The history and culture of Mexican-Americans is unique just like any other. The story of Mexican Americans is linked to the fortunes of the United States. During the war, treaties, and land purposes roughly 100,000 Mexican came under the jurisdiction of the United States. Despite regular cycles of nub immigration and deportation millions of Mexicans have continued to make the U.S. their home.They play a vital role in our culture and economy, filling many blue collar jobs and serving their country honorably. But Mexican Americans still continue to struggle as second class citizens (Wes from pbs,org on Investigations). Today even, Mexican Americans are behind on income, education, and a stable home environment. What’s so great about the History/Culture …show more content…
Food is generally served at this velorio (wake). For years to follow on this same date, those people who attended the velorio may reunite to affirm once again their bonds to the deceased person. On the day of burial, the family accompanies the body to the grave, frequently singing songs of a religious theme. Flowers are thrown into the grave and the entire family generally stays at the site until the casket is completely covered. Mexican American families whose deceased members were born in Mexico may sometimes arrange for the body to be transported back to his/her town of origin. It was once customary for the spouse and certain family members to wear black clothing for varying periods and make promesas (vows) to honor the dead. This is still the practice with a reduced number of families, but the length of time of mourning differs considerably from group to group. Most significant is the perspective on death held by many Mexican and Mexican American Catholics that, rather than an end, death is seen as "a new beginning" (Stevens-Arroyo and Díaz Stevens, p.
Long before Christopher Columbus crossed the Atlantic to the ‘New World’, the Western Hemisphere had already divided and developed civilizations. Some of these civilizations were extremely advanced for the time. As people settled in the Americas and developed cultures, so did differences in the life styles, religions, and art of these peoples. The cultures of Mesoamerica, South America, and North America all developed many different types of art, most notably ceramics and larger scale items that still baffle historians today.
Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday that means fifth of May in English. It is celebrated all over the world, in many different ways. It is celebrated because it is in remembrance of the Mexican army’s victory of the 1862 Battle of Puebla during the Franco Mexican War against France. This holiday is actually just a minor holiday in Mexico, it is more celebrated in America by the more populated areas with Mexican Americans. One of the largest places in is Los Angeles, California, where it is a large party with food, dancing, parades. A lot of people get this holiday and their independence day mixed up. Their independence day is actually on September 16th. This holiday is also known as the Battle of Puebla.
The course, Chicano Studies 50, introduced me to many topics that I never was taught in high school. The differences between high school and college is that in college students are available to many courses and recourses to further develop their knowledge in their culture. Professor Montoya teaches his students in a deeper concept of how Chicanos ideals were developed in comparison to my previous course Chicano Studies 10. The course showed the class brief experiences of farmworker’s struggles and to movements Mexican-Americans decided to accomplish to provided better life for those who were undocumented and for them as well. Culture was introduced in a small description, but like Professor Montoya expressed “… would be impossible with a subject
People are discriminated against because of their race and social position every day. This has been going on for hundreds of years. In Mexican White Boy, Danny and Uno were discriminated against by people around them for being different, but along the way of discovering themselves, they form an unbreakable friendship.
My identity is different from many of yours or you can connect from it. Being Mexican-American is hard like Abraham Quintanilla said, “ We gotta prove to Mexicans how Mexican we are, and we gotta prove to Americans how American we are…”. Always trying to prove to others that we are Mexican and American is hard. People will always judge you no matter what you go as. This is why I am writing this essay because I want others to stop judging how I talk, my personality, and what my identity truly is. Curly hair, brown eyes, brown skin, tall but not too tall, is who I am. A latina with different backgrounds, the meaning of my name, and what my family represents me. The most important part is my identity because is what I want to be viewed as.
Piedra, L.M., Andrade, C.D., & Larrison, C.R. (2011). Building response capacity: The need for universally available language services. In L.P. Buki, & L.M. Piedra (Eds.), Creating Infrastructures for Latino Mental Health, Part 1 (pp. 55-75). New York, NY: Springer Science & Business Media, LLC. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4419- 9452-3_3
Hispanic American language is one that is adorable to many people due to its pattern of communication. In the article, there are many of the languages used in that exist in the United States some of which includes; African Americans, European Americans, Hispanic Americans among others. Some of the communication patterns of these languages have been clearly stated by identifying various factors like; emotions, eye contact, gestures, identity orientation, pacing and pause time, vocal patterns and the volume of their voice whenever they speak to someone. The article depicts Hispanic American languages as one of the best which can be used in public or businesses since it shows the one talking as a very humble individual.
