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Tuesday, February 08, 2011

New Books Non-Fiction for Feb 2011 - Topic: Cuba, Latinos, Honduras





New Non-Fiction Titles for February 2011 - Topics: Latinos, Honduras, Cuba
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[Kindle Edition]
Ramon Dacal Moure (Author), Manuel Rivero De La Calle (Author)
Format: Kindle Edition File Size: 2232 KB
Print Length: 160 pages
University of Pittsburgh Press; 1 edition (January 3, 2011)

The first report of archaeological findings in Cuba since 1959 and the first synthesis of Cuban prehistoric art and archaeology since Mark Harrington’s Cuba Before Columbus, published in 1921. More than one hundred photographs reveal the superb artistry of the Pre-Columbian Ciboney and Taino cultures and give the reader a deep appreciation of these early Cubans.


[Paperback] University of Arizona Press February 1, 2011
ISBN-10: 0816529086 ISBN-13: 978-0816529087
Jon Wolseth (Author)

In urban Honduras, gun violence and assault form the pulsing backdrop of everyday life. This book examines the ways that young men and women in working-class neighborhoods of El Progreso, Honduras, understand and respond to gang and gun violence in their communities. Because residents rely on gangs and Catholic and Evangelical Protestant churches to mediate violence in their neighborhoods, these institutions form the fabric of society.
While only a small fraction of youths in a neighborhood are active members of a gang, most young men must learn the styles, ways of communicating, and local geography of gangs in order to survive.

Due to the absence of gang prevention programs sponsored by the government or outside non-governmental organizations, Catholic and Pentecostal churches have developed their own ways to confront gang violence in their communities. Youths who participate in church organizations do so not only to alter and improve their communities but also to gain emotional and institutional support.

Offering firsthand accounts of these youths and how they make use of religious discourse, narrative practices, or the inscription of tattooed images and words on the body to navigate dangerous social settings, Jesus and the Gang is an unflinching look at how these young men turn away from perpetuating the cycle of violence and how Christianity serves a society where belonging is surviving.

This book will appeal to readers with an interest in Latin American studies, urban anthropology, and youth studies. With its focus on the lives of young men and women, it's also a compelling read for anyone interested in the plight of urban youth trying to escape the gang life.


Hardcover University of Arizona Press February 1, 2011
ISBN-10: 0816529264 ISBN-13: 978-0816529261
Ignacio López-Calvo

Los Angeles has long been a place where cultures clash and reshape. The city has a growing number of Latina/o authors and filmmakers who are remapping and reclaiming it through ongoing symbolic appropriation. In this illuminating book, Ignacio López-Calvo foregrounds the emotional experiences of authors, implicit authors, narrators, characters, and readers in order to demonstrate that the evolution of the imaging of Los Angeles in Latino cultural production is closely related to the politics of spatial location.

This spatial-temporal approach, he writes, reveals significant social anxieties, repressed rage, and deep racial guilt.
Latino Los Angeles in Film and Fiction sets out to reconfigure the scope of Latino literary and cultural studies. Integrating histories of different regions and nations, the book sets the interplay of unresolved contradictions in this particular metropolitan area.

The novelists studied here stem from multiple areas, including the U.S. Southwest, Guatemala, and Chile. The study also incorporates non-Latino writers who have contributed to the Latino culture of the city.

The first chapter examines Latino cultural production from an ecocritical perspective on urban interethnic relations. Chapter 2 concentrates on the representation of daily life in the barrio and the marginalization of Latino urban youth. The third chapter explores the space of women and how female characters expand their area of operations from the domestic space to the public space of both the barrio and the city.

A much-needed contribution to the fields of urban theory, race critical theory, Chicana/o-Latina/o studies, and Los Angeles writing and film, López-Calvo offers multiple theoretical perspectives--including urban theory, ecocriticism, ethnic studies, gender studies, and cultural studies-- contextualized with notions of transnationalism and post-nationalism.


(Counterpoints: Studies in the Postmodern Theory of Education) [Paperback]
Peter Lang Publishing; First printing edition February 14, 2011
ISBN-10: 1433105470 ISBN-13: 978-1433105470

Ghosts of No Child Left Behind politically situates curriculum within a historically and critically informed context to understand structural forces that have contributed to the creation of a population of adolescents who read below a 3rd grade level equivalent. 

