Hispanic American Diversity:

Essay by ladyheart143College, UndergraduateA+, December 2007

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Hispanic American DiversityThe intention of this essay is to convey research findings and identifying the linguistic, political, social, economic, religious, and familial conventions or statuses of four Hispanic groups living in the United States. The four groups chosen for research are Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans and Dominican Americans.

Mexican Americans It would appear that the United States policy of "English-only" has caused linguistic suppression among Mexican Americans. Because of this linguistic suppression many Mexican Americans suffer personal agony while trying to bridge the gap between Spanish and English. According to Bartolomé, L. (2006)…I am one of those Chicanas who early in life was locked into a barrio existence where I was made to feel ashamed of speaking Spanish-shame that painfully reproduced itself as I was devalued yet again for being a non-Standard English speaker. I am one of those "culturally crucified" Chicanas who struggled to understand what it means to be a cultural orphan.

As the Mexican American population grows in the United States they are beginning to receive political recognition. According to Magana, L. (2005)…With Mexican Americans now the nation's fastest growing minority, major political parties are targeting these voters like never before. During the 2004 presidential campaign, both the Republicans and Democrats ran commercials on Spanish-language television networks and in states across the nation the Mexican-American vote can now mean the difference between winning or [sic] losing an election.

It would appear that the Mexican American population is finally finding their voice on Capital Hill.

Economically, Mexican Americans still struggle to keep their heads just above water because of the educational gap. According to Allan, J (2005)…Because Mexico has been the source of about one-third of all immigrants to the U.S. since 1990, the level of education attained by Mexican immigrants and Mexican-Americans (i.e., the...