Running head: ASSIGNMENT HISPANIC AMERICAN DIVERSITY 1

Assignment Hispanic American Diversity

Tiffany Nicole Cooper

University of Phoenix

ETH125

Barri Brown

May 23, 2010

 Assignment Hispanic American Diversity

In identifying the linguistic, political, social, economic, religious, and

familial conventions and/or statuses of four Hispanic groups living in the

United States; the following four groups have been chosen, Mexican

Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and El Salvadorians. Each group has a

rich

cultural identity but has been placed in the same category, Hispanic
Americans,

on the basis of language. Mexican Americans language is made up of a mix

of

their national language Spanish and English, sometimes referred to as

Spanglish.

Politically Mexican Americans were very active in the Mexican

American

Civil Rights movement spearheaded by Mendoza, V. "…Reies López Tijerina

and the land grant movement, is picked up by Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales in

Denver who defines the meaning of Chicano through his epic poem I am

Joaquin, embraces César Chávez and the farm workers…"(2000). The

movement as defined by Mendoza, V. "The Mexican American Civil Rights

Movement…" "…encompassed a broad cross section of issues-from

restoration

of land grants, to farm workers rights, to enhanced education, to voting and

political rights…" Socially Mexican Americans seem to want what all

immigrants
who come to this country seeking; the American Dream. (Alba, R. 2006).

Educationally, Mexican Americans, no matter the generation rarely go

past High School; according to the reading, Alba, R. "Huntington presents

information that appears to show very low levels of Mexican- American

educational advancement beyond high school, regardless of

generation." And that; "Thus, he cites numbers reported from the National

Latino Political Survey, conducted at the end of the 1980s, to show that no

more than 10 percent of Mexican Americans of any generation earn a

credential beyond high school and only 4 percent of the fourth generation

attains the baccalaureate; 40 percent of this generation fails to obtain the

high

school diploma." (2006)

Throughout the immigration of Mexicans to America it seems that little

progress is made for Mexican Americans to move up from immigrant status

to

mainstream social status. Due in part to the amount of discrimination and

poor

educational systems that were provided to them, Mexican Americans have

not

really assimilated themselves into the American mainstream culture. (Alba,

R.

2006).

Economically, Mexican Americans are pushing for fair pay. This plays

out most predominately in the Mexican American Civil Rights movement as

discussed earlier with Cesar Chavez. (Mendoza, V. 2000). Fair pay, benefits
and

adequate wages are still an issue for Mexican Americans.

Family for Mexican American seems to focus on the Grandparents,

especially the Grandmothers, they appear to be the staple of the family

according to González-Clements, A. in Mexican American traditions in

Nebraska, "Grandmothers, those special women who held them and fed
them

and healed them, grandmothers who knew the remedies, the stories, the
crafts,

the foods, and the language that some of us have forgotten." American

Christmas traditions have been adopted, in place of their traditions such as

Gonzalez-Clements, A. "The traditional Mexican posada, a house-to-house

celebration of song and food that replicates Joseph and Mary's search for

shelter on Christmas Eve…"

The Puerto Ricans language is Spanish. According to Tara- Ivette, O. in

his essay on Puerto Rican Migration and the Puerto Rican Political Experience

in the United States; Puerto Ricans began in what was known as Class
Politics,

where no matter what ethnicity people in the same working classes banded

together. Eventually this lead to a movement called the socialism

movement,

Tara-Ivette, O. "The early immigrants who settled in the United States were

influenced by radical political ideas like nationalism, internationalism, and

socialism." Still though many Puerto Ricans stayed out of politics and did not

vote even though they wished to improve their circumstances in the United

States. Tara-Ivette, O. "I agree with Richie Rodriguez when he states that

"[Puerto Ricans] used their ethnicity as their basis for being a separate entity

in America and sought to improve their socio-economic and political status

as

an ethnic group through politics" (frontpage.trincoll.edu/Rodriguez)." Unity is

a

big part of Puerto Ricans socioeconomic and family backgrounds. They tend
to

set themselves apart from the United States mainstream culture and remain

their own entity within the U.S.

