Latinidad and Belonging in the Latin@ Community of Central Alabama

Abstract

The US South has long been a transnational space. Over the past three decades, there has been a great increase in the number of people immigrating to the region from Latin America to work in poultry, timber, and other industries. Alabama has experienced a growing Latin@ population over the last thirty years. Literature on this population in Alabama focuses on health and the involvement of Latin@s in prominent state industries. Few studies seek to understand how the Latin@ community constructs belonging and community in central Alabama. In this research, I ask two questions: “What strategies do Latin@ people in central Alabama use to navigate Latinidad?” and “What strategies are Latin@ people using to navigate belonging in central Alabama?” The data for this study came from interviews (n=24) with members of the Latin@ community in central Alabama, as well as 40 hours of participant witnessing. Through this research, I identified heterogenous strategies Latin@ people used to navigate their own construction of Latinidad as well as the strategies Latin@ community members practiced to cultivate belonging in central Alabama. I find that Latinidad is practiced with multiple cultural nuances, shaped by common cultural experiences that create a shared identity. I investigate people’s perspectives on work and Latinidad to explore these cultural nuances in relation to strategy used to relate to Latinidad. In addition, despite barriers to doing so, Latin@ people find ways to experience and practice belonging in the US South. I show how familismo and commensality act as culturally specific practices that cultivate feelings of belonging. I use the metaphor of a trellis to explore the ways that these practices support the cultivation of feelings of belonging.