Depena-Ldrs 810-Final Research Paper

What does divided community mean?
What does divided community mean to Latinos in Nashville, TN?
Final Research Paper

Ruben De Pea
Fort Hays State University
LDRS 810: Qualitative Research Methods

Dr. Michael DeGrosky
Table of Contents
Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................3
Hispanic or Latino? ......................................................................................................................4
The researchers personal experience and bias in the study .....................................................4
Problem Statement ........................................................................................................................5
Purpose of Investigation ................................................................................................................9
Central Question ...........................................................................................................................9
Subquestions ....................................................................................................................................9
Review of the Literature................................................................................................................9
Methodology .................................................................................................................................13
Participants .................................................................................................................................14
Sampling strategy: maximum variation .........................................................................................14
Sites Selected .................................................................................................................................15
Public Records ...............................................................................................................................16
Data Collection .............................................................................................................................16
Data Analysis ................................................................................................................................16
Initial Coding Strategies ..............................................................................................................17
Results ...........................................................................................................................................20
Discussions and Conclusions .......................................................................................................25
Implications ..................................................................................................................................25
Limitations and Future Research ...............................................................................................25
References .....................................................................................................................................26
Appendix #1: Databases and keywords .....................................................................................29
Appendix #2: Interview Transcript for Participant #1 ............................................................31
Appendix #7 Interview Transcript for Participant #6..............................................................59
ABSTRACT
For many years, the author of this study has heard that the Latino community in Nashville is
divided. Driven by the curiosity to learn the meaning of divided community in Nashville, the
author decided to conduct this study to explore and describe the phenomenon along with its
implications. In order to accomplish this, the author interviewed seven members of the Latino
community of different socioeconomic, political, nationality, and religious backgrounds. From the
verbatim transcripts, important codes and themes surfaced. Moreover, the author observed a
construction site and a local church to record levels of interaction among different Latino groups
in Nashville. The author also checked the literature for any findings on the problem at local and
national level. While the literature was very limited, the study found mixed results regarding
division among Latinos in Nashville, particularly on socioeconomic level, but that division is
consistent with divisions among other groups. The division seemed to be more evident between
U.S. born Latinos and undocumented Latino immigrants. Because the Latino community is not
monolithic, intercultural when in actuality they are not. However, due to the limitations
encountered in this study, a longitudinal study is necessary for conclusive findings.
Hispanic or Latino?
As the researcher explored and described the meaning of divided community for Latinos
in Nashville, Tennessee; it was important to state that the terms Latino and Hispanic are used
interchangeably (Jacobson, 2015). In fact, in a recent article in the Hispanic Pew Research
Center, Lpez (2015) argues that, half of all Hispanic adults have no preference for either term
(n.p.). According to Chomsky (2007) people the term Latino became more popular than
Hispanic in the 1980s, and the U.S. Census Bureau provided the category of Hispanic or
Latino. Given these credible sources, which anecdotal evidence also supports, the researcher
has opted to use Latino when referring to the participants in this study, U.S. or foreign born,
whose primary language is Spanish. .
The researchers personal experience and bias in the study
As a member of the Latino community in Nashville, TN, the researcher was intrigued to
study the anecdotal notion that divisions exist among different Latino groups in Nashville.
Living in Nashville for more than twenty years, it has become a matter of routine for the
researcher to hear that divisions existed among Latinos in Nashville. In addition, the researcher
seems to me more involved with certain members of the Latino community, but not with others.
So the question was whether that indicated division per se and if so, what was the intrinsic
meaning behind it? Most importantly, what did representatives of the Latino community at large
think about this? Is this just a perception of division or one supported by evidence? In either
case, what are the implications of such phenomenon?
Problem Statement
In the current American political arena, one can hardly escape the great amount of
publicity that Donald Trump is drawing to himself, which arguably has catapulted him as the
front runner for the 2016 Republican Party presidential nomination (Tani, 2015). This success,
one can arguably attribute to his initial blunt, unapologetic position on the immigration debate
(Lind, 2015).
While anti-immigrant sentiment is not a new phenomenon in the U.S. (Chomsky, 2007),
there is sufficient anecdotal evidence supporting the notion that not only Mexicans, but other
Latino communities everywhere are deeply irate and concerned by the revived incendiary antiimmigrant rhetoric in recent months.
More specifically, his words that [w]hen Mexico sends its people, they're not sending
their best. [] They're bringing drugs, they're bringing crime; they're rapists. And some, I
assume, are good people" (Nunez, 2015), undoubtedly have brilliantly succeeded in fostering or
resurrecting an otherwise lukewarm anti-immigrant sentiment (Tesler, 2015).
Now, even though there seems to be a national outcry and sense of unity among Latinos
about this issue, for more than twenty years since the researcher of this study arrived in
Nashville, Tennessee, as a Latino immigrant, various Latino groups and organizations have
argued that the Latino community in Nashville is divided. Nonetheless, the author has always
been intrigued to figure out the meaning of divided community and whether this conclusion is
speculative or empirical in nature. Moreover, if the community is in fact divided, is it due to
intercultural factors? Extra-cultural? Both? Any other factors? If division, regardless of nature,
does exist among Latinos, what are the implications?
What makes this problem worth researching is the limitations in finding sufficient
empirical evidence that addresses the matter, particularly for Latinos in Nashville. The author of
this study has found, however, limited reference to immigration-related divisions among Latinos
in Los Angeles, California that perhaps cost the election of Antonio Villaraigosa in 2001 as the
first Latino mayor in more than one hundred years. It turned out that Villaraigosas contender,
James K. Hahn, seemed to have benefited from a Times pre-election poll to determine if there
was an anti-immigrant sentiment in the city (Sonenshein & Pinkus, 2002). More specially,
Sonenshein and Pinkus (2002) stated that
The poll asked whether the growing immigrant population was good or bad for
the city. Voters were split, with two out of five likely voters thinking
immigration was bad []. Those who thought it was bad, favored Hahn by a
wide margin of 57% to 29% [] Latinos were also divided, with a surprising
42% saying that the growing immigrant population was bad. This is consistent
with research that has shown significant divisions among Latinos on
immigration issues (de la Garza et al. 2001) [] (p. 70).
As the above source illustrated, the immigration topic, particularly the one involving
illegal/undocumented immigration has polarizing effects among Latinos. Another study by The
Pew Research Center showed divisions among Latinos regarding immigration matters,
particularly the impact on illegal immigration on Latinos currently living in the United States.
These divisions seemed to be more evident between native-born Latinos and immigrant Latinos.
In the aforementioned Pew Research Center study, authors Lopez, Morin, and Taylor stated that
About four-in-five of the nations estimated 11.1 million unauthorized
immigrants are of Hispanic origin (Passel and Cohn, 2010). A new national
survey by the Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center, finds
that Latinos are divided over what to do with these immigrants [] Hispanics
are also divided about the impact of illegal immigration on Hispanics already
living in the U.S. Roughly equal shares say the impact has been positive (29%),
negative (31%) or made no difference (30%). This mixed judgment stands in
sharp contrast to views that Latinos expressed on this subject in 2007. Back
then, fully half (50%) of Latinos said the impact was positive, while just 20%
said it was negative (Lopez, M., Morin, R., & Taylor, P., 2010, n.p.)
Evidently, this most recent research confirms the growing split on Latinos on the
immigration debate, and it would be interesting to discover if divisions exist among Latinos in
Nashville, as well in this particular topic or other areas that could bring to light any other
meanings for division
What about inferential knowledge on this topic? The author of this study continued the
search for meaning of division involving other immigrant communities and found one reference
regarding fissures among Russian immigrants as they were coming into Europe after the collapse
of the Soviet Union. In this regard, author Helen Kopnina
[] explores the concept of 'community' through an examination of the lives of
Russian migrants in two major European cities, London and Amsterdam. In both
cases Kopnina finds an 'invisible community', inadequately defined in existing
literature. Arguing that Russian migrants are highly diverse, both socially and in
terms of their views and adaptation strategies, Kopnina uncovers a community
divided by mutual antagonisms, prompting many to reject the idea of belonging to

a community at all [] (Kopnina, H. 2005, n.p.).
Why this deficiency in the literature? The answer is unclear. Yet, the author of this
research suggest that perhaps it is rooted in a lack of interest in researching Latinos on
overarching meaning of divided community among Latinos in Nashville, perhaps under an
erroneous assumption that Latinos are a monolithic, homogeneous group that may not experience
the type of intercultural division that one may find among people from dissimilar ethnicities or
races.
Therefore, the author has conducted a phenomenological inquiry in hopes it can
contribute to filling a gap on an overlooked issue within phenomenological qualitative research.
This study might be helpful not only for members of the various Latino communities, but other
stakeholders including school systems, policy makers, law enforcement, immigrant and refugee
advocates, and other researchers in Nashville and beyond.
School systems might benefit of this research for enhanced faculty and administrator
professional development, and ultimately design best student and family outreach practices
conducive to improved Latino student achievement. Policy makers should be able to have a
better grasp of how to better serve their Latino constituents; Law enforcement can benefit by
better understanding those communities and creating partnerships that lead to safer communities;
immigrant and refugee advocates could use the study to help empower those communities by
registering more qualifying voters; these agencies could also be more effective in advocating for
Latinos by utilizing current, accurate data this research will provide. Lastly, other researchers
could use this study as a starting point for deeper investigation conducive to compelling theories
on important issues affecting Latinos across the country through peer-reviewed articles and other
scholarly publications.
Purpose of Investigation
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe the meaning of
divided community among Latinos in Nashville, TN, and its effects on the community at large.
At this stage in the research, the central phenomenon will be generally defined as describing the
meaning of divided community among Latinos in Nashville, TN.
Central question. What does divided community mean to Latinos in Nashville, TN?
Subquestions
What does division mean?
What doesnt division mean?
What does Latino mean?
What doesnt Latino mean?
How or when did you first identify with being a Latino person?
What does community mean?
What doesnt community mean?
Review of the Literature

In order to be able to discover the meaning of divided community among Latinos in
Nashville, TN, it was of utmost importance for the researcher to find out what the literature said
about Latino heterogeneity, in the U.S, as a way to study the subject at local level (Nashville).
The author proceeded to research through different databases (See Appendix #1). Here are some
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of the most relevant sources that either directly or indirectly refer to the issue of divided
community:
According to Jacobsen (2015), there is sufficient anecdotal and empirical evidence that
support the notion that, generally speaking, Latinos do not see themselves as a monolithic
community. Jacobsen (2015) concluded that significant differences exist among Latinos, such as
national origin that affect the way they see themselves and others in the community at large.
Moreover, Manzano and Ura (2013) touched extensively on the topic, particularly from a
political perspective. Manzano and Ura (2013) contended that Latinos feel a sense of pride to
their Latin American heritage such as language and culture and are bound by their experiences as
immigrants and by events such as those involving discrimination against them. Nonetheless, the
same Latino communities show heterogeneous characteristics in terms of their national origin
and other attributes., according to Manzano and Ura (2013: Given the option, Latinos tend to be
self-identify first in terms of national origin (e.g., Mexican, Salvadoran, Puerto Rican, etc.) and
second with panethnic labels such as Latino and Latina [] (p.83).
Authors Meier and Melton (2012) are also emphatic on these differences, particularly the
role of heterogeneity in politics. These authors contend that [h]eterogeneity within the Latino
Population, by which we mean variation in n the makeup of Latinos based upon national origin,
is one potential obstacle to favorable outputs from the political system [] (Meir & Melton,
2012, pp. 734-735).
Winders (2009) gave an interesting account of the Latino explosive migration growth into
southern states in recent years. Most specifically, this author stated that Nashville [] is
learning to be part of the nuevo [or] new South through a complex set of racial, linguistic, and
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ethnic politics [] Although primarily Mexican, Nashvilles Latino population includes [] an

active Colombian colony, and a growing Central American Community (p. 127)
Regarding the meaning of divided community among Latinos in Nashville (or in the U.S.
for that matter), the literature has significant limitations. Nonetheless, a work by Kopnina (2005)
indirectly touched the issue on the division among Russian migrants arriving in Europe after the
collapse of the Soviet Union. Among other things, Kopnina finds an 'invisible community',
inadequately defined in existing literature [] [and] uncovers a community divided by mutual
antagonisms, prompting many to reject the idea of belonging to a community at all []
(Kopnina, H. 2005, n.p.).
Another study by Newton (2000) addressed the meaning of a divided community among
Latinos in California upon the controversy of proposition 187, a piece of legislation that sought
to deny educational, health, and other services to undocumented immigrants. The research
focused on a significant number of Latinos who sided with Anglo voters to support the measure.
In Nashville, TN, there was a similar proposal called English Only, that while ultimately
defeated in 2009 (Nashville voters reject English Only measure, 2009), many Latinos voted in
favor, according to anecdotal sources.
The author of this current study found the most significant evidence for divided
community among Latinos pertains within the immigration debate. One of those sources, The
Pew Research Center showed divisions among Latinos regarding immigration, particularly the
impact on illegal immigration on Latinos currently living in the United States. These divisions
seemed to be more evident between native-born Latinos and immigrant Latinos, according to
The Pew Research study authors Lopez, Morin, and Taylor,
12
About four-in-five of the nations estimated 11.1 million unauthorized

