Cultural Immigration Experiences in America, Essay Example

America’s population has always been a product of foreign born births, unless their families were already here upon European arrival.  Immigration is inherent in American culture and has shaped the values and aspirations of its people, both ones born on shore to immigrant and those born abroad and who immigration to America.  The population of America in the 18^th and 19^th centuries was mainly a product of European immigration, with great populations of people tracing their families back to Germany, France, Italy, Ireland and England.  However, in the 20^th century the wave of immigrants has come mostly from other countries.  People from Latin countries and  Asia have flocked to the United States looking to make a better lives for themselves.  Part of the draw is the amount of work and opportunities that are available in the United States, especially when in their home countries, income was limited and jobs were scarce.  Asians and Latino’s have both generally found success in their new home, and many families have integrated and become very successful.  However, there are still vast inequalities between not only nonwhite and white populations within the United States, but also in particularly between the Latino and Asian immigrant populations.  The experience for Latin and Asian immigrants to America has had a number of similarities but also many differences that led to the success and failures achieved generally between members of these two immigrant groups.

Beginning in the 19^th century, there was a large wave of Chinese immigrants to America.  This has been partly due to the political situation of that country, with many refugees seeking safety in America.  Also too the amount of work and opportunities present, especially in California during the Gold Rush.  The need for cheap labor was great, and many families left their homeland in hopes to make a better lives for themselves in America.  In contrast, Latin immigration has been ongoing, since the border between Latin countries, especially Mexico, is close to the American border.  In fact, many of the southwestern states were once a part of Mexico, so the influence of the two cultures on one another has always been strong.  One of the differences between the two cultures has always been distance.  While many families and especially men from Latin countries have come to America to work and then return to their home country, most Asians come to stay.  The physical difference between America and  Asian countries makes the immigration process perhaps more permanent.  This perhaps explains some of the differences noted between the educational achievements obtained by the two groups.  Since education can often be linked with income, a lower attainment of education can taken to mean a less successful experience.  Wojtkiewicz (1995), states that “Dramatic differences in educational attainment between Hispanic and non-Hispanic groups have persisted over the last 20 years.  By 1991, only 61% of Hispanics 20-21 years old had completed high school compared with 81% of non-Hispanic blacks and 90% of whites.”  Hispanics also represent the majority of the foreign-born population.  “In 1990, 25.2% of the foreign-born population was Asian, 42.5% Latin American, and 22% European, and 10.3% from other countries (Waters 1995).”

The lack of educational differences has been noted to be at least partly determined by the nativity of the groups.  Wojtkiewicz (1995) found that children born of U.S. born Mexicans were more likely to be successful than those born of foreign-born parents.  Those individuals that are born of second generation parents are more likely to have a stronger chance of academic and occupational success.  In terms of success in the United States, it would appear that the Asian immigrants have found more success, if education and job status is to be the judge.  However, many Latin immigrants have found success by only staying in the United States for a short time, working hard, and returning to their homeland and to a very successful life there.  It is difficult to judge success in these terms, since success is different to each individual.  However, if success is to be judged by current levels of education and income, then it seems that in general Asian immigrants have found more success.  Perhaps this can be due to the experience of moving so far away from their homeland.  The need to succeed may be stronger since it is so difficult to return home for Asians.  As the years progress and more Latin families become second and third generations born on American soils, it is possible that the statistics will change, with Latinos achieving a statistically higher educational success on par with other cultural groups.

Both groups have found success and failures in their immigration experiences, however, in general, the experience for both appears to have been successful, since more immigrants are constantly arriving, looking for the wealth and prosperity that immigration has brought people of their culture before them.  In addition, America’s culture has been greatly influenced as well by both the Latin and Asian cultures.  Many American restaurant’s serve both Asian and Mexican dishes and popular culture including movies, art, and literature have both Latin and Asian influences.  Many people of both Asian and Latino descent hold political offices, own successful businesses, and are in all aspects of the workforce, including those positions that require a high degree of education, like doctors and lawyers.  In both cultures, the degree to which individuals are successful will ultimately depend on their individual attitudes, the attitudes of their parents, their reasons for being in the United States, and their idea of what success is.  Cultural values will also continue to shape success, and children from families that value education are more likely to achieve a higher degree of education and ultimately material success.

References

Gómez, Laura E. 2000. “Race, Colonialism, and Criminal Law: Mexicans and the American Criminal Justice System in Territorial New Mexico.” Law & Society Review 34:1129-1202.

Grove, Wayne A. 1996. “The Mexican Farm Labor Program, 1942-1964: Government-Administered Labor Market Insurance for Farmers.” Agricultural History 70:302-320.

Rong, Xue Lan, and Linda Grant. 1992. “Ethnicity, Generation, and School Attainment of Asians, Hispanics, and Non-Hispanic Whites.” The Sociological Quarterly 33:625-636.

Waters, Mary C., and Karl Eschbach. 1995. “Immigration and Ethnic and Racial Inequality in the United States.” Annual Review of Sociology 21:419-446.

Wojtkiewicz, Roger A. 1995. “Hispanic Educationa Attainment: the Effects of Family Background on Nativity.” Social Forces 74: 550-574.