The American Midwest has long been a major source of scholarship and advocacy for the Latino community. Cardenas (sociology, U. of Notre Dame) and contributors describe the influence of Midwest Latinos in the struggle for civil rights and equality. Topics include the influence of community organizations and the growth of political empowerment; changes in ethnic identity, independent political organizations, and education; the advancements made by the Latino Institute through policy analysis, leadership and development; the implications of September 11, 2001 for the Midwest Latinos; and a case study of Midwest Latina civil rights. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Combining both the research and analyses by these scholars and their supplementary documents, including charts, tables, and other materials, La Causa fills a gaping void in the literature available about the Civil Rights Movement in the Midwest. Dr. Gilberto Cárdenas is the Director of the University of Notre Dame’s Institute for Latino Studies.