In the twenty-first century, the United States has never been a more diverse, cultural melting pot. This diversity has been driven by factors such as immigration and globalization. When a nation contains many different races, ethnicities, religions, languages, and traditions, it can be a beautiful cultural mosaic that promotes community, creativity, and innovation. However, challenges can arise that inhibit these goals, leading to exclusivity and discrimination. In today’s society, one of the biggest political issues is citizenship. In Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza by Gloria Anzaldua, issues of citizenship and identity are addressed with extra emphasis on the struggles those residing in borderland regions face. This is why I believe …show more content…
By addressing the issue of citizenship, the government would also be addressing the identity problem many Chicanos face, as explained by Gloria Anzaldua. When immigrants move to a new country, they feel out of place and like they do not belong. This same feeling is what Anzaldua described being a Chicano living in the United States felt like. By opening up and easing the process of gaining citizenship, immigrants would feel more included and less out of place. Even though it does not guarantee less discrimination towards them, protection from being deported is essential to feeling safe and secure. Also, being able to vote and get involved in politics is one way to be a part of the community and minimize feelings of isolation. Even if faced with discrimination, with citizenship, Chicanos would be able to stand together and use their voices to express their situation. This new and united Chicano identity would also foster a sense of belonging for all of the Chicanos with mixed heritages, just as Anzaldua wanted. By embracing diversity and promoting inclusion in citizenship policies, we, as a government, will be doing our duties in protecting social justice for our
In Sueños Americanos: Barrio Youth Negotiating Social and Cultural Identities, Julio Cammarota studies Latina/o youth who live in El Pueblo, and talks about how Proposition 187, the anti-immigrant law, is affecting Latina/o youth in California (Cammarota, 2008, p. 3). In this book review, I will write about the two main points the author is trying to get across. The two main points I will be writing about are how Proposition 187 is affecting the Latina/o community, and about how Latina/o youth are copping in the El Pueblo barrio. Afterward I write about the two main points the author is trying to get across, I will write a brief description of the author and write about the author’s strengths and weaknesses.
In Borderlands, the realities of what happens by the border instill the true terror that people face every day. They are unable to escape and trapped in a tragic situation. After reading my three classmates’ papers, I was able to learn a lot more about this piece than I originally encountered just on my own. I was able to read this piece in a completely new light and expand on ideas that I did not even think of.
Islas, Arturo. From Migrant Souls. American Mosaic: Multicultural Readings in Context. Eds. Gabriele Rico, Barbara Roche and Sandra Mano. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. 1995. 483-491.
The Latino Threat is a concept of an imposing threat of the Latino, whether they be from Mexico or any other Latin country, and how they affect the U.S. and its citizens. This concept is described heavily Leo R. Chavez’ book aptly titled The Latino Threat. In the book, he describes how the Latino threat as a concept has been used routinely to underline the aspect of United States citizenship in a tit for tat manner; that being dehumanizing the Latino to raise the standing of U.S. citizenship. The U.S. as a nation believes it should feel better about itself because it is the one that turns people away rather than being the place where people run from. Over the history of America this isolationist views on illegal immigrants has waned and contrast
Immigration has always been an issue in the United States, which is often portrayed as harmful and as major threat to American culture. As a result, various anti immigration policies have been aimed against immigrants in order to prevent and preserve the miscegenation of American culture, such as English only policies. Among the largest minority groups in the U.S, are Latinos who currently compose of 15% of the U.S population (Delgado and Stefancic 3). Unfortunately, Latinos have been accused of taking American benefits, jobs, and have wrongfully been depicted as a result of not assimilating to American culture. Latinos are often accused of resisting assimilation, but what has failed to be acknowledged is that there are obstacles set in place that are preventing Latinos from completely assimilating. Among those greatest obstacles there is discrimination. Institutional as well as individual discrimination have prevented many Latinos from feeling a sense of belonging. As a result Latinos have been reluctant to assimilate. Another major component is proximity. Many Latinos are native to nearby countries which allows for easy communication with family members as well as their culture. Moreover, it also allows for a constant influx of immigrants that replenish and preserve Latino cultures and traditions in the U.S. Lastly, Latino movements are working diligently to promote unity among communities for the purpose of creating a sense of identity and pride amongst Latinos, such as the Chicano movement.
The eternal endeavor of obtaining a realistic sense of selfhood is depicted for all struggling women of color in Gloria Anzaldua’s “Borderlands/La Frontera” (1987). Anzaldua illustrates the oppressing realities of her world – one that sets limitations for the minority. Albeit the obvious restraints against the white majority (the physical borderland between the U.S. and Mexico), there is a constant and overwhelming emotional battle against the psychological “borderlands” instilled in Anzaldua as she desperately seeks recognition as an openly queer Mestiza woman. With being a Mestiza comes a lot of cultural stereotypes that more than often try to define ones’ role in the world – especially if you are those whom have privilege above the “others”.
