Hispanics

Hispanic 1 Running Head: HISPANIC AMERICAN DIVERISTY Hispanic American Diversity ETH 125 University of Phoenix April 10, 2011 Hispanic 2 Abstract Many people think that all Hispanic people are the same. There are many differences in the culture. Many Hispanic groups have commonalities and then there are some that are completely different. This research will explain the difference between Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans, and Guatemalan Americans. This research will identify linguistics, political, social, economic, religious, and familial conventions of Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans, and Guatemalan Americans. Research will show how these Hispanic groups may share the same languages but they are different in many ways. Hispanic 3 Hispanic American Diversity Mexican Americans Mexican Americans have been in the United States for many years. Mexican Americans also known as "Chicanos" used to be well known as migrant workers. They have changed from the role of migrants to immigrants. Mexican Americans usually speak Spanish and they are being taught to speak the English Language in bilingual classes. The core of the Mexican- American social structure lies with their family. Women are seen secondary to their husbands and the husbands are seen as the authority figure and decision makers. Families are very large and the extended family is just as important as the immediate family. Catholicism is the religion most Mexican Americans have. While Catholicism is the primary religion there are other Mexican Americans who are Protestant. In fact, it is the church that Mexican Americans base their opinions on sexual, education, and politics. If Roman Catholicism is not the religion of preference, one will find Mexican Americans practicing Protestantism. As with the majority of Hispanics, Mexican Americans use Spanish as their central language. Spanish is spoken at home for religious occasions, amongst family, and for entertainment purposes. English is usually spoken only in regard to education and profession. Being that this is done, a lot of schools have difficulty accepting Spanish speaking Americans in their classrooms. They feel as though English should be the primary and only language spoken in the classrooms and if a Hispanic student can’t speak English that well, it becomes a problem to the teacher. This is why there are programs being implemented into the school systems to help Hispanic students with their English. Hispanic 4 As for employment, Mexicans are known to work on low wage paying jobs. Many Mexicans and Mexican Americans find work in the fields of mining, agriculture, transportation, and ranching. Since those sectors of the economy have grown to be more in demand, they are looking for low wage laborers. Employment of Mexican Americans decides their overall social position. Unfortunately, poverty among this group is at a very elevated rate, usually as a result of undocumented illegal workers. This group of people is exceptionally dedicated to hard work, and tends to provide exceptional work for cheap. They work long hours, in the worst conditions, and receive diminutive pay. Traditionally, the mother is the fundamental figure among Mexican American households. However, due to being lower social class, now it is ordinary for both parents to work to help provide finances for the family. Puerto Ricans Puerto Ricans are another well known group amongst Hispanics. Like the Mexican Americans, this group also follows the Roman Catholic church, but with higher rates of people worshipping Protestant faith of many different kinds. As one may know, Puerto Rico was established as part of the United States, but with strong autonomy. As Derek Green (2008) says, “Puerto Rico is unique in that it is an autonomous Commonwealth of the United States and its people think of the island as ‘un estado libre asociado’ or a free associate state of the United States”. Puerto Rico has its own constitution but is still subject to all the rules and regulations of the executive orders of America. Many Puerto Rican customs and superstitions blend the Catholic religious traditions of Spaniards and the pagan religious beliefs of the West African Hispanic 5 slaves who were brought to the island beginning in the sixteenth century. Though most Puerto Ricans are strict Roman Catholics, local customs have given a Caribbean flavor to some standard Catholic ceremonies. Among these are weddings, baptisms and funerals. “Puerto Ricans traditionally believe in espiritismo, the notion that the world is populated by spirits who can communicate with the living through dreams.” (Greene, 2008) In looking at the history of employment for Puerto Ricans, it started in New York City. Early Puerto Rican migrants to the mainland, especially those settling in New York City, found jobs in service and industry sectors. Among women, garment industry work was the leading form of employment. Men in urban areas most often worked in the service industry, often at restaurant jobs. Men also found work in steel manufacturing, auto assembly, shipping, meat packing, and other related industries. As Puerto Ricans have assimilated into mainstream American culture, many of the younger generations have moved away from New York City and other eastern urban areas, taking high-paying white-collar and professional jobs. Cuban Americans The Cuban people are descendants of Spanish colonizers and of African slaves once employed in the sugar industry. Two-fifths of the Cuban population is Roman Catholic. A lot of them say that they have no religious affiliation. Many of those who call themselves Catholics are also part of an Afro-Cuban religious tradition known as santeria. The official language of Cuba and the language spoken by mostly all Cubans is Spanish. “Their presence in this country is a long one, with Cuban settlements in Florida dating back to as early as 1831.”(Schaefer, 2006) Hispanic 6 The first Cubans to arrive in Florida settled in a section of Miami known among non-Cubans as "Little Havana." Little Havana was originally that area to the west of downtown Miami, bounded by Seventh Street, Eighth Street, and Twelfth Avenue. However, Cuban American population eventually spread beyond those initial boundaries, moving west, south, and north to West Miami, South Miami, Westchester, Sweetwater, and Hialeah. Many Cuban migrants moved even farther afield with the encouragement and assistance of the federal government. “The Cuban Refugee Program, established by the Kennedy administration in 1961, provided assistance to Cuban migrants, enabling them to move out of southern Florida.” (Buffington, 2008) Guatemalan Americans Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America. Guatemala is located in the northern part of the Central American region. Guatemala has a population of about ten million people and the largest indigenous population in Central America. Guatemala's smallest ethnic group is the Garifuna, descendants of African and Carib people formerly from the island of St. Vincent who reside along the Caribbean coast. Guatemala's official language is Spanish. However, the Maya speak over 20 distinct languages and numerous dialects, and many do not speak Spanish. “Although Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion, many Mayan Guatemalans have traditionally practiced a syncretist form of Catholicism, blending Catholic and Mayan rites and beliefs.” (Hong, 2008) The family is very important among Guatemalan Americans. The family group traditionally includes grandparents and fictive kin such as comadres or godmothers. As far as employment, Hispanic 7 Guatemalan Americans with legal resident or citizen status work in any number of professional fields such as law, teaching, and medicine. Conclusion In looking at each group, they all have high regards for their family. They also speak mostly Spanish except for some Guatemalans. These groups all migrated and have had to work low paying jobs. As time has gone by, some of them from each group have had the opportunity to better themselves; however, Mexican Americans are still working on low paying jobs. These groups also are part of the Catholic religious group. These groups have also gotten a chance to come to America to better themselves and their families. Hispanic 8 References Buffington, M., (2008) Cuban Americans. Retrieved April 10, 2011 from www.everyculture.com Greene, D., (2008) Puerto Rican Americans. Retrieved April 10, 2011 from www.everyculture.com Hong, S., (2008) Guatemalan American Culture. Retrieved April 10, 2011 from www.everyculture.com Schaefer, R, T. (2006). Racial and ethnic groups (10th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Cuban American History http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Bu-Dr/Cuban-Americans.html (2006) Cubans in the United States. Pew Hispanic Organization. Retrieved March 8, 2009 from www.pewhispanic.org Green, Derek. (ND) Puerto Rican Americans. Retrieved March 8, 2009 from www.everyculture.com/multi/puerto-rican-americans.html Schaefer, R, T. (2006). Racial and ethnic groups (10th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.