Silencio es Igual a la Muerte: A Latino Critical and Critical Race Theory-Based Examination of the Absence of Latinos in HIV/AIDS Policy

Abstract

New HIV diagnoses are increasing in the Latino population of Texas. The Centers for Disease Control data show that the trend increases yearly. Despite the increase, very little attention or funding is given to Latino-focused outreach, education, prevention, and treatment in government policy. This study uses Latino Critical and Critical Race Theory to examine why Latinos are largely absent from government policy and how this absence affects the ability of nonprofits working in the HIV space to serve the community. Qualitative Content Analysis was used to examine policy documents within the context of service delivery. Interviews with 17 nonprofit professionals from 12 organizations statewide demonstrated that the structure and content of policy at all levels of government create barriers to engaging and serving the Latino community. This experiential knowledge, coupled with policy data, was used to make policy recommendations for improving the ability of nonprofits to engage the Latino community more effectively.

Keywords:

• Latino critical theory
• critical race theory
• Latinos
• HIV
• policy