Mexican American Culture - 2155 Words

Literature Review of the Mexican Culture Crystal Contreras New Mexico State University Abstract This paper is a review on Mexican American culture in the United States. I will discuss the history of this culture and how they became part of the U.S. I will also talk about the different wars and treaty that was signed to give them rights. I will also include the latest in demographics and population from the Census Bureau (2010). I will cover the Mexican Americans prejudices and discrimination and provide slurs that are commonly used in this group. I will go over some resilience factors that helped my ethnic group in dealing with prejudice and discrimination. Another topic of discussion will be what I feel†¦show more content†¦In 2010, 37.6 million of Hispanics lived in the eight states; California (28%), Texas (18.7%), Florida (8.4%), New York (3.1%), Illinois (4%), Arizona (3.8%), New Jersey (3.1%) and Colorado (2.1%), and in all other states 25.4%. The highest Proportion in any state was 46% of the total state population in New Mexico. Mexican Americans experience with Prejudice and discrimination Mexican Americans have been victims of discrimination throughout the history of the United States. A few degrading words that people use when referring to Mexicans are; Wetback, Spic, and Beaner, whether American or not. They also have many stereotypes against them such as lazy, machismos, drunks and many more. One of the main reasons they are discriminated against is because of their illegal immigration into the United States. Mexicans were left no choice but to cross illegally to seek a better life, because of the cost and many obstacles it made it difficult to become a citizen. Often they were forced to work physically demanding jobs for less pay due to non-citizens or lack of options, or because they wanted badly to be part of the U.S and saw themselves to be best off here even if wages were cheaper than back at home. Companies did not make the situation better they took advantage of their need for jobs and employed t hem with poor working conditions and minimum wage because they knew they had no other choice. Resilience of the MexicanShow MoreRelatedMexican Culture : Mexican American Culture1857 Words   |  8 Pages Mexican-American Culture Many immigrants come to the United States from all over the world. Some bring their families, some their prized possessions, others come with nothing but determination and the goal of a better life. One thing that every immigrant brings with them is their culture. One of the most dominant minority cultures in the United States is the Mexican culture. The US shares a border with Mexico making it easier for immigrants to stay in contact with their families in their homeRead MoreMexican American Culture1658 Words   |  7 PagesEvery culture has their own unique and distinguishing characteristics. One’s cultural identity defines who they are as an individual, group, and community. Their cultural identity may be reflected in numerous ways such as: language, communication styles, religion, beliefs, values, clothing, or other types of aesthetic markers. Cultural identity is formed by many of these traits but is not limited to these specifically. This essay will provide detaile d information on Mexican Americans, and theirRead MoreTensions Between Mexican And American Cultures1156 Words   |  5 PagesBerglund ENG 245 10 January 2017 â€Å"American†¦But Hyphenated†: Tensions Between Mexican and American Cultures In Pat Mora’s two poems, â€Å"Legal Alien† and â€Å"Immigrants†, she is expressing the crisis of identity from which Mexican Americans suffer. On one hand, Americans view her (and Mexican Americans in general) as â€Å"perhaps exotic, / perhaps inferior, and definitely different† (9-10) while on the other Mexicans view Mexican-Americans as â€Å"alien† (11). 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This is because it is a great opportunity for us to learn from others in orderRead MoreBecoming Mexican American: Ethnicity, Culture, And Identity1553 Words   |  7 PagesBecoming Mexican American: Ethnicity, Culture, and Identity in Chicano Los Angeles, 1900-1945 The immigration story of the United States includes groups of individuals from many different countries, one such group was that of the U.S.’s southern neighbor Mexico. In the book, Becoming Mexican American: Ethnicity, Culture, and Identity in Chicano Los Angeles, 1900-1945, George J. Sà ¡nchez writes about the Mexican immigrants’ experience migrating to California and settling there, particularly in theRead MoreMy American Culture And The Mexican Culture982 Words   |  4 Pages Battling between the confound of two cultures yet attempting to embrace both has shaped me into the individual I am present day. I grew up in a loving home surrounded by a nationally diverse family. Nevertheless, one thing we all have in common is our Mexican culture passed on to us by our wonderful ancestors. Even though some of my family members reside in different states, some even in different countries, we are all able to connect with each other when practicing our traditions and cust oms.Read MoreThe Effects Of Mexican Americans On American Culture1507 Words   |  7 PagesThesis Although Mexican Americans have struggled with various segregation acts and racial discrimination while adapting to the American lifestyle, many achieved the American Dream by countless job opportunities provided by America s industrial and agricultural sectors. Origin The first inhabitants of California were a mix of Central American and Northern American tribes, who had a rich a diverse culture mostly lost to history. They built wonderful pieces of architecture, rich pieces of art, pioneersRead MoreEssay on Mexican American Culture1167 Words   |  5 PagesAs I begin this essay comparing two separate cultures I feel it is necessary to first describe what exactly culture is. Culture has been called the way of life for an entire society. It includes codes of manners, dress, language, religion, rituals, norms of behavior such as law and morality, and systems of belief. Various definitions of culture reflect differing theories for understanding or criteria for evaluating human activity. Edward Burnett Tylor writing from the perspective of social