The Broadside The Latino South
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Oct 9, 2025 In this discussion, Cecilia Márquez, Hunt Family Assistant Professor of History at Duke University and author of Making the Latino South, explores the nuanced history of Latinos in the South. She reveals how often-overlooked Latino contributions shaped the Civil Rights Movement. The conversation dives into the intriguing history of the South of the Border attraction, highlighting its mixed cultural messaging and ties to racial dynamics. Márquez also examines how Latino identity has evolved in the region, emphasizing the complex interplay of race and community.
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A Duke Admissions Racial Negotiation
- Cecilia Márquez recounts Duke admissions debating Juan Rivera's racial fit in the 1940s and ultimately accepting him as "Spaniard."
- His case illustrates how Southern institutions negotiated race to include some Latinos while marking them as different.
Industry-Driven Latino Migration
- Starting in the 1970s, Southern industries recruited Mexican and Mexican-American laborers for expanding manufacturing and food processing.
- Recruitment, incentives, and networks turned Georgia, North Carolina, and Arkansas into major new destinations.
Amnesty Enabled Southern Moves
- The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act gave amnesty to about 3 million people and enabled internal migration from places like Los Angeles.
- Legal status allowed families to move to Southern towns for homeownership and stability.
