Category: Hispanics

Introduction

Like most families, a Hispanic family is a unit that is undergoing tremendous change. Modern education, economic dynamics, as well as an outside influence are some of the factors that have affected the character of the Hispanic family. This change in the family setup has led to the change in the role of the Hispanic male. This report utilizes available information to provide a credible view on the role of the Hispanic male. The transitions through time are captured through a historical survey of how the Hispanic male used to serve his community; his current or present role and a futuristic view of what his role might be in the years to come. The rights and freedoms that the Hispanic male are investigated. The restrictions and the victories are covered in this report too.

The findings

The Hispanic Male before the Nineteenth Century

The traditional Hispanic male was the head of the family. His general behavior is appropriately described by the word machismo (Stevens 59).In other cultures, especially in Europe, Africa, and Asia, a macho man is ferocious and domineering. He asserts his authority in a brutal and arrogant way. But this is not the case when it comes to Hispanic culture. The macho Hispanic man was caring and responsible. He tended the fields and provided for the family. The hard work that required physical strength was his. The family’s security was in the hands of the Hispanic male while the woman acted as the teacher of the children (Stevens 75). She ensured that they were clean and well-fed. The Hispanic male also represented the family in any function. All significant family positions on issues were determined by him, and the female or wife would not make any decision or take any action without consulting with the male. Young Hispanic males who were still in their parents’ care also performed physically challenging tasks compared to the females. They worked the fields with the fathers and took care of livestock. Also, leadership positions were the preserve of males in the Hispanic social structure.

The leadership both within and without the family were considered rights. His freedoms included getting more than one wife and reporting home late without being questioned. Restrictions placed on him included making advances at married women as well as marrying more women than he would support.

The Role of the Modern Hispanic Male

Modern times are characterized by academic education, widespread movement of people, and more interaction. This interaction occurs among Hispanics themselves as well as between Hispanics and other ethnic communities. With all these factors, the present role of the Hispanic male is different from what it used to be six or seven decades ago. It is however important to note that the difference is not a big one. This is because some roles have largely remained unchanged. In fact, some have been reinforced. The Hispanic male is still expected to be the head of the family. This is especially true in the setting of a marriage between a man and a woman. This is one of the roles that has been reinforced as a result of interaction with the outside world (Raffaeli & Ontai 293). The discovery that other cultures also consider the man to be the head of the family has engendered more confidence in the Hispanic family structure as far as this role is concerned. He speaks on behalf of the family, ensures that the children have access to education, healthcare as well as shelter. He also keeps the family safe from intruders who may be out to harm them.

Apart from the above, the Hispanic male offers leadership in the community. Most leadership positions in the Hispanic community are held by males. There is a small number of females who have managed to get to leadership positions but it is still a monumental challenge for them. Young Hispanic males are brought up knowing that they are supposed to assume the roles fulfilled by their fathers. This makes them strive to be successful as a way of getting more ability to fulfill these often challenging roles (McGoldrick, Giordano & Pearce 11-15).In terms of rights and freedoms, the issue of entitlement to leadership is not the preserve or right of the male anymore. There is also the possibility of restriction from the female partner in relationships such as marriage on the number of women he can marry. The economic aspect is a restrictive force too.

Any shifts?

In my research, I discovered that there is a shift in the performance of these roles. As more women gain access to education, it is sometimes possible to find a family in which the man is not employed while the woman is employed. In this case, the roles take a shift (Raffaelli & Ontai 290-292). The woman becomes the provider for the family. She is the one who goes to work every day and brings her earnings at the end of the month for the payment of such utilities as rent, electricity, and tuition for the children.

Future Expectations on the Role of the Hispanic male

With the cultural interaction that is being witnessed, the effects of academic education, and economic challenges, it is expected that more women will get out there to try and earn an extra income for the family. This will mean more changed roles of the Hispanic male.

Conclusion

From the findings, it is evident that the Hispanic male played a significant role in the family in early times. These roles have begun changing due to the effects of academic education, cultural interaction, and economic challenges. All these factors are likely to shift the role for the Hispanic male even to a higher degree. The privileges such as leadership in the family and community that were treated as rights are not there anymore. Restrictions on family size are more visible from both economic problems and the liberated women who have a say on the number of women their husbands can marry in modern times.

Works cited

Hispanic Family Initiative. Family is Forever: Impacting Families across America 2009.Web.

McGoldrick, Monica; Giordano, Joe; & Pearce, John. eds. Ethnicity and Family Therapy, 2nd edition. New York: Guilford Press.1996.Print.

Raffaelli, Marcela. Ontai,Lenna. “Gender Socialization in Latino/Latina Families: Results from Two Retrospective Studies.” Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, 50 (2004): 287-299.Print.

Stevens, Evelyn. “Machismo and Marianismo.” Society 10(4) (1973):57–63.Print.

Introduction

Hispanic migrant workers’ community refers to persons who have their original ethnic roots or have a historic relationship with Spain and or Portugal. Other members of this group as per the US definition include Jamaicans, Haitians, Cubans and workers from central South America (Mauer, 2010).

Primary language and educational background

The primary language spoken by Hispanics in the United States is Spanish as in the case of the farm workers of Mexican origin or Latin American nationalities. This has proven to be a huge communication barrier since the number of these people who can speak English is below 5%. The level of education is also as wanting as that of acquiring English knowledge. Research shows that an astonishing 85% of these people have difficulty in extracting information from written materials irrespective of which language it is written in. The average highest level of education attainable by an ordinary Hispanic is only six years of education. About 24% of the total population are illiterate while a further 43% having functional illiteracy. Most Latinos who finish school come from able families and finish college due to pressure from their families who wants them to inherit the management of their wealth. Most students aged 18 and above do not see beyond high school education due to poverty.

Hispanics learn through difficulties since only a handful can access sophisticated learning methods such as the use of smart libraries and computer access. Some students are incapable of attending schools that are equipped with such learning facilities. Despite the fact that there exists financial assistance from the government and other non-governmental agencies, it has not been of much help since the high level of illiteracy forms a barrier to accessing these services. As far as special education is concerned, the students are grouped into five categories; auditory handicap, intellectual handicap, motor skills handicap, visual handicap and others. Holistic approach is then used to deliver education to each group.

