UIC Pa'lante 2009 Conference presentation by Sonia Oliva

1. More Blacks, more
problems? Challenging
explanations of
Latino/Black “racial”
tensions in school
Sonia Oliva
UIC
Department of Sociology

2. The State of Latino vs. Black
Tensions
 Race wars are “sensationalized”
 Geographically-specific
 Occur in schools & neighborhoods

3. Why the tension?
 Power-Conflict (Blauner 1972; Bonacich 1972; Montejano 1987)
 Competition (Lieberson 1980; Olzak 1993)
 Psychosocial (Myrdal 1944; Allport 1954; Pettigrew 1958)
 Multi-dimensional (Pinderhughes 1993, 1997)
 Economic structural conditions
 Racial ideologies and racial belief systems
 Ethnic and racial identity

4. Other Explanations
 Interpersonal reasons
 Respect
 Violence as gendered
 Masculinity

5. Purpose
 Challenge the concept of “racially
motivated” violence
 Examine the process by which a fight
stemming from non-racial reasons
becomes racialized

6. Methods
 Year-long ethnographic study in a
Chicago Public High School
 Classrooms
 Gym
 Lunchroom
 Extracurricular activities/athletics
 27 structured interviews (teachers,
students, faculty, staff) & informal
interviews and conversations

7. Central High Racial/Ethnic Make-up
0
20
40
60
80
100
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Year
Percent
Black
Mexican
Puerto Rican
Hispanic
Other Hispanic

8. The “big fight”

9. Gilberto
 1st
Generation Mexican immigrant
 Popular
 Friends with Latino gang members of
various factions
 Not a gang member
 “School kid”
 President of the Mexican club

10. Steven
 1st
Generation Puerto Rican
 One of Gilberto’s best friends
 A former “chief” of a Puerto Rican
gang/crew
 Well-respected in school

11. The Public Apology

12. Retaliation
against
Mexicans
Laughter
at
Apology
Public
Apology
Gang
Leaders
Negotiate
Attempte
d Robbery
Black
Gang vs.
Mexican
Gang

13. Ambivalence about
race as the motive

14. Challenging Explanations of
“Racial” Violence
 “Racial violence” is multidimensional
 Race
 Gangs
 Masculinity

15. Conclusion/Implications
 Race is a scapegoat for larger social
issues
 Poverty
 School Reform
 Respect in schools