Hispanics form the most rapidly growing ethnic minority in the United States. In 1992, their estimated population was about 22.4million forming the second largest minority after the Asian American. Roughly 60 percent of the Hispanics in the U.S. trace their origin to Mexico. Compared to the Asian American except in Texas and the New Mexico, the Hispanics did not experience outright discrimination. Also, this ethnic group has a lower level of economic and educational capabilities (Ramirez and Roberto 65).
Hispanic does not refer to a particular an ethnic description. It refers to native language and cultural background. Due to intermarriage between people of diverse ethics origins within the group, some descendants represent a combination of ethnic groups, and therefore, Hispanics do not regard themselves as a homogeneous group, but their attachment is to distinct origins.
Puerto Ricans status differ from other Hispanics since they are citizens of U.S. by birth. Grant of citizenship was in 1917 as a result of the Spanish-America war. This subgroup can travel to and from the Mainland to the Island without the necessity of possessing either visa or passport. However, Central American, Cubans, and Mexicans must apply the travel documents to enter the country as well as citizenship as any other immigrant. Although Hispanics are traceable in most parts of the U.S., they are highly concentrated in some areas. An approximated 80 percent are habitats in New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Colorado and California. More than 50 percent of the Hispanics are in California and Texas. About 70 percent of Puerto Ricans residing in U.S. can live in New York City. Florida is residence to about 60 percent of the Cuban Hispanics (Ramirez and Roberto 65).
Hispanics immigration into the U.S. was mainly economically and politically motivated. A Large population of the Puerto Ricans and the Mexican were escaping poverty and look for better means of survival. Cuban migration began in 1951, motivated by political reason. It happened after Fidel Castrol to over leadership of the Cuba's government. According to United States Department of Commerce statistics, Hispanics are a less educated, younger and less educated group compared to the Asian American (Moore 100).
Americanization for the Hispanics has been uneven mainly due to economic differences between different subgroups. The interaction between the Mexicans in the U.S. and the new immigrants from Mexico tends to reinforce the tradition and specifically the use of Spanish in their communication. Puerto Ricans, being citizens of the U.S. by birth finds it easy to interact with their indigenous island hence cementing cultural stability. Cubans, on the other hand, do not have the luxury of communicating with their homeland frequently. The Hispanics have tried to be active in the U.S. politics, entertainment, and sports.
According to Pew Research Center report (1-5), the Asians of American descent are considered the highest–income earners, fastest-growing, as well as the best educated ethnic group in the U.S. They, are most satisfied with the country and government, their finances as well as their lives in the United States. Unlike other American races, they place a lot of importance into career, hard work as well as marriage and parenthood. This group has been able to achieve these great milestones of success irrespective of them being immigrant. 74% of the adults in this population were all born abroad and about 50% of the total population cannot speak English well (Pew Research Center 1-5).
The history of Asian immigrants in the U.S. dates back to more than a century and a half ago. They migrated to U.S. mainly as low-skilled laborers who worked in the mines, farms and railroads construction. However, during this time, regulations prohibited the immigration of the Asian women. The immigrants had to endure racially prejudiced which was at that point officially sanctioned. Mass immigration from Asia did not take off until the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 was passed. Over years, the immigrants from Asia have become more educated and skilled. An estimated 51 percent of the Asian American population have a bachelor’s degree with 21 percent having advanced degrees. About 85 percent of the group have at least high school education making it the most educated race and an ethic group among the immigrant in U.S (Hing and Bill 1850-1890).
Today, the Asian American do not suffer racial discrimination that was so much real to their predecessor during the 19th and the 20th centuries. However in the past few years, at least one in every five Asian American has suffered discrimination as stated by Pew Research Centre Report (150). Asian American is also the highest growing group in population in the U.S.
The Asian American formed a pan-Asian movement dedicated to fighting against the oppression of the American of Asian lineage during 1960's to 1980's in the United States. They have also been incorporated widely in the art and entertainment industry, businesses, in American politics and government, military, journalism as well as space exploration.
Several Asian America has also excelled in the field of science and technology with some of them receiving prestigious awards. For instance, the 1957 Physics Nobel Prize was won by Tsung-Dao Lee and Chen Ning Yang (Hing and Bill 1860).
Works Cited
Hing, Bill Ong. Making and remaking Asian America through immigration policy: 1850-1990. Stanford University Press, 1994. Print.
Moore, Joan W., and Harry Pachon. Hispanics in the United States: 100 Prentice Hall, 1985. Print.
Pew Research Center. The Rise of Asian Americans: 1-153 Washington, D.C.2013.
Ramirez, Roberto R. We the people: Hispanics in the United States. Washington, DC: US Department of Commerce, Economic and Statistics Administration: 50-70 US Census Bureau, 2004. Print.
