The Commonality and Differences of the Hispanic Culture in the United States
The Commonality and Differences of the Hispanic Culture in the United States
Hispanics represent a variety of cultures from Mexico, the Caribbean Islands, Central and South America. Of the many Hispanic cultures now living in the United States, four will be used to examine the political, linguistic, religious, and socio-economic behavior of Hispanics.
Mexican-Americans:
Mexican-Americans have either had families that have lived within the United States for over 400 years, some not as long, and others have just recently emigrated to the U.S. from Mexico. The Spanish of Mexicans is influenced by the Spaniards who occupied Mexico and a heavy Latin influence as the policy of linguistics, a sort of lingua franca, was greatly influenced by the Spanish Crown who was often at odds with the Catholic Church in this regard, which also reveals quite a bit about the religious influences of Mexican-Americans, who are primarily Catholic, although there is a variety of religious sects within that culture, such as the Santero tradition, and many others. (1) (2) Because Mexican-Americans are one of the most economically disadvantaged groups in the United States, (3), religion plays a big part in how they cope with this disadvantage, and while there are claims that they are underrepresented in politics, there is The League of Latin American Citizens, a political rights advocate group for all Hispanics, founded by Mexican Americans in 1929.
Puerto Rican-Americans:
The language of Puerto Rico is considered to be a Caribbean variant of Spanish that is a combination of Spanish, Taino, (the indigenous language), and Kongo, which was imported from West African Slaves. (4) However, Puerto Rican-Americans also can be people who only speak English, are bilingual, or only speak Spanish. While Puerto Ricans can have a variety of genetic influences and not at all look “Hispanic”, it is not how they look; however, that is a determination for many Puerto
Hispanics represent a variety of cultures from Mexico, the Caribbean Islands, Central and South America. Of the many Hispanic cultures now living in the United States, four will be used to examine the political, linguistic, religious, and socio-economic behavior of Hispanics.
Mexican-Americans:
Mexican-Americans have either had families that have lived within the United States for over 400 years, some not as long, and others have just recently emigrated to the U.S. from Mexico. The Spanish of Mexicans is influenced by the Spaniards who occupied Mexico and a heavy Latin influence as the policy of linguistics, a sort of lingua franca, was greatly influenced by the Spanish Crown who was often at odds with the Catholic Church in this regard, which also reveals quite a bit about the religious influences of Mexican-Americans, who are primarily Catholic, although there is a variety of religious sects within that culture, such as the Santero tradition, and many others. (1) (2) Because Mexican-Americans are one of the most economically disadvantaged groups in the United States, (3), religion plays a big part in how they cope with this disadvantage, and while there are claims that they are underrepresented in politics, there is The League of Latin American Citizens, a political rights advocate group for all Hispanics, founded by Mexican Americans in 1929.
Puerto Rican-Americans:
The language of Puerto Rico is considered to be a Caribbean variant of Spanish that is a combination of Spanish, Taino, (the indigenous language), and Kongo, which was imported from West African Slaves. (4) However, Puerto Rican-Americans also can be people who only speak English, are bilingual, or only speak Spanish. While Puerto Ricans can have a variety of genetic influences and not at all look “Hispanic”, it is not how they look; however, that is a determination for many Puerto
References: Espinoza, Gaston & Garcia, Mario T. (2008). Mexican-American Religions: Spirituality, Activism and Culture. Durham, NC: Duke University Press. Ballestra, Alejandra, Martinez Glenn, & Moyna, Maria I. (2008). Recovering the U.S. Linguistic Heritage: Socio-historical approaches to Spanish in the United States. Huston, TX: Arte Publico Press. Public Policy Institute of California. (2002). The Economic Progress of Mexican-Americans. San Francisco, CA: Grogger, Jeffery & Trejo, Stephen J. Center for Applied Linguistics. (1974). A Socio Linguistic Study of Assimilation: Puerto Rican English in New York City. Washington, D.C.: Wolfram, Walt. Garcia, Jessica & Nieves-Ferris, Kristin. (2001). Hablas Spanish?: The Linguistic Culture of Bronx Puerto Ricans. Retrieved from http://www.nyu.edu/classes/blake.map2001/puertorico.html Green, Derek. Puerto Rican Americans. Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Pa-Sp/Puerto-Rican-Americans.html Buffington, Sean. Cuban Americans: History, Slavery, Revolution, Modern Era, Significant Immigration Waves, Settlement Patterns, Acculturation and Assimilation, Education. Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Bu-Dr/Cuban-Americans.html Lambert, Wallace E. & Taylor, Donald M. (2010). Language in the Lives of Ethnic Minorities: Cuban-American Families in Miami. Oxford Journals, volume 17(issue 4), pages 477-500. Spear, Jane E. Uruguayan Americans. Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Sr-Z/Uruguayan-Americans.html