immigrants are of Hispanic origin (Passel and Cohn, 2010). A new national
survey by the Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center, finds
that Latinos are divided over what to do with these immigrants [] Hispanics
are also divided about the impact of illegal immigration on Hispanics already
living in the U.S. Roughly equal shares say the impact has been positive (29%),
negative (31%) or made no difference (30%). This mixed judgment stands in
sharp contrast to views that Latinos expressed on this subject in 2007. Back
then, fully half (50%) of Latinos said the impact was positive, while just 20%
said it was negative (Lopez, M., Morin, R., & Taylor, P., 2010, n.p.)
Moreover, Sonenshein and Pinkus (2002), argued that in 2001 Time conducted a preelection poll that perhaps cost the election of Antonio Villaraigosa as the first Los Angeles
Latino mayor in more than one hundred years. Among other things, Sonenshein and Pinkus
(2002) argued that
The poll asked whether the growing immigrant population was good or bad for
the city. Voters were split, with two out of five likely voters thinking immigration
was bad []. Those who thought it was bad, favored Hahn [Villaraigosas
opponent] by a wide margin of 57% to 29% [] Latinos were also divided, with a
surprising 42% saying that the growing immigrant population was bad ( p. 70).
Therefore, while the literature has limitations on the mining of divided
community, particularly in Nashville, this current topic provided an excellent
opportunity for inquiry and describe the meaning of the subject at hand and the
13
implications at all levels for the ever-growing Latino populations in Nashville,

TN.
Methodology
As a phenomenological study to explore and describe the meaning of divided community
among Latinos in Nashville, the researcher adopted both a descriptive and interpretive approach
for the topic under study. In this regard, Creswell (2013) contended that
Moustakass (1994) transcendental or psychological phenomenology is focused
less on the interpretations of the researcher and more on the description of the
experiences of participants. In addition, Moustakas focuses on one of Husserfs
concepts, epoche, (or bracketing), in which investigators set aside their
experiences, as much as possible, to take a fresh perspective toward the
phenomenon under investigation []. I use [] Moussakass [] approach
because it has systematic steps in the data analysis procedure and guidelines for
assembling the textual and structural descriptions (p. 80).
Moreover, this study was interpretative in nature because it explored how participants
made sense of their world in connection with the phenomenon that was investigated (Larkin &
Thompson, 2012).
Therefore, in answering the research question and subquestions, this research used a
multi-method data-collection approach which is typically the preferred method that qualitative
researchers employ (Creswell, 2013). This multi-method strategy combined face-to-face semistructured interviews with observations. Moreover, the authors inquiry incorporated a review of
14
documents, including public records describing relevant participant behavior related to the
current inquiry.
Participants
For the current study, the author chose seven individuals. This sampling number was
practical as far as data collection and interpretation. Moreover, another justification for this
number was that its consistency with the qualitative research literature. For a phenomenology,
Creswell (2013) stated that Polkinghone (1989) recommends that researchers interview from 5
to 25 individuals (p. 81) while Dukes (1984) recommends studying 3 to 10 subjects (p. 157).
The researcher selected participants from a pool of community members that reflect the
diversity of Latino populations in Nashville. The seven participants selected included five men
and two women from various Latin American countries or territories with significant presence in
Nashville: Mexico, Colombia, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Peru and Argentina. Moreover, the researcher
selected these participants based on their diverse social, economic, and political background. The
group included three Democrats, three Republicans and one Independent. In addition, among the
participants there were one construction worker, one Activist for a local immigrant and refugee
rights organization, one politician, one musician, one catholic parishioner, one protestant
parishioner, one Jewish practitioner, and two executives from competing local Latino chambers
of commerce.
Sampling strategy: maximum variation. Many experts in qualitative research call this
strategy Maximum Variation Sampling because it focuses in pre-determining certain aspects that
differentiate the participants, and then select the participants with different variation in the
criteria that the researcher pre-selected (Creswell, 2013). In fact, Creswell specifically states that
15
[t]his approach is often selected because when a researcher maximizes differences at the
beginning of the study, it increases the likelihood that the findings will reflect [] different
perspectives an ideal in qualitative research (p. 157). The researcher invited the selected
candidates to participate by phone and e-mail messages and the selection was conducted on a
first-come-first-serve basis.
Sites Selected. The researcher has identified one construction company that primarily
hires Latino, mostly Mexican, workers and one local protestant church. While the original plan
was to observe a catholic church as well, that was unnecessary due to anecdotal evidence and
comments from two of the participants that at least two protestant churches seem to have
outperform catholic church membership recruiting efforts in recent years, at least in South
Nashville, where a significant portion of Latinos live.
Once received permission from the owner, the researcher observed a small construction
framing company that started in Nashville in 2011, not too long after the real estate market
started to give signs of recovery after the previous years debacle. The researcher observed five
pick-up trucks in a construction are that consisted of three finished brick and siding houses, and
two partially finished ones. A radio was sitting on a dusty table under a tree, playing a known
Mexican folk song. On top of one of the unfinished houses, I observed eight men of ethnic
features giving the final touch to a roof. I asked in Spanish about their nationality. Four were
Mexicans and two from Cuba.
The researcher then observed a local protestant church upon permission from the pastor.
The rationale for the observation is that, from a local anecdotal perspective, Latinos are very
religious and typically view their congregations as a way to find socio-emotional support. This
16
has provided the researches with a great opportunity to record and interpret different perspectives
related to the phenomenon under study.
The researcher sat in silence in one of the back pews. The church was packed, given this
was their main Sunday service. By the researcher best estimates, there were approximately 900
congregants. While the pastor is from Venezuela, the congregation seems to reflect a mix of
several nationalities, but mostly Mexican. There was a group of young musicians playing loud
Christian music while the congregation read the lyrics in a big screen. Many of the congregants
had their hands raised while they sang with their eyes closed. After about 40 minutes of so, the
pastor preached a very animated sermon that lasted for about an hour, while the congregation
shouted frequent amens and alleluias.
Public Records
This study collected public documents regarding the organizations that were observed,
such as charter of incorporation and church membership.
Data Collection
The researcher retrieved data from the semi-structured, face-to-face interviews and two
observation sites. The instruments used to collect the information were audio recording and notetaking
Data Analysis
The researcher adopted several techniques to go about data analysis, particularly from
inquiry-specific perspective (Creswell, 2013). In the case of studying the phenomenon of
meaning of divided community among Latinos in Nashville, the author adopted the following
data analysis steps:
17
Data compilation and tabulation. The author compiled results in an Excel spreadsheet for
interpretation and ultimate selection. Codes were entered in the spreadsheet as they
appeared during the interviews and received the corresponding value. See table #1.
Reading the text, memoing. This was an important stage to write or type clarifying
margin notes, as needed.
Data description through codes and themes, particularly as they emerged directly from
the interviewees. It is here where the researcher described the phenomenon.
Data classification via codes and themes. As the phenomenology evolved, it was here
where the researcher developed relevant statements about the findings, and grouped such
statements into smaller sections or units.
Data interpretation. It is here where the investigator described the what and how of the
phenomenon.
Data representation/visualization. Here the researcher presented the narrative of the core
of the investigation via tables and other forms of representation incorporated into this
report. (Creswell, 2013).
Initial Coding Strategies

This study has focused on in vivo codes, which consist of names that are the exact
words used by participants [] or names the researcher composes that seem to best describe the
information (Creswell, 2013, p. 184). Table #1 below provides an example of one initial coding
strategy, consisting of six code names that relate to salient statements from one of the
participants:
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Table #1- Initial coding strategies

Political
Factors
Economic
Factors
So, the
division
doesn't help
us to grow.
Ah... If you
are an
entrepreneur,
and you want
to start a
---------business,
there is no
when
organization
the
"English- that helps
Only law you. If we
were unified,
when to
the vote... and you ask
the non-for
I would
profits or the
like to
have those government,
whoever have
statistics,
and I want to help,
because there
to know
how many is a lot of
Hispanic[s money in
grants, in
], what
percentag everywhere,
for those kind
e of
Hispanics of things... but
that money is
were the
ones who not coming to
us, to
vote[d].
organizations
----------that help us,
because we
Even in
are not
that
situation, I unified;
don't think
"If you as
a
communit
y do not
vote, you
cannot ask
for
nothing".
Social Factors
We are not unified
because each other thinks
they are better. Some of
them think they are better
than the other ones...
Disconnected
Leadership
Individualism
the leaders
don't get the
people
together, and
they dont
evenget
together
That's the
way Hispanics
think. You
don't need the
help from
nobody. You
have to do it
yourself.
Nobody is
going to help
you
Lack of
Conviction
.. I'm sure,
that there are
two kind of
organizations
: The ones
for
we are like islands of
conviction,
people that never get
that were
together... I think there's
-------------made with
competitive issue
the
..And you
between the Latino
conviction of
ask names of
community......sometime
help in the
the people
s its divided by
-------------plan and the
who are the
countries...that's one of
supposed
..Definitely, I other one[s]
the parts that people from
leaders I can
think that there are for
one country do not ...do
convenience,
bet you than
is no unity
not get together with
the
[that] they
between the
people from another
convenience
don't know
Latino
country
of making
the name[s] of communities;
the
--------------------------the...those
everybody is
organization
who are
trying to do
the people from the
saying that
whatever they for my
chambers of commerce
own...eh...
they are the
have to do for
think they are better
win, my own
leaders of the their own
persons than the ones
wealth, and I
community.
that have really more
------------think [the]
success than they have.
So you never majority of
So, the first thing in
the non-for
get united
division is the....... ...
profit
because you
those who think they are
have that thing organizations
the leaders have no
are for
that you are
communication with the
alone, nobody convenience,
[speaking Spanish: "con
is going to help not for
el pueblo"] with the
conviction.
you and the
people...
organizations
--------------------that are
supposedly for
that the
Hispanics
were the
ones who
defeat[d]
that law
-----------I can
exaggerate,
maybe, but I
am pretty sure
that if we can
make an
investigation I
think that less
than 10% of
the affiliates
of the Latin
American
Chamber of
Commerce or
the Hispanic
Chamber of
Commerce
are not
Hispanics...Hi
spanics; less
than 10% are
Hispanics.
90% of the
affiliates are
people...are
Americans or
entrepreneurs.
..people from
business, but
not
Hispanics
how the Latin

American Chamber of
Commerce of Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce
have no Hispanic
affiliates? It is because
there is like [sighing] I
have to say like a social
thing and these people
are like from the high
end people and they don't
want to...eh... get
together with people like
the entrepreneur from
Mexico that they came
here, they start like
working in a restaurant, ,
washing dishes
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helping the
people...they
are not
thinking on
that. They are
thinking on get
[ting] the
grants, get the
money, have a
big ...money...
big check for
the Director,
for the CEO,
for the
CFO
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Results
The researcher conducted seven interviews that included participants from several Latin
American countries or territories represented in Nashville, TN, as follows:
Participant # 1, Colombia
Participant #2, Cuba
Participant # 3, Per
Participant #4, Mxico
Participant #5, Colombia
Participant #6, Puerto Rico
Participant #7, Argentina
These interviews were transcribed verbatim. From these transcripts, the researcher
identified twelve significant statements with their corresponding formulated meanings, as shown
on Table #2.What made these statements significant? Five out of seven, or 71% of participants in
the study shared similar statements throughout the interviews. The other two shared only two and
three similar statements respectively, with respect to the other five participants. From the
resulting formulated meanings, the researcher identified six themes with their respective subthemes, as shown on Table #3.
Table #2- Significant statements of Latino Persons on the meaning of divided
community in Nashville, TN, and the corresponding Formulated Meanings
SIGNIFICANT STATEMENT
1. There are probably small pockets in
Nashville where Latinos are probably
divided and that could be for many
reasons. That could be because [of]the
immigration status. We have some
FORMULATED MEANING
U.S. native-born Latinos do not want to
associate with undocumented/illegal
immigrant Latinos in Nashville, which is a
form of a social division within the Latino
community.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Latinos who are undocumented; some

that were born here and there are
certain Latinos that feel probably better
that they were born here and they are
citizens compared to the undocumented
immigrant Latino.
The people from [both] the [Hispanic and
Latin American] chambers of commerce
think they are better persons those
who think they are the leaders have no
communication with the with the people.
And not only being a Cuban Latina, but
you also have other Latinos that are from
other countries like Mexico, Colombia,
Ecuador, and everybody has their
different rituals and traditions
English Only", was a referendum that
wanted to be passed by Metro Council
So that's how the community came
together to defeat a bill that made no
purpose except to divide the community.
So coming together to get that done was
a turning point for the community.
America is a place where ...you can take
the direction you want. It's actually a
system that is recommended at its core...
So it fosters individuality... It encourages
it
I don't see things as divided, I see things
as there's a choice, I have a choice
of...like when I go to a buffet at a
restaurant, I don't see each plate as a
divided food, from the other, I see them
just an offer of everything that is
available in life, and I have the choice to
pick what I want to eat. I have a choice to
come back to the buffet and say "Now I
want to try something different, or I want
to eat more of this that I really liked. So I
never see things as divided, I see things
as "here's a variety of choices, and you
can participate in all of them or you can
participate in one or the other.
Every time there's a festival you can tell
that Latinos are unified, but only when
there's a festival. Outside of a festival,
where's the community pulling together,
21
Socioeconomic gaps exist between wealthy

