Hispanic American Diversity Paper
Hispanic American Diversity Paper
Introduction
The United States is known as the melting pot because of the many different cultures that live here. Hispanics make up 35.3 million according to the 2000 census. Many people don’t realize that within the Hispanic culture there are many different groups. The different groups have different linguistic, political, social, economic, religion, and statues. Most Hispanics see themselves in terms of their individual ethnic identity, as Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Cuban, etc. instead of members of the larger, more ambiguous term Hispanic or Latino (U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Germany, 2009).
Puerto Ricans
Puerto Ricans are American citizens; they are considered U.S. migrants as opposed to foreign immigrants. Many Puerto Rican mainlanders hold high-paying white collar jobs. Outside of New York City, Puerto Ricans often boast higher college graduation rates and higher per capita incomes than their counterparts in other Latino groups. The U.S. Census reports that at least 25 percent of Puerto Ricans living on the mainland are faced with poverty. Despite the presumed advantages of American citizenship, Puerto Ricans are—overall—the most economically disadvantaged Latino group in the United States. Puerto Rican communities in urban areas are plagued by problems such as crime, drug-use, poor educational opportunity, unemployment, and the breakdown of the traditionally strong Puerto Rican family structure (Countries and Their Cultures, 2010).
Most Puerto Ricans are Roman Catholics and believe in espiritismo (Spirits). In addition to the catholic beliefs Puerto Ricans celebrate several other days. Many of their celebrations revolve around food and drink.
Mexican Americans
Mexican Immigration to the United States between 1850 and 1900 was relatively low. By 1900 approximately 500,000 people of Mexican ancestry lived in the United States, principally in the areas originally populated by Spaniards and Mexicans
Introduction
The United States is known as the melting pot because of the many different cultures that live here. Hispanics make up 35.3 million according to the 2000 census. Many people don’t realize that within the Hispanic culture there are many different groups. The different groups have different linguistic, political, social, economic, religion, and statues. Most Hispanics see themselves in terms of their individual ethnic identity, as Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Cuban, etc. instead of members of the larger, more ambiguous term Hispanic or Latino (U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Germany, 2009).
Puerto Ricans
Puerto Ricans are American citizens; they are considered U.S. migrants as opposed to foreign immigrants. Many Puerto Rican mainlanders hold high-paying white collar jobs. Outside of New York City, Puerto Ricans often boast higher college graduation rates and higher per capita incomes than their counterparts in other Latino groups. The U.S. Census reports that at least 25 percent of Puerto Ricans living on the mainland are faced with poverty. Despite the presumed advantages of American citizenship, Puerto Ricans are—overall—the most economically disadvantaged Latino group in the United States. Puerto Rican communities in urban areas are plagued by problems such as crime, drug-use, poor educational opportunity, unemployment, and the breakdown of the traditionally strong Puerto Rican family structure (Countries and Their Cultures, 2010).
Most Puerto Ricans are Roman Catholics and believe in espiritismo (Spirits). In addition to the catholic beliefs Puerto Ricans celebrate several other days. Many of their celebrations revolve around food and drink.
Mexican Americans
Mexican Immigration to the United States between 1850 and 1900 was relatively low. By 1900 approximately 500,000 people of Mexican ancestry lived in the United States, principally in the areas originally populated by Spaniards and Mexicans
References: Countries and Their Cultures (2010) – Puerto Rican Americans, Retrieved July 5, 2010 from http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Pa-Sp/Puerto-Rican-Americans.html U.S. Census Bureau (2001) - Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin, Retrieved July 3, 2010 from http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/c2kbr01-1.pdf U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Germany (2009) - U.S. Society > Hispanic Americans, Retrieved July 3, 2010 from http://usa.usembassy.de/society-hispanics.htm