INTRODUCTION: A. The articles I am going to look at are “Second-Generation Decline or Advantage Latino Assimilation in the Aftermath of the Great Recession” by Van C. Tran and Nicol M. Valdez, and “The Case of the Disappearing Mexican Americans: An Ethnic-Identity Mystery” by Richard Alba and Tariqul Islam. One question the research is evaluating is the social mobility and assimilation of second-generation Latinos. The research also brings up the question of how Mexican-Americans identifying, or no longer identifying, as Mexican-American has to do with their assimilation into American society. B. “Second-Generation Decline or Advantage Latino Assimilation in the Aftermath of the Great Recession” Tran/Valdez (2015) draws data from the Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS ASEC). “The case of the Disappearing Mexican Americans: An Ethnic-Identity Mystery” Alba/Islam (2008) takes its data from censuses from 1980, 1990, and 2000. C. …show more content…
Tran/Valdez (2015) shows how second-generation Latinos becomes blended, or assimilated, into their surrounding society, in doing so the second-generation can become more successful than their foreign parents. Based on the information used, the idea that second-generation Latinos could successfully assimilate into their surroundings better than their parents shows that society has shaped second-generation Latinos to conform to their way of life, which is taught as the better way. With Alba/Islam (2008), their data showed how the second-generation Latinos have changed the way they identify, which is a different way than their actual identity. This data shows how well Mexican-Americans have assimilated into their
society. BODY D. Tran/Valdez (2015) brings up how second-generation Latinos’ assimilation into American society has improved things like their education and work life, which in turn has improved their life in American society. On the other hand, Alba/Islam (2008) talks about Mexican-American and Latino-American identity shifts: the way American-born Latinos are identifying differently than their rightful ethnicity. In this, Alba/Valdez (2008) argue that assimilation into American society is what is making Latino-Americans “disappear” into the pan-ethnic definitions in censuses. Although both articles bring up great points about Latino-Americans in American society, I feel like Alba/Islam (2008) brings up the better part of the results of Latinos’ assimilation into society, and how the process can result in the change of identification of Mexican-Americans and other Latinos. E. Assimilation into American society was brought up in both articles; Tran/Valdez (2015) presented that after the Great Recession, second-generation Latinos bounce back from the tragedy was better than expected, which proves that their assimilation into society has improved their life, and status in some situations, in America. For example, the term “optimistic” is utilized to express the progress Latinos have made, especially after the Great Recession. With Alba/Islam (2008) the main idea was to answer the question of what makes Mexican-Americans identify other than their actual ethnicity, and the identification of which factors could’ve been causing this to happen. One of the factors brought up is Latino assimilation; this is argued to blend Latinos into American society excessively, which results in pan-ethnicity (the grouping together of related ethnic groups) and self-misidentification. F. Tran/Valdez (2015) discussed the assimilation back into American society after the Great Recession, and how the second generation of Latinos has been improving in society much more than their parents could have. In this article, Tran/Valdez (2015) mention prior censuses given before the Great Recession, which monitored a different up-bringing of second-generation Latinos due to a different situation in society. In doing this, the authors argue that even before the recession, Latinos were progressing in America continuously and strongly, and although Latinos were one of the groups that were hit the hardest they are still thriving in their assimilation into society. In the conclusion, Tran/Valdez (2015) admit that their research cannot show the variables of beliefs, family values, and class backgrounds in their research. I think these are some of the extraneous variables that the authors avoided on purpose to help prove a specific point: Latinos are improving their assimilation into American society exceptionally. Alba/Islam (2008) explained their theory of how Mexican-Americans are “disappearing” in censuses given to identify one’s self. Some extraneous variables in this research, as briefly mentioned by Alba/Islam (2008), have to do with similar findings with other ethnic groups like African-Americans and even Caucasians. But, due to the research and examples given within the text, the internal validity of this paper measures up to that of Tran/Valdez (2015). G. Both Tran/Valdez (2015) and Alba/Islam (2008) used previously published censuses. Tran/Valdez (2015) used the Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS ASEC), which presents data of economic and social statuses of second-generation Latinos, and provides context to which Tran/Valdez (2015) explained how well Latinos assimilated into society after the Great Recession. Alba/Islam (2008) used censuses in which people answered questions of whether or not they identify as a certain type of Hispanic, or the person might choose the pan-ethnic choice. CONCLUSION “Second-Generation Decline or Advantage Latino Assimilation in the Aftermath of the Great Recession” by Van C. Tran and Nicol M. Valdez, and “The Case of the Disappearing Mexican Americans: An Ethnic-Identity Mystery” by Richard Alba and Tariqul Islam both were written professionally and efficiently by different people looking toward one group of people: Latino-Americans. Tran/Valdez (2015) dealt with how adequately second-generation Latinos assimilated into American society, especially after the Great Recession. Alba/Islam (2008) dealt with Mexican-Americans who have become so distant from their Hispanic/Latin roots that they begin to shift their identity away from what it is; in which assimilation is brought up as a cause-effect factor of this identity shift. Both articles ring up well-grounded points, and effective reasoning, but on a certain level I see these articles as going hand and hand with one another. Each paper had content that would relate to the other, such as Tran/Valdez (2015) s’ positive results of the amount of assimilation Latinos have achieved over time, and Alba/Islam (2008) demonstrating how that amount of assimilation can begin to shift someone’s identity on something like an annual census. In the future I could possibly research the amount of time it takes for someone of foreign descent to fully assimilate into American society, or how much assimilation is needed through the third and fourth generations of Latino-Americans.
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.
The Latino community is a very varied community each with its own unique past and circumstances. In the book Harvest of Empire by Juan Gonzalez the readers can learn and appreciate some of the experiences and history that the different Latino groups had. This book does this with a special emphasis on immigration trends. These points of emphasis of the book are explained thoroughly in the identification of the key points, the explanation of the intersection of race, ethnicity, and class, in addition to the overall evaluation of the book.
