies are consistently demonstrating Hispanic immigrants’ normal acculturation. Furthermore, the article provides anecdotal cases of immigrants’ willingness to adapt. Barbara Rodriguez and Carolina Moreno (political reporters), for instance, tweeted that their mothers fiercely advocated for mastery of English as a means of social assimilation.

Discussion questions:
Can empirical/anecdotal evidence dispel persistent narratives about Hispanic assimilation? Is the eradication of such narratives a fair way to assess whether related studies are worthwhile?