Review by Choice Review
Even though the Latino population in Chicago rose from 3 percent in 1960 to 14 percent in 1980 and Latino political representation grew across the country, no Latino had a seat on the Chicago City Council in 1980. In this valuable contribution to Chicago and Latino political histories, Cruz (Columbia College Chicago) argues that Latinos faced many obstacles to gaining a political voice in Chicago. Chief among them was Richard J. Daley, the mayor from 1955 to 1976. Daley built a powerful political organization based on patronage and the allegiance of white voters, and he questioned the loyalty of people of color, taking their votes for granted. Little changed until the election in 1983 of the city's first African American mayor, Harold Washington, who courted the Latino vote as he forged a coalition of whites, Blacks, and Latinos to defeat Daley's machine. Washington hired Latinos at City Hall and supported those who ran for political office. With Latinos comprising nearly 30 percent of the population of Chicago in the 2020 census and now enjoying significant representation at the city and state levels, Cruz concludes that they will play a major role in the city's future. Summing Up: Recommended. Undergraduates through faculty and general readers. --John F Lyons, Joliet Junior College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