However, others may disagree, but in addition to lacking nce their arguments are also insignificant. Although there is a controversy on this matter, America should welcome immigrants that are already here. Immigrants may earn legal status as well as cost just as much or less than deportation. But, so what? Why is this notable? Well, here’s why, the future is on the line and we have to take charge. If leading undocumented immigrants to a path to citizenship, includes all of the previously mentioned advantages, there is no point to do otherwise. If we don’t go through with this, imagine the troublesome possibilities, imagine the costs, imagine the risks. It is necessary to lead undocumented immigrants to a path to citizenship, and your help is needed. Share this essay, spread the outlook, get involved, and do what you can to make sure, we are where we need to be in our
In the first part “Roots” Gonzalez, covering the colonial period of United States, argues that through territorial expansion into Latino lands in colonial days the U.S. was able to exploit Latin American territories to their benefit. In the second part, “Branches”, Gonzalez devotes several chapters to major Latino groups. Through intensive and in-depth interviews with different people, and also telling his own story, Gonzalez paints a picture of contemporary Latinos in the U.S. The last and final section of Harvest of empire Gonzalez demonstrated modern day issues such as the controversy over illegal immigration that has spanned more than sixty years, the disastrous impact of globalization on Latin America in the wake of NAFTA, and the continuous debate over the use of foreign languages and
Crouch, Ned. Mexicans & Americans : Cracking The Cultural Code. NB Publishing, Inc., 2004. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 21 Nov. 2011.
As long as civilizations have been around, there has always been a group of oppressed people; today the crucial problem facing America happens to be the discrimination and oppression of Mexican immigrants. “Mexican Americans constitute the oldest Hispanic-origin population in the United States.”(57 Falcon) Today the population of Mexican’s in the United States is said to be about 10.9%, that’s about 34 million people according to the US Census Bureau in 2012. With this many people in the United States being of Mexican descent or origin, one would think that discrimination wouldn’t be a problem, however though the issue of Mexican immigrant oppression and discrimination has never been a more prevalent problem in the United States before now. As the need for resolve grows stronger with each movement and march, the examination of why these people are being discriminated against and oppressed becomes more crucial and important. Oppression and Anti-discrimination organizations such as the Freedom Socialist Organization believe that the problem of discrimination began when America conquered Mexican l...
According to the writer of “Undocumented Immigrants,” Illegal immigrants have portrayed an untrue generalization for those who come and stay in the U.S by judicial means. Whether by crossing Mexico and the United States’ “2,000-mile border,” entering into the U.S with fake paperwork, or coming into the United States with an acceptable ID but remaining in the U.S longer than the time allotted, Illegal immigrants have represented immigrants, in general, as people a government would not want between its lines (“Undocumented Immigrants”). Therefore, the belligerent behavior of illegal immigrants attest to the reason why naysayers bash illegal immigrants for negatively changing the persona of the United States even though “illegal immigrants only make up about 5 percent of the U.S. work force” ( Katel). This disgraceful reputation that illegal immigrants have planted has reaped a stern, sometimes unjust, hand from the U.S government. For example, in “Undocumented Immigrants,” Arizona’s government might have crossed the line, when their former Governor Jan Brewer enacted the Arizona Senate Bill 1070, which gave police the free reins to request for the legal paperwork of someone who merely seems to be an illegal immigrant. Justifiably, this law received backlash due to it invoking stereotypes of illegal immigrants; however, the government, in this case and in general, is simply doing its flawed best at confronting the chaotic issue of illegal immigrants (“Undocumented Immigrants”). Eliminating illegal immigrants from the 2020 U.S Census attacks the fort of illegal immigrants by reducing their representation, reducing their
When it comes to the topic of immigration and providing a pathway to citizenship for immigrants that entered that United States illegally, there are as many varying opinions as there are Americans. Most recently, the topic of immigration was brought into the national spotlight during the 2016 Presidential election. During rallies and debates, the issue was discussed by all sides, receiving both positive and negative reactions. As immigration continues to be a heavily debated topic, there are many more complex and contrasting viewpoints arising. However, many perspectives about immigration cannot be simply defined, due to the depth and impact of the issue.
In 2014 when addressing immigration, former president Barack Obama said, “My fellow Americans, we are and always will be a nation of immigrants. We were strangers once, too.” This powerful statement has a unique approach on what it is to be American- accepting our different cultural identities. However, for many minorities including myself, it is difficult to embrace the roots of our culture because of the fear of oppression. Through the pieces of literature we read in class, my understanding of American identity broadened because it showed how embracing your culture is powerful in taking a stand against societal injustices.
The world around us will forever be growing, changing and challenging those who occupy it. Notions that once ruled nations and demanding commodities are phasing out and morphing into stronger and more influential concepts. Citizenship is considered one of these perceptions. Possessing the title of being citizen is defined as “a native or naturalised member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government and is entitled to its protection” (Dictionary.com, 2016). Describing oneself as a citizen can be interpreted in many ways; it is no longer about just being a citizen of one place or one nation, it’s about where someone belongs and the responsibilities an individual upholds.
There are many ways available to understand citizenship or being a global citizen. Based on the legal-political basis, citizenship is a status conferred on individuals by political communities to which they belong. According to Dower, citizenship in the state is or entails a formal relationship to the state. T.H. Marshall defines citizenship as a full membership to the communities and it is constituted by three elements which are political right, civil rights and social rights (Dower. p.36-37). It can also be defined as native or na...