Boundaries and the people

Hispanic migrants dominate places such as the southern parts of California, particularly Los Angeles and San Joaquin valleys. Other places where Hispanic migrants live include northern long beach, San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel, and Pomona valleys, Fresno, El Monte, La Puente, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria and, Stockton.

Geopolitical features

The United States population is a result of the influx of immigrants from different nationalities, Hispanics being one of them. When the south west got conquered by the United States, the Mexican community was absorbed into the United States. The Mexicans identity became complicated and they dominated United States politics. There were mixed opinions among Mexicans but some of them have come to accept their US nationality but maintained their cultural, social and economic values (Your Disease Risk, 2013).

Social Interaction

There are great limitations as far as access to social factors is concerned. Up to about 70% of the migrant farmers live below the poverty line but still less than a tenth of the total population rely on relief food.

Barriers to interests

Food program participation limiting factors for this community include; political powerlessness, poverty, and lack of sufficient cultural capital as well as frequent mobility. Access to proper food is limited by lack of transportation, increased food prices and poverty. The health deteriorating factors include diseases such as diabetes, dental health, heart diseases, obesity and sexually transmitted infections (Your Disease Risk: Journal 3, 2013).

Economic activities

The community building practices are classified into high risk and low risk activities. Low risk include managerial, professional, technical and sales while high risk includes service occupations such as craft repair.

References

Mauer, C. (2010). Community/Public Health Nursing practice: Health for Families and Populations, New York, NY: Sounders press.

Your Disease Risk. n.d. Web.

Your Disease Risk: Journal 3. n.d. Web.

The people of Hispanic origin account for a considerable part of the population of the United States. More specifically, the Hispanic population of the country has surpassed sixty million by the year 2019, and this number increases to 64 million if the people of Puerto Rico are included. In this regard, a rapid growth has been observed since the second half of the 20^th century, as the Hispanic population amounted to only four million people in 1950. Moreover, it is only projected to increase up to 111 million in the next forty years (Rumbaut, 2019). Nevertheless, in spite of the similarities in origins, culture, and ancestors, the Hispanic population can be divided into two major categories. First of all, there are people who immigrate to the United Stated from Latin America. Second, a considerable portion of Hispanic Americans are born and live in the former Mexican territories ceded to the U.S.

The two categories may have varying experiences in this country, as enabled by the objective differences. From one perspective, the inhabitants of former Mexican territories may be expected to show a better degree of assimilation in terms of the American traditions, culture, and language. However, Qian et al. (2017) state that such communities tend to become more enclosed, preserving the centuries of Latin American customs. As such, they form primarily Hispanic families that rarely extend beyond the inner circle. On the other hand, the same study shows that recent immigrants from Latin America have a different experience (Qian et al., 2017). They are more dispersed across the territory of the country, often refraining from forming enclosed communities. Instead, they prefer to assimilate with the rest of the population through the language and, for example, mixed marriages. However, in spite of these differences, both local and immigrant people of Hispanic origins remain loyal to their roots and represent the parts of a whole. They share their native language and cultural code, while being subjected to similar instances of individual and systemic disparities on the racial basis.

References

Qian, Z., Lichter, D. T., & Tumin, D. (2017). Divergent pathways to assimilation? Local marriage markets and intermarriage among U.S. Hispanics.Journal of Marriage and Family, 80(1), 271-288.

Rumbaut, R. G. (2019). Hispanics in the United States: Origins and destinies. History Now, 53.

Introduction

A community portrait is a detailed description of the important social, economic and other demographic characteristics of a group residing within a particular locality. The aspects covered in the portrait include population patterns, education, employment, households, housing community as well as the community’s cultures. A community portrait is used mostly as a tool to enhance understanding of a community or to provide information on changes that have taken place within a certain community. This paper will outline a portrait of Hispanics living in California.

Ethnic backgrounds of Hispanics

The government of the United States adopted the name Hispanic during the 1970s. This name was used to refer to those Americans whose origin was Latin America or Spanish-speaking countries. The Hispanic population in the United States is distributed unevenly. However, according to the US census bureau in 2006, it was noted that the Hispanics are highly concentrated in the following five states; Texas, Florida, Arizona, and Illinois (US census bureau, 2006, p.15). It’s also worthy to note that California is the second leading state where Hispanics live after New Mexico.

The originality of the Hispanic population in the US can be traced to different ethnic groups comprising of Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cubans. Generally, Hispanics living in the United States today trace their lineage to over twenty-two different countries. It is believed that these Hispanics migrated to the United States at different times. Census statistics reveal that forty percent of the entire Hispanic population in the US is immigrants from Hispanic countries with the majority being Mexican (US census bureau, 2006, p.30). Many ethnic groups are found in California today, this includes African Americans, Asian Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives as well as non-Hispanic whites. Before the year 2005, states like California, Hawaii, and New Mexico had already attained the majority-minority status. This means that the non-Hispanic whites were no longer the dominant population group. This is because census results revealed that the populations of African Americans and Latinos were at par with that of the non-Hispanic white population. Future projections indicate that Hispanics will become the dominant group shortly (Kraemer, Newell &Prindle, 2008, p.31).

Language

Two main methods are used in the United States to provide education for immigrant children. In the first one, young immigrant children are taught all their school subjects in English together with their peers of the same age group. In the second method, the children are taught their subjects in their native language. Spanish as an instructional language is used mainly in teaching foreign-born Hispanics who can’t speak English.

Hispanics in California can be divided into three groups based on language use and proficiency. The majority are English dominant, the second group is bilingual (speaking both Spanish and English) while the last group is Spanish dominant. English is used by many Hispanic students in higher learning institutions as well in a variety of settings like work and schooling. The use of Spanish is mainly used in the family and close family associates.

Start of Parenting

In the year 2006, the US census bureau indicated that the average age at when male Hispanics marry is twenty-seven years and for the females, they are married off at twenty-four years. Thus, most Hispanics become parents between the ages of twenty-four and twenty-seven years (US census bureau, 2006, p.31).In addition, Kanellos, Padilla &Fabregat,1994 p.162) explain that Hispanic groups differ in patterns of marriage, female leadership, poverty rates, and fertility patterns. They however note that Mexican women record higher fertility levels when compared to other Hispanic groups and non-Hispanic white women. Mexicans also record high birth rates with most parents being regarded as generally young.

