Current Research

During the last ten years, Hispanic immigration to the Southeastern United States has
increased dramatically. This immigration is broadly significant for several reasons: 1)
The significance of the black/white color line in structuring social relations in the South
means that the presence of a group that does fit within this dichotomy is likely to
upset the prevailing social order; 2) The Southeast has received very little immigration
during the last 200+ years, so the arrival of Hispanic immigrants is likely to have a
significant impact on social relations; 3) Most studies of immigrant incorporation have
focused upon one or more of the major receiving cities (such as New York or Los
Angeles); incorporation processes are possibly quite different in areas with smaller
foreign-born populations.

In order to study the impact of Hispanic immigration to the South, I conducted
participant observation research between 9/05 and 7/06 in several medium-sized
Southern cities with a recent increase in the Hispanic population. I worked as a sales
representative with a regular route that included discount stores in areas with a variety
of racial compositions. I observed patterns of interaction and expressed attitudes of
whites and blacks towards Hispanics (and towards each other). I am planning to
augment this research with a number of in-depth interviews to be conducted during
2006-7.