Recommended
US Latino Websites
Diversity & Ethnic Studies
by Susan A. Vega García
Websites
e-Journals,
e-News
Americas
Program
Formerly called Borderlines, this website still provides access to scholarly
articles on environmental health, climate changes, immigration law, politics,
and related topics concerning the Mexico - US border. From New Mexico. Fully
bilingual with parallel sites in English and in Spanish.
QePD
- Qué en paz descansen
A listing of some of our
now discontinued or radically changed favorites...
American Latino
Formerly called Político, and subtitled a "magazine for
Latino politics and culture," this newsite culled current, Latino-relevant
news stories from Reuters, AP, LA Times, and many other online news sources.
Included useful links to other Latino news sites, mainstream (i.e., non-Latino)
online newspapers, politial parties, and related links. In English.
Arena cultural
e-journal formerly hosted by Chicago's La Raza newspaper,
and now missing. Included signed literary essays and profiles of Latino and
Latin American authors, musicians, and artists. Back issues do not seem to
be archived. In Spanish; no search engine.
The Azteca Web Page
A research clearinghouse of Chicano and indigenous Mexican historic and cultural
facts, definitions, and information; includes a chat room. In English; includes
search engine. Still online (as of May 2005) but apparently not updated since
2003; many dead links.
Boricua.com
Still online, but most of the previous content seems to have been removed.
Previously a social clearinghouse that served mainly as a directory for Puerto
Ricans on the Internet and links to their web creations; now this is primarily
a site that sells a few Puerto Rican products such as candy and beach towels.
Chicano Online
Document Index
Disappeared without a trace - the
online index and links to full-text articles from the research journal Aztlán
(vols. 1-23) and Julián Samora Research Institute full-text research
reports. From the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center Library. Also gone
is Digital Aztlán,
full-text articles from
this important Chicano studies research journal, currently dating from Volume
1, no. 1 (Spring 1970) to Volume 23 (Fall 1998). From the UCLA Chicano Studies
Library.
CLNet
(Chicano/Latino Net)
Still online (as of May 2005) but dormant since circa 1999-2001. Main menu
pages seem to have been updated in 2005, but include many dead links. Formerly,
the most important Latino website site that pointed to academic research,
creative arts, and community outreach materials. (For more information on
what this site used to be, see my
published review from C&RL News.)
Colombian Post
Another Colombian newspaper in the US bites the dust. Formerly, this site
featured Colombian, Colombian American, and Latino current news hosted by
Holanet and focusing on the Miami area. As of
early 2001, slow load time noted; domain for sale as of 6/2001.
Crítica: A Journal of
Puerto Rican Policy and Politics
Okay, I now accept (4/01) that this newsletter is offline and never, ever
coming back. Online newsletter that focused on policy and identity issues,
with no holds barred. Individual articles were accessible via IPRNet's online
library, which is also gone now. In English. The IPRNet website has been offline
for years, and promising - also for years - that it was being redesigned due
to its merger with PRLDEF. Not much has happened since 1999.
El
cuarto del quenepón
Still online (as of May 2005) but posting its farewell issue as of January
2005. What a shame that this super "hiper revista cultural caribeña"
has called it quits. Formerly, a highly innovative Puerto Rican online creative
arts and literary journal, with critical essays. In Spanish (some essays in
English only).
CubaWeb
Still online (as of May 2005) - primary focus is now to facilitate sending
cash or gifts to friends and family members in Cuba.
Formerly a major site featuring viewpoints, articles, online bookstores, chat
forums, classified ads, calendar of events, and other Cuban American and Cuban
resources.
Daily Roots Stand
Alternative and innovative electronic newspaper from Brooklyn, NY featured
"Apartamento 3A" column by Nellie Rosario, who frequently wrote on Dominican,
Cuban, and Afro-Latin identity issues. Included interactive chat forum for
reader feedback and conversations. In English. Another sad casualty of the
new commercially-driven Web. Daily Roots Stand, a portion of the Café
Los Negroes site, officially closed down mid-November 1998.
Del
corazón
The link still leads to a live page at the Smithsonian website, but this Latino
arts webzine written for educators and young students seems to be defunct.
Formerly, produced by the National Museum of American Art and hosted by the
Smithsonian's website. No new content added since circa 2001.
Desde Cuba
As of 4/01, this e-news site is officially offline and gone. Previously described
as uncensored Cuban news; includes numerous links. In Spanish. For many years,
there were signs that no maintenance was taking place on the site, though
it was still online in summer 1999 as a sort of neglected, virtual archive
of Cuba-related news stories from the mid-1990's. Many links were broken;
a dead artifact in cyberspace.
