KENNETH DAVIS CJAD 320 JULY 6, 2009 PAPER 1 TOPIC: LATINO AND HISPANIC AMERICAN CULTURAL GROUP The Latino and Hispanic American Community reflects the full range of economic, educational, and cultural diversity that we see in America today. Latino and Hispanic Americans are the fastest growing cultural group in the Unites States today. The population growth can be attributed primarily to higher birthrates, higher immigration from Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and greater longevity which is the culmination of being a relatively young population. Immigration has been good for America. Immigrants throughout our history have embraced the freedoms and opportunities we enjoy in the United States and produced untold economic, scientific and artistic contributions.
A majority of more than half of the largest U.S. cities are minorities. Hawaii, California, New Mexico, and Texas, as well as the District of Columbia are states that a majority of their people are minority. In years to come, there will be other states that will be added onto this list. Racial and ethnic minorities will become a big part of U.S. population by 2042 based on current trends. This was found by the (U.S. Census Bureau, 2008, 2010).
Hispanics, with a median age of 27.6 years, are younger than the general population as a whole at 36.6 years. Hispanics may be of any race. In 2007, most Hispanics described themselves as White while a substantial number reported some other race (U.S. Census Bureau, 2008). With the rapid increase of Hispanic groups entering the United States and interacting with the mainstream culture, the issues associated with acculturation are very relevant. While some individuals retain the language, behaviors, and values close to their culture of origin, others identify strongly with the values and standards of the mainstream culture.
As stated by the U.S. Census Bureau, this is a significant event that is fundamental to the future of the United States, (Vidal de Haymes 102). Largely concentrated in the South and West, over half of the nation’s Latinos reside in California and Texas, (Vidal de Haymes 107). Disproportionately affected by a higher population of Latino immigrants, these two states are faced with the challenge integrating newcomers in its society, (The Hispanic Challenge? What We Know About Latino Immigration). In the past ten years, however, Latino migrants have settled and integrated into more areas that have had previously only a small number of immigrants.
Hispanic Culture Hispanics whose origins are from the Caribbean, South America, Central America and Mexico constitute a considerably large percentage of the American population. Bleichmar (86) asserts that by 2003, in the United States, the total Hispanic population had grown well enough to form the largest group of the minorities. It is relevant for health experts to have background knowledge regarding this rapid growth in the population of Hispanics. Basing on the fact that distinctive commonalities are present for every culture, it is not practical to characterize the culture of all the people in the world in a general manner. When referring to Hispanic culture, it vital for one to consider the cultural aspects like; family values, etiquette, language, religions, eating habits, holiday celebrations, and teaching and learning implications (Campbell 121).
Even as the U.S. is going through an economic hardship Mexican immigrants are still increasing in population as time goes on. If we go by the steady population increase from 1970 to 2010, the estimated population of Mexican Immigrants is around 102,000.000 (Hispanics in the United States, 2010). This has created some issues that immigrants have to face. The children to Hispanic Immigrants face a long road as well as their parents as well. Children of immigrant especially illegal immigrants have a very difficult time in schools.
The immigrations that are expected to increase are the Asians and the Hispanics. Whites are approximately 69 percent of the population but by the year 2050 the population will be down to approximately 50 percent this is due to low births and the immigration. The Asian population is expected to grow triple then what it is now, which will be approximately 33 million Asian Americans. The Hispanic population is expected to increase their population to approximately 102 million Hispanic Americans by the year 2050 ( Cosgrove-Mathers, 2004). The only way that this country can best prepare for the changing race and ethnicity of the current and future citizens is to get past color.
Hispanics or Latinos constitute 16.7% of the total United States population, or 52 million people, making it home to the largest community of Spanish speakers outside of Mexico according to the Pew Research Hispanic Center, surpassing Argentina, Colombia, and Spain within the last decade. Latinos overall are the second largest ethnic and Hispanic and Latino Americans are the largest of all the minority groups, but Black Americans are the largest minority among the races, after White Americans in general (non-Hispanic and Hispanic). Mexican Americans, Cuban Americans, Colombian Americans, Dominican Americans, Puerto Rican Americans, Spanish Americans, and Salvadoran Americans are some of the Hispanic and Latino American national origin groups. Hispanics and Latinos differ on their political views depending on their location and background, but the majority (57%) either identify themselves as or support the Democrats, and 23% identify themselves as Republicans. This 34 point gap as of December, 2007 was an increase from the gap of 21
This current population growth trend began with the initiation of the Immigration Act of 1965 from the massive immigration of both legal and illegal immigrants entering the United States over the past forty years. Accounting for nearly 4.5% of the world's population, America is the third largest, fastest growing, consisting of infinitely more diverse cultures than any other country throughout the world (Heisler & Shrestha, 2011). The constant human quest for economic opportunities in recent decades has increased the flow of economic refugees to the United States putting an enormous strain on America's public institutions and social services. Furthermore, the political turmoil in existence globally increases the flow of political refugees seeking asylum and sanctuary. Refugees from the Vietnam (Military Action) War, my family and I have first-hand experience of the discriminations and prejudices held by Americans toward foreigners when we first immigrated to the United States in 1975 following the fall of Saigon.
Researchers, supported by Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, Pfizer and Time Warner, conducted 2,952 surveys of working-aged men and women and gathered qualitative and quantitative data to conclude that many Asian-Americans, whether immigrant or native born, find it hard to "fit in" the upper management ranks. The projected percentage increase between 2008 and 2050 in the population of people who identify themselves as Asian in the United States will increase by one hundred and sixty-one percent, which compares with a forty-four percent increase in the population as a whole over the same period of time. There will be approximately forty million United States residents by the year 2050 that identify themselves as Asians and hold about nine percent of the population in the United