Latino leaders and those who are not, which
suggests a divided community.
Latinos may speak the same language, but are

not a monolithic, homogenous group. They have
their own national identity.
The Latino community is typically united in

political matters that affect them all, regardless
of nationality.
Latinos exercise individuality in America, just like

any other group. That does not prove divisiveness
among Latinos.
Just because you choose specific friends or

business partners from the Latino community it is
no evidence that the community is divided.
The Latino community typically shows unity

whenever there is a festival or anything that has
to do with leisure, fun activities; not for other

voting together, working together,
coming to meetings, being a part of
Nashville making decisions for expansion,
for traffic, for schools? They dont
participate.
8. Saying... questioning "why" or "What is"
a sign of unity among Hispanics, is a little
contrary to the interest of Hispanics [to]
integrateSo, we would expect that
everyone [in America]... take [his or her]
own direction while they are here, and
that may be shocking for families that
are not expecting that; so I know [a]
single father who has a kid in the school
and they are growing apart as the kid
becomes more integrated into being
accepted.
9. An example of unity can be, I think, the
natural tendency to congregate based on
faith churches always are a good
refuge...
10. A sign of division is that there are two
different Latino Chambers of commerce
that supposedly serve the same
constituents.
11. Examples of division are when
you're knocking doors, but you are not
my people. How are you talking to me
about this situation, or why are you
talking to me about this when you have
no experience with it?
12. Now we do this and this other group
wants to do the same, and so it just
creates this sense of insecurity that you
don't want to do something that the
other group is going to take advantage of
as supposed to working together with
you
22
things that would involve ongoing dedication to
the betterment of the community as a whole.
Within the Latino community, there is a

perception of division between traditionalists and
those who want to integrate into the mainstream
society.
Faith, particularly within a church context, seems

to unify Latinos in Nashville.
Latinos could be perceived as unified if only one

Latino chamber of commerce existed.
There is perception of division when the wrong

leaders are reaching out to specific Latino
populations.
Threat of competition can suppress collaboration

and that, in turn, can lead to a perception of
divisiveness.
23
Table #3- Themes and corresponding Formulated Meanings

Political
Factors
Disconnected
Leadership
Social Factors
Economic
factors
Nationality
& Cultural
Factors
Many Latino
leaders do not
connect with
other Latinos
devoid of
power and
Participant influence.
#2: the
community Participant #1
came together
Those who
to defeat
think they are
[English
the leaders
Only,] a bill
have no
that made no communication
purpose
with the
except to
people.
divide the
community Participant #
7
A sign
Participant of division is
#5 that there are
We had a bill two different
that was about Latino
to be passed Chambers
into law that
to do business
in the state of
Tennessee
with
government
you could
only do it in
English, []
So, not only a
lot of the
Latino groups
came together
against that,
but all of the
organizations
Perception of
unity occurs in
festivity-related
and faith matters
Two different
Latino
Chambers of
commerce is a
sign of division
Each Latino
country has
its own set of
beliefs, values
and traditions
Latinos unite on
faith
Participant # 7
A sign
of division is
that there are
two different
Latino
Chambers
Participant
#2: you
also have
other Latinos
that are from
other
countries like
Mexico,
Colombia,
Ecuador, and
everybody has
their different
rituals and
traditions
Participant #6
they have
a
misconception
that
everybody
is...
"Mexican",
not knowing
that you're
Dominican,
I'm Puerto
Rican, and
somebody
else is Cuban
Many Latinos
unify on
immigrationrelated
matters
Participant # 3:
An
example of unity
can be, I think,
the natural
tendency to
congregate based Fear of unfair
on faith competition
Latinos unite on
festivities
Participant #2
I think [Latinos
unify] maybe
during the
different festivals
[]t people come
together, to
celebrate [] the
Hispanic Heritage
Month, which is
on SeptemberOctober, it's about
the independence
of Mexico and all
different
countries... Latin
American
countries but we
all celebrate it.
Participant #5:
it just
creates this
sense of
insecurity that
you don't want
to do something
that the other
[chamber of
commerce]
group is going
to take
advantage of
Individuality
U.S. Born
Latinos Vs.
Undocumented
Latinos
America
Perception of
encourages
division
individuality, between U.S.
Latinos are
born Latinos
not exempt
and
Undocumented
Participant Latinos.
#2
And not Participant #4
only being a
I definitely
Cuban Latina, agree that there
but you also
are probably
have other small pockets in
Latinos that Nashville where
are from other
Latinos are
countries like
probably
Mexico, divided and that
Colombia
could be for
many reasons
that could be
Participant
#3, because [of] the
America is a
immigration
place where
status. [] we
...you can take
have some
the direction Latinos who are
you want
undocumented
some that were
born here and
Participant
#5: People
there are, []
ask me all the
certain Latinos
time: why are
that they feel
there different probably better
chambers [of
that they were
commerce] or
born here and
Latino they are citizens
groups Why compared to the
dont we
undocumented
unify? I don't
immigrant
see things as
Latino. I just
divided, I see
and groups
that help
immigrants in
general,
because
"English
Only" did not
only affect the
Latinos, it
affected
anybody who
spoke any
other
language
Participant #6:
Every time
there's a festival
you can tell that
Latinos are
unified
24
things as
there's a
choice
speak because
of the facts
Participant
#6
.. They have
a
misconception
that
everybody
is...
"Mexican",
not knowing
that you're
Dominican,
I'm Puerto
Rican, and
somebody
else is Cuban.
And
everybody is
Mexican, so
everybody
drinks,
everybody has
a problem,
everybody is
loud. When
not everybody
is the same.
And that's a
total
misconception
that needs to
be addressed
or explained
to a lot of
people
Participant# 7
We have some
Latinos who are
undocumented;
some that were
born here and
there are certain
Latinos that
feel probably
better that they
were born here
and they are
citizens
compared to the
undocumented
immigrant
Latino.
25
Discussion and Conclusions

Based on the evidence presented, the research shows mixed results. First, all of the
respondents said that different levels of division do exist among Latinos in Nashville, and they
were explained mostly from a social, economic, and political perspective. Nonetheless, three out
of the seven participants concluded that divisions do exist just because of choices. In the case of
two different Latino Chambers of commerce, for example, two of the participants concluded that
this is just a perception that do not hold water because the same occurs in the mainstream
American society where you have different groups like the Rotary Club, Kiwanis, and different
chambers of commerce based on specific target audiences. The division seemed to be more
evident between U.S. born Latinos and undocumented Latino immigrants. Due to the limitations
encountered in this study, longitudinal study is necessary for a conclusive finding about the
problem.
Moreover, because the researcher was only able to locate indirect reference to the
problem, along a limited sampling, a comprehensive, longitudinal research needs to be done for a
definite conclusion of the meaning of divisive community among Latinos in Nashville, TN. There
was only one element that proved consistent with existing literature: That Latinos are not a
monolithic group (Jacobson, 2015). Therefore there are a numerous of differences that may be
perceived divisive when they are not.
Implications
Whether real or not, all of the participants concluded that if the Latino community is
indeed divided, or perceived therefore, it is hard to accomplish many socioeconomic and
political victories in Nashville. In spite of the cultural and other differences that do exist, there
26
needs to be unifying mechanisms in Nashville so that we can continue to work on the things that
make the community strong, instead on those that make it look weak.
Limitations and Future Research
This work will necessitate that other researches, demographers, Latino advocate groups,
etc., join forces in continuing this research. It will need a broader sampling and other processes
to ensure a more robust qualitative inquiry on this topic.
27
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29
Appendix #1
Databases and key words
Database: Ebscohost Academic Premier
Keywords: Division, ethnic groups, Latinos or Hispanics, minorities, immigration debate, illegal
immigration and Latinos
JACOBSON, L. (2015). The Hispanic Dynamic. State Legislatures, 41(6), 16-20.
Lopez, M., Morin, R., & Taylor, P. (2010, October 28). Illegal Immigration Backlash Worries,
Divides Latinos. Retrieved October 2, 2015, from
http://www.pewhispanic.org/2010/10/28/illegal-immigration-backlash-worries-divideslatinos/
Manzano, S., & Ura, J. D. (2013). Desperately Seeking Sonia? Latino Heterogeneity and
Geographic Variation in Web Searches for Judge Sonia Sotomayor. Political
Communication, 30(1), 81-99. doi:10.1080/10584609.2012.737415
Meier, K. J., & Melton, E. K. (2012). Latino Heterogeneity and the Politics of Education: The
Role of Context*. Social Science Quarterly (Wiley-Blackwell), 93(3), 732-749.
doi:10.1111/j.1540-6237.2012.00869.x
Newton, L. Y. (2000). Why Some Latinos Supported Proposition 187: Testing Economic Threat
and Cultural Identity Hypotheses. Social Science Quarterly (University Of Texas Press),
81(1), 180-193.
Sonenshein, R., & Pinkus, S. (2002, March). The Dynamics of Latino Political Incorporation:
The 2001 Los Angeles Mayoral Election as Seen in Los Angeles Times Exit Polls.
30
Political Science & Politics, pp. 67-74.

