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separate chapter, readers will discover the complexities of nationality and citizen- ship among Puerto Ricans in many of the individual state chapters. Rather than include additional essays that examine political, economic, social, and cultural themes that transcend national and state boundaries, Latino America: A State-by-State Encyclopedia allows readers to conduct their own comparisons of themes and national groups among the states. As such, the publication’s subtitle State-by-State could also read State-to-State, underscoring the movement between and within the states of the United States that so aptly characterizes the histori- cal experience of Latino/as. Every chapter is divided into distinct sections that approach the history of Latinas/os from multiple perspectives. The historical Chronology section that opens each essay offers an annotated timeline of the role and impact Latino Americans have had in the particular state. The Historical Overview examines in narrative form the extended presence of Latinas/os in the United States, emphasizing political, social, and economic histories unique to the region, from the earliest days of settlement of Latin American and Caribbean explorers to the present day. In the section Notable Latinos, authors document in chronological birth order select and representative individuals from the state’s Latino popula- tion. These notable people are resourceful pioneers—past and present—who have created new possibilities and avenues of discovery and achievement for both Latinos and non-Latinos alike. Conceptualizing cultural production as a mutually constitutive aspect of political power, the section entitled Cultural Contributions explores cultural expressions, rituals, and traditions among each state’s Latino/a populations. The Notes and Bibliography sections provide a crit- ical resource for students and researchers seeking to expand their study of Latino American history. And finally, the Appendix provides a table with census data on Latinos from 1870 to 2000. NOTES 1. Here and throughout the encyclopedia the terms migrant and migration are often used in place of immigrant and immigration. The latter terms imply a unidirectional path to the United States, and as such, they are linked to a historical privileging of assimilation- ist and melting-pot theories that ignore both the transnational movement of people back and forth across borders and their varied national and regional claims to identity and citi- zenship. Unless noted otherwise, immigration is only used when referring to official gov- ernment policies or legislative or organizational titles, as in immigrant rights laws. Similarly, when possible, the term America is avoided as a substitute for the term United States. Because Latinos are also of (Latin) American heritage and descent, it is inaccurate to believe that the term America refers uniquely to the United States. At times authors use North American to mean a citizen or inhabitant of the United States, although that term can also include Mexicans and Canadians. xxii Introduction