Keen On

There are those who ask why so many Americans speak Spanish. But according to the Latino media entrepreneur and historian Javier Marin, you might as well ask why so many Americans speak English. Over the last half century, the Hispanic community in America has risen from 3.5 to 62 million. In his new history of Latino media, Live From America, Marin charts how networks like Univision and Telemundo drove the meteoric rise of Hispanic America. This IS America, Marin insists - there are now 62 million Latinos shaping the country’s politics, economy and culture. Rather than a demographic trend about some curious minority, it’s the core reality of 21st century America.1. The US is now the world’s second-largest Spanish-speaking country Only Mexico has more Spanish speakers than America. The US has surpassed Spain and Argentina. This isn’t an immigrant enclave - it’s a linguistic and cultural reality that’s permanent and growing. As Marin puts it: “Even if you deport three million, we still have 57 million.”2. Univ