http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.fhsu.edu:2048/10.1017/S1049096502000161
Database: Google Scholar
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Europe [Abstract]. Abstract retrieved September 6, 2015 from
http://www.citeulike.org/group/1454/author/Kopnina:H
Database: Google Search
Key words: English Only Nashville
Nashville voters reject English-only measure. (2009, January 22). Retrieved December 7, 2015,
from http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/22/tenn.english.only.vote/
Database: Nashville [TN] Public Library Catalog
Keywords: Latinos or Hispanics, Nashville, South
Winders, J. (2009). New Americans in a New South City? Immigrant and Refugee Politics in
Nashville, TN. In M. Odem & E. Lacy (Eds.), Latino immigrants and the transformation
of the U.S. South. Athens, Georgia: University of Georgia Press.
31
Appendix #2
Interview Transcript for Participant #1
Research Project: What does divided community mean to Latinos in Nashville, TN?
Date: October 30, 2015
Time allocated: Up to an hour, from 7:00 p.m.-8 p.m.
Total time recorded: 0:26:02.6
Location: Participants home address in Nashville, TN
Interviewers name: Rubn De Pea
Interviewees name: Participant #1
Interviewees position: Entrepreneur/ Publisher
Interviewees country of origin: Colombia
Opening Statement:
0:00:55.7 Ruben: Ok. The purpose of this project is to discover what Latinos think and feel
about the meaning of divided community in Nashville and the implications if such division
existed. You have been selected for this interview because you are part of the Latino community
and I thought your opinion would be very relevant to this study. This interview will consist of
seven questions and will last for about an hour and, in addition to taking notes, I will record our
conversation, which will only be used for the purpose of this research and not shared with
anyone. I would like to assure you that, as a researcher, I will protect your anonymity and
confidentiality. In fact, I will not use your name as I refer to any information that you might
provide. Shall we proceed?
0:00:57.1 [Participant #1]: Yes, we can.
Questions:
1. 0:01:04.5 Ruben: Ok. Can you share, [Participant #1], your experience that led to your
decision to live in Nashville?
0:01:27.8 [Participant #1]... Principally, it was because I received an offer in a
company to start like a franchise over here, we can see I am in Nashville because
a job bring me here.
0:01:36.8 Ruben: Ok, very interesting. Ok? Now, do you mind sharing what type
of job was that?
0:01:39.2 [Participant #1]: It was a newspaper.
0:01:39.8 Ruben: Ok.
32
0:02:02.6 [Participant #1]: It was to start a newspaper that came from Alabama.
They wanted to start here in Nashville, they wanted to expand the newspaper from
Alabama to Tennessee. So, umm... they already started the newspaper like three
months before I came here.
0:02:03.1 Ruben: Ok
0:02:31.4 [Participant #1]: But the person they hired to do that wasn't doing a
good job, so as I worked with them six years before, they wanted me to come here
so we made a deal to start like a franchise, more in a franchise business more than
being a worker of them. So that way we started the newspaper in Tennessee.
2. 0:02:45.1 Ruben: Ok. Another question is: What is your experience of being a "Latino"
person in Nashville?
0:03:51.7[Participant #1]:.Ok. I think...because maybe of my job I think being a
Latino has been like something good for me; people see that being like a
professional Latino...They think that all the Latinos sometimes are just "workers",
not professional people, not educated people; so for me being Latino I never had
any problem being Latino... no discriminations situations, at all, maybe one or
two times. More in like trying to do some business or something; but... I don't
think that being a Latino has been tough for me, maybe has been an advantage...
0:03:52.7Ruben: Ok
0:03:55.3 [Participant #1]... More than something difficult for me....
3. 0:04:09.4 Ruben: Ok. Ok. Perfect. Now, this question is about for you to please describe
your view of the unity of the Nashville Latino community.
0:04:17.7 [Participant #1]: Which unity? ha ha ha ha... I think there is no unity....
between the Latino communities [communities].
0:04:19.6 Ruben: Why do you say that?
0:05:14.3 [Participant #1]: Definitely we are like islands of people that never
get together... I think there's competitive issue between the Latino
communitysometimes its divided by countries...that's one of the parts that
people from one country do not ...do not get together with people from another
countrythat's the first kind of division...and some some people from some
countries...ah... think they are better than people from other country, and they
don't want to interact with that kind of people...
0:05:14.7 Ruben: Oh, really?
0:05:43.3 [Participant #1]: ...There is some arrogance in some people
from...some countries, principally from South America, against the people from
Central America, and Mexicans, and North Americans, Latino...No... yeah,
well...in our country... in our country when we studied "America" it was just
one... and North America... Mexico was part of Central America.
33
0:05:46.1 Ruben: When you say "our country", what country are you referring
to?
0:05:46.9 [Participant #1]: I am from XXXXX...
0:05:47.4 Ruben: Ok.
0:06:27.9 [Participant #1]: ...South America. So, yeah,... definitely, I think that
there is no unity between the Latino communities; everybody is trying to...do
whatever they have to do for their own... profit, let's say; do not help others if they
are not going to win something... If you don't get any advantage, you are
not...willing to help somebody.
0:06:30.9 Ruben: What does that mean..."helping somebody"
0:06:58.2 [Participant #1]: Oh, in many ways... In many ways... it is something
that all the people wants to get something from what you are doing. When you...if
you want people to be unite (d)...if have to give something...without expecting
having something in back. And that's why I think there is no unity between the
Hispanic communities, because nobody wants to give nothing for nothing.
4. 0:07:17.6 Ruben. I see. Ok. Ok. Now, um, the other question is "Can you share an
experience that, for you, suggests divisions exist between Latinos in Nashville?
0:09:55.7 [Participant #1]: [Coughing] ...Ok. I think one of the best examples
could be some organizations...like the chambers of commerce... you don't see... I
can exaggerate, maybe, but I am pretty sure that if we can make an investigation I
think that less than 10% of the affiliates of the Latin American Chamber of
Commerce or the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce are not Hispanics...Hispanics;
less than 10% are Hispanics. 90% of the affiliates are people...are Americans or
entrepreneurs...people from business, but not Hispanics. So, how, how the Latin
American Chamber of Commerce of Hispanic Chamber of Commerce have no
Hispanic affiliates? It is because there is like [sighing] I have to say like a social
thing and these people are like from the high end people and they don't want
to...eh... get together with people like the entrepreneur from Mexico that they
came here, they start like working in a restaurant, washing dishes but they grow
and they start a restaurant and that restaurant and that restaurant was successful
and then they put another restaurant and there are people that have sixteen, twenty
restaurants.. They have more money than any of the Executives of the chambers
of commerce, but the people from the chambers of commerce think they are better
persons than the ones that have really more success than they have. So, the first
thing in division is the... those who think they are the leaders have no
communication with the [speaking Spanish: "con el pueblo"] with the people...
0:09:56.2 Ruben: Right
34
0:10:10.5 [Participant #1]...Okay? So there is no connection, there is no

communication between them even if you go and ask and do an... [speaking
Spanish: "una encuesta"]... a survey...
0:10:11.2Ruben: Right
0:10:16.6 [Participant #1]: ...with the...with the people ... .with the Hispanics...
0:10:32.9 [Participant #1]: ...and you ask names of the people who are the
supposed leaders I can bet you than [that] they don't know the name[s] of
the...those who are saying that they are the leaders of the community.
5. 0:10:52.8 Ruben: Wow... that's interesting. Ok. Now, Can you share an experience that
suggests that Latinos in Nashville are unified?
0:11:50.1 [Participant #1]: [Sighing, while taking several seconds to process the
question] It's really hard to look at example of that....but let me go deep. Ok.
Umm... the only thing that unifies the Hispanics it is something that is going to
hurt most of the people. Let's say this: I forget the dates, but there was a time
when the government gave driving licenses to anybody.
0:12:02.0 [Participant #1]: Ok. When the governm... the governor decide[d] not
to...to stop giving license[s] to undocumented people
0:12:04.8 Ruben: Are you talking [about] the...the governor of Tennessee?
0:12:51.3 [Participant #1]: ... Yeah, the governor of Tennessee decided, because
that's a decision of the government, he decided that they were not going to give
more license[s] to undocumented people. At that time there were meetings where
the organizations invited people and you find 700 people in a meeting,
with...so...with one-day notice. OK? Umm... Once the government decide[d] that
all the people must... all thethe the owners of restaurants or any kind of
company have to use the E-Verify
0:12:52.3 Ruben: uh-um
0:12:55.3 [Participant #1]: ... there was a call.
0:12:57.2 Ruben: What is "E-verify?
0:13:33.3 [Participant #1]: That's a system that anybody whos going to work for
anybody must pass a verification of that... his or her social security exists and it is
a true social security number. So, when the government, the the the congress
decide[d] or they were fighting for a law to put the E-verify on everybody.
0:13:33.9 Ruben: right
35
0:13:47.7[Participant #1]: they called a meeting, short-notice and I remember