This analysis additionally proposes a reconceptualization of literacy curriculum within a critical discourse to facilitate self-actualizing pedagogy for non-reading adolescents — some of whom are incarcerated.
Rooted in a complex understanding of teaching, learning, and knowledge, this book presents vital information to policymakers, administrators, and educators for improving literacy instruction, curriculum, and policy.

It can also inform the general public, especially parents, so that they may advocate for an educational infrastructure that promotes empowering literacy development for every student, including non-reading adolescents and younger struggling readers. 

This book is a phenomenal resource in teacher education courses focusing on literacy, critical pedagogy, policy, bilingual education, special education, and issues in urban education.


[Hardcover] Palgrave Macmillan February 1, 2011
ISBN-10: 0230109373 ISBN-13: 978-0230109377
Juan R. Valdez

How did all things African disappear from Santo Domingo? How did a white Hispanic identity instead come to dominate the country’s collective consciousness? Why did Dominican intellectuals, in trying to create a free and modern society and shield their country from North American imperialism, reengage Spanish neocolonialism?


In an effort to explore these questions, the author analyzes and discusses the socio-historical meanings and implications of Pedro Henríquez Ureña’s (1884-1946) writings on language.

This important twentieth century Latin American intellectual is an unavoidable reference in Hispanic Linguistics and Cultural Studies and his texts make us confront the ideological underpinnings of language, race, and identity in the context of Latin America and the pan-Hispanic community.

[Hardcover]
Routledge; 1 edition February 1, 2011
ISBN-10: 0415875064 ISBN-13: 978-0415875066
Nancy Lopez

There are roughly 45 million Latina(o) people living in the United States today and immigration scholars agree that the population of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. is around 12 million today, many of whom are of Hispanic origin. Immigration scholars also agree that a major unanswered question for the future of U.S. society is how well the children of these population groups will "make it" in the educational system and therefore begin to move up the socio-economic ladder. 

Will their "achievement" in the educational system parallel the experience and success of other immigrant groups of generations past? Or will many of these children experience much higher drop-out rates and if so, with what consequences? And are there policy options to prevent this from happening? Those are the very important issues this book will explore.


Paperback- Wadsworth Publishing; 1 edition February 25, 2011
ISBN-10: 0618470441 ISBN-13: 978-0618470440
Michele Guzman (Author), Nicolas Carrasco (Author), Devika Dibya Choudhuri (Author), Azara Santiago-Rivera (Author) 

Devika Dibya Choudhuri is a licensed professional counselor with more than 15 years of experience working with clients individually, as well as in couples, families, and groups. An associate professor at Eastern Michigan University, she serves as a trainer, coach, consultant, and frequent presenter on diversity and ethical issues.
She also teaches in the graduate counseling program in the community counseling field in courses such as cross cultural counseling, advanced multicultural counseling, counseling skills, group work, couple and family, and counseling women. Her research and publications have focused on the areas of multicultural client issues, counselor supervision, and pedagogy. 

Clinically, Dr. Choudhuri specializes in cross cultural and diversity issues, as well as trauma, assault, and abuse. She carries the National Certified Counselor credential as well as the Approved Clinical Supervisor. Her clinical experience has been in agency and university settings, working with refugee populations, sexual assault and abuse survivors, and immigrant and multicultural populations. 

She received her master's in counseling from the University of Vermont and her Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision from Syracuse University.


Paperback NYU Press February 8, 2011
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0814740901 ISBN-13: 978-0814740903
Paul Smokowski (Author), Martica Bacallao (Author)

Although the United States has always been a nation of immigrants, the recent demographic shifts resulting in burgeoning young Latino and Asian populations have literally changed the face of the nation.

This wave of massive immigration has led to a nationwide struggle with the need to become bicultural, a difficult and sometimes painful process of navigating between ethnic cultures.
While some Latino adolescents become alienated and turn to antisocial behavior and substance use, others go on to excel in school, have successful careers, and build healthy families. 

