Introducing Latino/a Theologies Book

This book is presented by two Latino authors who struggle with what it means to be of Spanish/Hispanic descent and to be American, especially when many Hispanic families have actively tried assimilating into the dominant American culture. For me, as a person of Puerto Rican descent whose mother avoided everything Puerto Rican in raising me so that I would not need to face the same discrimination that she did growing up in this country, the book is a powerful introduction to the theologies and philosophies that can help navigate the two worlds effectively and claim a new identity. I no longer need to be ashamed of learning Spanish as a 2nd language nor do I need to feel less-than because I share Puerto Rican cultural interests and characteristics.

For anyone who has no background in Latino/a culture, this is still a must-read in some ways. The authors do an excellent job of not only introducing the reader to the theologies that make up Latino thought but also the situations and life circumstances that inform those theologies. American Manifest Destiny is still alive and well in this country and, generally, Hispanics are the ones paying the price. Read the book to see how atrocious the situation is for us.