José María Mantero is Associate Professor of Spanish in the Department of Modern Languages at Xavier University. He has published a monograph on the Argentinean writer Marta Traba, La voz política de Marta Traba (1995), an anthology of recent Nicaraguan poetry, Neuvos poetas de Nicaragua (Antología) (2004), and numerous journal articles on Latin American literature that center on the creation of a national identity through poetry and autobiographical texts such as testimonials or memoirs. He has presented at conferences in the United States, Spain, Nicaragua, Panama, Belize, and Guatemala, and currently continues to research Spanish and Latin American literature, particularly texts that have contributed to the mythification and the formation of a national identity.

"As more and more Latinos move to the U.S. South for employment, it makes sense to understand the culture both of Latino countries and the South. This book does a great job of discussing the history and culture of these two separate entities. The author, an associate professor of Spanish… has a keen mind and sees things others would miss. ... Highly recommended." - MultiCultural Review

• Preface Introduction I. Histories II. The United States, the U.S. South, Latinos, and Beyond: Current Initial Confluences III. The Immigration of Latinos: The Diaspora Within IV: The Rivers Edge: The Mexican Border and the Ohio River V. Economics, the U.S. South, Latinos, and the Cultural Dollar VI. Politics: Caudillos and Good Ole Boys VII. Literature as Mirror VIII. What Lies Beneath: Music and Land in the U.S. South and Latin America IX. Religion: An Equal Praise X. Tensions XI. The Future Notes Bibliography

José María Mantero is Associate Professor of Spanish in the Department of Modern Languages at Xavier University. He has published a monograph on the Argentinean writer Marta Traba, La voz política de Marta Traba (1995), an anthology of recent Nicaraguan poetry, Neuvos poetas de Nicaragua (Antología) (2004), and numerous journal articles on Latin American literature that center on the creation of a national identity through poetry and autobiographical texts such as testimonials or memoirs. He has presented at conferences in the United States, Spain, Nicaragua, Panama, Belize, and Guatemala, and currently continues to research Spanish and Latin American literature, particularly texts that have contributed to the mythification and the formation of a national identity.

"As more and more Latinos move to the U.S. South for employment, it makes sense to understand the culture both of Latino countries and the South. This book does a great job of discussing the history and culture of these two separate entities. The author, an associate professor of Spanish… has a keen mind and sees things others would miss. ... Highly recommended." - MultiCultural Review

• Preface Introduction I. Histories II. The United States, the U.S. South, Latinos, and Beyond: Current Initial Confluences III. The Immigration of Latinos: The Diaspora Within IV: The Rivers Edge: The Mexican Border and the Ohio River V. Economics, the U.S. South, Latinos, and the Cultural Dollar VI. Politics: Caudillos and Good Ole Boys VII. Literature as Mirror VIII. What Lies Beneath: Music and Land in the U.S. South and Latin America IX. Religion: An Equal Praise X. Tensions XI. The Future Notes Bibliography

José María Mantero is Associate Professor of Spanish in the Department of Modern Languages at Xavier University. He has published a monograph on the Argentinean writer Marta Traba, La voz política de Marta Traba (1995), an anthology of recent Nicaraguan poetry, Neuvos poetas de Nicaragua (Antología) (2004), and numerous journal articles on Latin American literature that center on the creation of a national identity through poetry and autobiographical texts such as testimonials or memoirs. He has presented at conferences in the United States, Spain, Nicaragua, Panama, Belize, and Guatemala, and currently continues to research Spanish and Latin American literature, particularly texts that have contributed to the mythification and the formation of a national identity.

"As more and more Latinos move to the U.S. South for employment, it makes sense to understand the culture both of Latino countries and the South. This book does a great job of discussing the history and culture of these two separate entities. The author, an associate professor of Spanish… has a keen mind and sees things others would miss. ... Highly recommended." - MultiCultural Review

• Preface Introduction I. Histories II. The United States, the U.S. South, Latinos, and Beyond: Current Initial Confluences III. The Immigration of Latinos: The Diaspora Within IV: The Rivers Edge: The Mexican Border and the Ohio River V. Economics, the U.S. South, Latinos, and the Cultural Dollar VI. Politics: Caudillos and Good Ole Boys VII. Literature as Mirror VIII. What Lies Beneath: Music and Land in the U.S. South and Latin America IX. Religion: An Equal Praise X. Tensions XI. The Future Notes Bibliography