A celebration of people and pride! Explore the achievements and contributions of Latinos in the United States with this illuminating history.
Latinos in the United States are a vibrant mix of people and multiple identities, each unique, varied, and accomplished. Beginning with the Spanish explorers in the sixteenth century, Latinos have been an important part of American society. They've fought the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and all wars in between and since, and in the last decade, their businesses have grown at twice the pace of the overall U.S. economy.
The most complete and affordable single-volume reference on Latino history available today,
Latino Almanac: From Early Explorers to Corporate Leaders honors the history and the impact of Latinos on the United States. This hefty tome is a fascinating mix of biographies, little-known or misunderstood historical facts, and enlightening essays on significant legislation, movements, current issues, and achievements across a variety of fields, including business, labor, politics, the military, music, sports, law, media, religion, art, literature, theater, film, science, technology, and medicine. A large collection of 650 biographies includes both celebrated and lesser-known Latino stars, such as
Dolores Fernáaacute;ndez Huerta, labor leader
Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court justice
Juan Felipe Herrera, U.S. poet laureate
Roberto C. Goizueta, businessperson, former CEO of Coca-Cola
Selena Góoacute;mez, actor, singer, producer
Rebecca Lobo, basketball player, sports analyst
Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, U.S. congressperson
Ellen Ochoa, astronaut, engineer
Anthony R. Jiméeacute;nez, entrepreneur
MarÃiacute;a Hinojosa, journalist
Dennis Chávez, U.S. senator
Oscar Muñntilde;oz, businessperson, CEO United Airlines
Antonia Novello, surgeon general of the United States
Geraldo Miguel Rivera, journalist
Lin-Manuel Miranda, playwright, actor, director
Alex RodrÃguez, baseball player
Rodolfo Anaya, novelist
Desi Arnaz, television producer, actor, singer
Jessica Mendoza, sportscaster, softball player
Nydia Velásquez, U.S. congressperson
Edward James Olmos, actor
Marco Rubio, U.S. senator
Rita Moreno, actor, dancer
César Chávez, labor leader
Marcelo Claure, businessperson, former Sprint CEO
Ariel Dorfman, playwright, novelist
Miriam Colón, actress, theater owner, producer
JoaquÃn Castro, chair of the Hispanic Congressional Caucus
And many, many more! While Latinos are among both the original and newest immigrants, today the majority of U.S. Latinos were born here and most speak English-although most are bilingual to one degree or another. Their influence on the economy and culture continues to increase. Their impact on the United States has been wide-ranging. Salsa has even overtaken ketchup to become the most popular condiment in the United States! Devoted to illustrating the moving and often lost history of Latinos in America,
Latino Almanac is a unique and valuable resource. Numerous photographs and illustrations, a helpful bibliography, a timeline, and an extensive index add to its usefulness. Commemorating and honoring Latino achievements, honors, and influence, th
Kanellos, Nicolás: -
Nicolás Kanellos, Ph.D. is the director of Recovering the U.S. Hispanic Heritage of the United States, which researches Latino history in the United States. Since 1980, he has been a professor at the University of Houston, where he became the first Brown Foundation Professor of Hispanic Studies. He is founding publisher of the noted Hispanic literary journal The Americas Review and the nation's oldest Hispanic publishing house, Arte Público Press.
In 2024, President Joe Biden presented Dr. Kanellos with the National Humanities Medal. In 1994, President Bill Clinton appointed Dr. Kanellos to the National Council on the Humanities, and he received the 1996 Denali Press Award of the American Library Association. He was the first U.S. Latino to be inducted into the Spanish American Royal Academy of Literature, Arts & Science, and he was awarded the Anderson Imbert Lifetime Achievement Award by the North American Academy of the Spanish Language, as well as the Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic Queen, the highest decoration given to a civilian by the Spanish government.
He has authored or contributed to numerous books on Latino history, culture, and literature, including Visible Ink Press'
Latino Almanac: From Early Explorers to Corporate Leaders and
Latino Firsts: Trailblazers and Milestones in United States History as well as the
Hispanic Literature of the United States: A Comprehensive Reference and the
Handbook of Hispanic Cultures in the United States. He resides in Houston, Texas.
