Hispanic Americans are Americans with origins in Hispanic countries and in general all persons in the U.S. who self identify as Hispanic or Latino. They are very racially diverse, and as a result form an ethnic category, rather than a race. Geography plays a role in what name you take the western U.S. normally goes by Latino and the Eastern U.S. go by Hispanics. Throughout this paper I will discuss stratisfaction, assimilation, pluralism, prejudice and discrimination, and majority and minority. It’s interesting looking into another culture to see what plays roles in shaping their beliefs and outlooks on life.
Ethnic stratisfication is defined as a rank order of groups each made up of people with persumed common cultural or physical characteristics interacting in patterns of dominance and subordination. (Marger, 29) Hispanic Americans faced hard times when it comes to ethnic stratisfication. Their property was taken from them legally and illegally and then eventually they were forced into workforce groups to do labor where needed. Anglos wanted to rule over the Mexicans. As stated in our text there are three factors necessary to the emergence of an ethical hierarchy-ethnocentrism, competition, and differential power. Anglos became dominant over Mexicans with their numerical power. (Marger, 214)
Assimilation in a few words simply means similarity or likeness. Language usage is a strong part in cultural assimilation for Hispanic Americans. According to our text, “Only a minority of Hispanic Americans speak only Spanish, and mist of these are first generation immigrants.” (Marger, 237) Latinos are slowly moving towards assimilation, which includes residential and marital. Despite shortcomings in income, occupation, education, and political power each generation in Hispanic Americans status has improved as each generation passes. As years pass, the groups tend to be stronger and better.
Hispanic Americans are considered a partial minority. Cubans...