Mexican-Americans

The first Mexican-Americans became Americans with the Annexation of the Southwest and part of the Northwest after the Mexican-American war

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo of 1848 Under the treaty the new Americans were guaranteed rights to

property and their cultural traditions. The loss of land and the lack of legal protection after the

treaty Land conflict between Anglo ranchers and Mexican-

American ranchers Mexican-Americans became outsiders in their own land

Immigrant Experience

Immigration from Mexico has been continuous in part because of the proximity of the two borders

Lack of restrictive immigration policy directed towards Mexicans until the second half of this century

The proximity of the two countries and the maintenance of cultural ties.

Mexican-American immigration both documented and undocumented is a function of a combination of push and pull factors

Mexican Revolution and conflict and immigration Mexican immigration has been tied closely to the

economies of Mexico and the United States

Agribusiness interests Migration patterns to the Midwest and elsewhere Population growth and immigration The Great Depression of the 1930’s and the push for repatriation

The economic effect and personal impact of repatriation on Mexican-Americans

Demand for labor during World War II and the los braceros program Conflict between the braceros workers and Mexican-

American workers Economic competition for jobs and Special Forces or Operation

Wetback - and undocumented workers from Mexico

Immigrant Experience

The Economic Picture

The culture of poverty Developed by Oscar Lewis Cultural traits as the cause of poverty Blaming the victim

César Chavez and migrant farm workers movement Economic and social conditions

Political Organization

La Raza - pride in one’s Spanish, Native American and Mexican heritage.

Texas La Raza Unida Party

Political Organization

Chicanismo - emerged in part among Mexican-American college students during the 1960’s Chicanismo was influenced by the civil rights

movement Chicanismo - emphasized political self

determination and ethnic pride

Political Organization

Reies Lopez Tijerina - in 1963 formed the Alianza Federal de Mercedes (Federal Alliance of Land Grants)

Purpose of the organization was to recover lost land

In 1967 Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund was formed (MALDEF) Pursue issues through the courts

Puerto Ricans

Puerto Rico was annexed by the United States from Spain after the the Spanish-American War of 1898 Puerto Rico has been a United States colony since

1898 (Commonwealth Status since 1948) Puerto Ricans have been subjected to bureaucratic

(Political) control by the United States

Puerto Ricans

Initial colonial policy had a devastating effect on Language Puerto Rican cultural institutions

Jones Act of 1917 and United States citizenship Have most rights except do not pay federal income

taxes and do not vote for President or have voting members to Congress/Senate

In 1948 it became a commonwealth

Island and the Mainland

A number of push and pull factors have led to migration from the Island to the mainland Economic underdevelopment and the pull of jobs on

the mainland Farm labor contracts Overpopulation Cheap airfares Puerto Rican communities (New York City) on the

mainland

Island and the Mainland

Neoricans - term used by The Islanders to refer to Puerto Ricans that have lived in New York

Neoricans are often better educated and have more money than Puerto Ricans from the Island

Often resented by long time Islanders

Figure 10-2 Intergroup Relations Continuum

Island of Puerto Rico

Commonwealth status and neocolonialismIssues of Statehood and Self-Rule

In 1998 in the last vote over the issue 50% favored commonwealth status , 47% statehood and 3% favored independence

Only Puerto Ricans on the Island may vote The debate goes on….

Social Construction of Race

Color gradient among Puerto Ricans Adapting to the meaning of race between the Island

and the Mainland On the Island factors such as social class determine

race On the mainland race is more likely to determine

social class NFTA and growing competition with Mexico and

Canada for United States dollars

Mexican-Americans and Puerto Ricans Today

Educational status and issuesIncreasing segregation

1. Function of residential segregation in large metropolitan areas

2. Increase in population as desegregation movement began to decline

3. Desegregated schools have become re-segregated

Education

Isolation in the classroom because of tracking (tracking is placing students in specific classes or curriculum groups on the basis of testing or other measures) Educational effect of tracking

Bilingual educational programs Higher education Adjusting to college and campus life dominated by

Whites Dealing with prejudice Economic cost of college

Family

Emphasis on Familism 1. Godparent - Godchild relationship

2. Intrafinancial responsibility

3. Inclusion of other family relatives in family roles

4. Involvement of the elderly

Upward mobility and poverty have led to changes in familism and family roles

Healthcare

Hispanic community lack of access to healthcare resources Function of poverty and employment patterns

Use of folk practitioners - traditional folk remedies or curanderismo Form of holistic medicine

Figure 10-3 Religious Preferences

Religion

Religion is the most important formal organization in the Hispanic community

Roman Catholic church Early on, took an assimilation role Today, more community oriented

Hispanic role in the church has grown Worship (more expressive) Hispanics underrepresented in the clergy

Pentecostalism—Evangelical Christianity within Hispanic American communities