Hispanic American Diversity - Research Paper Example

Hispanic American Diversity America is a country marked by cultural and religious diversity. According to statistical results Hispanics is the nation's largest ethnic minority which constitutes 13,7% of the entire population (Hispanic Americans By the Numbers. 2006). The main Hispanic groups include Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Latin Americans, and African Americans. It is important to note that national culture is a notoriously difficult concept to pin down because it embodies different frames of reference and traditions. The paper will be based on the main distinctive characteristics which help to analyze each Hispanic group in terms of liguistic, political, social, economic and religious statuses. Mexican Americans is the largest Hispanic group living in the USA. It constitutes 14 million of people of Mexican ancestry, or 64% of the Hispanic population living in America. The main areas of their settlement include Southwestern part of the USA. Also, there are big Mexican Americans communities living in Chicago and New York, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama. Economically and socially, Mexican Americans represent a cheap labor employed in service sectors. Most of them occupy blue-collar occupations such as manufacturing and farm workers, service workers and craftspeople, restaurant workers, drivers, gardeners, etc. Mexican Americans of both genders find considerable barriers to entering the labor market at the higher (and higher-paying) levels. With rapid social change come also a whole range of problems associated with the provision of health and other social services for Mexican Americans. Today, there are insufficient funds for education programs and health care services for Mexican American population. Most of them do not receive governmental support and social welfare living in total poverty. Family is the most important social institution for this Hispanic group. A father or a husband plays the main role while women obtain a secondary social role. Most Mexican Americans are Christians, Roman Catholics. "The turnout among Mexican Americans is low (less than 40% vote). Of those who vote, large majorities vote for Democratic candidates in most states except Texas (where the Democrats win narrowly)" (Mexican American, 2006). Linguistically, Mexican Americans represents a bilingual group who speaks Spanish at home and English at work. Family traditions and values are crucial for Mexican Americans. At home, the main language is Spanish, and at work they speak English. The group of Latin Americans includes Spanish people from Latin America, but explaudes the Spanish immigrants. This is a Spanish-speaking community. Although, immigrants came form Brazil speak Portuguese. Similar to Mexican Americans this Hispanic group confesses Roman Catholicism as the primary religion, but include followers of protestant, Evangelical, Mormon and Islamic traditions. Culturally, this group represents a mixture of the Spanish and the Portuguese, the English and the French traditions. The biggest Latin American community lives in Boston. Economically, Latin Americans is one of the unprotected groups in the USA deprived a chance for good education and training. Most of them work as material moving workers, and manual labor. In spite of this fact, "there are about 51,400 Hispanic postsecondary teachers; 34,700 chief executives of businesses; 28,600 lawyers; 5,400 news analysts, reporters, and correspondents; and 650 legislators" (Hispanic Americans By the Numbers, 2006). The decline in real wages ahs increased unemployment and poverty level among Latin Americans. For the individual it results in an unfamiliar need to rely on social provisions other than the family. For those in towns occupational provision may or may not be made for facilities, education and training schemes. The need to work impedes both education and training, tending to reinforce low expectations and to create a large semi-skilled labour force. "Family structure-play a central role in accounting for differences in success within the community" (Uriarte, 1992). Politically, Latin Americans is an active Hispanic group who organizes demonstrations against racial inequalities and prejudices. "But as the community and the political stakes grow, and as concerns about Latino economic and educational disadvantage intensify, this will surely change, as it has in other large urban areas in the United States" (Uriarte, 1992). Family traditions are followed by all family members which help this group to preserve its cultural uniqueness (Friedman, Isserman, 1998). African Americans (Afro-Latino) group of American citizens includes black immigrants coming from Latin America. The majority of African-Americans live in the South and in the North. Economically, this group of Hispanic population over-represented among the nation's poor. Most of them are unemployed. Social and welfare programs cover only 10 % of all African Americans. Socially, this group is deprived childcare programs, medical and dental services, nutrition and mental health, and special programs for parents with young children. On the other hand, this group of people is more involved in the politcal process than other minority groups. They are active participants of human rights movements and equal work opportunities. Statistical results show that African-Americans group has the highest level of voter registration among other minority groups. Most of African-Americans speak English and Spanish. This group of Hispanic population has high rates of single parent households headed by single women. This tendency is closely connected with iinefficient support services deprive many families a chance to secure and retain employment. Many African-Americans cannot continue their education and obtain jobs. The silent policy of inefficient support services and childcare development increases poverty-related problems. The religion of African Americans can be identities as black Christianity. Most of them are devoted Catholics while some others represent an evangelical Protestant group. This group of Hispanic population does not pay much attention to family and cultural traditions seeing them as a thing of the past. Puerto Ricans is the second largest group constituting 3.4 million of people. Puerto Ricans settles in the Northeast and the North. This group preserves a close link between religion, ethnic identity, and political conflict. [Puerto Ricans] "migration was more representative of all social classes on the island and the majority settled in new communities out of New York City" (Grosfoguel, 1999). Critics divide this group into Spanish speaking and "non-Spanish speaking" Puerto Ricans. They have filled the majority of managerial positions and many of the more important blue-collar jobs, becoming skilled craftsmen. Traditionally, they filled lower-paying clerical positions. "Many middle class Spanish-speaking Puerto Ricans on the island are more assimilated to American white' middle-class cultural practices with their suburban houses, cable T.V., racist representations of Puerto Rican identity and mass consumption" (Grosfoguel, 1999). For example, recent studies have shown that the Puerto-Ricans culture within the U.S. places a high value on groups compared to individuals and as a consequence takes a more collective approach to decision making. Politically, this Hispanic group does not provide aggressive campaigns against inequality and racial issues. Although "when cultural and political rights are at stake due to certain inconvenient metropolitan policies, Puerto Ricans mobilize a national discourse claiming autonomy" (Grosfoguel, 1999). Socially, this group is supported by federal and governmental programs as one of the largest minority groups in the USA. In contrast to other Hispanic groups, Puerto Ricans obtains more or less stable social position in the society. Family is the main unit in Puerto Rican's community. The majority of Puerto Ricans are the Roman Catholics and Santeria. In sum, it is possible to agree with Chavez that: "Hispanics are the population that has benefited least from the American economy" (Chavez, 1997). Each of the Hispanic groups speaks Spanish but it speaks it in a particular way typical for the country of origin using specific accent, intonation patterns and vocabulary. The four Hispanic groups in America maintain their multiracial and cultural integrity in order to preserve their culture and traditions. References 1. Chavez, L. (1997). Hispanics Pursue the American Dream. USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Vol. 125, July, p. 22. 2. Grosfoguel, R. (1999). Puerto Ricans in the USA: A Comparative Approach. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Vol. 25, p. 233. 3. Friedman, M., Isserman, N. (1998). The Tribal Basis of American Life: Racial, Religious, and Ethnic Groups in Conflict. Praeger Publishers. 4. Hispanic Americans By the Numbers. (2006). Retrieved from: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/hhmcensus1.html 5. Mexican-Americans. (2006). Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican-Americans 6. Uriarte, M. (1997). A Challenge to the Racial Order: Boston's Latino Community. Retrieved from: www.bostonreview.net/BR17.5/uriarte.html Read More