EgoWeb: Felipe's Things Latino
Still online (as of May 2005), but apparently not updated since circa 2001
- includes many dead links. Formerly, a massive collection of unalphabetized
and unannotated links from Felipe Campos, one of the Latino web pioneers.
Focus on Chicano and Mexican sites; includes Latin American materials. One
of the few sites that includes Latino gay and lesbian resources. In English,
with some bilingual menus.
Frontera Literary Magazine
Essential literary e-journal with numerous critical articles and interviews
in every issue; focus on Chicano / Mexican American literature and authors.
Includes comments and discussion section, plus links elsewhere. In English;
no search engine. Site offline in 4/01, optimistically promising a "Look
for a relaunch soon!" A revisit in 6/01 found the same message; apparently
dead.
GENERATION-ñ
After many ups and downs, this slick and humorous e-zine focusing on first
generation Cuban American culture has finally called it quits. In English
and Spanish.
Guatemala Cyberspace: Internet
in Guatemala
An annotated list of numerous discussion and chat groups, directories, and
news links, some of which include issues related to Guatemalans in the US,
such as the new Cyberchapines de Chicago. In Spanish and English; includes
search engine. Missing, as of 8/2002.
Guatemala: la tierra del Quetzal
Still online (as of May 2005) but with many dead links and lots of pop ups.
Formerly called Guatemala: la página latinoamericana, and before
that, Guatemala, la tierra del Quetzal, this website is still a long
list of unalphabetized links with brief annotations, organized by broad subject
area. Included some resources that looked at Guatemalan identity and issues
in the US. Fully bilingual with parallel sites in Spanish or English.
Habaguanex Ciboney: Web Magazine
of Cuba in Exile
Another artifact of the Web that for years seemed not to be maintained, and
has now (4/01) disappeared. Previously included archived articles and some
of the links are still useful. Includes articles, "factelitos" or little facts
about Cuba, movie reviews, poetry, recipes and entertainment for Cuban Americans
and exiles; includes extensive links. In English, includes separate Spanish
section.
HispaNet
Some years ago, this website was a major
Dominican site for politics, news, short stories, mailing services, products,
and e-journals. In 1999, it began billing itself
as a "Spanish learning center," while evolving toward coverage of all Latin
American countries and losing much of its previous Dominican focus. In Spanish.
Closed down sometime in 2000-01.
The Hispanic/Latino Telaraña
This website has been offline for some time. Formerly, it was a Latino web
gem hosted by the University of Florida, Gainesville, and designed (as I recall)
by webmaster and pioneer Gerir López-Fernández. When his association
with the website ended a few years back, the website apparently dwindled.
This formerly extensive site included
links to creative arts, careers, cultural centers, e-publications, newsgroups
and mailing lists, and organizations. Focus was on Latin American, peninsular
Spanish, and some Chicano, general Latino, Cuban American, Puerto Rican sites.
In English (bilingual main menu); no search engine.
Hispanic/Latino News Service
Well-organized abstracting service of current news articles and editorials
on Latino and some Latin American topics from Web news sources. Includes partial
archives dating back to late 1998, though links may no longer be active. Includes
additional features such as Latin music charts, online polls, and homepage
services. In English; smaller, parallel Spanish site features abstracts of
Spanish-language news articles from the Web; search engine. (For more information,
see also my
published review from C&RL News.) This impressive website was
created and maintained by a third year law student, who has apparently moved
on to other things. 4/01
Latino.com / Latino Link
Major e-zine that transformed into a portal and fee-based information provider,
with news, articles, entertainment with focus on many US Latino groups and
various Latin American issues; included bulletin boards and chat forums. In
English and some Spanish; included search engine. Announced its demise March
2001.
LatinoWeb
One of the most inclusive sites, and definitely one of the easiest to search
and browse. This massive site originally collected and annotated links ranging
from arts, business, jobs & bilingual classifieds, education, history, government
agencies, non-profit organizations, newspapers & magazines, personal pages.
Unique features included an interactive chat forum, talent directory, book
advertisements, and a listing of Latino radio and television sites. Included
information relevant to many specific US Latino groups; some Latin American
and peninsular Spanish sites. In English and Spanish (some sections bilingual);
included search engine. As of early 2001, website
looked suspiciously lean on content, and (as of April 2001), home page featured
news stories from Feb. 2001.
LATNN.com: Latino On-Line News
Network
A terrible loss! Formerly, this site provided news articles of interest to
Latinos, in English and in Spanish. Sources of the news include LATNN's wire
news service and their superb electronic journal, Gráfico, which
includes author interviews, in-depth essays, and opinion pieces. Focus is
on many Latino groups, and includes relevant articles regarding Latin American
events. In English and Spanish; includes search engine. (For more information
about Latino news sites, see my
published review from C&RL News.)
mxch@nnel (MexicoChannel.net)
Still online (as of May 2005) but with many dead links. Formerly called Mexico's
Index Channel, this website was a portal-like collection with a strong
focus on Mexico and Latin America. (Before that, the site was a numbered list
of unalphabetized, unannotated links that focused on Chicano and US Latino
issues, including immigration, Proposition 187, NAFTA, and news. Much of the
previous coverage on specifically Chicano and U.S. Latino issues seems gone
for good. In English.
