HispanicVista Columnists

By Niraj Warikoo
February 7, 2008

Detroit Free For most of her life, Margarita Andrade lived in southwest Detroit, the heart of the region's Latino community. To her, it was a place filled with childhood memories, friends and a familiar comfort hard to let go.

But today, she and her family live in Taylor, part of the Latino population's growth Downriver and in other communities across southeastern Michigan.

No longer isolated in pockets like southwest Detroit, the region's Latinos are spreading, mirroring a nationwide trend of suburban growth among Hispanics.

At the same time, the Latino population inside Detroit continues to grow, albeit at a smaller rate, thanks to a steady influx of immigrants and some second-generation Latinos looking for city life.

The Latino population grew by about 4,500 people in Detroit from 2000 to 2006, a 9.5% increase, U.S. Census figures show. But in Detroit's suburbs, it grew by nearly 23,000 people, a 32% increase. Suburban Wayne County saw a 39% increase to almost 42,000.

The migration can be seen in Catholic churches offering Spanish-language masses in the suburbs, Downriver's new Cinco de Mayo parade, and the growing number of Mexican grocery stores in the suburbs. La Casita, tucked in a strip mall in Westland, opened four years ago and draws customers from across Wayne and Washtenaw counties.

All of this adds to the latest chapter in an American story of migration and assimilation, full of successes and tensions.

Decades ago, Americans with roots in Italy, Poland, Ireland and other European nations moved from ethnic ghettos to suburban towns with bigger homes and quieter streets.

Now, Latino families are the ones integrating themselves into the suburban fabric. In the process, they are creating a hybrid culture that is part Hispanic, part Anglo.

"Muy tranquilo," or "very calm," is how 43-year-old Dora Barraza describes her new life in Lincoln Park.

An uneasy time

But the migration comes at an uneasy time for the Latino community. With immigration being a focus of intense debate this election year, many feel the glare of a harsh spotlight they say has unfairly targeted them.

A growing percentage of Latinos -- more than half now -- say bias is a major problem for them, according to a national survey released in December by the Pew Hispanic Center.

Nearly two-thirds of Latinos say discrimination is a major problem in schools -- up from just 38% who felt that way in a 2002 survey.

Irma Andrade, now 17, knows this firsthand. Like other second-generation Latinos new to suburbia, the Detroit-born teen struggles to adjust.

"It was a very drastic change," Irma said about the move from Detroit to Taylor. "It felt very kind of suffocating because people would just ask me kind of ignorant questions. Like, I remember people asking me ... if I only spoke 'Mexican' ... or if I was illegal."

Others are finding peace as they assimilate.

Hermando Orozco, 23, and his family moved from southwest Detroit to Melvindale four years ago, and now live in Brownstown Township.

"I was like one of two Latinos in the entire school" in Melvindale, Orozco said after Sunday mass at St. Alfred Catholic Church in Taylor. "But they treated me with respect."

Today, Orozco is a carpenter and enjoying his new world.

It's "a lot more relaxed," he said. "A lot less drama."

Other Latinos, though a much smaller number, are moving back into southwest Detroit after growing up in the suburbs.

Joseph Zarazua, 48, grew up in Taylor and everyone in his family still lives there. He said he now lives in Detroit because he was looking for an edgier environment.

New frontier

These changes -- and challenges -- can be seen in the lives of the growing Latino congregation at St. Alfred.

Two and a half years ago, the church started a Spanish-language mass, attracting just 25 people per week. Now, nearly 300 attend every Sunday.

"I never thought St. Alfred would one day be called San Alfredo," Zarazua said.

In the past, many of St. Alfred's Latino parishioners worshipped at Catholic churches in southwest Detroit, such as Holy Redeemer or Ste. Anne, where Mexican Americans make up the vast majority of congregants. Even after they left Detroit for the suburbs, the Andrade family and others would commute back to those churches.

That's changing. The Archdiocese of Detroit now has 20 Spanish-language masses at churches scattered throughout southeast Michigan. This has led to a cultural mixing where Anglo and Hispanic Catholics are shaping each other's traditions.

Last month, an English-language mass centered on Our Lady of Guadalupe -- an icon popular in Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries -- was held in a White Lake Township church for a largely non-Latino audience.

"This is kind of the new frontier," said Janet Diaz, head of Hispanic ministry at the Taylor parish. "Holy Redeemer is the biggest Hispanic parish. It's huge. But that is not the future. The future is going to be more people moving out to the suburbs and becoming more integrated."

While Latinos have found a home at St. Alfred, there has been some tension along the way. At first, some older parishioners wondered why the church needed a Spanish-language mass.

Leslee Peralta, 17, of Lincoln Park recalled that when her family first attended English mass a few years ago, they would get the odd stare from some seniors.

"They're like, 'Oh look, there's so many here already.' You hear comments like that ... like we're coming into their territory and trying to take over their church. But we're not. We're just trying to learn from them."

Warm welcome

As with the Andrades, Leslee's parents were concerned about their kids entering schools in Detroit. So they, too, moved Downriver to Lincoln Park four years ago.

The Peraltas were the first Latino family on their block, but received a warm welcome from their neighbors.

"They were really nice," Leslee said. "They all came and introduced themselves."

Though the Latino community is moving to the suburbs, they are eager to preserve their heritage.

The Andrades make sure to teach Spanish at home to their U.S.-born children. They take vacations in Mexico to see their relatives.

"I'm really proud to be Latino," said their son Adrian Andrade, 14. "It's definitely something I wouldn't think of trying to hide or change."

Contact NIRAJ WARIKOO at warikoo@freepress.com.

Article at: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080207/NEWS05/802070387