Hispanics American Diversity, Essay Example

America is a country that embraces diversity and thus consists of many races. Of these races, I am interested in looking the Hispanics in America.  The Hispanics consists of various groups with, political, linguistic, economic, religious, social and familial conventions. This paper will look at Mexican Americans, Puerto Rican, Cubans and El Salvadorians. Hispanic groups are of diverse origins and holds significant niches in the American history of immigration.

Mexican Americans

In the United States of America, the Mexicans are largely concentrated in Texas and California. This concentration I believed to be a result of these states being at the Mexican border. It is estimated that close to ten percent of the total Mexican population is to be found in the United States (Kanellos & Padilla, 1994).  Linguistically, the Mexican Americans can be grouped into three categories; Spanish dominant (51%), English dominant (23%) and bilingual (21%). The language consists of a mixture of English and Spanish and is therefore referred to as spanglish.

The linguistic affiliation relates directly to the economic status and those who are unable to speak that native language are normally negated to do menial work. According to Kanellos & Padilla (1994) Mexicans form the largest group of Hispanics living in the United States. Their immigration dates several generations back and many have been assimilated into the American society.

This group became politically conscious in the 1960s through the activists of activists such as Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chaves who mobilized civil rights campaigns that resembled the activities of African American activists such as martin Luther King Jr. their movement came to be known as Chicano Movement and was largely successful in achieving their political objectives. Most Mexican Americans seem to be contended by being categories as immigrants and have done nothing to climb the social ladder to an ordinary social class. The possession of many prejudices and accompanied by a poor educational stature has made it difficult for the Mexicans to totally fit in the American culture (Kanellos & Padilla, 1994).

For economic wellbeing, the Mexicans are championing for fair payment. Their lower economical attainment is a result of lower educational achievement and has equally contributed to their lower social categorization This clearly illustrates that they still have serious issues with payment benefits as well as payment of adequate wages. Their family organization is mostly centered on the grandparent especially the grandmothers. The families have adopted charismas traditions which thy have used to replace their own Gonzalez-Clements. Religion wise, most Mexican American are affiliated o the Roman Catholic Church. A significant number are affiliated to the Jews of Sephardic background, while the spread of Anglican Church has managed only a few recruits.

Puerto Ricans

Puerto Ricans unlike other Hispanic groups such as the American Mexicans are not classified as immigrants. This is largely a result of the common wealth status of nations. This group is mostly concentrated in New Jersey, New York as well as Florida. The concentration in these three states accounts for more than a half the population of Puerto Ricans in the country (Msn. Encarta, 2009).

This group is a close-knit family which has tremendous pride in their nationality. They have an official Puerto Rican day celebrated annually and attract all Puerto Ricans who will easily identified by the Puerto Rican flag which they fly on their cars and establishments. Puerto Ricans speak mostly Spanish though they are credited to be the creators of Spanglish. Their experience in the united state of America made the develop a class known as “Class Politics” which embraces membership from people of different ethnicity  and he same working class which eventually paved way for the formation of a socialism movement.

However, this did not entice all the Puerto Ricans to participate in politics for instance through voting despite their great desire to improve their well being. The group used its ethnicity to pursue socio-economic and political status in the American society. This group further values family relationships and the family as an institution. Evidently the elderly as well as mothers are adored and duty to ones family is supreme. Just like Mexican Americans, most Puerto Ricans are Roman Catholic Church followers, though there some Islamic and Jewish sectors.

Cuban Americans

There is a considerable number of Cubans in America who came to the country in escape of chaos and civil strife in Latin America. Majority of them settle in Florida, Washington, D.C. California, and Massachusetts. Cuban Americans also speak Spanish. They posses the highest education levels amongst the Hispanic groups in the United States of America. Over 23% of Cubans above 25 years of age have collages degrees. Just like the other Hispanic groups they are devoted Christians, subscribing the Roman Catholic Church (Kanellos & Padilla, 1994).

Unlike other Hispanic groups, the Cubans seem to be economically and political empowered. This can is be attributed to the high educational attainment or achievement among the Cubans which has given the am upper arm in economic and political dealing, for instance they are able to secure well paying jobs. Cubans also practice business activities. A government study in 1987 revealed that the Cubans have the highest number of business enterprise among the Hispanic groups (msn Encarta, 2009)

Cuban politics champion for democracy and human rights back at home which could be the reason for their political awareness. In the recent past the United States congress has been served by five Cuban Americans of which one served in the senate and the others in house of representatives. Cubans also regard family with great importance. Their families are normally made up of parents, children and older relatives especially the windowed and dependant grandparents.  This live close together in the same establishment

El Salvadorians

El Salvadorian migration into the United State of America is a recent phenomenon.  They came to the US as exiles fleeing civil wars in their country. The war drained the country nearly 30% of it citizens. In addition to the political factors i.e. war; economic factory also played a significant role in the immigration of El Salvadorians into the United State of America where they are mostly concentrated in Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, New York and Washington D.C. Like most Hispanics, El Salvadorians speak Spanish which is their native language. They also speak English due to contact with the English speaking people in America and other countries.

El Salvadorians are Roman Catholic Church members.  However, large part of their population is converting Protestantism with people joining the Anglican Church, Methodist church Seventh Day Adventist and the Presbyterian Church  However, catholic is part of their culture and play a n important role in the culture as they know it today in their society Msn. Encarta (2009).

Socially, Salvadoran Americans have formed what can be referred to as an insular community. They have their own doctors, social clubs as well as banks. This society is only open to the Salvadorans and has minimal contact with the outsiders. They live together with people from their home town or country and sustain a tight set of connections. However young Salvadorans born in the US are steadily becoming Americanized.

Conclusion

However, the different Hispanic groups share most characteristic traits that identify them as people of the same enclave. The most common and obvious similarities among the Hispanics is their Spanish language background and the mixture of English and Spanish when speaking due to their interactions with English speaking groups.  Most Hispanics are follower of the Roman Catholic Church though each Hispanic group has a considerable number of it members turning to other denominations and religions such as Islam and Jewish faith. The Hispanic groups further values family relationships. Most of them consider the family an important institution and their families are normally large extended families (Kanellos & Padilla, 1994). They also seem to have a liking for soccer and base ball and most of their meal is made up of potatoes (Msn. Encarta, 2009).

There are also dissimilarities among the Hispanic groups. This consists mostly of the disparities in their economic well being, educational attainment and political awareness and emancipation. Where in some groups such as the Cuban Americans, members are well educated and economically empowered; some communities have poor educational attainment and economic wellbeing. Most of the members of such group for instance the Mexicans depend on menial work for wages. The Mexicans are further not political active since despite having the chance participate in democratic process through voting some still don’t vote. The achievements of political activist seem to have been in vain

Finally, it is worthy noting that for the different reasons that made these groups move to America, they have found a home in their host country and many are becoming Americanized.

Reference

Msn. Encarta (2009). Hispanic Americans. Retrieved 21 September 2009 from http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761585657_2/hispanic_americans.html

Kanellos, N. and Padilla, F. (1994). Handbook of Hispanic Cultures in the United States. Arte Publico Press