An Unexpected Legacy: Richard Nixon and Policies for the Spanish Speaking

Year 2017, Issue: 47, 69 - 90, 01.10.2017

Craig A. Kaplowitz

Abstract

This paper explores the role of the Nixon administration in the development of civil rights policies for Latinos in the United States in order to examine the complexity of Nixon’s position in the typical leftright orientation of US politics. The Latino civil rights movement in the late 1960s and 1970s insisted that Latinos experienced unique linguistic and cultural disadvantages and could not benefit from the same programs and approaches as black Americans. US civil rights policy, however, had been designed despite nods to creed and national origin with a black-white binary in mind. The space between the existing civil rights policy mindset and the demands of Latinos for distinct recognition and programs presented an opportunity for Richard Nixon to drive a wedge between blacks and Latinos, two solid Democratic constituencies. The opportunity, however, required a negotiation between political expediency and ideological consistency, as Latinos demanded new expanded policy protections for groups defined by culture rather than race. In the context of Nixon’s unusual leadership position and systemic changes in the American political system, the result was an unexpected enhancement to civil rights protections for Latinos under his administration

Keywords

Nixon, Latinos, Civil Rights, Bilingual Education

Beklenmedik Bir Politik Miras: Richard Nixon ve İspanyolca Konuşanlara Yönelik Politikaları

Abstract

Bu çalışma Nixon’ın Amerikan politikasının tipik sağsol konumlandırmasındaki yerinin karmaşıklığını sorgulamak amacıyla Nixon yönetiminin Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’ndeki Latin Amerikalılara sivil haklar kazandırılmasına ilişkin politikalardaki rolünü incelemektedir. 1960’larda ve 1970’lerdeki Latin Amerikalı sivil haklar hareketi Latin Amerikalıların kendilerine has dilsel ve kültürel dezavantajlara sahip olduklarını ve siyahi Amerikalıların faydalandıkları program ve yaklaşımlardan faydalanamadıklarını iddia etmektedir. Ancak Amerikan sivil haklar politikası dini ve milli kökenleri tanımasına karşın akıllardaki siyah-beyaz karşıtlığına göre hazırlanmıştır. Mevcut sivil hak algısı ve Latin Amerikalıların tanınırlık ve program talebi arasındaki farklılık, Nixon’a iki Demokrat seçmen kitlesi olan siyah ve Latin Amerikalılar arasında bir anlaşmazlık çıkarma fırsatı sağlamıştır. Ancak, bu fırsat, Latin Amerikalılar ırk değil kültür üzerinden tanımlanan yeni ve genişletilmiş koruma politikaları talep ettikleri için, politik yerindelik ve ideolojik tutarlılık arasında bir tercih yapmayı gerektirmiştir. Nixon’ın alışılmadık liderlik duruşu ve Amerikan politik sistemindeki değişiklikler, yönetimindeki Latin Amerikalıların sivil haklarının koruma altına alınmasına yönelik beklenmedik bir iyileşmeyi beraberinde getirmiştir

Keywords

Nixon, Latin Amerikalılar, Sivil Haklar, İki Dilde Eğitim

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