Education

Statistics from the census show that Mexicans score poorly on indicators of social status and wellbeing. For example, they have low levels of education completion, lower living standards, and lower life expectancy among the Hispanic population. These factors limit them to secure jobs with better remuneration. This is the reason why the majority are employed in the hospitality industries as cooks, cleaners, and waiters and are underpaid (Kanellos, Padilla &Fabregat, 1994, p.162.)

Before 1982, dropout rates for Hispanics in educational institutions were high. This was attributed to the segregation and inequity that were prevalent in the education system at that time. Schick (1991, p.79) points out that school enrolment for Hispanics below 16 years remains lower than those of the general population. Similarly, males are most likely to drop out of school than females. These findings are also reflected by a report on Hispanic education by the National Council of LaRaza (Kohler & Lazarin, 2007, p.1).

At the beginning of 1988, it was noted that the educational attainment among Hispanics improved tremendously. Since then, there has been great progress in education among Hispanics. This can be attributed to the rising awareness that education is an important determinant to lucrative jobs and the increasing adoption of multicultural strategies in education which has enabled the integration of immigrant children in schools.

Another factor that can also explain this shift is the increasing number of opportunities to pursue higher education that are being availed to Hispanic children and scholars. An excellent example of such opportunities can be seen in several foundations and initiatives like the Hispanic Educational Endowment Fund which offers scholarships to Hispanic children to pursue college and university education.

Norms and family values

Many Hispanics from Central America do not maintain strong ties with their ancestral origins, unlike other Hispanic groups who are known to have strong ties with areas from where they immigrated from. Generally, Hispanics have a high value on family and this has made Hispanics have strong family bonds. Work in Hispanic families is differentiated by gender with women working at home and taking responsibility for children, while men engage in outdoor occupations. Men bear the responsibility of providing for the family as well as providing security and protection.

New Hispanic immigrants live and form close relations with fellow Hispanics resulting in a closely-knit and expansive social network. Hispanics use Spanish as their main language in communicating among families and other social groups. This further reinforces their Hispanic identity.

Most of the Hispanics are Roman Catholics, only a few have assimilated other religious beliefs. Globalization and urbanization has totally impacted on the Hispanic former way of life. It has made Hispanic women to also participate in outdoor work to supplement the earnings of their male counterparts. They are also recording higher attainments in education and other professional fields. Many Hispanic fathers are known for stressing autonomy for their daughters and less strictness for their sons. Similarly acculturation has led to a greater involvement of Hispanic fathers in parenting and there is a growing emphasis on education among Hispanics as demonstrated by the increasing numbers of Hispanics who have attained university and college education.

Social economic situation

Referring back to the US census bureau findings, Hispanic participation in the labor market is varied. Hispanics are significantly involved in business and professional services. Their involvement spans across various sectors like marketing, production, transportation and construction. Others are engaged in farming, fishing and forestry (US census Bureau, 2006, p.34).

Despite this Cubans have been relatively successful both socially and economically compared to other Hispanic groups. This is attributed to the factor that they are relatively more educated compared with the rest. They were also the first group of immigrants which was assisted by the federal government to settle in the United States. On the other hand, Puerto Ricans have the lowest standard of living among the Hispanic populations. Miranda (2007, p.185-187) reports that the social-economic situation of most Hispanics is not desirable as many are faced with the challenge of poverty, gainful employment and adequate housing. However there have been efforts to increase minority hiring and encourage educational achievement among Hispanics in California and other states as well.

Conclusion

In order to encourage diversity, everyone in the school and community needs to have a good understanding of their own cultural background as this forms the basis from which people learn to appreciate other cultures. Cross-cultural interactions should also be encouraged among parents from different ethnic backgrounds. The school and community administration should foster an environment where every individual feels that they belong. Initiatives like the Hispanic Association for Bilingual Literacy and Education (HABLE) will go along way in ensuring faster integration of Hispanics to the mainstream education system and community life in California.This will encourage social interaction which in turn will lead people to embrace and encourage diversity.

Reference

Kanellos, N, Padilla, F.M & Fabregat, C.V. (1994). Handbook of Hispanic Cultures in the United States: Sociology, Volume 3.Texas: Arte Publico Press.

Kraemer, R.H, Newell, C & Prindle D.F. (2008).Texas Politics. Belmont: Cengage learning.

Kohler, A.D.& Lazarin, M. (2007).Hispanic education in the United States. National Council of LaRaza statistical brief No.8.

Schick, F.L &Schick, R. (1991). Statistical handbook on U.S. Hispanics. United States of America: Verlag für die Deutsche Wirtschaft AG.

US Census Bureau. (2006). Hispanics in the United States. Web.

In his book Immigration and Ethnic Relations in the U.S. (Revised Edition), Takeyuki Tsuda addresses the issues that are rife with dramatic levels of immigration from Latin American and other countries to the United States. The author argues that the unexampled rates of immigration to the country have become responsible for the change of the entire face of the nation (Tsuda 95). He makes special stress on the profound transformation of the system of ethnic and race relations. The other course reading, “Lecture 22. Hispanic/ Latino Americans”, also enlarges the theme of immigration into the United States, but it is mainly concentrated on the question of Latin Americans’ assimilation into the country. In the following paper, the two above-mentioned readings will be summarized and evaluated with the purpose of providing a reflection on the offered information.

The book Immigration and Ethnic Relations in the U.S. (Revised Edition) speaks on the theme of reshaping the face of the United States during the period of the past few decades. The book presents a series of introductory essays into the matters related to US immigration. Among the central points, discussed in the book, are the reasons for immigration; the consequences of immigration for the social, economical, and political situation in the United States; and the issues that emerge on the reason for a dramatic increase in immigration rates such as racial discrimination, the formation of a new American-immigrant identity, the problems of assimilation, and the possibility of acquiring US citizenship by refugees and immigrants. In addition, the book provides a historical outlook on the immigration events in the United States beginning from bringing Africans and ending with the modern-day immigration of Latin American and Asian populations. Besides, another important feature of the book is a close examination of the ethnic diversity situation in the United States. In particular, it explains how Latin Americans, Asian Americans, White Americans, and African Americans play their part in the formation of modern American society.

