- Introduction to Diverse Population/ Hispanic Culture
It is important to know that while being a global citizen, culture still stands out to be greatest impediment to global harmony. Globalization heavily markets and promotes western ideas while the ideas from “others” are marginalized. It is interesting even to point out that the paradigms that promote these ideas of globalization are not the same. In the case of the United States, the biggest struggle is the misconception of “the others “. The others in this context refer to the minorities in the United States who are not the mainstream identity of what it means to be an American. In order to solve this, there must be a strong and genuine desire on the part of all the stakeholders. If there is not such commitment, the pursuit of harmony would be hard to realize. This research aims to explore the place of the Hispanic Culture in the United States with emphasis on who is Hispanic, what it means to be Hispanic, and why it is important to recognize the Hispanic in the United States.
In popular usage, Hispanic and Latino are used as an umbrella to refer to any American who has Spanish and Latin American origin. Because of this, Hispanics in the United States are grouped into one monolithic group. However, Hispanics have groups that are profoundly different in terms of culture, background, and experience (Traina, 2012). Milda & Baez (2005) define Latinos as people that can trace their family origin to any of the twenty-one countries of Latin America. These people span from first generation to fourth generation in the United States “(page x1). In the year, 2002, Latino’s became the largest minority group in the United States according to the U. S. Census Bureau. They as a group will represent close to twenty five percent of the population by the year 2050.
The world today is homogenous in culture; almost every country in the world is multiethnic, multiracial and multilingual. The need for cultural and racial enlightenment is imminent. However, little is done to correct the situation. Most people acknowledge that cultural l conflict that exists in the world and there is a need to find a solution so that people can live together. I am doing this research as part of an attempt to expose the culture of the Hispanics in the United States. My hope is that with this research, more people will have an understanding of what it means to be Hispanic.
Hispanic Research in the United States
In reference to a research on Hispanic culture, the researcher must put in consideration that, he or she is examining a complex culture that spans continents. This complicates the task because there is unlimited application of different research methodologies. Because of the unlimited sources of information, one must be selective on what he or she uses as a source of data. From this situation, the primary research methodology will be observation and surveys. However, researchers also have to examine guardians of children to know how they inculcate Hispanic culture on them. The most appropriate methodology in examining these individuals will be through open questionnaires. Closed questionnaires will also be applicable too in situations where there is the need to ensure certainty.
Fox & KewalRawani (2010) examined the educational and ethnic progress and challenges of students using racial ethnicity in the United States. They argued that overtime, the number of minority children graduating out of school have increased. However, while the rate of graduation has increased, there is great discrepancy on the quality of graduates. Perhaps the ne0-dymanics of the US school graduate records is a reflection of the societal demographic changes that have happened in the United States. Between the period starting from 1980- 2008, the racial composition of the United States shifted with white population declining 66 percent. Hispanic population increased from six percent to 15 percent while Asian population increased to two percent. The increased multi-ethnicity of the United States provides a framework upon which a research on cultural diversity becomes pertinent. This research is carried out with the understanding that the existence of a plural society in the United States is achievable.
Smokowsi& Bacallao (2011) argued that while approximately forty four percent of Latino’s live in the West of the United States, the impact of their culture, language, and demographic push is wide spread across the United States. Currently, one fourth of the United States population is younger than eighteen years old. Out of the one fourth of the population, one third is Latino. The Latino’s influence has pushed the United States debate on multiculturalism to another level.
In my view, the problem is having a global mindset on the way things work. Cultural understanding is an important facet. When student go to school, they bring not only their physical bodies, but also physical, emotional, and cognitive differences. Introduction of multicultural literature in school would be the first step towards the embracing of Hispanics in America.
References
Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau. (2013).http://www.itsatrip.org/albuquerque/culture-heritage/hispanic-latino.aspx. Retrieved September 26, 2013, from Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau website: http://www.itsatrip.org/albuquerque/culture-heritage/hispanic-latino.aspx
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Cheskin Research (2006). Hispanic teens are the new avatars of cool. Redwood Shores, CA: Cheskin Research.
Chong, N., & Baez, F. (2005). Latino Culture: Dynamic Force in the Changing American Workplace. New York: Nicholas Brealey Publishing.
Fox, M. A., & KewalRamani, A. (July, 2010). U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (Report No. NCES 2010-015). Washington, DC: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.Education Statistics Services Institute – American Institutes for Researc
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U.S. Census Bureau (2008b). Hispanic Americans by the numbers. Washington, DC.Doublebas
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Selig Center for Economic Growth (2006). The Multicultural Economy Report 2006. Athens,GA: Selig Center for Economic Growth.
Smokowski, â., & Bacallao, M. (2011). Becoming Bicultural: Risk, Resilience, and Latino Youth. New York: NYU Press,
Traina, C. (2012). "The Hispanic Influence on American Culture. NY: Saatchi & Saatchi.
Weaver, T. (1990). The Culture of Latinos in the United States. Handbook of Hispanic Cultures in the United States:, 1(1).