The Latino Generation: Voices of the New America is a book written by Mario T. Garcia. This book tells the individual life stories of individual Latino Americans all attending the same class at University of California, Santa Barbra. The book discloses stories and events told by 13 students each who narrate from first person and give us a brief description of their life. The book is composed of 13 sections with an additional introduction and conclusion (Garcia, Kindle). Within this reflection I will describe the key points within this book and compare the stories within this book not only to each other, but also to additional stories of Latino Americans and how Garcia’s book rids the general public of misconception of Latinos.
America is undergoing significant social change. While in 1960, white people made up 85 percent of the population, in the latest census it was projected that by 2043, the United States would “be the first post-industrial society in the world where minorities will be the majority” (Deasy, 2012). The 1965 Immigration Act is said to have opened the door to waves of new immigration from Mexico, Latin America and Asia, and the cumulative social impacts have been far reaching. The purpose of this annotated bibliography is to critically review a handful of research papers that explore some of the impacts that immigration has had on the United States, with a particular focus on the research methodologies adopted. It finds that while many papers focus on the use of quantitative research methodologies to measure
This model examines the relationship between the dominant culture and one with minority status, such as Latinos. Attitudes towards self, same minority group, different minority groups, and the dominant group are examined through five stages within the model. These include conformity, dissonance, resistance and immersion, introspection, and integrative awareness. The stage most pertinent to Antonio at this time is the Dissonance stage. During this stage, one starts to acknowledge the existence of racism, that he cannot escape his own heritage, and experiences conflict between shame and pride felt for his culture. This same shame versus pride conflict is also extended to members of his own minority group. Held stereotypes about other minority groups are now questioned as well. One in the Dissonance stage is also starting to realize that not all beliefs held by the dominant group are valuable or even accurate (Sue & Sue, 2003). Because of the two incidents Antonio endured during his freshman year and their emotional impact on him, he is becoming aware that even though he has “assimilated,” others of the majority group will still identify him as different. Antonio is also experiencing conflict between what members of the minority group (his parents) and the majority group feel are important; his parents believe he
Gonzalez, Juan. Harvest of Empire a History of Latinos in America. New York: Penguin Putnam Inc, 2000.
It is crucial to understand the historical context of immigration in America. Initially, most immigrants were from Europe and were not restricted by any immigration laws. Now, most immigrants come from Latin America but are restricted to severe immigration laws. The Latino/a community is one of the most severely affected groups because the current immigration system disproportionally affects Latino/as. Recognizing how the experience of Latino/a immigrants have been both similar and different in the past from other immigrant groups and dispelling common misconceptions about Latino/as today brings awareness of how Latino/as are affected.
As the Latino population in the United States continues to grow, U.S. Census Bureau, 2001, increasing attention is being turned toward understanding the risk and protective factors of immigrant Latino and U.S.-born Latino children and families. The demographic data relating to Latinos in the United States estimate that one of every two people added to the U.S population was Latino, in July 2009 Latino population was the fastest growing minority group U.S Census Bureau, 2010. Despite the increased risk of growing the immigrant families are in lower risk of Social Economic Status, having parents with less education and limited with language and knowledge about education. Immigrating to one place to another is often the most stressful event
The immigrant’s journey to America, as depicted throughout history, transports culture, language, beliefs and unique lifestyles from one land to the other, but also requires one to undergo an adaptation process. The children of these immigrants, who are usually American-born, experience the complexity of a bicultural life, even without completely connecting to the two worlds to which they belong. Potentially resulting is the internal desire to claim a singular rather than dual identity, for simplicity, pride and a sense of acceptance. Jhumpa Lahiri, an Indian-American author and writer of “My Two Lives” could never classify herself as.
U.S. Census Bureau, (2010). Cumulative Estimates of the Components of Resident Population Change by Race and Hispanic Origin for the United States. Retrieved from http://www.prb.org/Publications/PopulationBulletins/2010/latinosupdate1.aspx
The change in demographics in Mexico is labeled as one of the larger reasons for the increased number of immigrants coming to the United States from Mexico. Ojeda cites that, over the past forty years, one-third of the immigrants come due to high birth rates in Mexico. Howe...
Latinos who were raised in the United States of America have a dual identity. They were influenced by both their parents' ancestry and culture in addition to the American culture in which they live. Growing up in between two very different cultures creates a great problem, because they cannot identify completely with either culture and are also caught between the Spanish and English languages. Further more they struggle to connect with their roots. The duality in Latino identity and their search for their own personal identity is strongly represented in their writing. The following is a quote that expresses this idea in the words of Lucha Corpi, a Latina writer: "We Chicanos are like the abandoned children of divorced cultures. We are forever longing to be loved by an absent neglectful parent - Mexico - and also to be truly accepted by the other parent - the United States. We want bicultural harmony. We need it to survive. We struggle to achieve it. That struggle keeps us alive" ( Griwold ).
Latinos have struggled to discover their place inside of a white America for too many years. Past stereotypes and across racism they have fought to belong. Still America is unwilling to open her arms to them. Instead she demands assimilation. With her pot full of stew she asks, "What flavor will you add to this brew?" Some question, some rebel, and others climb in. I argue that it is not the Latino who willingly agreed to partake in this stew. It is America who forced her ideals upon them through mass media and stale history. However her effort has failed, for they have refused to melt.
Gomez, Alan. “Illegal immigration levels off in ’10.” USA Today n.d. (02 February 2011): 02a. Academic Research Complete. Web. 25 March 2011.
Bibliography:.. Becoming Mexican-American by George Sanchez, Oxford University Press, Inc. 1993.