It seems that Latinos in general do a lot towards the betterment of America, and helping the economy is one of them:

Hispanic women are gaining prominence in the U.S. and are becoming a strong influence on the mainstream economy. With 52 million in the U.S. population, Hispanics collectively have an impressive buying power of $1.2 trillion. Within the overall Hispanic demographic, however, the women are the ones in the driver’s seat, according to a recent report published by Nielsen. Hispanic women, aslo called Latinas, are the growth engine of the U.S. female population and are expected to represent 30 percent of the total female population by 2060, while the non-Hispanic white female population is expected to drop to 43 percent. Latinas are becoming more educated, tech savvy and connected, allowing them to write their own destinies and challenge the dynamic of Hispanic households. With 86 percent of Latina women at the helm of purchasing decisions in households, the times are changing and economic power is shifting. (Nielsen)

As a woman of color and a very proud Latina I contribute towards the success of the place that I left my native island for to call the USA home. However, it is still upsetting to see the lack of exposure of Latinos in mainstream media, fashion magazines, and advertisements. Also, there’s not enough education about who we really are or respect for our culture. It seems the focus is on either a white or black thing where most of us try to fit in with one or the other. Despite our attempts to survive we remain in this gray area. We live in a place that we feed, yet are starved because as Latin/Hispanic Americans we’re seen as the former and never as the latter.

-LR

Source: http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/newswire/2013/latinas-are-a-driving-force-behind-hispanic-purchasing-power-in-.html