there were 200 owners of business in that first meeting.
0:13:49.2Ruben: Wow. Latinos?
0:13:53.1 [Participant #1]: Latino, just Latino business [es], I'm talking about
Latinos.
0:13:53.6 Ruben: Ok
0:14:03.3 [Participant #1]: So, for the driving license: 700 people. For the Everify situation, 200 people.
0:14:49.5 [Participant #1]: ...Ok. But if you call for something, even... Let me
tell you: I own a newspaper and when I receive umm... some tickets for a show in
the...at TPAC [Tennessee Performance Arts Center], OK, I have like 5500
followers on our Facebook page. That day something happens and I couldn't go to
the event, so I put something in Facebook: "If you answer these questions, you are
going to get two tickets to a show of a Hispanic man that was going to go at the
TPAC", and I didn't receive any response.
0:14:50.6 Ruben: Wow.
0:15:36.4 [Participant #1]: It is so, so difficult to get together the Hispanics,
they only get together when they have a problem. At that moment they are not
XXXXXn, they are not Mexicans, they are not Cubans, they are not...Ok. They
get unified if there is a situation that is going to hurt the... themselves as persons,
not as a community. If you think something is going to happen to ME", you go
to that meeting not because you want to be unite[d], to be one. It is hard to tell.
0:15:37.3 Ruben: uh-hum
0:16:03.1 [Participant #1]: But, in the English-Only situation", whenwhen
the "English-Only law went to the vote... I would like to have those statistics,
and I want to know how many Hispanic[s], what percentage of Hispanics were the
ones who vote[d].
0:16:04.7 Ruben: uh-hum
0:16:11.4 [Participant #1]: Even in that situation, I don't think that the Hispanics
were the ones who defeat[d] that law.
0:16:12.6 Ruben: Wow.
0:17:53.4 [Participant #1]: I am pretty sure... I am pretty sure that was not the
Hispanic community the one who.... Obviously, there were leaders who worked
with that and we have to thanks [thank] those people, OK. But far beyond the
community ...they did not even understand what was going on. So, I definitely say
36
there is no unity in the Hispanic community. They get unite[d] only if there is
something that is going to harm them or to help them like DACA [Deferred
Action for Children Arrivals, Obama's executive to stop deportation for children
and youth that meet certain criteria] the situation with the president, the executive
orders from the president, on that moment the people get together because they
are going to have something good or something bad from the situation that is
going to happen, but no other. I have been trying to gath...to make like a group of
volunteers. What a beautiful thing that is something happens like a tornado or
something like that to get that crew of people, of brown people, of Hispanic
people over there helping the.. the... No... People don't like to unite to those kind
of things. I don't know how to say it in English, but there is an important
expression from the Mexican people thatumm
0:17:55.6 Ruben: You can say it in Spanish
0:17:56.8 [Participant #1]: ... "que explica esto"
0:17:57.9 Ruben: "that explains that"
0:18:04.2 [Participant #1]: ...that explains that. It's "cada cual se rasca con sus
propias uas"
0:18:11.7 Ruben: "Everyone scratches with his own nails... fingernails".
0:19:41.1 [Participant #1]: Yeah. That's the way Hispanics think. You don't
need the help from nobody. You have to do it yourself. Nobody is going to help
you. Ok. So, the...the...on the mind of the Hispanics, you are alone. So you never
get united because you have that thing that you are alone, nobody is going to help
you and the organizations that are supposedly for helping the people...they are not
thinking on that. They are thinking on get[ting] the grants , get the money, have a
big money big check for the Director, for the CEO, for the CFO, OK, and I
think, and I'm sure, that there are two kind of organizations: The ones for
conviction, that were made with the conviction of help in the plan and the other
one[s] are for convenience, the convenience of making the organization for my
own... win, my own wealth, and I think [the] majority of the non-for profit
organizations are for convenience, not for conviction.
0:19:43.4 Ruben: Ok.
0:19:58.0 [Participant #1]: So, the leaders don't get the people together, and they
don't even get together. It's impossible to get the unified community,
[unintelligible: Sounds like In fact, it happens"].
6. 0:20:12.0 Ruben: Ok. How does being divided or united... let me repeat again: What
does being divided or united affect Latinos in Nashville?
0:22:51.3 [Participant #1]: Ok [sighing] I can... Wow. For example, with the
government, with the government, I remember interviewing one of the
37
congresmans [congressmen], and he said me: "If you as a community do not vote,
you cannot ask for nothing". Ok. So if we, as community go and vote, the
statistics appear and at that moment you have the power of going to the
government and ask "Okay, we need this". So, if we are not united we cannot ask
for nothing. If we do not...follow the laws, in some cases, you cannot go and ask
for something. So, the division doesn't help us to grow. Ah... If you are an
entrepreneur, and you want to start a business, there is no organization that helps
you. If we were unified, and you ask the non-for profits or the government,
whoever have to help, because there is a lot of money in grants, in everywhere,
for those kind of things... but that money is not coming to us, to organizations that
help us, because we are not unified; if you are unified and you go... and you
request... a bunch of people request those things, you are going to get the things,
because this is the country made like that, OK. There are organizations to help
you, but if you are not unified, if you don't request the help, or if you don't say
what your needs are... Let's start with the needs... If you don't say what you need,
nobody is going to know that you need that.
0:22:57.1 [Participant #1]: So, if you are not unified, you are not going to get
any help anywhere.
7. 0:23:08.8 Ruben: OK. The last question is if there is anything else you would like to
share that I have not asked.
0:25:25.9 [Participant #1]: Well, it is so sadbecause you see other
communities that are really unified, Ok, let's say the Jewish, for example, that's a
good example, even like... Muslims are unified They are fighting for their
things, but even not just for fighting, even for...party [parties] and event. For
example: There was an event supposedly for the Hispanic... Oh, let's say there are
events that are supposed for the Hispanic community and the Hispanic heritage
month, for example, and you go over there... the Nashville Zoo, do, does kind of
events, Cheekwood, many places who organize those kind of things, and the
Hispanics do not show up. So there is nonobody...You see the Muslims do
somethingwhoever... Jewish community, Black community... everybody is over
there. So, I, I, I can assure you or my...my thoughts are that we are not unified.
We are not unified because each other thinks they are better. Some of them think
they are better than the other ones, or some of them think there is no help... I have
to do my... I have to grow myself and do my things, by myself, so they don't
request any help and if you don't request, you are not going to get it.
Closing Statement:
0:25:55.6 Ruben: OK. Thank you so much for taking time to do this interview.
Your information will be extremely valuable and will be used wisely. I will
contact you again to show you a copy of the transcript of this interview to make
38
sure that everything is just as you said. I would like to remind you that everything
discussed is confidential and any use of it for this research will make reference to
a fictitious name.
0:26:02.6 [Participant #1]: Thank you! It helps
39
Appendix #3
Date: November 5, 2015
Time allocated: Up to an hour, from 10:30-2:30 am
Location: Interviewees home, Nashville, TN
Interviewees position: Entrepreneur
Interviewees country of origin: Cuba
Opening Statement:
0:01:03.4 Ruben: The purpose of this project is to discover what Latinos think and feel about the
meaning of divided community in Nashville and the implications if such division existed. You
have been selected for this interview because you are part of the Latino community and I thought
your opinion would be very relevant for this study. The timeframe for this interview is up to an
hour, and will consist of six questions. I may, nonetheless, ask you other clarifying subquestions based on your response. In addition to taking notes, I will record our conversation,
which will only be used for the purpose of this research and not shared with anyone. I would like
to assure you that, as a researcher, I will protect your anonymity and confidentiality. In fact, I
will not use your name as I refer to any information that you might provide. Shall we proceed?
0:01:04.2 Participant #2- Yes.
Questions:
1. 0:01:33.5 Ruben: Perfect. OK. Now..... [Turning the page] What is your experience of
being a Latino person in Nashville?
0:01:33.3 Participant #2. [Speaking in Spanish: Ya empezaste a grabar? Meaning: Did you
start recording?]
0:01:35.0 Ruben: Yes.
0:01:37.0 Participant #2: Ah. OK. What is your question again?
0:01:44.7 Ruben: What is your experience of being a Latino or "Latina" person in Nashville?
0:04:35.2 Participant #2: Wow. That is a wide... a very wide topic and question because I can
look at it from different perspectives, one of them as a Cuban-American, and a musician. When I
40
came to Nashville it was that no hears for the Latino music and there was no door to go through
to accomplish your dreams or to go forward to what you wanted to accomplish. So it was very
hard at the beginning to be one of the first Latinos in Nashville... fifteen years ago and not
being... the community was very small, and there was, like, nothing to you know, it is not like in
our countries that you go knocking on somebody's door and you say "Hey, how's it going?" and
here is everything was that here you have to make an appointment, you cannot knock at your
neighbor's door, you cannot do something... you know, show up at their door, basically. So, and
the other part of it is that, as an entrepreneur, it was hard to be a Latina in a man's world and
trying to develop a business and do business with other business people, and say "Hey, I need a
check", and [they responding] "Why should I write you a check?" and then you have to learn all
those things... how to be a Latina in a business world that I've never been in before. And, also,
being a Latino means that you are trying to keep your culture in a different culture. So it was
very hard to understand when you're also learning the language, in a different culture, and trying
to keep who you are in [imperceptible] center of this madness going around you. And not only
being a Latina...a Cuban Latina, but you also have other Latinos that are from other countries
like Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, and everybody has their different rituals and traditions, and
you are like: "Oh, yeah, that's cool, but, you know ... and sometimes there is difference in
words... in what they mean, so you always have to think about, Ok, so, Im Cuban, but there are
Colombian, or Mexican... We speak the same language, but they have their own tradition, so I
have to make sure that I keep mine. That I stay with my traditions, and that I stay focused on
who I am and don't lose who I am in the middle of the new culture.
2. 0:04:46.7Ruben: OK. 2. Please describe... That's question number two, please describe
your view of the unity of the Nashville Latino community.
0:05:54.4Participant #2- It's interesting because it's being slowly coming together... I think at
the beginning there was a lot of division, "you're Mexican", "you're Cuban", yari yara, but now
with the different organizations that [are] being developing in Nashville like different non-profits
like Conexion Americas, the Chambers of Commerce, TIRRC, and all these different non-profits
organizations are creating programs to help the Latino community... It's kind of bring everybody
together and try to help each other as a whole it's very important to all these organizations
instead of focusing in just one group, or one country, because at the end, we all come from the
same background. The Latin culture is very rich and very... We're people that like to get things
done... get everything done. I think all these organizations in the city have helped us flourish as a
community and get to where we want to be.
3. 0:06:04.4Ruben: Ok. Can you share an experience that suggests that Latinos in Nashville
are unified?
0:06:54.0 Participant #2: An example. Wow. I think maybe during the different festivals, you
know that people come together, to celebrate like [imperceptible] which is a Mexican tradition,
but we all have embraced it and we all participate. The Hispanic Heritage Month, which is on
September-October, it's about the independence of Mexico and all different countries... Latin
41
American countries but we all celebrate it. So that all those examples that we have come together
to celebrate the independence of different countries, but we make a big party out of it, and say
"OK, yeah, you're Latino we celebrate you for your freedom, you know? So I think those are two
great examples.
4. 0:07:02.6Ruben: OK. How does being divided or united affect Latinos in Nashville?
0:08:15.0Participant #2: I think if we are all only depending who we are as a separate entity, a
separate country, we won't get to where we are. United we can accomplish more, like for
example when "English Only", was a referendum that wanted to be passed by Metro Council.
That was going to be hard for the community as a whole because one thing that we want to
overcome is the language barrier. If we don't get help along the way we won't be able to
communicate. We know that in the United States the primary language is English, but if we have
a large population in the city or in the country that is Spanish-speaking, we have to help them
somehow to learn the language, but also to communicate with them. So if we put a barrier in
communication, we're never going to get anywhere. So that's how the community came together
to defeat a bill that made no purpose except to divide the community. So coming together to get
that done was a turning point for the community.
5. 0:08:24.6 Ok. Finally, is there anything else you would like to share that I have not
asked?
0:09:31.8 Participant #2-I think we are a force to be reckoned with, as a Latino community. By
2025 I think that we're going to be the largest minority in the country because we are growing
real fast, and that is because we are a group of people that love to have large families... The
normal families have four to five kids and that comes from all home backgrounds. Unfortunately
I don't have any but my friends' kids are my kids; and I think we're going to be a big large part of
the country, especially in Nashville. As of 2010, we were 10% of the population in Nashville, but
I think it might be around 12 or 15 right now because people keep coming into Nashville, and it's
going to be amazing to have a big large population of Latinos in Nashville.
Closing Statement:
0:10:06.2 Ruben: OK. Well, thank you so much for taking time to do this interview. Your
information will be extremely valuable and will be used wisely. I will contact you again to show
you a copy of the transcript of this interview to make sure that everything is just as you said. I
would like to remind you that everything discussed is confidential and any use of it for this
research will make reference to a fictitious name, such as Participant # 1, 2, 3etc.
0:10:07.8Partciipant #2: Thank you!

0:10:09.8 Ruben: Ok. Thank YOU!
42
Appendix #4
Time allocated: Up to an hour, 2-3 p.m.
Location: Flatrock Coffee, Tea, and More Nashville, TN
Interviewees position: Key Leader- Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Interviewees country of origin: Peru
Opening Statement:
0:01:05.9 Ruben: Ok. Okay my friend! The purpose of this project is to discover what Latinos
think and feel about the meaning of a divided community in Nashville and implications if such
division existed. You have been selected for this interview because you are part of the Latino
community and I thought your opinion would be very relevant for the study. This interview will
consist of six questions and would last up to an hour, and in addition to taking notes, I will
record our conversation which will only be used for the purpose of this research and not share
with anyone. I would like to assure you that as a researcher I will protect your anonymity and
confidentiality. In fact I will not use your name as I refer to any information that you might
provide. Shall we proceed?
0:01:06.3 Participant #3: Yes.
1. 0:01:13.2 Ruben: What is your experience of being a Latino person in Nashville?

0:01:22.9 Participant #3: Can you be a little more specific? What type of experience are
we speaking about? Just living here or interacting with people?
0:01:23.4Ruben: Both
43
0:04:44.5 Participant #3: Ok. Living here, I've been living here for many years now,
many years, maybe close to twenty years. I moved in 1996, and, of course, Nashville has
changed a lot... because growth in the visible presence of those who are of Hispanic
heritage from different countries primarily from Mexico and central American countries
and you can see that through stores, markets, perhaps a degree in also large grocery stores
like Walmart, you can see a percentage of people there... at stadiums, and, well, it's been
a process to meet, I think, every Latino, every Hispanic that lives here comes with a
purpose...they are not coming to go to Dollywood, necessarily, they come moved by an
economic imperative, primarily. I came for school and I made Nashville my home... I had
the opportunity to have an immigrant visa available to me and I had to move here. I had
relatives already in the area thats why I chose Nashville. Nashville has a unique
position.... is in the unique position to write its own history for many immigrant
communities because it is still somehow a virgin territory. A recent...a news story in the
business journal says that the amount of people who move to Chicago for a year, we have
them here in a day. So about 80 people, I think, move to Nashville every day, compared
to 80 people moving to Chicago per year. That is interesting statistic that's giving us the
perspective of the rapid exponential growth in Nashville. So, getting back to your
question, it is a very exciting journey. There has been a process to adjust, and to integrate.
I think Integration is very important because you really feel you are part of the
community you live in. Sometimes that doesn't happen, and that, as a result of.... what
keeps you from integrating, that's sometimes is legality... illegal status and language; and
that can keep you from being part of the main stream... and instead being in some sort of
a corner...sometimes self-segregated. To me it's been a process... and I'm here now,
many... much different than 20 years ago.
2. 0:04:53.7 Ruben: Ok. Number 2... Please describe your view of the unity of the Nashville
Latino community.
0:08:15.0 Participant #3: It's a way... to read "unity"....one thing that unite us beyond
anything is the fact that we live here. And because we live here we need to play by the rules
and follow the protocols that involve being a particular part of the country, which is different
Nashville from living in Chicago or living in Miami, and just as... we explain the
understanding of what Hispanic is to those who are not. Hispanics, we do not come from one
place; so we are not all Mexicans, or speak "Mexican", we come from a good...close to 30
countries, I believe from the Spanish speaking community...world and that makes... makes it
hard, you know... to really just become this melting pot that I think some people refer to....I
think there's beauty in the fact that each one comes a...somehow different cultural
background that we all become unified by historical aspects of our either upbringing or
origin. So we all had an early story that is almost unrecalled and then we have the presence
of those that came from Spain and permeated our existing civilization with their styles and
their influences to be current influencers of world beyond that are shaping the Americas day
44
by day... America is no stranger to that. We have television, movies, music, that also make
people desired to visit this land. I don't blame anybody wanting to come here. It's like when
you are...the marketing efforts to show this desirable land, the land of opportunity. But going
back to the question about being united or not, I think there is unity in the fact we speak the
language, and there is unity about the fact that we all came to live here, and thatthat alone
is just one indicative that, I think, we have to be able to set our goals beyond the heritage that
we belong to. So, I don't think there is tension among communities, if that was your...if your
question was geared to. Is it easy to unite or not? I think we need to unite as long as the goal
is to be part of the fabric of the market that we live in.
3. 0:08:33.0Ruben: The third question, which is related to the second one: Can you share an
experience that for you suggests divisions exist between Latinos in Nashville?
0:12:24.0 Participant #3- Examples of the division? Is that what you're saying?
Existing...There's one thing that I can... that I can observe....It is the fact that due to
circumstances of...that are more related to understanding of what Latino, what Latino is...
what a Hispanic is... it may affect those there are of Hispanic heritage, born in the United
States... already not foreign at all...that [are] or Hispanic heritage who feel affected by this
rhetoric of being undocumented, perhaps not all prepared, perhaps not financially solvent
and more of an indigent state of Hispanic... of Hispanicsand those feel affected. So those
who have been established... that have their fathers, grandfathers...grandparents, greatgrandparents born in the United States feel it's unfair that they are identified with those that
are perhaps new, perhaps undocumented, and that creates a very unfortunate division. It's like
almost not wanting to be associated with even those that come from the same place. That I
see. I don't see newcomers have a problem among each other. I mean, if they have any
tensions...new comers having any tension.... new comers have any tension, I would not
consider it to be serious... what think it' is more of a class... It's a matter of class. So the
light... lighter-skinned Hispanics have, perhaps a... an easier time integrating and being
brought into the mainstream and being giving opportunities that those that are not [light or
lighter skinned]; and those that have...that are perhaps more educated and more established
do not want to put their hands or in some way involved with things that have to do with
advocacy or things that have to be about anybody's rights or in the opposite case there are
efforts... sometimes there are organizations...perhaps with condescending mission of being
the ones that know who is less- privileged and gather some sort of support that
[imperceptible] marginal Latinos to teach them English, to teach them the way, even
though...You know what? I don't think there is a Latino that needs your help on that. They
have been extremely clever and shrewd in the way they handle their things... [imperceptible]
an economic imperative, with a strong will, they do things that I am probably unable to do,
even though I have been able to, you know, integrate myself and have an education, but they
sustain a family...they sustain a family abroad, they sometimes have businesses, I don't know
how they do it... they are super-people. So they... I don't think they need anybody to say " I
45
am going to raise money so you can get blankets, or you can get... or you can learn English,
or you can, you know, start your taco stand'. I think they can teach us something, instead.
4. 0:12:39.3 Ruben: The other question is: Can you share an experience that suggests that
Latinos in Nashville are unified?
0:15:47.5 Participant #3- [imperceptible] I'm still not certain what the meaning of
unification among Latinos is. That question... If you... I mean, America is a place where you
can do... you can take the direction you want. It's actually a system that is recommended at its
core... So it fosters individuality... It encourages it. Back home, and I know that to be the
case, by visiting other countries, and visiting Mexico specially as it's very close, we like to
stick together, we like to live with our parents and grand parents' parents [imperceptible].
This is not what is encouraged here. Individuality is encouraged in the United States. So you
get your stuff, you get your home, you get your own place, you get your own party, you get
your own business and you deal with that, you sustain that. When you get married, then you
share it because it's strategic more than anything and you can actually weld faster because
there are benefits for that arrangement. So the basis for this family unity is not the same,
perhaps of the tradition and background that is part of the family unity in Hispanic...Spanish
speaking families. So saying... questioning "why" or "What is" a sign of unity among
Hispanics, is a little contrary to the interest of Hispanics integrate. So, we would expect that
everyone...everyone take your own direction while they are here, and that may be shocking
for families that are not expecting that; so I know fathers, maybe single fathers...or single
father who has a kid in the school and they are growing apart as the kid becomes more
integrated into being accepted, while the father, and the mother and the grandparents are
trying to stick together to certain values, they [their kids] are, like, trying to pull apart, trying
to, maybe, become like everyone is here, more individualistic, somehow selfish, and that can
be an example of that. An example of unity can be, I think, the natural tendency to
congregate based on faith. The most significant example of unity I can see is on the faith. I
dont... Yeah, I guess, you count people that go to a concert and then you see 3,000 people at
the Musical Auditorium [and] you can say they are united because they like a particular
music, but I see on a regular basis like Sundays and Saturdays being all together because of
their faith.
0:15:48.7Ruben: You said faith"?
0:15:49.3 Participant #3. Yeah.

