Exploring Latino Americans: A 500-Year Legacy of Resilience, Resistance, and Cultural Power
- Elianne Van Slyke
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
The story of the United States is often told through a narrow lens—one that leaves out the deep, complex histories of the many peoples who have shaped this nation. PBS’s powerful six-episode documentary series, Latino Americans: The 500-Year Legacy That Shaped a Nation, offers a richly layered narrative that centers the voices, struggles, and triumphs of Latino communities throughout American history.
Produced by PBS in collaboration with Latino filmmakers, historians, and scholars, this landmark series traces the history of Latinos in the U.S. from the 1500s to the present day. With gripping storytelling, archival footage, and firsthand accounts, Latino Americans paints a vivid picture of cultural endurance and political impact across generations.
Why This Series Matters
Too often, Latino history is treated as a footnote in American classrooms and media. Latino Americans reframes that by showcasing how Latino communities have been pivotal to the nation’s development—economically, politically, culturally, and socially. This series highlights both the systemic challenges Latinos have faced—colonization, discrimination, displacement—and the powerful ways they have organized, resisted, and reimagined what it means to belong.
Episode Highlights
Each of the six episodes captures a distinct chapter in Latino history:
Foreigners in Their Own Land (1565–1880) Explores the early Spanish colonization of what is now the U.S. and the impact of the Mexican-American War, revealing how borders shifted and created a “foreign” class within U.S. borders.
Empire of Dreams (1880–1942) Chronicles waves of immigration from Latin America and the Caribbean, including Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Mexicans seeking work, stability, and the American Dream.
War and Peace (1942–1954) Focuses on Latino contributions to World War II and the birth of the Chicano civil rights movement, as well as the injustices of programs like “Operation Wetback."
The New Latinos (1946–1965) Highlights the post-war migration of Dominicans, Cubans, and Puerto Ricans, and how they reshaped urban centers like New York and Miami.
Pride and Prejudice (1965–1980) Showcases the rise of the Chicano Movement, student activism, and the battle for labor rights, spotlighting leaders like César Chávez and Dolores Huerta.
Peril and Promise (1980–2000) Examines more recent struggles around immigration policy, education, and representation—issues that remain deeply relevant today.
Educational Power
Thanks to organizations like Facing History and Ourselves, educators and communities can use this series as a powerful tool to explore Latino identity, civic engagement, and the ongoing pursuit of justice. The series comes with discussion guides and curriculum materials that invite deeper reflection and critical dialogue—perfect for classrooms, community events, or workplace learning.
A Call to Learn—and Unlearn
Whether you identify as Latino, are part of a multicultural family, or are simply seeking to understand the roots of American diversity, Latino Americans offers a compelling invitation to reexamine history and expand your understanding of what it means to be American.
This is not just Latino history. This is American history.