I was born in Mexico and raised in beautiful San Diego since the age of four. Coming to the United States at a very young age I had to face many challenges that have shaped me to the person that I am today. I consider myself a Chicana woman who has overcome the obstacles to get were I am know. Being raised in a Mexcian household has thought me to embrace my culture and its roots. The Spanish and native blood that is with in me remind me of many Americans today. The reason I consider my self Chicana is because of the similar background that I shared with many Americans today. Living in the U.S. I have learned to adapt and embraced the American culture so much so that it came a point of life were I struggled to find my own identity. Taking
...an-American culture has differences from American. Mexican-Americans are very family-orientated so much that they identify themselves as familial instead of individualized or spiritual as other cultures do. The culture has changed over time and is receiving less opposition from Americans as they have in the past. Immigration demographics can be used to see how America is becoming more homogenous accepting Mexican-Americans and eliminating discrimination because of ethnicity. Selena gave great insight into her culture and created some understanding on the differences between Mexican-American and my culture. Knowing these differences will create a more successful interaction any potential person from a Mexican-American culture and myself.
Mexican immigrants are one of the most discriminated ethnic group in the United States.Mexican immigrants are the nation’s largest minority group and they are a growing population.For example,In 2012 there was 53 million Mexican immigrants ,making up 17% in the U.S. Mexican immigrants are the 2nd most discriminated against there ethnic group after African americans.Mexican immigrants are the most discriminated at work and are faces of a 21st century with witch hunt.
In the 1950’s and 60’s Mexican Americans were not widely treated like Americans here in the U.S.. The Mexican American Community here in the US had to join together and fight for a change. During the 50’s and 60’s Mexican Americans did this in a massive way for common struggles like oppressive farm labor conditions and poor education. The fight became known as the Chicano Movement, Chicano being a term with roots to indigenous pride. What the movement meant for millions of Mexican Americans was a change from the status as foreigners to locals. With many setbacks and turbulence the movement was widely successful with their goals. Ethnic studies is much more widely taught in college and even high schools. Many more Mexican Americans are now
The history of Mexican Americans goes back to the War over the land of Texas. The Mexican American War was started upon disagreement in a border line. Before joining the U.S as a slave state, Texas had been owned by Spain, part of Mexico, and an independent Republic. The new Mexican Americans were a hug part in the development of this territory for the United States. In many cases they were exploited and underpaid. Many Mexicans have found
These illegal migrates are often stereotyped as uneducated, and inferior to legal U.S. citizens. Just like African Americans, they are living under oppression. In order for a Mexican immigrant there are several steps they must take. Many have troubles gaining citizenship because of the financial costs, and the citizenship test they must take. I accessed the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website and took the practice test. I am a U.S. citizen, born and raised and I only scored a 50% on the
In the Jewish faith, death is seen as a natural process, one with many unique traditions that give friends and family the opportunity to spend time with the deceased. When death occurs, and Jewish rituals begin, the body is never left alone, as mourners will focus on showing respect for the dead and consolation for the living. Many communities are known for having a burial society, called the “Chevra Kaddisha,” or “Holy Society,” that’s purpose is to clean, and then wrap the body in a plain linen shroud. Then, a room is chosen and candles will be lit to represent the “shomerim” (meaning “guards”) that will watch over the body, as it is laid on the floor and covered. Because of this, the body cannot be cremated or embalmed, and even autopsies are severely discouraged, as these acts would disrupt the traditional Jewish mourning rituals. Within 24 hours of death, and before sunset if possible, the body is then placed in a casket and buried. Coffins are not required, however, if one is used, it must have holes drilled in the bottom, so the body may still come in contact with the ground. As for the living, Jewish mourners start phases of grief traditions, beginning with the tearing of one’s own clothing (Rich, 1996). Per tradition, mourners “cut their clothing with a razor- on the left for a parent; on the right for a sp...
It was sixth grade when I finally decided to speak English, for some reason I was always ashamed of having a Mexican accent. As I started talking more to others I became more confident, realized that others can understand me well and perhaps I didn’t have an accent after all. It was second grade when I became aware of the English language, during my elementary school years I was enrolled in bilingual classes, but my first two years my teachers only teach in Spanish. It was Mr. Wolf, my second grade teacher that actually began to teach the class in English, the first time I began to hear the sound of it.