Drawing on both quantitative and qualitative data ranging from surveys to extensive interviews with immigrant families, Becoming Bicultural explores the individual psychology, family dynamics, and societal messages behind bicultural development and sheds light on the factors that lead to positive or negative consequences for immigrant youth. 

Paul R. Smokowski and Martica Bacallao illuminate how immigrant families, and American communities in general, become bicultural and use their bicultural skills to succeed in their new surroundings The volume concludes by offering a model for intervention with immigrant teens and their families which enhances their bicultural skills.


(Latinos in the United States) Paperback
Michigan State University Press February 2011
ISBN-10: 0870139967 ISBN-13: 978-0870139963
Ruben O. Martinez (Editor) 

Over the past twenty years, the Latino population in the Midwest has grown rapidly, both in urban and rural areas. As elsewhere in the country, shifting demographics in the region have given rise to controversy and mixed reception.
Where some communities have greeted Latinos openly, others have been more guarded. Despite their increasing presence, Latinos remain the most marginalized major population group in the country.

In coming years, the projected growth of this population will require greater attention from policymakers concerned with helping to incorporate them into the nation’s core institutions. 

This eye-opening collection of essays examines the many ways in which an increase in the Latino population has impacted the Midwest — culturally, economically, educationally, and politically.

Drawing on studies, personal histories, legal rulings, and other sources, this book takes an interdisciplinary approach to an increasingly important topic in American society and offers a glimpse into the nation’s demographic future.


Paperback Stylus Publishing (February 2011)
ISBN-10: 1579224644 ISBN-13: 978-1579224646
Michael Cuyjet (Editor), Mary F. Howard-Hamilton (Editor), Diane L. Cooper (Editor)

As the diversity of the students on campus increases, the importance for everyone in authority to understand students’ distinct cultures and how they perceive our institutions, and equally, to understand our own privilege, and often unconscious cultural assumptions, has never been greater.
This book presents a comprehensive set of resources to guide students of education, faculty, higher education administrators, and student affairs leaders in creating an inclusive environment for under-represented groups on campus.

It is intended as a guide to gaining a deeper understanding of the various multicultural groups on college campuses for faculty in the classroom and professional staff who desire to understand the complexity of the students they serve, as well as reflect on their own values and motivations.

The contributors introduce the reader to the relevant theory, models, practices, and assessment methods to prepare for, and implement, a genuinely multicultural environment. Recognizing that cultural identity is more than a matter of ethnicity and race, they equally address factors such as gender, age, religion, and sexual orientation. In the process, they ask the reader to assess his or her own levels of multicultural sensitivity, awareness, and competence.

The book approaches multiculturalism from three perspectives, each of which comprises a separate section: awareness; cultural populations; and cultural competence practice.

Section One defines multiculturalism and multicultural competence, considers changing student demographics, explores the impact environment has on culture, and provides the readers with criteria for assessing their cultural competence and awareness of their own racial identity.

Section Two addresses the cultural characteristics of specific ethnic or cultural populations, emphasizing their commonalities, and describing programs and practices that have successfully promoted their development. Each chapter includes discussion questions, and/or suggested activities that practitioners can undertake on their own campuses.

Individual chapters respectively cover the culture and experiences of African Americans, Asian and Pacific Island Americans, Latinas/os, Native Americans, biracial and multiracial students, the disabled, international students, non-traditional students, students of faith, women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students, and analyze White Americans’ attitudes to issues of privilege, racial identity, and social justice.

The inclusion of a chapter on the cultural characteristics of White students provides an opportunity for members of the majority culture to perceive of themselves in a cultural sense, and to appreciate their own culture as a first step in allowing them to recognize and appreciate other cultures.

The concluding section offers suggestions on how to use the book’s insights to achieve systemic change in the college environment.

The book is intended as a text for students, and as a practical guide for faculty, academic administrators, student affairs professionals, and others who want to foster an environment in which all students can succeed. It includes case studies, discussion questions, examples of best practice, and recommends resources to use in the classroom.


Hardcover Peter Lang Publishing; First printing edition February 28, 2011
ISBN-10: 1433112531 ISBN-13: 978-1433112539
Rhina Toruño-Haensly (Author, Editor)

Crossing Cultures/Cruzando culturas focuses on the creation of literary works and how these works reflect the life experiences of the authors. The purpose of this book is to inspire young Mexican-American, Hispanic, and Latino people by demonstrating that education is the key to life through the example of authors who have become successful in spite of their modest beginnings. 

