Hispanic American Diversity Page 1
Hispanic American Diversity
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According to a 2002 population poll, the Hispanic population, if divided into 5 groups, Mexican Americans made up 66.9% of the Hispanic population in the United States, Cuban Americans made up 3.7%, Puerto Rican Americans made up 8.6%, Central/South Americans made up 14.3% and other Hispanics made up 6.5%.
Although all of these groups are considered Hispanic, each group prefers its own individual identity. Mexican Americans, Puerto Rican Americans, Columbian Americans, and Cuban Americans are all individual groups with similar, yet individual linguistic, political, social, economic, religious and familial conventions and statuses.
The language spoken among Mexican Americans is a little over 50% Spanish speaking only, about 26% speak both Spanish and English and only about 23% speak English as their primary language (Schaefer, R., 2006). Political conventions among the groups mentioned are similar. There has been a dramatic decline in political activity among Mexican American groups largely due to discrimination. This decline is believed to be, in part, to a weakening of ethnic ties and identities. (Santoro and Sequra, 2005). Social statuses among the Mexican Americans are determined, not unlike any group, by wealth, power and prestige, acquaintances, friends and neighbors. Social Status, however, seems to be negatively affected by a Spanish speaking arrangement. (Mirowsky, J. and Ross, C.E., 1984). Economic statuses of Mexican Americans in the United States, in general, are lower than average, nationally. Most Mexican American households, like many American households, are two wage earner households, but still stand below the average wage in the United States. As is well established, about 2/3 of Mexican Americans are of the Catholic faith. A well-known religious celebration
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within this group is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This day celebrates the profound...