Reflecting on the value of Tsuda’s book for expanding the scope of knowledge regarding the issues, related to US immigration, it should be stated that it is significant. First of all, the book provides much insight into the issues that are raised by active immigration into the country. Moreover, it not only explains the causatives of problems connected with immigration but also offers a variety of effective solutions that could be implemented to improve the state of affairs. Besides, it is important to stress the value of this book for a better understanding of the modern social face of the United States, and especially, the matters that are related to the process of assimilation.

“Lecture 22. Hispanic/ Latino Americans” presents a detailed, but the laconic outlook of the theme of Latino Americans’ assimilation in the United States. It shows the exact areas, where this ethnic group managed to occupy their firm positions in American society (“Lecture 22” 2, 3). The value of this course reading is in explaining the modern ethnic identity of Latino Americans, showing their success in the process of assimilation, and making a prognosis regarding their future in the United States (“Lecture 22” 8-12).

In conclusion, the two-course readings under consideration can be evaluated as offering reliable and detailed information regarding important matters, connected with the process of immigration in the United States.

References

“Lecture 22. Hispanic/ Latino Americans”. Course Readings (2012): 1-12. Print.

Tsuda, Takeyuki. Immigration and Ethnic Relations in the U.S. (Revised Edition), San Diego: Cognella Academic Publishing, 2013. Print.

Introduction

Within industrialization, various factories emerged all over the world. However, their location should be determined carefully in order not to decrease population health level. Thus, environmental injustice emerged by creating “Ecological Sacrifice Zones,” discriminating against people of color. This is how Hispanic and Black communities found themselves living in impoverished areas among landfill zones and factories, which led to the rise of environmental activism and organizing unions.

Experiences of Environmental Justice for Hispanic and Black Communities

Hispanic and Black neighborhoods have been experiencing environmental-related injustice for a long time. According to Becerra (2015), in Chicago, a Hispanic neighborhood lives in a small village, breathing air polluted by a local factory, which has a damaging impact on people’s health: they are dying from asthma and having problems with lungs. Such villages, where toxic factories are situated, are called “Ecological Sacrifice Zones” and referred be Becerra (2015) as environmental discrimination. Concerning Black communities, scholars claim that they still suffer from injustice: municipal landfills and toxic-waste dumps are often situated in the South, where poor people and people of color are in the majority (Bullard, 2000, p. 24). Thus, Hispanic and Black communities experience health problems because of their lives in polluted air and land.

At the same time, environmental discrimination can be faced not only by established factories and landfills but also by civic organizations. As an example, in the postwar period, environmental unions tended to have fewer members from poor, African-American, and Latin communities (Novotny, 2000, p. 3). However, this changed over the decade because organizations realized the intention from mentioned communities to change the situation.

The Impact of Environmental Justice Issues

Moreover, injustice led to the rise of environmental activism among discriminated communities: in the 1970s, there appeared Black resistance to environmental threats, including toxic issues. According to Bullard (2000), “It emerged out of the growing hostility to facility siting decisions that were seen as unfair, inequitable, and discriminatory toward poor people and people of color” (p. 29). One of the other impacts of environmental injustice-related events on suffering communities is raising awareness of intentional discrimination. For instance, Becerra (2015) organized a youth union to address the issue using technologies: they started to create videos and then publish them in order to make more people aware of environmental injustice over Hispanic communities in Chicago.

When raising awareness is insufficient to change the state of affairs, organizations start to take measures. For instance, as Cheryl Johnson, the CEO of People of Community Recover corporation claims, people living in a small polluted area in Chicago started to grow their vegetables because they do not have a grocery store (Cook County Place Matters, 2012). This act can be interpreted as a tool to change the terrifying environmental situation over the fresh food shortage. Moreover, in the letter to environmental organizations (“Group of Ten”), people of color demanded to include them in the ruling positions of unions and to raise funding in the polluted areas (SouthWest Organization Project, 1990). This also shows the impact of injustice: discriminated communities became acting (either by growing vegetables or by trying to enter the ruling structures) in order to improve the ecological situation.

Conclusion

Environmental injustice is a significant problem nowadays that should be addressed by civic organizations as well as by governmental structures. Chicago’s youngsters were terrified by the polluted air they live in and created awareness-raising videos, while adults decided to go green and start growing vegetables because of the grocery shortage. The history provides an example of people of color’s attempt to be heard by Group of Ten and become representatives of their communities.

References

Becerra, M., & Scheuerlein, Z. (2015). The cloud factory [Video]. YouTube.

Bullard, R. D. (2000). Race, class, and the politics of place. In Dumping in Dixie (pp. 21-36). Routledge.

Cook County Place Matters. (2012).Finding solutions to environmental inequity in Altgeld Gardens [Video]. YouTube.

Novotny, P. (2000). Framing, political mobilization and environmentalism in the environmental justice movement. In Where we live, work and play (pp. 1-39). Praeger Publishers.

SouthWest Organization Project. (1990). SouthWest organization project letter to modern environmental groups.

Political, social, and historical factors have played a significant role in developing “Asian American” and “Hispanic” identities in the United States. The identities also developed due to a protracted history of immigration and settlement by people from different Asian nations. This identity was created in response to the unfair rules and practices Asian immigrants in the United States had to endure. It is important to note that these identities are fluid and dynamic, continually changing in reaction to societal shifts and the experiences of those who adhere to them (Zhou, 2004). Additionally, creating these identities was only sometimes a straightforward or uncontested process. Some individuals and communities may have preferred to retain their specific cultural or national identity rather than embrace a broader pan-ethnic one.

Various variables have influenced the idea of Asian American identity, making it a complicated and highly controversial subject. While some Americans of Asian origin may identify as Asian Americans, others might not agree that this description adequately captures their experiences or cultural heritage. This is especially true for Laotian immigrants, who may have distinct cultural traditions and experiences from other Asian American groups. According to the New York Times article “The Myth of Asian American Identity,” the notion of a single, unified Asian American identity is untrue. Instead, the experiences of people of Asian origin in the country are extremely varied and cannot be reduced to a cohesive identity (Kang, 2021). This is especially true of immigrants from Laos, who may not feel a strong sense of belonging to the greater Asian American group because they come from different cultural and historical backgrounds.