0:16:16.4Ruben: OK. Given that there are so many faiths, what is your take on that,
regarding unification? Can you expand more about that the faith unites?
0:18:13.1 Participant #3 Well... Churches. Because of the conquest, the Spanish conquests,
[imperceptible] circumstance, that most Spanish-speaking people or Hispanics from Latin
46
America and Central America and Mexico, North America and Mexico, are Catholic or
Christian. But here in Nashville, no Catholic church has always done great job recruiting...
and sincethey're mega churches... not only the Catholic Church on Nolensville Rd., but
also the... theres a church nearby called Una Esperanza Viva, and also, I'm not so sure the
name of the church, but Pastor Jose Rodriguez, they're in North Nashville. Megachurches.
[Imperceptible] It's no secret that a large percentage of Hispanics in the population in the
United States, well, I won't say more than the legal residents or legally allowed to stay in
the country... but if there is 11, 12 million or more, who knows, and they don't have any
certainty that they can stay, churches always are a good refuge... and maybe trying to be
good or doing good, it's somehow an insurance against having to pay the consequences from
certain circumstances that put them in the spot.
5. 0:18:26.7Ruben: The other question is: How does being divided or united affect Latinos
in Nashville?
0:19:49.2 Participant #3 Then again, it's a very philosophical way to approach, to answer
that [imperceptible] because the meaning of "united" should be... what has kept certain
populations...what has helped certain populations grow and establish themselves has been the
element of unification. So, when the Chinese immigrants or the Italian immigrants came to
America, well, they were from... they were all Italian, they were all Chinese; I think they
came very strong because they gathered thethe strength in their shoulder and supported
each other. Well this is not what... it's not easy for Hispanics that are not predominantly... I
mean they are predominantly from Mexico, but they are not all from Mexico. And because
there are cultural differences a little bit in some ways in accents, in origins, nationalities.
Nationality specially is what keeps people from...that's when you still somehow believe that
you are...that's when you are not committed to the new world...
0:19:55.8Ruben: And what do you think are the consequences or implications for either
being divided or united for Latinos in Nashville?
0:21:04.9 Participant #3: It's a place with so much opportunity that divisions wouldnt
matter, but perhaps if there is a natural competing spirit when facing an individual promise
Spanish-speaking companies, but not from your company. That leads to a perception, more
than anything else. We all...we all...we all work hard to empower the United States because
we all by toilet paper. Bottom line is, anyone here is working and is a tax payer by the single
fact of being a consumer. But your question is about different types of people and how they
interact with each other. Nationality becomes a problem here.
0:21:09.2Ruben: Explain that.
47
0:23:02.4 Participant #3: Nationality, the fact that we have the nations in a global market
still, we have this idea that we are different... I think it's a perception... it's a position
[imperceptible] that has been fostered, that has been encouraged and nurtured by their own
places of origin, like America does. [Imperceptible] Like Captain America, [imperceptible]
and then thats how you have to go, and I guess to serve a purpose within the team. America
is a mix from everyone from everywhere, which is not unique...or it's not... what makes you
America is the fact that, you know, you came from, you know, you are from different parts of
the world or that you are having to live in the same place, it is that you are here pursuing the
same ideal and that is when... that makes a difference between a visitor to a resident in the
minds of [imperceptible]. So, I am not going to tell someone to abandon their what has
been part of their [imperceptible]. I am not going to tell them to abandon their beliefs.
0:23:24.1Ruben: Let's say that theres a perception, if there's a perception of division, in your
opinion, or unification, either or, if there's a perception, in your opinion what are the effects
on that or implications?
0:25:50.8 Participant #3: If there is a perception, well, I don't know if that should matter
because it's like saying, "Why you two in your family are not getting along?" or "Why aren't
you getting along in this classroom or this workplace? I think it is a little...a little domestic
to observe that. I see it that way. There's always, America is always... or systems in America
I see are being... are fueling divisions. How? What are some examples of that? There's this
racial rhetoric, that there is racism... There is this political rhetoric on the fact that this party
is such and this other party is this, and that. So, this is [imperceptible] football team, so I see
that... that should no... That shouldn't t surprise anyone that their interest are trying to fuel a
perception of division among people. I think that always it's going to be whether I'm from
New York or from Louisville, Kentucky, and that maybe...may some people feel different
from each other.... That's no so relevant to me. What's relevant to me is that we should not
foster stereotypes, we should not foster that myth that there is division. I don't know what the
problem is. There is this myth that Hispanics and Blacks have a problem. Hispanics can be
white and black. When we're talking about Blacks that, you know, do not need to have... do
not need to be referred to as people from Africa because they have sometimes no ties to
Africa. But that's how they are perceived and we're still having to deal with that. There is this
myth that Hispanics and Blacks have a beef Have a problem among each other. I never had
that. I don't think what the problem is. Maybe [imperceptible]. Maybe in some other parts of
the country there is. Here, there's not. If someone want to have a problem with me because I
was born in South American country, that's their problem. It's not my problem, because I do
not have anything... I don't... I don't... part of... my existence has nothing to do with the fact
that I was there, or that I lived [imperceptible] or the circumstances with me right now.
6. 0:25:57.3 Ruben: Last question: Is there anything else you'd like to share that I have not
asked?
48
0:26:42.4 Participant#4: I would like to... I would like to know if there's a specific type of
perception of division that can be addressed. [Imperceptible]... the perception of division
maybe among Mexicans, Mexican nationals and Central American nationals. So, when they
have to deal with each other, perhaps they do not like each other that much, but I don't have
any answer or evidence of that other than very anecdotal...
0:26:45.4 Ruben: Share some of... That's interesting, anecdotal. What type of anecdotal
perception....?
0:29:15.2 Participant #3: There is a perception that Mexican... gangs...that there

is...whatever country Salvadoran, or... gangs, and they have this... and sees how... you know,
that' no... I cannot say the whole Spanish-speaking world is composed of gang members
because there are groups of people that are fanatics about... being part of a football team and
they will punch anyone because they are better, because they feel they're better than
another... another team. But, of course, when we sometimes get to see that [these] are
extreme examples. My experience is that at the time of making it in this country, people are
really serious and committed to it, which I think it's the majority otherwise they'd probably
be in bad shape. They put things aside, as nationality, as...as even language, as they get to be
in the workplace. Because if they want to survive in a factory environment [imperceptible]
just imagine the movies you watch, a group of people that are in a jail, in a prison, you have
to watch the premises, [imperceptible] Hispanic gangs...how difficult it would be, right?
[Imperceptible] that's human nature... I think that when I actually see people working, they
do work. Obviously, it works for somebody, otherwise they wouldn't be here...they wouldn't
have stayed. So, yeah, there may be an element of division, I think more driven by interests
and I hope, I wish for that not to occur, maybe it's just that... an unfortunate perception and
I... I don't know, I mean this conversation is not about what would help do away with those
perceptions because we cannot just create propaganda to show that it's not, right? We just do
not make a book like it's good when it's not. So, there would be tensions, there would be
levels of divisions among human populations, regardless, just because it's part of human
nature.
Closing statement:
0:29:47.3 Ruben: Ok! Thank you so much for taking time to do this interview. Your
information will be extremely valuable and will be used wisely. I will contact you again to
show you a copy of the transcript of this interview to make sure that everything is just as you
said. I would like to remind you that everything discussed is confidential and any use of it for
this research will make reference to a fictitious name, such as Participant # 1, 2, 3etc.
0:29:49.9 Participant #3- (Speaking in Spanish: Muy bien!)---Good job!
49
Appendix #5

Time allocated: Up to an hour, from 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Location: Interviewers office, Nashville, TN
Interviewees position: Youth Organizer
Interviewees country of origin: Mexico
Opening Statement:
0:01:01.5 Ruben: Alright. The purpose of this project is to discover what Latinos think and feel
about the meaning of a divided community in Nashville and implications if such division existed.
You have been selected for this interview because you are part of the Latino community and I
thought your opinion would be very relevant for the study. This interview will consist of six
questions and would last up to an hour, and in addition to taking notes, I will record our
conversation which will only be used for the purpose of this research and not share with anyone.
I would like to assure you that as a researcher I will protect your anonymity and confidentiality.
In fact I will not use your name as I refer to any information that you might provide. Shall we
proceed?
0:01:02.2 Participant #4 Yes.
Questions:
1. 0:01:12.0 Ok. Ruben: What is your experience of being a Latino person in Nashville?
0:01:44.4 Participant #4 To me, as Latino person in Nashville, my experience has been great;
every section of Nashville that I go and visit I've always been welcomed with open arms by every
community. I have never been discriminated or looked down on, its always being the
community always giving me respect and I always get back that respect to the community.
0:01:47.6 Ok. Why do you think they give you that respect?
50
0:02:38.5 Participant #4: That's a good question. I think, I mean, from what I feel and what I
believe is just, I feellike they want to close that gap maybe with the Latino community and
maybe doing it one by one. I have met different groups that are or are always welcomed to the
idea of you bringing the community together, bringing diversity together specially the black and
brown theme, by bringing in the Afro-American committee and Hispanic community together; so
I think it is just because, you know, they don't want to have any problems in the community with
anybody; at the same time they just want to, you know, being united. That's...thats what I
believe.
2. 0:02:47.0 Talking about that, please describe your view of the unity of the Nashville
Latino community.
0:03:58.5 Participant #4 Latino community being united in Nashville... okay I see it
where...where we are all... all the Latinos in the community are united. Where were working
together to have an improved education system right now, that's like one of the big things for the
community as well as better confidence in with the with law enforcement a lot of people still kind
of fear the police because they feel like they're going to get deported, and I think that's just the
lack of education that may be that a lot of people still don't know that Nashville doesn't do that
anymore, that we don't have to...the 287G program. I see that, like, you know we are all offering
our help to one another and no...and not pushing someone down to try to bring ourselves up. I
see ourselves pulling each other up to be successful, you know, to really commonly live the
American dream.
3. 0:04:08.1 Can you share an experience that for you suggests divisions exist between
Latinos in Nashville?
0:04:12.1 Participant #4 Can you repeat the question one more time?
0:04:12. 1 Can you share an experience that for you suggests divisions exists between Latinos in
Nashville?
0:05:24.7 Participant #4 Ok. So... so one example that I have seen with Latinos being united
strongly is with some [there are so many by now]... I think one big one is definitely the support
with the youth... I work a lot with the youth...so I think one support really big is that youth from
different parts of the state are working together to pass a policy that will benefit a lot of Latino
students, you know, that's like my vision right there... because... for Nashville because we're
collaborating, working together. We don't think that one of them... that one of us is better than
the other. We don't try to take all... that we don't want to take all the credit for it... Everything...
51
we share everything and I that's what I seethe Latino community growing into by really
collaborating with each other and being successful for the same purpose.
0:05:42.2 Now what about the opposite? I'm going to go revisit the question. Do you see any
instance that suggests that there are divisions among Latinos in Nashville?
0:06:44.0 Participant #4 They were divided... there are sections... yeah I definitely agree that
there are probably small pockets in Nashville where Latinos are probably divided and that could
be for many reasons. That could be because like, for for example, the immigration status. You
know we have some Latinos who are undocumented; some that were born here and there are,
like you know, certain Latinos that they feel probably better that they were born here and they
are citizens compared to the undocumented immigrant Latino. I just speak because of the facts.
I I feel like we need to close that gap where we can both see that, you know, no regardless
where you are coming from or born that like, you know, we can still come together regardless
of like... immigration status... of the person.
4. 0:06:52.7 Ok. You may have or may have not shared that, but can you share an
experience that suggests the Latinos in Nashville are unified?
0:07:58.4. Participant #4 Are unified... okay... What should I say... in Nashville... one
experience... I think when... when the DACA info sessions... we were going out in Nashville
when DACA first came out and people wanted to know questions... wanted to know answers to
the questions. I remember seeing not just all the different Latinos really working together to
promote the event and to get as much...like... as many Latinos into the info sessions so they can
all be informed of what's going on, and you had different Latino newspapers working on this to
try get the word out, trying stories from people so they can share with the Latino community, in
just really trying to bring ourselves together. I think that's it that's that's one experience
where you saw the Latino community really coming together to know more about the program.
5. 0:08:09.5 Ok. How does being divided or united affect Latinos in Nashville?
0:08:27.4 Participant #4 So I think it would be a divided if Latinos are being divided we
can't get much done... you know... it's like we're cutting our strength in half and we cannot be
strong enough to make change in our community.
0:08:30.5 What does that mean getting things done and change?
52
0:10:37.2 Participant #4 Okay...Okay... so... so if... if we are working to bring a policy to

