Still Falling Through the Cracks: Revisiting the Latina/o Education Pipeline by Lindsay Pérez Huber, Maria C. Malagón, Brianna R. Ramírez, Lorena Camargo Gonzalez, Alberto Jimenez, and Verónica N. Vélez depicts the systemic racism and barriers that exist against Latinx students within the American education system. The article covers several factors that contribute to the overall disadvantage of being a Latinx student in America, no matter what age. The article talks about how schools within Latinx communities are underfunded and some of the cultural and lingual challenges and setbacks that young Latinx students experience. The article also discusses the disproportion of Latinx students in higher education and uses graphs to exhibit how despite the percentage of the population they make up, their rate of educational success in post-high school is immensely low.
The writers of the article call for changes to be made in order to lower the Latinx student dropout rate and to increase the representation of Latinx people in higher education. The article lists numerous recommendations involving DEI employment, specific policy changes, and affirmative action as a whole. The article brings up discussions and awareness towards systemic racism, educational inequality, and the general minority-student experience in America. It suggests solutions revolving specifically around the structure of the education system and how structural changes could help increase the rate of success among Latinx Americans in higher education.
I overall agree with the sentiments of the article. The overall argument attacks current social and structural norms within the education system and displays the negative effects they have had on the Latinx community. This article is of course a reminder of the historical systemic racism and the impacts that it continues to have on modern American society for the minority youth. The writers give suggestions revolving around affirmative action and a hopeful increase in diversity, equity, and inclusion to help remedy the disproportionate and unfair setbacks of Latinx students in America.
The underrepresentation of the Latinx youth leads to a lack of true leadership, educational support, and general empowerment for Latinx students throughout their youth and young adulthood, and without proper reform, this will be a continuing cycle that continues to give young Latinx people an educational disadvantage in American society.
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