El Norte : the epic and forgotten story of Hispanic North America
(Local Collection Book)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

The Hispanic past of the United States predates the arrival of the Pilgrims by a century, and has been every bit as important in shaping the nation as it exists today. Gibson explains that our nation's Spanish roots have often been unacknowledged or marginalized. Here she chronicles the sweeping and dramatic history of Hispanic North America from the arrival of the Spanish in the early 16th century to the present, with the recent tragedy of post-hurricane Puerto Rico and the ongoing border acrimony with Mexico. Cultural issues that have been there from the start but which are unresolved to this day-- language, belonging, community, race, and nationality-- are seen to play out over centuries, and provide vital perspective at a time when it is urgently needed. -- adapted from publisher info.