El Salvador has a unique language, food, and cultural traditions that distinguish it from other Latin American nations; hence an immigrant from El Salvador might not identify as Latino. El Salvadorans may feel that the term “Latino,” frequently used to describe people from Spanish-speaking nations in Central and South America, does not appropriately describe their cultural background. Additionally, immigrants from El Salvador may have had very different experiences in the United States from other Latino communities since they may have faced challenges specific to their immigration history and cultural background. The term “Latine” may occasionally be used to unite various populations of Latin American ancestry and give them a unified voice in political and social issues. However, for some immigrants from El Salvador, the label may also be associated with negative stereotypes or be seen as a way to homogenize their diverse cultural experiences.

It would be a mistake to consider Asian American or Latina to be fixed and unchanging categories because these identities are shaped by various factors and can change over time and across different contexts. This is particularly true for second-generation immigrants, who may have a unique set of experiences and cultural traditions that set them apart from their parents and other members of their community. In the article by Anthony, he argues that the experiences of second-generation immigrants can be complex and challenging as they navigate the intersections of their cultural heritage and the cultural norms of the larger society (Ocampo, 2014). In conclusion, it would be incorrect to view Latino or Asian Americans as fixed, unchanging categories, especially for second-generation immigrants with special experiences and cultural traditions that influence their sense of identity and how they interact with others in their community.

References

Kang, J. C. (2021). The myth of Asian American identity. The New York Times Magazine., 1–17.

Ocampo, A. C. (2014). Are second-generation Filipinos ‘becoming’ Asian American or Latino? Historical Colonialism, Culture and Panethnicity, Ethnic and Racial Studies, 37, 425–445.

Zhou, M. (2004). Are Asian Americans becoming ”white?”. Contexts, 3(1), 29–37.

Ever since the 17th century, the colonies in North America have been home to various ethnicities, including the Hispanic immigrants, who contributed to forming the unique American identity. If to talk about the Hispanic population in the United States, now it concludes more than 60 million people, after the rates of immigration in America skyrocketed during the 20th century. In many cases, immigrants form or join the closed communities, and the people, who live there, are often not adjusted to the environment of the main population. The musical In the Heights, written by Quiara Hudes and Lin-Manuel Miranda, depicts various social problems within the Hispanic community on the example of multiple characters. The authors raise the topics such as homesickness, poverty, which results in a lack of possibilities, cultural conflicts, and depression among the immigrant youth. Nina Rosario is the daughter of two hard-working immigrants and the first person in her family to go to college.

Her story is an excellent example of how a person faces an alien environment and gets depressed because of it. Another good example is Usnavi de la Vega – the story’s narrator. He is experiencing homesickness and feels like an unnatural element of the country’s environment. One of the most discouraging issues for immigrants in the United States is that a person may feel like an alien in a new aggressive and sometimes xenophobic surrounding. Thus, the musical shows that the immigrants remain secluded within their communities, lacking the possibilities and education, and measures must be taken by the government to give these people a better future.

First of all, it is essential to note that the environment, which became home for many Hispanic immigrants, makes them feel rejected. In Nina’s case, she encounters a severe gap between herself and her college mates during her first schooling year. For instance, when she talks with Benny about differences in various Spanish dialects, she proclaims that “they spoke different language at Stanford” (Miranda and Hudes 63). This means that even though she is a good scholar and tries to integrate into American society, she cannot be the natural part of the surrounding environment. As for Usnavi, New York has never been a welcoming place for him compared to his home country – the Dominican Republic (Miranda and Hudes 106). After finding his bodega looted, Usnavi expresses his sickness towards his home country and decides to travel there (Miranda and Hudes 100). As Peter Debruge says, “In scene after scene, “In the Heights” acknowledges how hard immigrants must work for their place in this country” (69). Thus the newcomers, who want to take their place in the country, almost constantly feel rejected and have to work harder than the average American.

In addition, bicultural people conduct a big fraction of the Hispanic population; unfortunately, many of them cannot relate to any culture, thus feeling distressed. The term “bicultural” in this case means that second-generation immigrants represent two ethnic identities – their native culture and the American one (Mancenido et al. 1269). Usnavi and Nina are second-generation immigrants, referred to as bicultural people (Ragavan and Cowden 243). Therefore, the fact that they are a part of different, and in some cases, opposing cultures serves as a severe stressing factor (Mancenido et al. 1269). The main reason for it is that the individual’s personal perspective may be distorted due to the conflict of opposing values. As a result, these individuals are highly exposed to distress and anxiety since they cannot relate to any of the mentioned communities, most likely feeling foreign and alien.

Another critical aspect of the immigrant experience in the United States is the lack of opportunities, connections, and proper education, which leads to ever-increasing crime and poverty rates. For instance, the parents of Nina, neither of whom has any educational degree, praise their daughter for going to college, stressing how important education is. Not surprisingly, when Nina fails to complete her first schooling year and returns home, her father says that the girl is “useless, like my father before me” (Miranda and Hudes 36). This way, the author shows that the perspectives both in Latin countries and among Latin immigrants in America appear to be quite unpromising. Given the fact that the environment in the United States has tended to be anti-immigrant for more than ten years, migrant communities encounter low social mobility and high poverty rates (Roche et al. 2328). Thus, the whole community is facing a problem of the inability to climb a social ladder to gain a better job or a proper education.

Finally, the problem resulting from previously mentioned factors is second-generation immigrants’ skepticism towards their prospects in society. After losing her scholarship, Nina is unsure about her being able to gain a proper education to find a suitable job and ensure a bright future. She proclaims that “maybe she should have just stayed home” (Miranda and Hudes 19). This is the author’s way of showing that immigrants’ youth sometimes display incertitude about their future due to the surrounding poverty and xenophobic society. The studies show that higher social optimism has been connected with the economic status of the young person’s family (Roche et al. 2329). Therefore, the rates of optimism are relatively low among Hispanic immigrants in the United States (Roche et al. 2329). Thus, second-generation immigrants often lack the optimism needed to cope with various difficulties and barriers.

