What does the future hold for Latinos in a country increasingly hostile towards them? Drawing lessons from Latino art and politics, and inspired by the principles of Catholic social teaching, this dialogue explored how the Latino community can respond to the growing racism that tries to diminish Latinos’ role in U.S. public life. It addressed the rise of ethnic nationalism in U.S. politics and society and how the Latino community can respond.
The backlash to Bad Bunny’s halftime performance at the Super Bowl—the United States’ biggest sporting event of the year—has been just one instance of hostility towards the growing presence and leadership of ethnic minorities in U.S. society. In the past year, we’ve witnessed immigration policies that explicitly privilege white immigrants while targeting others with violence, efforts to discourage diversity in major institutions, and moves to end birthright citizenship, among other efforts. Catholic social teaching, which affirms the importance of cultural diversity and pluralism rooted in dialogue and encounter, provides lessons for navigating these worrying trends in U.S. society.
Christian Soenen, projects manager of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, moderated the dialogue.
This gathering had three parts:
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Welcoming Happy Hour
Meet and network with other young leaders over food and drink.
7:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Latino Leader Gathering
A conversation on “More than Just the Half-Time Show: Latino Culture, Backlash, and Belonging in the United States” with four leaders.
8:00 - 9:00 p.m. | Reception
Continue the conversation with other young leaders over food and drink.
This Latino Leader Gathering was for young adult Catholics to come together to explore links between faith, Catholic social thought, and their lives and work, especially on public policy.
Resources
Photo credit: Matt Green via Flickr