Their love for education and their drive to improve themselves has turned them into nationally and internationally known authors recognized by major publishing companies. Their books in English have been translated quickly into other languages. 

The interviews reveal not only the authors' origins but also how they were able to overcome difficulties and challenges in their lives. The interviewed novelists include Mario Bencastro, Aristeo Brito, Rolando J. Diaz, Graciela Limon, and Demetria Martinez. Interviews conducted in English with Mexican-American writers are included in their original English version along with a proper Spanish translation. 

This book comprises a valuable resource for university students who are pursuing a degree in Spanish, Chicano studies, and ethnic studies that facilitates understanding the various dynamics of the Hispanic experience through literature.


[Two volumes] [2 volumes] (Child Psychology and Mental Health)
[Hardcover] Praeger February 28, 2011
ISBN-10: 0313382964 ISBN-13: 978-0313382963
Natasha Cabrera (Author), Francisco A Villarruel Ph.D. (Author), Hiram E. Fitzgerald (Author)

What effect does growing up in an ethnic minority and perhaps in an immigrant family have on development? That is the overarching question Latina and Latino Children's Mental Health sets out to answer. The work examines all of the myriad physical, psychological, social, and environmental factors that undermine or support healthy development in Latino American children, from biology to economics to public policy.
The first volume of this two-volume set focuses on early-life experiences and the second on youth/adolescent issues, treating such topics as children's development of a sense of self, development of linguistic skills, peer relationships, sexual orientation, and physical development. 

The work analyzes familial relationships, often an important resource that helps young people build resilience despite the stresses of migration. And it looks at patterns of behavior, social status, and social-goal orientations that differentiate Latino/a children and adolescents from their African American and European American peers.


(Studies in Medical Anthropology) Hardcover
Rutgers University Press January 21, 2011
ISBN-10: 0813548926 ISBN-13: 978-0813548920
Sabrina Marie Chase (Author) 

Surviving HIV/AIDS in the Inner City explores the survival strategies of poor, HIV-positive Puerto Rican women by asking four key questions: 
  • Given their limited resources, how did they manage an illness as serious as HIV/AIDS? 
  • Did they look for alternatives to conventional medical treatment? 
  • Did the challenges they faced deprive them of self-determination, or could they help themselves and each other? 
  • What can we learn from these resourceful women? 
Through an exploration of life and death among these resourceful women, the book provides the groundwork for inciting positive change in the U.S. health care system


(Journeys to Leadership Series) Paperback
Stylus Publishing February 2011
ISBN-10: 1579223532 ISBN-13: 978-1579223533
Mimi Wolverton, Salwa A. Zaki, Esther Elena López-Mulnix

Latinas in the Workplace highlights the stories of eight exceptional women. It is the third book in the Journeys to Leadership series that features stories about extraordinary women who have found paths to success in male-dominated arenas.
Even though each took a different route to success, these women share an overarching, almost implicit, understanding of what they aspired to: the freedom to choose where and how to invest time and energy, to establish professional and personal balance, and enjoy the luxury of defining that balance.

Despite their different professional aspirations, their journeys are rooted in similar ground tilled long before they entered the work world — a strong sense of family, influential religious traditions, and formidable ties to their cultural heritage.

The eight Latinas showcased in this book – a foundation president, two business CEOs, a doctor, a former college president, a teacher and author, and two school superintendents – grew up with a determination to get educated that was fostered by parents and grandparents.

All of them hold advanced degrees. Engrained in each of them is a sense of honor, the need to treat others with respect, and an inner strength — qualities nurtured by family members.

While each had to contend with negative forces, whether from within or outside their culture, and drew strength from the experience, they also acknowledge that being able to navigate two cultures, and being bilingual, has given them a unique perspective and two distinct ways of dealing with people.

Although Latinos constitute one of the fastest growing segments of our population, these Latina leaders represent a relatively small percentage of women in leadership in the United States. They hope that their stories inspire not only their contemporaries but the next generation of Latinas as well.


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