Hispanic Americans in the Rural Economy: Conditions, Issues and Probable Future Adjustments.

The stereotype of rural Hispanic Americans often connotes social problems such as poverty, illegal immigration, and migrant workers. In reality, rural Hispanics are part of a larger demographic trend changing the balance of power and socioeconomic relations among ethnic groups. Part 1 of this paper reviews demographic information. Hispanic-Americans are a heterogeneous people from different racial, national, religions, and economic backgrounds. Relatively young and concentrated geographically by ethnic origin, this population experiences high rates of unemployment, poverty, and educational disadvantage. Schooling and employment issues need high priority to effectively engage Hispanic-Americans in the U.S. economy. Part 2 focuses on the history and contemporary roles of Hispanics in "rural" America, including the often-ignored contributions of Hispanics to U.S. farming and livestock production, the origins of migrant and seasonal workers, the unionization of farm labor, immigration and related issues of mechanization, and the formation of rural colonias (Southwest communities with majority Hispanic populations). Part 3 discusses Mexican-Americans in agriculture, arguing that U.S. agriculture is going through a phase of "Mexicanization" instead of the predicted "mechanization" of the 1970s and 1980s. Implications for U.S. agriculture and workers of the North American Free Trade Agreement between Mexico and the United States are examined. This paper contains 47 references. (SV)