Nashville that will benefit the Latino community (for example municipal IDs), you know, thats
a big thing especially if you are undocumented. If people are against that, we need the
community...we need the Latino community to be united to have like a bigger voice a bigger
strength to be sure that that policy comes to a reality in Nashville... because if we are divided..
and there's just, like, people who have that ability to pass new policies or laws in Nashville...then
they'll probably see it likeokay there's not so much strength in the community that it
[doesnt] seem[s] that they really want this.
You know, me working a lot with, like, you know, in politics and so forth, I've seen the
strength of the community and so when you are organizing and coming together that's just
strength, and being divided that is not really going to help us. I think that when we are united
we need to see like we need to have everybody become a leader not just one person 'cause
that can backfire, you know, that can backfire if it is just one person, that could backfire
especially if that one person is more of a boss instead of a leader... you know, a boss is like
telling you what to do and a leader is like cooperating with everybody working together and if
we have everybody becoming a leader in just coming out and just leading sections of the
community as one with the same plan that would be perfect. it will backfire if we're all united
and maybe just one person played the leader, you know. It's my opinion.
6. 0:10:45.2 Last question: Is there anything else you'd like to share that I have not asked?
0:12:15.9 Participant #4 I... I strongly believe in my community. I mean, this is just my
personal feelings. I strongly believe in the community. I believe that our Latino community can
definitely be stronger than what it is right now and that we as people that the community...
[Imperceptible] look up to for resources for help is our job, our duty to close all those gaps
because if we are divided, who are we really affecting? Were really affecting our community
and we don't see any growth in our community... if we see growth you start to see, you know,
elected officials have the attention on us on what we want, what we needYou get to see, like,
you know, better policies being passed to benefit the community on our education system. I
believe that if we were able to close those gaps and really just connect the community and
empower them and let themand let them have the opportunity to make the change, the Latino
community in Nashville would be like, you know, in a better...in a better... not situation, but in a
better status, I guess, you know.
0:12:50.9 Thank you so much for taking time to do this interview your information would be
extremely valuable and will be used wisely I will contact you again to show you a copy of the
transcript for this interview to make sure that everything is just as you said how like to remind
you that everything discussed his confidential and any use of it for this research will make
reference to a fictitious name such as participant number 1, 2, 33 etc.
0:12:51.5 Participant #4 Thank you.
0:12:53.1 Alright. Thank YOU!
53
54
Appendix #6

Time allocated: Up to an hour, from 5 p.m.-6:00 pm
Total time recorded: 0:18:28
Location: Panera Bread, Nashville, TN
Interviewees position: Key Leader- Tennessee Latin-American Chamber of Commerce
Interviewees country of origin: Colombia
Opening Statement:
0:01:11.9 Ruben: Alright. The purpose of this project is to discover what Latinos think and feel
about the meaning of a divided community in Nashville and implications if such division existed.
You have been selected for this interview because you are part of the Latino community and I
thought your opinion would be very relevant for the study. This interview will consist of six
questions and would last up to an hour, and in addition to taking notes, I will record our
conversation which will only be used for the purpose of this research and not share with anyone.
I would like to assure you that as a researcher I will protect your anonymity and confidentiality.
In fact I will not use your name as I refer to any information that you might provide. Shall we
proceed?
0:01:12.4 Participant #5: Yes.
1. 0:01:22.4 Ruben: Perfect. What is your experience of being a Latina in Nashville?

0:01:29.5 Participant #5: I've been in Nashville 21 years and my experience is very positive.
0:01:34.8 Ruben: Ok. What do you mean by "positive"?
0:03:26.9Participant #5: By "positive" I mean that I have not allowed myself to experience
discrimination. If somebody has done anything or said anything that it's discriminatory, I have
not received it, like I have not allowed myself to feel that there is something different about me
as far as being less than or more than another group of people. So, to me that has been a very
positive way of looking at my life in Nashville. When I moved here, I moved for a very specific
55
reason, which was to raise my son on my own. And...so I found the city to be welcoming, I
found the city to be warm, I found the city to be friendly, and I found the city to be...and I still
find the city all those things, but I also found the city to be encouraging of whatever I would set
my mind to do. And so, this is the place where I have lived the most, continuously, in my entire
life. I have not even lived this amount of time continuously in my own country. And so to me
thats a huge indication of how loved, and welcomed, and comfortable, and secure I feel living in
Nashville, Tennessee. My... I have grown professionally, spiritually, emotionally, physically... I
have... this is the city where I raised my son, and he is a beautiful human being, and a lot of it has
to be with the entire environment of Nashville, Tennessee.
2. 0:03:32.4Ruben: Please describe your view of the unity of the Nashville Latino
Community?
0:06:54.1 Participant #5: That's a very good question because being part of the Latino
community and being a leader in the Latino community, I'm always told of why we have several
Latino Chambers [of Commerce] or Latino groups and that why we are divided, and that why we
don't come together. Those are the questions that I get asked probably once or twice a week, and
I don't see it as broken and don't see it as divided. I feel that we all have a choice to, you know,
to hang out or to be friends or to do business or to do anything that we want with whomever we
want, so I don't see things as divided, I see things as there's a choice, I have a choice of...like
when I go to a buffet at a restaurant, right?, I don't see each plate as a divided food, from the
other, I see them as a... just an offer of everything that is available in life, and I have the choice
to pick what I want to eat. I have a choice to come back to the buffet and say "Now I want to try
something different, or I want to eat more of this that I really liked. So I never see things as
divided, I see things as "here's a variety of choices, and you can participate in all of them or you
can participate in one or the other. The other thing is that not everyone wants to play together,
right?, or we don't want to do business with everybody; so, I think that it is a human right, a
spiritual right, I guess, to choose whoever we want to be with, and so just because there are two
groups or three groups of four groups, or because some people don't get along with each other, I
don't view it as division; I view it as "this is my personal choice", I want to be with this group
and I don't want to be with the other group. I think, what I do see as a negative implication is that
you can belong to, like I said before, you can choose different groups and you can belong to
different groups; however, it is important for those groups to work in alignment to move things
forward and to change things; and So when you have certain people or certain groups that don't
want to work together towards the benefit of the greater good, then that creates a negative
reaction. It would be like a table that has four legs but one leg is shorter or longer than the other
ones; so you're always going to have that tilted movement, so that's the only thing that would be
a negative or challenging situation.
3. 0:07:04.4 Ruben: Ok .Can you share an experience that, for you, suggests divisions exist
between Latinos in Nashville?
56
0:09:35.9 Participant #5: Yes. I belong to one of the business groups and we had... I had the
experience of working with a national speaker that we...our group has asked and invited to
Nashville to speak, and we promoted the specific person that was coming and created sort of an
agenda that we were going to take this person to talk to the media, and to talk to a group of
young leaders, etc. and our group planned and payed for the whole thing. And then we had
another leader from another organization, sort of just soaped in and took advantage of this
person, of this situation to do their own agenda, and called this individual, this national speaker
and said, "hey we also want you to do this, and this, and this for us" and that national speaker felt
compelled because of his position at a national level felt that he also needed to oblige to this
other group and said ok, but we were not asked if that was something that we wanted to share.
So, because it was out of our pocket, all the expenses, when we tried to reach this other
individual and say "Why we don't share the expenses? If you're also...we don't mind that you are
going to use the services of this national speaker, you have all the right to do that, however all
the expenses have come out of our pocket... why don't we share those expenses? The other group
never responded to our call, never responded to our communication. So, that immediately gives
you...sort of that protective... and sort of that awareness of being worried or careful that "now we
do this and this other group want to do the same" and so it just creates this sense of insecurity
that you don't want to do something that the other group is going to take advantage of as
supposed to working together with you. So, at a professional level, it's just very unprofessional
and so it does create an uneasiness to navigate the system together.
4. 0:09:43.5Ruben: Can you share an experience that suggests that Latinos in Nashville are
unified?
0:12:02.5 Participant #5. Yes. The "English Only", when in Tennessee years ago. We had a bill
that was about to be passed into law that to do business in the state of Tennessee with
government you could only do it in English, which meant that if you would call Metro Schools
of if you would call a state office that needed information in any other language, not just not
only Spanish, but in any other language that was not English, that was not going to be available.
So, not only a lot of the Latino groups came together against that, but all of the organizations and
groups that help immigrants in general, because "English Only" did not only affect the Latinos, it
affected anybody who spoke any other language. And so, not only the Latino groups came
together, we also had... or the immigrant groups came together, we also had the local chambers
[of commerce]. We had people of all, you know, different races and religious backgrounds that
came together against that, and we were able as a unified group to defeat the English Only bill
before it went into law. So I feel that when there is a greater good, then having a solid
relationship beforehand it's very valuable because, all of a sudden, when you have to mobilize
the masses, the relationships are already there, you don't have to start from zero. But... these
people work from different organizations, so we cannot say that Nashville is a divided city
because it has five American chambers of commerce, or the Rotary Club, or the Kiwanis Club...
you now, it's not divided, everybody has a choice to belong to different groups. But when you
have the conversations and the relationships that everyone can unite for one cause, so, you know,
57
that would be a great example of going "Ok. We all belong to different houses, but when it
comes to a bigger issue all come together under one roof".
5. 0:12:11.2 Ruben: How does being divided or united affect Latinos in Nashville?
0:14:43.9 Participant #5 I think the biggest thing... because I already explained a lot of this
issue, but I think the biggest part would be the political side. For many, many, many, many,
many, many years because of family influence and the way that I was raised I was a conservative
Republican, and but, I... you know, and a lot of it, of course, was the view that my family had
on politics as well which trickles down to you anyway. And, but then I started in the last five,
six years looking at the way that our young Latinos were treated with the Dream Act or the lack
thereof of the Dream Act, and things like that, and I immediately switched political parties
because of that. And so, as a Latina, I began to realize that there were some issues that should not
have a political party, or that you cannot stand with or should not stand with your political
belief, because it comes down to a human right or a human caring, or just plain compassion for
people. So, when Latinos stand in opposites....opposite political sides, which is totally fine, you
know, like I said we all have our choice, but when it comes to a lot of these children, in this case
the Dream Act of children that I was personally mentoring and being involved in their personal
lives, and that this particular law was going to affect them for their entire future, then it's a no
brainer. There's no question about it, you know, and that's where the division... that division or
that mentality needs to stop and look at it from your heart, as opposed to this is where our
political party stands or how we're going to pay for it. I don't know, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
6. 0:14:43.9 Ruben: Last question: Is there anything else you'd like to share that I have not
asked?
0:14:50.9 Participant #5.... Ha, ha, ha... Do I get a lollipop at the end?
0:14:53.0Ruben: Yes! What flavor?
0:14:54.6 Participant #5 Ha, ha... strawberry! Ha, ha, ha...
0:15:01.2Ruben: Is there anything else you would like to share that I have not asked?
0:15:06.0 Participant #5: About the Latinos in Nashville or anything?
0:15:06.0 Ruben: Anything.
0:15:19.7 Participant # 5: Wow! Well... OK. .Anything in particular? or, like what?
0:15:24.1Ruben: Or related to this, if you would like...
58
0:17:49.7 Participant #5 You know, what I have seen lately is the strength and resilience of
women, of Latina women who live in this city, the mothers, the single mothers, whether by
choice, or they were abandoned because their husbands being deported, for whatever reason I've
come across a lot of women who have, you know, worked to make sure that their lives are of
strength and of courage and that their kids have everything that they need to succeed, and I'm
very, first of all, honored that I am surrounded by women like that and also honored to know
them and to be a part of Latina women who regardless of any situation [imperceptible] not only
their children first, but I see these women also take care of themselves and that is very important
and necessary. I remember when I became a single mother the first piece of advice that my
mother gave me which I keep to this day was... you have to take care of yourself first so that you
can take care of your son, and I will never forget that because I thought "Oh no, I have to give
100% to my son", and that's not true. It's me first, and then him, which is interesting because
that's exactly what they tell you when you get on the plane and they give you the instructions that
if you're traveling with a child make sure to put on your mask first and then the child or whoever
next to you that needs help, and that makes total sense. If I don't take care of myself, I cannot
take care of others. And so, that to me, I have seen a lot of Latina women do that, and I thought
it very encouraging and just a lot of women claiming their power as not only women but as
individuals, and entrepreneurs, and, you know, mothers. We want to change the way that we...
that instead of having a pity party, that is like "No! Youve got to go and claim your power", and
that makes me happy.
Closing Statement:
0:18:22.4Thank you so much for taking time to do this interview your information would be
extremely valuable and will be used wisely I will contact you again to show you a copy of the
transcript for this interview to make sure that everything is just as you said how like to remind
you that everything discussed his confidential and any use of it for this research will make
reference to a fictitious name such as participant number 1, 2, 33 etc.
0:18:28 Participant #5: I want to be called "Princess of Monaco" ha, ha, ha, ha!
59
Appendix #7
Time allocated: Up to an hour, from 1:30-2:30 pm
Location: Interviewers Office, Nashville, TN
Interviewees position: Musician
Interviewees country of origin: Puerto Rico
Opening Statement:
0:00:53.6 Ruben: The purpose of this project is to discover what Latinos think and feel
about the meaning of a divided community in Nashville and implications if such division
existed. You have been selected for this interview because you are part of the Latino
community and I thought your opinion would be very relevant for the study. This
interview will consist of six questions and would last up to an hour, and in addition to
taking notes, I will record our conversation which will only be used for the purpose of
this research and not share with anyone. I would like to assure you that as a researcher
I will protect your anonymity and confidentiality. In fact I will not use your name as I refer
to any information that you might provide. Shall we proceed?
0:00:54.8 Participant # 6: Yeah.
1. 0:00:59.7Ruben: Ok. What is your experience about being a Latino person in