There is a clear need to improve the current living conditions of immigrants and the representatives of ethnic minorities; it is important to make the surrounding environment less aggressive, offering more working and education opportunities. Many people, who came to the United States from developing countries to find a better job (Klasen et al. 265). Although they sought opportunities, they did not gain any of them. The country operates as a closed environment. Therefore, any newcomer will be pushed away from education or even citizenship due to the lack of money or connections. Thus, it is important to focus on raising the number of community colleges. Community college is an alternative to standard higher educational facilities (Leo et al. 2). In addition, it is possible to expand the system of scholarship grants to provide capable students with proper education. Giving a first-generation immigrant a feasible opportunity to obtain citizenship is another way of addressing the mentioned issues (Roche et al. 2336). This will provide the communities with a confident outlook on their future in the country, as well as give them the possibility to find an adequately paid job.

Integration of the immigrants in the society is one of the essential needs of the government, especially that of the bilingual and bicultural people. The representative of the minority rarely associates himself and his culture with the country he lives in (Mancenido et al. 1269). In this case, the government must undertake several actions to improve the situation. For example, it is possible to promote biliteracy on a state level. This way, the student will have an opportunity to achieve proficiency in two or more languages, including English and his native language. As a result, the bicultural people will understand that they represent two unique cultures and that they are accepted in both environments. Citizenship is another factor of a person’s integration into society. It allows an individual to take part in the country’s political life and offers him a possibility to invite his family members to live in the United States. More importantly, a citizen cannot be deported; the individual understands that the country cannot be hostile towards him. Thus, an immigrant, integrated into society no longer considers himself a foreigner; he feels a commitment towards his new country.

Finally, there is a need to address the issue of skepticism and depression among the immigrant youth by providing them with an understanding that they have various social possibilities regardless of their level of income. It is essential to understand that many young second-generation immigrants displayed higher levels of optimism towards their future when they were provided with social programs, for example with community college scholarships (Roche et al. 2336). This means that the offered possibilities provide individuals with a more optimistic approach. The government might also aim at reducing the levels of marginalization of Latin American adolescents (Roche et al. 2336). It is important to promote group therapy facilities to individuals with social anxiety and depression. This way, an adolescent can gain support from the representatives of his community as well as learn how to maintain an optimistic approach towards his prospects (Roche et al. 2336). In addition, many young Latin American-origin people express a more firm approach to their future when their parents obtain United States citizenship. Therefore, it is imperative to raise the rates of optimism and hope among the youth to increase their productivity and performance.

The stories of several characters in In the Heights musical is the author’s way to show an immigrant or an individual of immigrant origin struggles with the hard conditions, caused by an aggressive environment. In the case of Usnavi de la Vega, his lack of integration into society and difficult childhood made him doubt his belonging to the place he lives in. Nina Rosario, a promising student, who wanted to overcome the financial difficulties to gain an education, was faced with an alien culture of wealthy American students. Because of her inability to work two jobs and receive an education at the same time, she could not continue with her studies. However, at the end of the story, each character overcomes their inner and outer troubles. Nina understands that she must go on with her life and do anything possible to prosper in the future (Miranda and Hudes 133). As for Usnavi, he understands that he belongs to the place where he lives (Miranda and Hudes 153). This story gives a reader an understanding of how important it is to give possibilities and hope for a better future to any individual, who came to the United States to seek opportunities.

Works Cited

Debruge, Peter. “In the Heights.” Variety, vol. 352, no. 4, p. 69, 2021.

Klasen, Stephan, and Felicitas Nowak-Lehmann. Poverty, Inequality and Migration in Latin Amerika. NED-New edition, 2008.

Leo, Aaron, et al. “Aspiration and Opportunity: First-Generation Immigrants and Refugees at Community College.” Community College Review, 2021, Web.

Mancenido, Amanda, et al. “Examining Psychological Distress Across Intersections of Immigrant Generational Status, Race, Poverty, and Gender.” Journal of Child and Family Studies, vol. 56, pp. 1269–1274, 2020, Web.

Miranda, Lin-Manuel, and Quiara A Hudes. In the Heights. Applause, 2008

Roche, Kathleen et al. “The Contemporary Anti-Immigrant Environment and Latin American-origin Adolescents’ Perceived Futures: A Phenomenographic Content Analysis.”Journal of Child and Family Studies, vol. 30, pp. 2328–2339, 2021, Web.

Introduction

Hispanic is a term taken from Hispanics, which in turn derived from Hispania. The term is used for people living in Hispania during Roman times. The word Hispanic is usually used to describe the culture and people usually governed or used to be governed by the Spanish. They are characteristically Spanish-speaking people with most of the people sharing Spanish heritage and culture, from food to preference of dress. They are more ethnically and linguistically diverse than other minority groups in the United States. These comprise of people from a lot of nationalities from Argentineans with strong European heritage to Dominicans with a predominantly black population. The Case Study Hispanic Nation talks about English-speaking people Mexican migrants in the US with the Hispanic origin and their influence on the US economy and culture. This growing ethnic group has its strengths, weakness, opportunity, and threats. So there is a need to identify them in detail, so a clear direction may be developed so that it can help Hispanics in the future.

Strength

Hispanics as any other ethnic group have some strength of their own. ‘Demographics’ is one of the main strengths of Hispanics. The number of the baby born to Hispanics in comparison to other groups is very high. This is the reason they are also called baby boomers. They are nearly 30 million in population that includes 8 million illegal immigrants in the United States. They have a population growth of about 3%, which is very high compared with others at just 0.8%. (Grover, Weintrab & Palmeri, 182)A large population in a democratic state like the United States of America means more power. They have now crossed African Americans to become U.S.’s largest minority group. This huge population has its effects on the economy.

Take for example half of all new workers past decade come from Hispanics. There are cultural changes also happening to their advantage like most under-18 or around in Los Angeles, Miami and San Antonio are changing as rap culture did way back in the 1980s of African Americans. Disposable income of Hispanics is at 29% in 2001 to $652 billion last year with Latino businessmen growing at a healthy rate of around 30%. There is an annual influx of around 400,000 immigrants which also adds to the demographics. They have another strong point that they are almost are car ride or bus ride from their native land Mexico, where the money goes back and forth. So they have fewer chances of failure because they can always go back. Due to their skin color, they face less racism in comparison to other ethnic groups like African Americans.

