During the electoral campaigns of 2024, a clear strategy of Donald Trump to demonise Hispanic immigrants was on full display. His vitriolic language, accusing immigrants of being ‘bloody criminals’ and ‘hardened murderers’, was tinged with a distressing level of racial animosity. He maintained a narrative, depicting people from migrant and minority backgrounds as inherently corrupt and prone to criminal activity. The reinforcement of such a narrative by Trump over the past month resembles a reminiscent echo of oppressive ideologies and tactics used by some of the most brutal authoritarian regimes in history.
Surprisingly, after appealing to and stoking such divisive sentiments, Trump achieved an unexpected victory among the targeted group. He garnered the support of 46% of the Hispanic electorate, a significant jump from his previous ratings. An increase of 18% from 2016 and 14% from 2020, his success was a direct contradiction to many liberal predictions – they believed his harsh characterization of immigrants would alienate Hispanic voters.
This unexpected turn of events inspired curiosity and led to further studies. One of the propositions, made by Efrén Pérez, an acclaimed professor with expertise in both political science and psychology at U.C.L.A., revolved around the evolving identities of individuals. According to him, Latinos, much like other individuals, have multiple aspects to their identities such as faith, social standing, cultural heritage, nationality, and more.
The prominence of these identities is influenced by the immediate context, with political discourse playing a substantial role in magnifying the importance of certain identities, particularly those centred around the concept of ‘Us’ versus ‘Them’. When politicians emphasise on a patriotic American identity and elevate slogans such as ‘Make America Great Again’, it tends to forge a more robust American identity for Latinos.
In such a scenario, the Americans of Hispanic origin, especially those who are more inclined towards American identity than their ethnic identity, react with sensitivity to any challenge or slight against their identity. Their status as ‘pledges’ or new members in the large fraternity of America, combined with a certain sense of insecurity in their identity, motivates them to make substantial efforts to validate their ‘American-ness’.
In a bid to firmly establish themselves as truly American, they feel compelled to construct a clear boundary between ‘us’ (Americans) and ‘them’ (non-Americans), inclusive of illegal immigrants and other racial minorities such as African Americans. This tug-of-war between acceptance and cultural preservation creates a fertile ground for potential political discord within racially diverse coalitions.
Such resulting internal friction within the community and the associated sensitivities towards their American identity sometimes causes Latinos to show hostility towards African Americans. The reason generally being that they feel their sense of belonging to America is being questioned, which prompts them to react defensively and seek validation by distancing themselves from groups they perceive as ‘un-American’.
There is a distinct possibility that the increasingly pro-Republican tilt among Latino voters might persist in the foreseeable future. This shift shows a trend that outlasts any particular electoral period, and suggests an enduring change in political leanings. With an increase in second-generation Latinos who are born and raised in America, their American identity is likely to be even more pronounced.
This growing sense of American identity among Latinos could potentially be linked to the Republican Party and its rhetoric. This notion is backed by studies like the ‘2024 Latino Voters Survey’, the findings of which revealed intriguing cross-currents within the Latino voter population.
The study, conducted by eminent scholars like Roberto Suro, a renowned professor of public policy and journalism from the University of Southern California and José E. Múzquiz, a Ph.D. candidate from the same institution, offers a deep dive into these patterns and their implications. However, it’s important to maintain critical thought and avoid taking this as absolute, considering the ever-changing nature of social demographics and political affiliations.
It’s worth reflecting on the absence of clear denouncements from the offices of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris regarding the strategy of divisive rhetoric employed during the 2024 campaigns. Their silence on the matter and failure to take a stand only serve to suggest a lack of effective leadership and an inability to grasp the importance of these issues.
Moreover, Biden and Harris seem devoid of strategies capable of effectively countering the surge in Republican support from the Latino community. Their political approach fails to address the root cause of this shift, thereby reinforcing perceptions of them as out of touch with a significant demographic in the American population.
In conclusion, the unfolding political drama around the 2024 campaigns underscores the short-sightedness of Biden and Harris’ approach. Their lack of a robust response to such influential shifts in demographic voting patterns could end up diminishing their political stature, making this a textbook case of missed opportunities and strategic blunders.