Black and Hispanic Socioeconomic and Political Competition

Abstract

Many U.S. cities are becoming significantly multiminority. How does the significant presence of one minority group affect the other minority group? This research explores the question of socioeconomic and political competition between blacks and Hispanics in U.S. urban centers. Based on data from the 49 U.S. cities of over 25,000 population with at least 10 percent black and 10 percent Hispanic in 1980, findings indicate that while there is little evidence of general black and Hispanic socioeconomic and political competition, Hispanics appear to prosper less well socioeconomically and politically in cities with black majorities or pluralities.

Latino Group Consciousness and Perceptions of Commonality with African Americans*

“…Although there is some debate regarding the source of these attitudes, competition over scarce resources tends to be a common thread in this research (Alozie and Ramirez, 1999;Johnson and Oliver, 1989;Oliver and Johnson, 1984;Kaufmann, 2003;Mindiola, Niemann, and Rodriguez, 2002;Vaca, 2004; but see McClain and Karnig, 1990;McClain, 1993;McClain andTauber, 1998, 2001). In short, despite shared interests, competition over occupational, educational, and political resources often serves as an obstacle for positive attitudes and coalition formation between these two groups (Borjas, 1999).…”

Predicting the employment of minority officers in U.S. cities: OLS fixed-effect panel model results for African American and Latino officers for 1993, 1996, and 2000

“…Affirmative Action can be viewed as an administrative or legal means to redistribute social fairness under conditions of scarcity (employment opportunities) in public organizations. It is important to acknowledge that the hiring of different ethnic groups can be a zero sum game (McClain & Karnig, 1990). That is, with a limited number of employees to hire an increase in the hiring of African American officers, for example, may mean a decrease in the recruitment of Latino officers.…”

Black-Brown Coalitions in Local School Board Elections

“…Paula McClain's research has long noted the existence of socioeconomic and political competition between African Americans and Latinos (McClain and Karnig 1990;McClain 1993;McClain andTauber 1998, 2001). Her work in this area suggests that representational gains on the part of African Americans are likely to affect Latinos negatively, although gains made by Latinos do not necessarily limit African American opportunities (McClain 1993).…”