For time immemorial, the indigenous peoples of the Andes have relied on their extensive understanding of the ecosystem to exist in harmony with the environment.
In the past few years, there has been a particularly prevalent and polarizing dialogue surrounding the role and the place of Hispanic and Latino immigrants in our country. In the face of a rise in anti-Latino rhetoric in American politics, and an increase in hate-fueled criminal acts against Latinos in the United States, we are often left with a few questions: Where do these ideas come from? Is there any validity to this? And, how can we collectively become more educated on the reality of Latino-U.S. immigration?
The Catholic church is in the midst of an institutional crisis as allegations and evidence of sexual abuse by members of the church, and cover-ups by their superiors, continue to be exposed in immense quantities. Chile has found itself at the forefront of this scandal as various raids around the country have led authorities hundreds of cases of sexual abuse by clerics, bishops, priests, and other non-priest members of the country’s diocese.
The history of the United States has often been plagued by abhorrent racism, founded in the importation of slaves and perpetually upheld by countless acts of violence, loaded remarks and disabling court determinations. On the other hand, Latin America and the Caribbean have received a cheery disposition as a welcoming nation of mixed ancestries, often cited for its blend of European and indigenous backgrounds.
Diversity amongst teachers in K-12 education is significantly low in the United States. The teachers found in K-12 schools are predominantly white and diversity is often not found in schools. However, the racial diversity amongst K-12 students is slightly more balanced, and is even expected to increase in the U.S.
As Latino people comprise an increasing proportion of the United States population, it is more and more pressing that non-Latino people understand who these people are, where they come from, and what role they play in our modern society. Latinos make up the largest minority group in the U.S. at around 58 million people, or 18% of the country’s population.
