Incorporation and silence : A comparative study of the reception of Latino immigrants in two southeast U.S. cities

Abstract

We know a great deal about Latino immigration to the United States and the movement of Latinos within the country, but it is useful to study the specific circumstances of local communities in order to get beyond broad-brushed labels and stereotypes. It is also useful to study specific circumstances in order to better understand the uneven local conditions that influence the social interactions between Latino immigrants and receiving communities. As such, this thesis is a comparative study of immigrant incorporation in two southeast U.S. cities, Dalton, Georgia, and Mount Olive, North Carolina. Drawing from qualitative interviews with community leaders in each site, this study shows that differences in factors of place, such as local history and Latino settlement patterns, create distinct conditions that influence the reactions of community members. This thesis also investigates the response of civic leaders when circumstances or strong community reactions prompt them to act, showing how, in the absence of such conditions, the response of leadership is less pronounced.