Puerto Ricans place family very important and respect plays a big part
in

family relations; according to Jones Syracuse, C. Cultural Diversity: Eating in

America Puerto Ricans "Respect for family is critical in the Puerto Rican

culture. Mothers and elders are adored and duty to the family, including the

extended family, is essential. Family ties are strong. Families often gather for

holidays, birthdays, and weddings. Machismo is a critical element of the

society.

Women usually make decisions on foods purchased and served.

Traditionally,

meals are served when the entire family is together."(Syracuse ) Cuba

Americans main language is Spanish, according to a study done by Jason

Cato

Cuban Americans have adapted parts of the US to their culture. Cato, J. "In
rising to dominate the centers of power in Miami, Cuban-Americans have

reversed the traditional cycles of assimilation and acculturation." Even

though

they seek freedom from the oppression of their country they still have

extremely strong ties to their homeland and instead of adapting to the

mainstream culture they have adapted parts of the US to their culture.

Cuban Americans religious ties are mainly with the Roman Catholic

Church, however according to Answers.com; "Yet, there are many Protestant,

spiritualist, nonreligious, and Jewish Cuban-Americans." Family ties are close

as

they are a source of holding onto their traditions and cultural heritage.

El Salvadorians primary language is Spanish; economically speaking

they

are extremely poor. El Salvadorians immigrated to this country to flee war

and

poverty. They often come to this country looking for work so that they may

send money home to their family.

Politically El Salvadorians are not very active and generally do not

participate in elections, especially due to the fact that a large percentage of

El

Salvadorian immigrants are illegal residents of the US.

Their social standing in the US is limited to work related interactions

and

for the most part other El Salvadorians. They are not much interested in
assimilating to the mainstream culture. Most are here merely to work and
send

money home. Since most of their pay checks are sent back to their country
the

daily living income is minimal. Not to mention that wages for them are
extremely

low. Since most are here illegally and have no papers for working they really

have no standing politically or legally to fight for better salaries and working

conditions.

El Salvadorians primary religion is Roman Catholic; however there are

some who follow the Pentecost religion because the religious beliefs are
similar

to their own. Family is very big among their people.

Generally, the woman cooks and cleans and takes care of the children.

Female children are relegated to caring for their younger siblings and men
and

boys are higher up in the family order. Everything in their culture revolves

around their religion and family. Every aspect of their life in this country has
to

do with providing for their family. There are cases where some immigrants
want

to bring their entire families to the US for better opportunities but for the

most part they are here for work, for even though wages and working

conditions are relatively poor, they are still better than in their country.
 Similarities seen among the four Hispanic ethnic groups discussed
here

are mainly around family, language, religion and the reasons that brought
them

to this country. Common factors such as opportunity and a better life is

prevalent in each of these cultures, hopes of a better life and achieving the

'American Dream' is very relevant to all four cultures. Family and religion are

very important to all of the cultures. Similarities in what religion they follow
are

easily seen throughout the research. Finally, as everyone can agree

language is a

definite similarity for all of these groups, all share the Spanish language,
which

is their primary language and what categorizes them as Hispanic.

References

Alba, R., Mexican Americans and the American Dream., PS: Political Science & Politics June

2006., Retrieved April 11, 2009 from www.apsanet.org/imgtest/PerspectivesJun06Alba.pdf

Cato, J, Becoming American in Miami: Reconsidering Immigration, Race and Ethnic Relations.,

Center for Latin American Studies., 2004, Retrieved April 11, 2009 from

socrates.berkeley.edu:7001/Events/fall2003/11-20-03-stepick/index.html

González-Clements, E., Mexican American Traditions in Nebraska., Nebraska State Historical

Society 1998 Retrieved April 11, 2009 from www.nebraskahistory.org/lib

arch/whadoin/mexampub/traditns.htm

Jones Syracuse, C., Cultural Diversity: Eating in America Puerto Ricans., Ohio State University

Extension Fact Sheet., Retrieved April 11, 2009 from ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/5257.html

Mendoza, V., Chicano! History of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement, The Journal

for Multimedia History. Vol. 3 - 2000, Retrieved April 11, 2009 from

www.albany.edu/jmmh/vol3/chicano/chicano.html

Tara-Ivette, O., Puerto Rican Migration and the Puerto Rican Political Experience in the United

States. Puerto Ricans., 1999., Retrieved April 11, 2009 From

www.trincoll.edu/~tosorio/puerto.htm