ethnic consciousness

I came across this quote from my readings for a class I'm taking called the U.S. Constitution and Communities of Color :

"There is a failure to recognize that for racial minorities, ethnic consciousness is a defense against the exploitation and discrimination they have been subjected to in U.S. society, and a way of validating themselves and improving their collective self-esteem."

Acosta-Belen, Edna, "From Settlers to Newcomers: The Hispanic Legacy in the United States", The Hispanic Experience in the United States, ed. Edna Acosta-Belen and Barbara R. Sjostrom, Praeger Publications, 1988, Chapter 3, pg. 97