Racial and Ethnic Groups
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Racial and Ethnic Groups
ETH/125
Racial and Ethnic Groups
The following is a summary of Mexican American, Puerto Rican American, Central/South American, and Cuban Americans linguistic, political, social, economic, religious, and familial conventions. Mexican Americans are one of the largest Hispanic or Latino Groups in America today. They make up roughly 66% of the Hispanic or Latino population. Many came to the United States hoping for political asylum or to escape the declined social and economic conditions of their home country. About half of all Mexican Americans only use their native language at home, about 23 percent of Mexican Americans speak English only, and roughly, 26 percent are bilingual. Language retention is one of the biggest problems they face in terms of social acceptance. “The Latin American family, notwithstanding its recognized strengths (or perhaps as a result of them), is characterized by a closed loyalty within the family circle, a lack of trust toward those outside it, and nonparticipation in civic life.” (Auster, 2006) I believe this to be due to as new generations are born a family's distinct ethnic identity and ties to their former country may become imprecise. So, in order to prevent this their families stay internalized to prevent the loss of culture. Religion is a very large part of the lives of most Mexican Americans. Most of them are Roman Catholics, but some are also Evangelical, attend The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or are Jehovah's Witnesses. Most of their festivals incorporate their religion as well. The economic situation of most Mexican American families is dire due to poor education. Studies show that, “Mexican Americans are less likely to earn a high school diploma than any other ethnicity in the United States.”
Puerto Rican Americans differ greatly from any other Latino or Hispanic group in that they love their country, and at the same time accept the free association with the United...
ETH/125
Racial and Ethnic Groups
The following is a summary of Mexican American, Puerto Rican American, Central/South American, and Cuban Americans linguistic, political, social, economic, religious, and familial conventions. Mexican Americans are one of the largest Hispanic or Latino Groups in America today. They make up roughly 66% of the Hispanic or Latino population. Many came to the United States hoping for political asylum or to escape the declined social and economic conditions of their home country. About half of all Mexican Americans only use their native language at home, about 23 percent of Mexican Americans speak English only, and roughly, 26 percent are bilingual. Language retention is one of the biggest problems they face in terms of social acceptance. “The Latin American family, notwithstanding its recognized strengths (or perhaps as a result of them), is characterized by a closed loyalty within the family circle, a lack of trust toward those outside it, and nonparticipation in civic life.” (Auster, 2006) I believe this to be due to as new generations are born a family's distinct ethnic identity and ties to their former country may become imprecise. So, in order to prevent this their families stay internalized to prevent the loss of culture. Religion is a very large part of the lives of most Mexican Americans. Most of them are Roman Catholics, but some are also Evangelical, attend The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or are Jehovah's Witnesses. Most of their festivals incorporate their religion as well. The economic situation of most Mexican American families is dire due to poor education. Studies show that, “Mexican Americans are less likely to earn a high school diploma than any other ethnicity in the United States.”
Puerto Rican Americans differ greatly from any other Latino or Hispanic group in that they love their country, and at the same time accept the free association with the United...