| Analyzing Hispanic groups in America is a long and | | | | Ricans anywhere in the world (over one million)" |
| informative journey. Hispanics are not just one culture | | | | (Rosenberg, 2005) This immigration privilege is |
| of people; they are a multitude of different cultures | | | | something many Hispanics would love to have. |
| with different political views, customs, religious, | | | | Cuban Americans |
| familial, and other conventions that make each group | | | | Cuban Americans have a long and sometimes bad |
| unique and at times similar to the others. In this paper | | | | history. Many Cuban Americans or their ancestors |
| the author will introduce you to four different | | | | arrived here from Cuba looking for a better life away |
| Hispanic groups. The Mexican Americans, a culture | | | | from their tyrannical government, horrible living |
| that is rooted in Mexico and trying to blossom in the | | | | conditions, and economic struggle. Cuban Americans |
| United States; the Puerto Ricans, already considered | | | | culture is heavily influenced by the Spanish colonists |
| United States citizens, but not always treated the | | | | that once settled the island. |
| same; Cuban Americans, who have left a country in | | | | This influence has had a major impact on Cuban |
| political and economical turmoil to make a better life | | | | American religion. Most Cuban Americans according to |
| for themselves; and the Central Americans, consisting | | | | Wikipedia (2006) belong to the Roman Catholic |
| of people from many different Central American | | | | Church. There are also many Protestants, those who |
| countries. | | | | believe in Santeria, Jewish, and nonreligious Cuban |
| Mexican Americans | | | | Americans. |
| Mexican Americans have been in the United States | | | | Many Cuban Americans have assimilated into |
| for many years. They have traditionally been viewed | | | | mainstream culture. They are politically active with |
| as migrant workers who would come and do farm | | | | three members in the United States House of |
| work or work in orchards and then return to Mexico. | | | | Representatives and two Senators in the House of |
| They have changed from the role of migrants to | | | | Senate. They have been economically successful in |
| immigrants. Mexican Americans typically speak Spanish | | | | "...establishing businesses and developing political clout |
| and are being taught, in bilingual classes, the English | | | | by transforming Miami from a beach retirement |
| Language. | | | | community into a modern city with distinct Hispanic |
| Mexican Americans have many values that differ | | | | flavor" (Wikipedia, 2006) |
| from the values of a typical U.S. citizen. According to | | | | Cubans have come a long way in society compared |
| Mexico: language, culture, and etiquette, (2004), the | | | | to many Hispanic cultures. They have persevered |
| familial values of Mexican Americans are different | | | | through a tyrannical political leader and economic hard |
| than those of the normal values held by U.S. citizens. | | | | ship. They have came across 90 miles of ocean to |
| The core of the Mexican-American social structure | | | | reach the shores of Florida and their freedom. The |
| lies with the family. Women, while greatly revered, | | | | Cuban Americans have come to the United States |
| are still seen as secondary to their husbands; the | | | | and gave up many of their traditions, and through |
| husbands are seen as the authority figure and the | | | | assimilation, they have made a better life for |
| decision-maker for the family. Families are typically | | | | themselves. They are accepted in Florida and are |
| very large and the extended family is considered just | | | | know as hard and honest workers. They have |
| as important as the immediate family. | | | | provided much talent in this country also, such as |
| Catholicism is the religion of choice for a large portion | | | | Ricardo Montalbon, Bob Vila, and many other greats. |
| of Mexican Americans. According to Weisman (2004), | | | | Venezuelan Americans |
| "...Mexicans endorse holding greater moral-religious | | | | Another prevalent Ethnic group that has immigrated |
| values than do their Anglo-American counterparts." In | | | | to the United States are the Venezuelan Americans. |
| U.S. politics the Mexican American people where left | | | | According to Walker (n.d.), many Venezuelan |
| outside, until Alberto Gonzales, a Mexican American, | | | | Americans are of Spanish, Italian, or Portuguese |
| was appointed as the United States Attorney | | | | decent, and identify themselves as white. Indeed |
| General. Many Mexican Americans do not make | | | | many people do not even know when they are |
| typically make as much money as their | | | | passing a Venezuelan American on the streets. Many |
| Anglo-American counter parts. "Among third- and | | | | Venezuelans came to the United States to attend |
| higher-generation men in 1989, Mexicans averaged 21 | | | | college and stayed after graduation. |
| percent lower wages than non-Hispanic whites..." | | | | The familial values of Venezuelan Americans are |
| (Trejo, 1997) These figures are a bit aged, but one | | | | different than those of a typical American family. |
| can almost count on the fact that the figures have | | | | "Family ties are strong...[their] children are taught at |
| been reduced over the years; there is still a | | | | an early age to view the family as the key unit of |
| significant economic gap. Language barriers may be | | | | society" (Walker, n.d.) These ties sometimes make it |
| part of this, though as the years pass this is | | | | hard for Venezuelan Americans to integrate or |
| becoming less of an issue. | | | | assimilate into mainstream society, though many do |
| Puerto Ricans | | | | so with ease. |
| Puerto Ricans are considered U.S. citizens, as Puerto | | | | Most Venezuelan Americans are catholic, but do not |
| Rico is a territory of the United States. Puerto Ricans | | | | attend services and other church functions as |
| are typically very proficient in both English and | | | | frequently as other Hispanic groups. Walker (n.d.) |
| Spanish, making life for them in the United States | | | | says that many religious traditions exist, but are a |
| somewhat easier. In contrast to Mexican Americans, | | | | combination of religious and secular ways. Some |
| according to Fukuyama (1993) forty-percent, now | | | | secular people are even revered as saints because of |
| probably more, of Puerto Rican Families are headed | | | | "...their good works and positive impact on others" |
| by women. Religion for Puerto Ricans is as diverse as | | | | (Walker, n.d.). Venezuelan American are not currently |
| their Anglo-American counterparts. Puerto Ricans may | | | | active on the federal government level but many |
| be Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Muslim, or any of the | | | | have established careers in local politics and |
| other worlds religions. Many Puerto Ricans that live on | | | | government. |
| mainland United states live in or around New York | | | | Conclusion |
| city. "The term 'Nuyorican' is used to identify New | | | | These four distinctive groups have many |
| Yorkers born in Puerto Rico or of Puerto Rican | | | | commonalities and differences. The major |
| descent who live in or near New York City. The | | | | commonalty with the four groups is that the vast |
| word Nuyorican derives from a combination of the | | | | Majority speak Spanish, are catholic, and have a |
| words 'New York' and 'Puerto Rican'" (Magaly, 2006). | | | | stronger family bond than the typical American. The |
| In politics, Puerto Ricans have many of the same | | | | major difference between the groups is their level of |
| rights as any other U.S. citizen. According to | | | | assimilation and cultural beliefs. While the Puerto |
| Rosenberg (2005), even though Puerto Ricans have | | | | Ricans and Cuban Americans are very assimilated to |
| been considered citizens of the United States since | | | | the American norm, the Venezuelan Americans are in |
| 1917, they can not vote for the president. They also | | | | the middle of assimilation, and the Mexican Americans |
| are exempt form paying federal income tax. Though | | | | are the least assimilated. Mexican Americans have |
| some of the privileges associated with citizenship | | | | such strong bonds with their families, that is greatly |
| have been withheld from Puerto Ricans, they are | | | | interferes with their individuality and their ability to |
| allowed "...unrestricted U.S. Migration...[which has] made | | | | assimilate into mainstream culture. |
| New York city the one place with the most Puerto | | | | |