New York Semanal
All the major portions of this weekly news service link unexpectedly to well-known
sites such as CNN en español and PBS Online, but it also includes major
sections of En español.com and other resources. Worth exploring. Mostly
in Spanish, some English; no search engine. Unable to access 4/01 and 6/01.
Nueva Vista: Latino/Puerto Rican
Issues & Views
Update: Officially defunct (4/01), but replaced by an advertising firm
called Alegre Advertising. QPD. Formerly,
this site presented news, viewpoints, and partially annotated links on many
topics. Puerto Rican, Chicano, and general Latino sites; also includes some
Latin American information. Later, it began
billing itself as "Latino Perspective," had several major overhauls, and went
offline. In English; no search engine.
Picosito.com
Bilingual portal site from San Francisco with full-text news articles, plus
business news, health, immigration, culture, and sports. A "quizito" offers
lowest-common denominator quizzes on Latino culture and issues. Also offers
e-mail services; home pages, a discussion forum, and other interactive features
were also being planned but not available during our initial 8/99 visit. Overall,
the site seemed low on content, both Latino-centered and otherwise. Worth
a browse, but not recommended. In Spanish and English; included search engine.
Portal went under early 2001; as of 6/01 no reappearance.
El Pueblo Magazine
From Houston, this online magazine described itself as "...dedicated to all
issues in the Houston metro-area Chicano, Latino, and Mexican community. Issues
from entertainment to politics and an array of issues in between are covered."
Bilingual in English and Spanish; no search engine.
Puerto Rican Legal Defense &
Education Fund (formerly, Institute for Puerto Rican Policy
Network (IPRNet)
A disappointing loss! Our last visit (11/07/01) shows merely an advertisement
stating that the URL has been reserved, and the website is coming soon. Formerly,
this website was a major Puerto Rican research and policy site that included
articles, publications, news, statistical releases, events, the online newsletter
Crítica, and other resources; it also sponsored the now defunct Internet
mailing list IPR-Forum. Many Puerto Rican sites consider only PR island culture
and issues; IPRNet looked also at US-specific Puerto Rican identity and policy
issues. In English; no search engine. Since 7/99, website began redesign due
to merger with the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (PRLDEF).
As of April 2001 & June 2001, still not much content available. (For more
information about IRPNet, see also my
published review from C&RL News.) Perhaps something will still
develop?
QuéPasa.com
Update: This portal now closed, as of March 2001.
Formerly, a Yahoo-like directory and search engine dedicated to mostly Latin
American and some US Latino website retrieval, from Phoenix, Arizona. Crisp
organization, but retrieval often slow and contents quite uneven and definitely
not comprehensive. For example, a search for revistas or journals pulled up
numerous Colombian medical journals, but few titles from other Latin American
countries or from the US. Bilingual with parallel sites in Spanish and in
English.
El sitio
This former Latino portal is now little more than superficial chat, "dating,"
and fashion features. Formerly, a very busy, cluttered design with the usual
portal services and information features, with a focus on popular leisure
interests in entertainment, fashion, current events, and technology. This
latter section provides some very useful buyer's guides and tutorials in Spanish.
In Spanish; included very good search engine - perhaps the best search of
all Latino portals circa 2001.
StarMedia.com
Still online (as of May 2005), but there has never been much Latino or Latin
American content any time we've visited this site since 1999, yet it has been
billed as a "Latino portal to the Internet" because it's in Spanish.
Collection of selected world news stories and miscellaneous services such
as shopping, interactive chat sites, Internet guides, games, and related ephemera.
Yupi.com
From Miami Beach, another Yahoo-like directory WWW search engine, this one
was obviously named after Yahoo as well. Although the emphasis was on Latin
American websites and information, a search feature allowed searches for US
websites only. Like early versions of Yahoo en español, only Spanish-language
materials are retrieved. Organization of Yupi.com was clean, and retrieval
was fast. Its weakness, like that of QuéPasa.com, is the uneven and
unrepresentative selection of sites included in the directory itself. Formerly
included links to country-specific versions of Yupi, including Argentina,
Colombia, Ecuador, U.S., Spain, and Mexico. In Spanish.
Comments: savega@iastate.edu
Iowa State University
URL: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~savega/us_latin.htm
Last updated:
03-Jun-2005 3:25 PM
E-version created: 15
January 1998
Copyright © 1998-