Strategic spatial essentialism: Latin Americans' real and imagined geographies of belonging in Toronto

Abstract

This paper contributes to debates on the empirical and conceptual potentials of anti-essentializing notions such as ‘thirdspace’ with the aim to open new epistemological and political grounds. Based on the findings of ethnographic research, I critically examine two spatial strategies (the deliberate creation of an ethnic neighbourhood, and the securing of a community centre) that Latin American immigrants in Toronto, Canada, developed to appropriate urban space and lay claims to equal rights. The case of Latin Americans' struggle for belonging in Toronto serves to reflect on how and why new immigrant groups today (re)construct collective identity spatially. I argue that immigrants strategically essentialize their identities in and through place in order to make themselves visible and their voices heard. Ethnic places represent sites of resistance and creation where immigrants construct their own subjectivities while also redefining dominant notions of inclusion and citizenship. Although locally grounded, these new immigrant identities remain fluid and engage with multiple forms of exclusion

[The] situation is simply sad; the [Latin American] community … is one of the most orphan communities … in [Toronto] … [We] don't even have a place where to dig our own grave basically. If there is need to get together … a meeting … there is no place. We have to be looking for a basement … for a recreational centre to give us a room … If there is a social or cultural event, we do not have a place where … we can present what we have … [It] is sad and it is a reality. (Cesar Palacio, city councillor candidate to Toronto's 2003 municipal elections, interview, 2 May 2003, translated from Spanish)

Dans le but d'ouvrir de nouvelles perspectives épistémologiques et politiques, cet article se veut une contribution aux débats sur les possibilités empiriques et conceptuelles que présentent les notions anti-essentialistes comme le ‘troisième espace’. Les résultats d'une recherche ethnologique viennent appuyer mon étude critique de deux stratégies spatiales (la création intentionnelle d'un quartier ethnique, et l'approbation obtenue pour ériger un centre associatif) mises sur pied par des immigrants latinos américains à Toronto (Canada) pour s'approprier un espace urbain et revendiquer l'égalité des droits. Les efforts considérables déployés par les latinos américains pour appartenir à Toronto permettent d'examiner comment et pourquoi les nouveaux arrivants tentent aujourd'hui de (re)construire une identité collective dans l'espace. Je soutiens que les immigrants essentialisent de manière stratégique leurs identités dans et à travers le lieu en vue de se rendre visible et de faire entendre leur voix. Les milieux ethniques représentent des sites de résistance et de créativité dans lesquels les immigrants construisent leurs propres subjectivités en même temps qu'ils redéfinissent les notions dominantes que sont l'inclusion et la citoyenneté. Malgré que les identités de ces nouveaux arrivants soient enracinées localement, elles restent fluides et sont touchées par diverses formes d'exclusion.

Este papel contribuye al debate sobre las posibilidades empíricas y conceptuales de nociones antiesencialistas como ‘tercer espacio’ con el fin de ir abriendo nuevos caminos epistemológicos y políticos. Basándose en los resultados de una investigación etnográfica, examina críticamente dos estrategias espaciales (la creación deliberada de un barrio étnico y el establecimiento de un centro comunitario) desarrolladas por los inmigrantes latinoamericanos en Toronto, Canadá, con el motivo de apropiarse de espacio urbano y reivindicar la igualdad de derechos. El caso de la lucha de los latinoamericanos por pertenecer en Toronto sirve para reflexionar sobre cómo y por qué los nuevos grupos de inmigrantes de hoy en día (re)construyen una identidad colectiva de forma espacial. Sugiero que los inmigrantes esencializan estratégicamente sus identidades en, y a través, del lugar para hacerse visible y hacer que se escuche su voz. Lugares étnicos representan sitios de resistencia y creación donde los inmigrantes construyen sus propias subjetividades mientras que redefinen nociones dominantes de inclusión y ciudadanía. Aunque tienen base local, estas nuevas identidades de inmigrantes siguen siendo fluidas e interactúan con múltiples formas de exclusión.

Keywords:

• Latin American immigrants
• ethnic identity
• belonging
• anti-essentialism
• Toronto

Keywords:

• immigrants latinos américains
• identité ethnique
• appartenance
• anti-essentialisme
• Toronto

Keywords:

• inmigrantes latinoamericanos
• identidad étnica
• pertenencia
• antiesencialismo
• Toronto

Acknowledgements

I wish to acknowledge the financial support of the Department of Geography at the University of Toronto for my doctorate research. I am grateful to Susan Ruddick for her feedback on initial drafts, and to the three anonymous reviewers and to Minelle Mahtani for their constructive criticisms. Michael Brown provided detailed editorial comments that significantly helped me revise the paper. Above all, I thank my informants for their time and dedication.

Notes

1 All but four informants are of Latin American origins; a majority chose to do the interviews in Spanish, occasionally also using English.

2 This excludes migrants from non-Spanish-speaking countries. Brazilians associate mostly with the established Portuguese community, while the Anglo-Caribbean and West Indian populations form a community apart.

3 Space limitations prevent a more detailed account of Latin Americans' history of immigration to Canada.

4 These data are taken from Ornstein (2000) and are from the 1996 Census.

5 See < http://www.toronto.ca/wards2000/pdf/ward17_ethnocultural.pdf> (accessed 16 March 2005).

6 See < http://www.villacharities.com/ main.asp?View = About> (accessed 4 December 2003).

7 HCF members consider that political backing is essential for the successful completion of the project and managed to gain the support of local politicians. The same motive has led them to also request the collaboration of leaders and members of the Italian community.

8 Latin Americans' rate of citizenship acquisition is low for a variety or reasons ranging from allegiance to the homeland, countries of origin not recognizing double citizenship (e.g. Chile), lack of interest and lack of resources to pay the application fee.