Review by Choice Review
In this interesting book Gracia argues for use of the term "Hispanic" instead of "Latino" (or the different national names that identify Hispanics in the US), because it is the only label than can gather within it the historical family constituted by Iberians, Latin Americans, and Hispanics living in the US. In this way Gracia wants to avoid any essential identity for Hispanics. The main thesis of the book is that Hispanics' identity is not founded in commonality but on historical relations that create historical families. In developing his argument, Gracia first presents the ongoing debate among Hispanics/Latinos in the US about how to refer to themselves. He then analyzes the relationship between names and identity, especially ethnic identity, to finally assert that the key to understand Hispanic identity is "their unity in diversity," a product of the mestizaje that characterized America's discovery and conquering by the Iberians. In two additional chapters the author uses Latin American philosophy and Hispanics in American philosophy as examples of his thesis. Gracia has written a clear and understandable book that will appeal to general readers and lower-division undergraduates. P. Vila; University of Texas at San Antonio
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
