Latino Workers in the Contemporary South

Currently the fastest growing population in the nation, Latinos comprise by far the largest percentage of new immigrants to the southern states. Latino Workers in the Contemporary South describes issues these newcomers face, particularly regarding work, and offers accounts of the impact of Latinos on their employers and communities at large. Though its discussions span a variety of regions, the book focuses in particular on areas of Georgia and Florida where booming Hispanic populations have had considerable influence in recent years. It documents the different ways in which Latino immigrants in today's South have adapted to the ambiguous and frequently inaccessible territory of the South's notorious ""goodole-boy"" network. Contributors to the volume discuss legal and illegal migration and immigration, gender-specific issues, language barriers, and the many adaptations made by immigrants. Essays highlight specific industries that provide work opportunities to immigrants, such as the poultry and carpet industries of Georgia and the onshore oil industry of southern Louisiana. The contributors address the changing cultures of areas with large Hispanic populations, among other issues surrounding the changing face of the South.