Being Latino in the 21st Century: Reexamining Politicized Identity & the Problem of Representation
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BEING LATINO IN THE 21ST CENTURY: REEXAMINING POLITICIZED
IDENTITY & THE PROBLEM OF REPRESENTATION
Scorr B. ASTRADA* & MARVIN L. ASTRADA**
INTRODUCTION ......................................................245
I. THE POLITICIZED LATINO IN LEGAL & POLITICAL DISCOURSE ........ ........247
A. Problematizing Latino Identity: Exploring the Tensions Betwixt Identity,
Discourse & Representation................................. .....247
B. Beyond the Law: Critically Examining Latino Identity in the Larger Political
Context............................................... ......250
C. Complicating Representation: Identity & Demographics ........................252
II. LATINIDAD, THE PAN-LATINO & REPRESENTATIVENESS-COMING UP
SHORT?......................... 255
A. The Latino Identity Signifier: A Sameness-Difference Nexus........ ..........255
B. The Latino Voter: Probing Identity & Representation .....................256
C. Latino Identity: Concretizing a Politicized Identity......................260
III. A REPRESENTATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR LATINO IDENTITY: THE
FORMAL & COMMUNAL LATINO ...................................263
A. Clarifying the Latino Signifier: Culture & Communal v. Societal Notions of
Identity ............................................... ....... 264
B. Culture, the Community & Society... .................................265
C. Latino: Signification & Politicized Identity-The Societal & The Communal........267
IV. CONCLUSION - GOING FORWARD ............................... .....269
INTRODUCTION
Politicized identity, as a means to garner voting support, played a central role in U.S.
political discourse during the months leading up to and including Election Day, November 8,
2016. Predictions made by academics, pollsters, pundits, and a plethora of other commentators
relied upon the predictability of politicized identity to buttress sweeping claims that the Latino
voting bloc would be a significant and incontrovertible factor in ensuring the success of the
Democratic Party's candidate on Election Day.' The results of this election, however, call into
* Scott B. Astrada (J.D., M.B.A, Marquette University) is a legislative and public policy professional in Washington, D.C.
** Marvin L. Astrada (M.A., PhD., Florida International University; J.D., Rutgers University Law School; M.A., C.A.S.,
Wesleyan University) teaches in the Politics & History Department at New York University - Washington D.C.
I Predictions for Latino support for Clinton was slated to be higher than President Obama's in the last
election, and that the election was already lost for the Donald Trump with his controversial remarks about Mexican-
Americans. See, e.g., Lisa Mascaro, Latino support for Clinton set to hit record high for a presidential candidate - and
for Trump, a new low, L.A. TIMES (Nov. 6, 2017, 9:17 AM), http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-
trailguide-updates-latino-support-for-hillary-clinton-at-1 478451714-htmlstory.html [https://perma.cc/A3HV-K9VE]](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.journals/hybrid20&div=17&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)
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Being Latino in the 21st Century: Reexamining Politicized Identity & the Problem of Representation
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