Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America

The “Harvest” section of the book opens with a reference to Juan Sequin, whom Gonzalez refers to as “the forgotten father of Latino politics in the United States” (167). Seguin joined the Texas rebels to fight against the Mexican General Santa Anna. He later went on to serve as a senator of the Texas Republic and was also the mayor of San Antonio. But his name is unknown to most people today because when more Anglo settlers began moving into the American Southwest, he was forced to flee from his own land, thus showing the very different and complicated legacy that Seguin leaves.

In this chapter, Gonzalez points to the explosive growth in Latino political power in the US, despite various anti-immigrant attempts at voter suppression. He focuses on four different stages of this political growth.

Integration Period: 1950-1964

World War Two was a pivotal moment for Latino voters. Those that served in the military gained a new confidence about their rights, having fought overseas for their country, and they often stood up for their rights when people tried to exclude them. This grew to be a factor in John F. Kennedy’s presidential win, showing the power of the modern Hispanic political movement, which voted overwhelmingly for Kennedy.