Weakness

With all those strengths Hispanics also have weakness due to their culture and living style. Most of the Hispanics who came to America in the early years were poorly educated and Non-English speaking. This tradition doesn’t seem to change even after all these years. Still now almost 50% of the Hispanics don’t graduate from high school. Graduation rate stands at 57% which in comparison for non Hispanic whites is at 88% and African American at 80 %, which is very low. This is the reason they get low paying jobs mostly as day construction workers. This is what affects the family income which stands at $33000 in comparison to $42000, which is the national average. Another weakness is the slow pace of assimilation of the Hispanics into American society which is hurting their own interests. This is due to the fact that live in neighborhood eat and live in their native way. They enter in schools with little or no English language skills, which is national language of US. And this is the very reason they have less paying jobs. Failure to develop new skills due to linguistic problems also stops advancement in job and bleak job prospects. This less paying job is also for the reason that quite a most of them have crossed over with no documentation papers and legal identity. Another weakness is that 78% speak Spanish even if they know English, change of attitudes is needed.

Opportunities

The future has lot many opportunities for Hispanics. They are becoming driving force in US economy, politics and culture. Various companies revamping their product line to the culture of suite Hispanics and Latinos. They have now been recognized as the fastest growing consumer group in US. The slowing US population growth and birth rate along with graying people of United States has put upon trust on growing Hispanics. They are new considered as a key catalyst in economic growth. This growing population is forcing US to accommodate a second linguistic group of Spanish; such official recognition will be boon for next generation of Hispanics. Even Labor department and departments connected to social security are hiring Spanish language speaking administrators, for this obvious reason. Politicians are now reaching out to Hispanics for votes and representation. So Hispanics are better of than other ethnic groups and more than ever they have better opportunities than before. And chances of assimilation to American society are better and brighter.

Changing corporate attitude towards Hispanics is helping them by and large. As they try to tab into large Latino population they are hiring more and more Hispanics to sell products to their choice. Companies like Procter & Gamble have started to increase spending on advertisement related to Spanish products. For the very reason, to understand their cultural preferences and likes and dislikes, they are in turn hiring people from the origin. A famous example was addition of smell to detergents, as it has been found in survey 57% that Hispanics like to smell their purchases. This trend is now every where across all sections of products from healthcare to detergents to health insurance policies. Similarly some of the companies are changing linguistically to adapt to needs of Hispanics, like advertising in Spanish to teaching Spanish language skill to administrators and mangers, while some are even going all Spanish. And the consequence is that many Hispanic super stores are now coming up in the neighborhood. Companies like Univision through its cable channel tried to assimilate Hispanics by trying to teach them English speaking skills, but has also switched back to Spanish. This is an indication of Hispanic opportunities in the future to come.

Threats

Even after all the opportunities the future holds for Hispanics, there are many impending threats to their otherwise bright future. The huge influx of immigrants from Mexico as well as the baby boom has some undesired results. There is a common perception that Latino dominance in Texas and California might encourage separatism. One of the basic reasons being that, Hispanics live in communities follow their native culture of food or language, rather than try to assimilate with the Americans. Another threat is of the low skill set of the Hispanics and their ability to learn new skill for their advancement in future. This also affects their ability to earn. That’s the reason the are offered petty jobs like tendering gardens, floor cleaning, construction daily day jobs etc.

They are often at the lower end of salary structure and with lower bottom lines. Another reason for their low wage jobs is their education profile where only 57% do their graduation, so good white collar jobs will be impossible. Another threat is that their inability to assimilate in common stream American society. Cultures are often found to surrender native language and culture and melt in the middle class, when they move to new countries, like as German’s in 1800’s when they settled in Pennsylvania to Minnesota. In comparison with other immigrants, the Hispanics like to keep their native language four times more than other immigrants like Chinese, Filipino or Vietnamese, which is opposite to natural trends. This will be better if moved out of the barrios and assimilated in US main stream society. If they leave the neighborhood in to non-Hispanic neighborhoods marry non-Hispanics and melt into US society.

Conclusion

Changing demographics of Hispanics in American society brings up many challenges. Hispanics can not just dominate American society by population figures alone; they have to rise above it terms of education and jobs as well. Also there is need for the greater society at large that Hispanics assimilate and melt into American society for the betterment of Hispanics as well as United States of America. And with changing demographics America has to learn to live with diversity of different cultures as well.

Work cited:

Grover, R, Ariene Weintrab & C Palmeri. “Hispanic Nation: Case in the News.” Business Week. 2007. 181-184.

Introduction

Throughout the history of the United States, the country was the primary direction for out-migration from Latin America. Hispanic and Latino migrants from different countries started to come to the U.S. before the beginning of the Gold Rush. In the following centuries, the influx of Hispanic migrants to the country increased significantly. This paper will consider the conditions of Hispanic out-migration to the U.S. and the reasons that caused the migration of the discussed populations. In addition, different views on Hispanic migration and its effect on the country, including the current impact, will be examined.

History of Hispanic Migration

The Gold Rush

Although the Hispanic minority was present on the territory of the United States since the annexation of Florida and Louisiana, the first great migration started after the end of the U.S.-Mexican War. The end of the war coincided with the discovery of gold in California and led to the first significant influx of Latino migrants to the U.S. (D. Gutiérrez). In addition, the treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo signed in 1848 resulted in the territories of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah being surrendered by Mexico to the United States (Gregory). Thus, the Hispanic individuals living in these states were naturalized as U.S. citizens, and several thousands of Mexican migrants came to California to work in the gold mines. Overall, most Hispanic migrants to the U.S. in the second half of the 19th century were Mexican.

First Half of the 20^th Century

The migration from Latin American countries to the United States continued during the 20th century. In the first half of the century, Mexican comprised the majority of the Hispanic migrants to the country, with a small proportion of immigrants from the Caribbean countries. The influx of migrants can be explained by the acceleration of the agricultural sector in the U.S. and the need for seasonal farmworkers (R. Gutiérrez 3). Although many Latino immigrants were deported during this time, the government invited Mexican laborers to work in the defense industries and the agricultural sector due to the lack of workers caused by the Second World War (Gregory). Thus, the second wave of Hispanic migration was characterized by the need for workers.

