History of Mexican American and its influence on Future
There has been a long history of conflict, migration, intermarriages, and inter-cultural connections between Americans and Mexicans. According to the Mexican American war that started on April 25, 1846, in the Rio Grande increased the American states while reducing Mexican lands. Under President Polk, the United States wanted to expand to Southwest. The Mexican that lived in regions like California, New Mexico, and Oregon became American citizens after the annexation of the Mexican territory. Since then, Mexican Americans have merged in .U.S. and specifically in regions of California, Nevada, Arizona, and Texas. In the past Century, American Americans have engaged in active campaigns and fights with the U.S. government about voting rights, employment, and education. Besides, they have faced discrimination and other social and economic challenges. The following paragraphs discuss in-depth how Mexican American history has impacted the Future of the Mexican-original population in the U.S.
The original population had its own culture different from the Americans, and therefore after annexation, there was a mixture of culture. The treaty that concluded over two years of war between the Americans and Mexicans resulted in new ways of living under different authorities. According to Hayoun (2017), more than 1.2 residents are living in Los Angeles that identify themselves as original Mexican, which is a third of this city’s population. Although some of the residents still maintain the Mexican culture, their number is relatively low. As a result, a future of intermarriages and the sharing of religious and cultural values have a high chance. The Future is likely to be a mixed ethnic and race different from the origin. Already, the most popular culture has diffused with American culture. There is a likelihood for a future where the origin of Mexican mixed with others and created a new way of life. However, they can still retain the traditional culture through a continuous connection with Mexico, which still holds their traditions.
Apart from culture delusion, the Future of Mexican is also affected through education. Vargas (2017), argues that the struggles that the Mexican has engaged in since being part of America include the fight for equality involving education. The value of education and objectives are different, and these may affect the original goals of education. The American education system may not include much of the Traditional Mexican ways of life. As a result, the culture of the original Mexican is slowly eroded by the education sector in America (Díaz & McClelland, 2017). Education has a role in promoting social and cultural values, and with a changed system, there will be interconnection. Although it prepares students to adhere to norms and ethics in culture, education has the potential of introducing new ideas to the culture and therefore change the original Mexican in America.
A future for Mexican Americans is different from original due to educational factors, which also affect earlier ways of life, which is also different from the Mexicos’ system. There is a difference between Latinos from Mexico, starting with how the constitution refers to them. The native Mexicans in America are identified as Hispanic and are primarily comprised of the new generation of Latinos.
The original population is also diminished due to their few numbers. In comparison to the Americans, the number is three to one Mexico, which will reduce due to intermarriages. Apart from the impact on culture, the original population is oppressed. According to Seaton, Yip, Morgan-Lopez, and Sellers (2012), Latino discrimination is focused on ethnic background, employment, and social development. This discrimination has an extended effect on the development of society. In addition, Lopez, Gonzalez-Berrera, and Krogstad (2018) noted that one in five people on the streets identifies Latinos as whites, a factor contributed by immigration. Further, this author described identified the difference I social and economic level, as well as educational background, made a difference between being a Hispanic and White on the streets. Those with college education 27% of the people asked to say they are white. Therefore, the original population is seen depleting, even in looks and the cultural values. The roots are slowly fading off as new norms are adapted.
According to Lopez, Gonzalez-Berrera, and Krogstad (2018), Hispanic are the largest group in the U.S., which has increased from more than twenty million to thirty-six million in seventeen years. Mexican who are foreign-born have also been part of the increasing population. Although immigration laws and policies have tried to contain the population, the number is still high in the country. They produce the highest percent of the worker in any industries in the country. Migrations date back to when the railway network was constructed connecting central Mexico to the United States border. The facilitated Mexican population was moving in search of better opportunities in America (Lopez, Gonzalez-Berrera, & Krogstad, 2018). They found work and as a laborer in farms and other casual jobs. Also, they were recruited for war like the Bracero program that led to a high number of Mexican participating in American wars. This action resulted in fewer laborers in the agriculture sectors as well as other industries like steel production leading to more immigrants in the country.
By the 20th Century, the Mexicans in the U.S. had formed an organized union that could represent and fights for their rights (Vargas, 2017). In addition, they became more aware of the oppression and discrimination in terms of wages and other human rights, which could improve their living standards. However, their large numbers and high rates of illiteracy were a major set back for the original population. The voting rights have also been an issue whereby they were discriminated against voting for civil rights. The poll taxes, as well as the English literacy test, was a set back that refused the Spanish speakers from registering and voting.
Mexican Americans now comprise of a diverse race and ethnicity, including indigenous, European ancestry, and a mixture. According to the 2010 census, 52% of Mexican Americans identified themselves as whites, which shows a change in the traditional population (Lopez, Gonzalez-Berrera, & Krogstad, 2018). This change of status may be fueled by various factors, including the changes in the education system. More Latinos are now educated with the American system, which also opens opportunities for employment and social growth. They are a larger population, and therefore with more of them having a quality education. These events further influence cultural changes and integration. Consequently, the census bureau also expanded the multi-racial category to represent the Mexican American with a mixed background.
The struggle for equal rights resulted in voting rights, and Mexican Americans could hold elected positions. Their role in forming political parties like the League of United Latin America Citizens led to political influence and power of the minority group in the states. However, they still faced immigration issues, which are fueled by the high demand for labor in the U.S. They are exploited and paid cheap labor because they are vulnerable to deportation. Under President in 1986, the immigration and control act aimed at granting citizenship to Mexicans that lived and worked in the States without documentation. But 2006 faced protests from thousands of undocumented Mexicans as well as other Nationalities. This population is different from the original Mexicans and provides economic growth in the country. Consequently, the Future is different from the original Mexican population.
Notably, Mexican American has had an increase in their personal as well as household incomes. Compared to the original population, the American born Mexicans earn more income are found in the middle and upper classes in society (Vargas, 2017). They are also skilled and educated for white-collar jobs. As a result, segregation is continually declining, which they are being accepted as part of the U.S. As a result, they are becoming more influential in the social, economic, and political areas. As compared to the originals, they are more equipped to survive in a new culture because of their education. However, their heritages are changed due to these changes resulting in new cultures and mixed races. Although traditions are still upheld, changes are promoted by intercultural and intermarriages over the decades. They are becoming part of the U.S. culture. It is worth noting that literacy level, which was a significant set back for the original population, has been acquired, which means that the Future of Mexican Americans is bright in terms of opportunities and integration.
References
Díaz, G., & McClelland, M. M. (2017). The influence of parenting on Mexican American children’s self‐regulation. PsyCh journal, 6(1), 43-56.
Hayoun, M. (2017, August 05). Mexican LA: History, culture, and resistance. Retrieved from Aljazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/03/mexican-la-history-culture-resistance-170328114429756.html
Lopez, m. H., Gonzalez-Berrera, A., & Krogstad, J. M. (2018, October 25). Latinos and discrimination. Retrieved from Pew Research Center: https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2018/10/25/latinos-and-discrimination/
Seaton, E. K., Yip, T., Morgan-Lopez, A., & Sellers, R. M. (2012). Racial discrimination and racial socialization as predictors of African American adolescents’ racial identity development using latent transition analysis. Developmental psychology, 48(2), 448.
Vargas, Z. (2017). Crucible of Struggle: A History of Mexican Americans from Colonial Times to the Present Era. Oxford: Oxford University Press.