Hispanic American Diversity

Hispanic American Diversity

There is no question that the diversity of the Hispanic or Latino American population is quite extensive. Although all Hispanic Americans are classified as one heritage, they actually possess their many differences. The Hispanic language barrier has only recently been recognized as something to be proud of rather than feeling inadequate in this society. Even though half of the population, mostly the younger generation, predominantly defines their identity as American (Schaefer, 2006). Hispanic Americans are known for not only their expression of the Hispanic heritage, but for the drive to keep he or she's family close together. Although the four Hispanic groups: Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban and El Salvadorian Americans hold similarities such as language and close-knit family ties; they share their many differences on numerous levels.

The Mexican American Culture

Mexican Americans are known for originally coming to the United States in hopes to be given the opportunity to improve one's life. The United States has always been known as the land of opportunity, expression, and change. This frame of thought has kept the Mexican Americans driven in order to seek and achieve what is known as, the American Dream. Spanish is "spoken by more than 95 percent of the population", and is official language transported by the Spanish during their colonization in Mexico (Countries and Their Culture, 2007). Even today this is a constant issue in the education system. Many politicians in the United States feel it to be ridiculous that this country would have to conform to the heritage of Mexico and despise the thought of changes in the education system to fit the needs of non-English speaking immigrants. "The United States did not restrict immigration from Mexico through legislation until 1965", (Schaefer, 2006). This particular incident is still a huge issue in American society. The majority of Americans prefer to keep immigration as minimal as possible. Older generations maintain a strong sense of their heritage, because of feelings of betrayal from the United States and often feel embarrassed by those of Mexican decent whom seemed to have abandoned their heritage. Roman Catholicism continues to be the "dominant religion of Mexico", (Countries and Their Culture, 2007). This religion continuously holds families together and remains to be the ultimate heritage of this community.

The Puerto Rican American Culture

Despite the Puerto Rican American's differences with those of the Mexican American culture, the language that is primarily spoken is Spanish. According to the Countries and Their Culture website, English is a consistent language; however, Spanish is the most prominent out of the two (2007). Puerto Ricans, in this country, are known as developing a linguistic list in which mixes English and Spanish in their everyday communication. This is known as in the United States as, "Spanglish" and is "culturally significant as an identity marker", (Countries and Their Culture, 2007). Catholicism is Puerto Rican Americans mostly practiced religion; however, unlike Mexican Americans, the Protestant religion is also well known as the religion of choice. Although Puerto Rican Americans tend to be proud to be Americans, those from this culture also do not hold back on what they value the most: the continuation of one's beliefs and one's heritage. Family life, in which replicates those of the average Mexican American family, is the most important part of a Puerto Rican American's life. As discussed by Richard Schaefer, it possesses the definite possibility "of discouraging youths with a bright future from taking advantage of opportunities that would separate them from their family", (2006). This is an issue that American society often question. The consequences of both ways of living have the potential to be consciously hazardous to an individual, but may as well present a sense of value when it comes to connections with opposite individuals in life.

The Cuban American Culture

As Schaefer stated, "Third in numbers only to Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans are a significant ethnic Hispanic minority in the United States", (2006). Cuban Americans settled in Florida as early as 1831, with high