Second Half of the 20^th Century

During the second half of the 20th century, the Hispanic migration to the U.S. became more diverse. Migrants from Puerto Rico and Cuba were granted permission to enter the country as the former were considered U.S. citizens, while the latter were granted the status of refugees due to Cuba being a Communist country (Gregory). Migrants from other Latin American countries were scarcer due to fewer quotas for the number of persons allowed in the U.S. granted to them.

Reasons for Migration and Migration Conditions

The reasons for Hispanic migrants to travel to the United States are varied. However, it can be argued that the economic reason was and remains most prominent. The country offered high wages for unskilled labor that compared favorably with the wages offered for the same work in the Latin American and Caribbean countries (Sánchez-Alonso 11). Compared to Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and other nations, the United States offered more opportunities for migrants from those countries. In addition, various political events, such as the Mexican Revolution, contributed to many people being displaced and immigrating to a safer country (D. Gutiérrez). Most Hispanic migrants opted to move to the United States for economic reasons.

It should be noted that a large percentage of immigrants moved to the U.S. as spouses or children of American citizens. In the first waves of migration, spouses often came to the country together. However, most women worked in the household, with under 20% of Hispanic female migrants obtaining positions outside it, primarily in the domestic and personal service sector (R. Gutiérrez 8). Later, the migration trend changed to male migrants coming to the country first in order to find work and establish themselves in the United States before their families could join them. Thus, legislation allowed legal spouses, minor children, and parents of adult U.S. citizens to move to the country (R. Gutiérrez 15). Overall, the conditions of Hispanic individuals migrating to the United States changed substantially throughout history.

Views on Hispanic Migration to the U.S.

The Hispanic migration to the country was a divisive topic, and people with distinct points of view saw the issues differently. During the Gold Rush and the first half of the 20th century, Hispanic migrants were often victimized and discriminated against due to their ethnicity (R. Gutiérrez 22). However, employers considered migrants essential to maximize profit (R. Gutiérrez 22). In 1965, the Hart-Celler Act was established to prevent discrimination and better account for immigrants coming to the U.S. from different countries, affecting many ethnic minorities (R. Gutiérrez 14). Although the act regulates what persons are allowed to enter and remain in the country, it is often argued that the act normalizes and decriminalizes the anti-Mexican laws that are ignored when there is a need for seasonal workers (R. Gutiérrez 22). In the last two decades, views on immigration did not change substantially, with the Republicans viewing it as a critical threat, while the democrats have a milder view on it (Hammer and Kafura 2). Overall, the view on Hispanic migration remained largely negative since the first arrival of immigrants during the Californian Gold Rush.

Effect of Hispanic Migration to the U.S.

Effect of Migration throughout the History of the Country

Throughout the history of the United States, Hispanic migration primarily affected the country’s economy. During the Gold Rush, the Hispanic population comprised primarily Mexican migrants, who were engaged in several economic sectors, including the gold, copper, and coal industries (R. Gutiérrez 5). One of the most significant contributions of the small Hispanic populations was their work on the railroads and irrigation systems in the West of the U.S. (R. Gutiérrez 5). It should be noted that the labor of the Hispanic community was less restricted by government policies and regulations than other migrant groups. At the beginning of the 20th century, authorized and unauthorized Mexican immigrants comprised the majority of seasonal agricultural workers in the southwest of the United States (R. Gutiérrez 8). Furthermore, in the 1940s, due to the mobilization of the American population, the U.S. government established a guest worker program with Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and other Latin American countries (D. Gutiérrez; Gregory). Since the onset of the Hispanic influx to the country, migrants have become indispensable in the labor market.

The influx of Hispanic migrants and immigrants from other nations also led to the development and establishment of various policies and government agencies. For example, the arrival of vast numbers of Hispanic and Asian individuals into the U.S. through the Mexican border led to the creation of the U.S. Border Patrol in 1924 (R. Gutiérrez 7). In addition, Hispanic migration contributed to a change in the demographic composition of the United States. Overall, the Hispanic migration to the United States substantially affected the country’s development, legislation, and economy.

Current and Projected Effect of Migration

The Hispanic migration to the United States of America continues to affect the country today. According to Huertas and Kirkegaard, the Hispanic population of the U.S. contributes significantly to the economic growth and development of the nation and is expected to continue this contribution in the coming decades (2). Today, first, second, and third-generation Hispanic migrants achieve better living standards than migrants from other countries and actively engage in the country’s economic life. Huertas and Kirkegaard point out that the Hispanic community has higher levels of opportunity-driven business ventures that support the economy than other U.S. populations. Research shows that the Hispanic population of the United States is among the youngest ethnic minorities (Huertas and Kirkegaard 19). If the non-Hispanic labor force is aging and is less likely to contribute to the economy, the Hispanic population remains relatively young and vital. A forecast predicts that by 2048 the Latino community will account for most of the labor input in the country’s economy (Huertas and Kirkegaard 20). Thus, Hispanic migration is expected to play a crucial role in the future of the United States.

Conclusion

In summary, the Hispanic migrant community has a long history in the United States. Since the Gold Rush and throughout the 20th century, migrants from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and other Latin countries have come to the country. Their reasons for migrating to the country were primarily economic due to better wages being offered in the U.S. compared to their countries of origin. Although the views on Hispanic migration primarily remain negative, this community contributes significantly to the economy of the United States.

Works Cited

Gregory, James. “Latinx Great Migrations – Migration History 1850-2017.”Civil Rights and Labor History Consortium, University of Washington, 2018, Web.

Gutiérrez, David G. “American Latino Theme Study: Immigration (U.S. National Park Service).”NPS.gov, U.S. National Park Service, 2020, Web.

Gutiérrez, Ramón A. “Mexican Immigration to the United States.” Oxford Research Encyclopedia of American History, 2019, pp. 1-30, Web.

Hammer, Bettina, and Craig Kafura. Republicans and Democrats in Different Worlds on Immigration. The Chicago Council of Global Affairs, 2019. Web.

Huertas, Gonzalo, and Jacob F. Kirkegaard. The Economic Benefits of Latino Immigration: How the Migrant Hispanic Population’s Demographic Characteristics Contribute to US Growth. Peterson Institute for International Economics, 2019. Web.

Sánchez-Alonso, Blanca. “The age of mass migration in Latin America.” The Economic History Review, vol. 72, no. 1, 2018, pp. 3-31.