Nashville?
0:02:00.5 Participant #6 It is a very...wow...At this point it's kind of weird, in many
ways, at the same time it's very awesome. We get... were getting a bigger community,
so we're getting better substance. In the beginning it was very harsh, now I feel that
we're getting somewhere somehow community-wise if that makes any sense. At the
moment I feel comfortable, I feel welcomed, I feel received, like at said at the beginning
it was none of it, we had to work very hard to make a few changes or a few items if I
might say that to the community.
60
2. 0:02:07.6Ruben: Ok. Please describe your view of the unity of the Nashville
Latino Community?
0:03:31.2 Participant #6: Unity? Wow... that's a big subject right there... I can tell you
that there's, if I can use the Mexican community, they're very unite (d), they work
together pretty good, that's why you see so many Mexican businesses; in the contrary
to other races in the area, or genre, I don't know how you are going to describe that,
they are not as...as tight, working for each other, helping each other, as them [the
Mexicans], They're a good example. The Latino community in general, I think they work
pretty good, I think. They could do better, theres always room for improvement. I would
love to see more collaboration between one another, instead of keeping it separated.
For example, I went to a Mexican restaurant that has a Peruvian menu for the weekend.
I would like to see more stuff like that.
3. 0:03:41.0Ruben. Ok .Can you share an experience that, for you, suggests

divisions exist between Latinos in Nashville?
0:04:24.1 Participant #6 There's definitely a big division especially as you get deeper
into Nolensville and Murfreesboro Rd, they're completely separated by area, by people
that dominate the area... either, for example, Murfreesboro Rd, the beginning it's the
[housing] projects, the black people, and then you have the Kurdish, the Iranians, the
Arabs, and then you have the Mexicans, you know, then you have the Mexicans for the
rest of the population.
0:04:36.1Ruben: What about between Latinos in Nashville. Any experience that, in

your opinion, indicates that divisions exist among Latinos in Nashville?
0:05:00.1 Participant #6 Yeah. The... Once you get to where everybody lives... for
example Smyrna, Lavergne, where all the Latinos live. You can see clearly, where
there's a community filled of certain people, like a group of Puerto Ricans, and they
don't like their neighbors to be any different.
0:05:00.1Ruben: And why do you think that is?
0:05:03.6 Participant #6 because I have family that lives in that area.
0:05:11.20:05:05.5Ruben. I see. Why do you think that is? Why do you think that
happens, like that they want to live...?
61
0:05:13.3 Participant #6: Close to each other?

0:05:13.8Ruben: Yeah.
0:06:15.9 Participant #6: I... I still try to figure that out. I guess they have a
misconception that everybody is... like they label everybody "Mexican", not knowing that
you're Dominican, I'm Puerto Rican, and somebody else is Cuban. And everybody is
Mexican, so everybody drinks, everybody has a problem, everybody is loud. When not
everybody is the same. And that's a total misconception that needs to be addressed or
explained to a lot of people. And therefore, they just barricade themselves or they
barricades their houses... "No, I don't want you as a neighbor... or when they... If there's
a community they ask where they're from if they're this, if they're that... "Hmmm... I don't
feel comfortable having them as neighbors". And that is division, that is segregating
people again... we're going back to the sixties where the division started. I mean
division, but not for a long time; most noticeable, most recorded by media.
4. 0:06:25.6Ruben. Ok. Can you share an experience that suggests that Latinos in
Nashville are unified?
0:06:58.1 Participant #6: Every time there's a festival you can tell that Latinos are
unified, but only when there's a festival. Outside of a festival, where's the community
pulling together, voting together, working together, coming to meetings, being a part of
Nashville making decisions for expansion, for traffic, for schools? They... they dont
participate, they.... So, there's a lot of support, and then there's not.
0:06:59.1Ruben: And why do you think that is?
0:07:44.8 Participant #6: I either... I can think, some of them can be there's issues with
driver's license, some of it might they are afraid, they cannot communicate properly,
they need an interpreter, some of it might be that they're.... they cannot comprehend the
magnitude of what's happening.... and it's sad because anybody can if you really pay
attention, if you really want to be part of it. Then come the excuse of the soccer game, I
have too many kids that I have the house that I have to cook, I have to work too
many hours... If you really want to make time, you make time, you be there, it will
happen.
0:07:43.5Ruben: Ok
0:08:28.4 Participant #6 you prioritize... I guess we have to teach our community
how to make that happen, 'cause there is... I mean, when I go... If I can use this as an
example, would... like the Bible says, you know, God, family...or You, Family, Work,
62
Church, you know, and you go on down the line you make your priorities. And that's
how you would live life... that's how... that's how it worked in the 50's, that's how
people were very happy living, and I don't know how things got into what it is these
days... I still don't understand.
5. 0:08:35.7Ruben: Ok... How does being divided or united affect Latinos in

Nashville?
0:10:18.9 Participant #6: When we're united we make a lot of headlines, we make a lot
of news people love it. Well, news, not that much because they love to capitalize on
the negative stuff. Every time something really, really good happens like, you know, at
one point it was about 100,000 people at the Celebrate Nashville. Nobody talked about
it! Nobody knew about it. Now the minute there's a fight at a club, or the drunk Latino
person caused an accident, well the news... and headliners. So, that... Unity is a great
thing. We know we did it right, all those are participating, and then we're divided when
one decided to take the wrong route.... divisive community once again, and we have to
start building up, picking up the pieces, cleaning up the mess that someone else did,
either by lack of information, either by lack of support, it can be as simple as a talk.... or
they just want to be hard-headed and they need a lesson in life. Once... once they
reach a point in their life and listen, they can do wonders, 'case they have... like they
say "once you hit the deep, deep, deep, all you can do is just bounce back up, so
when they bounce back up most of them I know they are doing really good. I have seen
some great examples, but I also have seen that, oh Lord, help them out!
0:10:22.4Ruben: Last question:

0:10:23.9 Participant #6: Ok!
6. 0:10:28.6Ruben: Is there anything else you would like to share that I have not
asked?
0:13:10.3Participant #6 I would... I would like to add that that there's so much more that
we can do when we unite, than when we are separated. And I know you have been
asking about the same subject. I wish there was a budget or a help from other people or
somebody that could open the doors for this to be materialized. 'Cause we're missing
time.... These days we're living so fast. We're missing time, were missing important
things, just by no sharing the information, just by not taking it out there... Somebody...
the kids are definitely all over the [social] media, but the parents still live with the TV and
the newspaper. So we have to find neutral ground where we can meet both of them,
and they all get informed, and they all have the same... not the same... but they can see
our vision. Whatever they decide to do after that is their choice, as humans... So that we
can transfer our vision, our community understanding to them and we tell them, "This is
63
where were at, this is what we're trying to do, we would love to inform you, give you
some indicationmaybe explain to you...you come to us, or we come to your place...
Whatever works that... it's so much that I want to talk about, but at the same we don't
have enough time... and it all comes back to what you were asking: unity and division,
yeah, more examples of unity and division are right there when you're trying [for] me to
go and knocking doors, but you are not my people. How are you talking to me about this
situation, or why are you talking to me about this when you have no experience with it?
And it is why there aredivisions. And so people see it as unity, so it's a perception
thing, I don't know, it huts sometimes...sometimes is like "Yeah, we made it", but
sometimes it's like "Wow, where am I standing right now?" "Did I achieve something or
did I make it worse?"
Closing Statement:
0:13:40.8Ruben: Thank you so much for taking time to do this interview your information
would be extremely valuable and will be used wisely I will contact you again to show
you a copy of the transcript for this interview to make sure that everything is just as you
said how like to remind you that everything discussed his confidential and any use of it
for this research will make reference to a fictitious name such as participant number 1,
2, 33 etc.
0:13:43.8Participant #6: Perfect. Thank you!

Depena-Ldrs 810-Final Research Paper

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What does divided community mean?

What does divided community mean to Latinos in Nashville, TN?

Final Research Paper

LDRS 810: Qualitative Research Methods

What does divided community mean?

What does divided community mean?

What does divided community mean?

What does divided community mean?

What does divided community mean?

What does divided community mean?

What does divided community mean?

divided by mutual antagonisms, prompting many to reject the idea of belonging to

What does divided community mean?

What does division mean?

What doesnt division mean?

What does Latino mean?

What doesnt Latino mean?

What does community mean?

What doesnt community mean?

Review of the Literature

What does divided community mean?

What does divided community mean?

ethnic politics [] Although primarily Mexican, Nashvilles Latino population includes [] an

What does divided community mean?

About four-in-five of the nations estimated 11.1 million unauthorized

What does divided community mean?

implications at all levels for the ever-growing Latino populations in Nashville,

What does divided community mean?

What does divided community mean?

What does divided community mean?

What does divided community mean?

Initial Coding Strategies

What does divided community mean?

Table #1- Initial coding strategies

What does divided community mean?

how the Latin

What does divided community mean?

Participant #2, Cuba

Participant #4, Mxico

Participant #5, Colombia

Participant #6, Puerto Rico

Participant #7, Argentina

What does divided community mean?

Latinos who are undocumented; some

Socioeconomic gaps exist between wealthy

Latinos may speak the same language, but are

The Latino community is typically united in

Latinos exercise individuality in America, just like

Just because you choose specific friends or

The Latino community typically shows unity

What does divided community mean?

Within the Latino community, there is a

Faith, particularly within a church context, seems

Latinos could be perceived as unified if only one

There is perception of division when the wrong

Threat of competition can suppress collaboration

What does divided community mean?

Table #3- Themes and corresponding Formulated Meanings

What does divided community mean?

What does divided community mean?

Discussion and Conclusions

What does divided community mean?

What does divided community mean?