More handpicked essays just for you.
Racism and discrimination in the Hispanic US
Essays on oppression in latin america
Hispanic racial discrimination
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
1. During July 4, 1992, after rumors that a white policeman had fatally shot a young Dominican male, hundreds of Dominican immigrants rioted in the Washington Heights in New York City. City officials were scared that L.A riots was going repeat because for several days neighborhood youths torched cars, looted Korean and white owned businesses, and threw rocks and bottle at policemen. Even after a jury concluded the policeman acted in self-defense, this was first Dominican riot in the U.S that suddenly sparked national spotlight on a new Latino immigrant group. “Between 1961 and 1986 more than 400,000 people legally immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic, and another 44,000 moved to Puerto Rico, while thousands more entered both places illegally” (Gonzalez 116). By 1990, more than 300,000 Dominicans lived in New York City, but it is believed that in a millennium the number of Dominicans will increased to 700,000. During the 1950s, Dominicans went largely unnoticed and were often mistaken as blacks who speak Spanish. Like every other Latino group, Dominicans were also blame by the whites for violent crimes and drug trafficking.
2.
…show more content…
Some of the push factors of the Dominican emigration were racism, rivalry, and discrimination. “Puerto Ricans assisted Dominican migrants in the 1960s to navigate the hostile and inscrutable Anglo world the newcomers found. But in recent years, sharp tension has emerged between the groups, both here and in Puerto Rico” (Gonzalez 126). Like whites, Puerto Ricans believed Dominicans were stealing jobs. Another reason Dominicans were driven back were because of the poverty, drugs, and low-wage labor they faced in the U.S. Dominicans that were doctors were earned up to $160 a month and teacher were earned about $70. “Overall, more than 60 percent of the population earns poverty wages” (Gonzalez
Junot Diaz is Dominican American, and he came from a very poor family with five other siblings. Since they were not that wealthy, they lived in a simple way. Even though his mother was basically the bread winner of the family since his father could not keep a job, she still manages to send money back home every six months or so. When they got home from their vacation, they had found out that someone has broken into their house and stole most of his mother’s money. It was easy for them to be a target because they were recent immigrant, and in their neighborhood cars and apartment were always getting jacked. His mother was very upset; she blamed her children, because she thought it was their friends who had done such a thing. “We kids knew where
A leading American historian on race, policing, immigration, and incarceration in the United States, Kelly Lytle Hernandez’s Migra! A History of the U.S. Border Patrol tells the story of how Mexican immigrant workers emerged as the primary target of the United States Border Patrol and how, in the process, the United States Border Patrol shaped the history of race in the United States. Migra! also explores social history, including the dynamics of Anglo-American nativism, the power of national security, and labor-control interests of capitalistic development in the American southwest. In short, Migra! explains
The events of 7 June 1969 were but one of many moments in the history of New York City's Puerto Rican community that gave rise to and lent support for the Young Lords Party.[4] Indeed over the course of the next five years this ethnic group of radical intellectuals would help bring attention to the plight of the Puerto Rican community in New York City. This essay explores the history of the late twentieth century Puerto Rican migrants in New York City through an examination of the Young Lords Party (1969 to 1974). In doing so, it examines several significant topics, including the growth of the Puerto Rican population in New York City; the unique challenges this ethnic group faced, and the origins, growth and decline of the Young Lords Party.
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.
Gonzalez, Juan. Harvest of Empire a History of Latinos in America. New York: Penguin Putnam Inc, 2000.
While many remember the Great Depression as a time of terrible trials for Americans, few understand the hardships faced by Mexicans and Mexican Americans in the U.S. This paper examines the experiences of Mexicans in America during the Great Depression and explores the devastating impact of repatriation efforts. America has an extensive history of accepting Mexican workers when they are needed for cheap labor, and demanding that they be deported when the economic situation is more precarious in an attempt to open jobs for Americans. In the 1930s, “Americans, reeling from the economic disorientation of the depression, sought a convenient scapegoat. They found it in the Mexican community.” Mexicans were blamed for economic hardships and pushed to leave the United States because Americans believed they were taking jobs and draining charitable resources; however, few understood the negative repercussions of these actions. During the Great Depression, the push to strip jobs from Mexicans and repatriate them had the unintended consequences of adding more people to welfare rolls, contributed to labor shortages and forced out legal citizens of Mexican descent which created feelings of bitterness and rejection.
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.
The Puerto Ricans’ experience of living as the "other Americans" was succinctly captured by Florencio Morales in 1965:
The author, Nancy Lopez, having started at the beginning with a particular goal in mind, which was dedicated to researching why women are much more successful in terms of education, however, decided to go a different route that explored and discussed the multiple ways in which second-generation Dominican men are highly racialized and gendered which has detrimental effects on their lives, both short term and long term. Under these circumstances, Lopez’s main argument consists with the various facts that second-generation Dominican men are being unfairly treated within the school context. For example, school security, the infrastructure conditions of the school, as well as the teachers have a stigmatizing effect on how Dominican men, specifically
Emilio Pantojas-García. “The Puerto Rican Paradox: Colonialism Revisited, 2005.” University of Texas Press Latin American Research Review 40.3 (2005) 163-176
What would it be like to wake up everyday knowing you would get bullied, mistreated, and/or abused just because of where you were born? Discrimination still exists! “Discrimination remains and there is an increase in hate crimes against Hispanics, Latinos and Mexican-Americans, as one of the perceived symbols of that discrimination, the U.S.-Mexico Border Fence, nears completion. Instead of pulling together in these difficult times, we may see a greater polarization of attitudes” (Gibson). But why are hate crimes increasing towards Latin and Hispanic aliens and what types of discrimination are occurring against them? Understanding violence towards the Hispanic and Latin alien is divided into three main classes; the difference between legal and illegal aliens, the attacks and effects, and the point of view of different people towards aliens.
In Puerto Rican Obituary, the Puerto Rican people from New York City struggle to attain
Being Dominican is not easy. Born in New York and raised in the Dominican Republic. Like most Dominican will do bachata, merengue or tipico but I prefer to do reggaeton, which is mostly common in Puerto Rico. Being a fan of reggaeton make me feel sexual because most reggaeton is about love and slow with a nice passionate beat. Reggaeton is in Spanish lyrics and known in the Caribbean/Latino community even though it was segregated with Jamaican music rhythm with reggae in English lyrics then it became with Spanish lyrics. Another version of reggaeton is dembow and dembow is more common in the Dominican Republic. Dembow rhythm is faster than reggaeton. Reggaeton is more popular in youth population.
The group that I have chosen as my target group is Caribbean Immigrants of the United States. I have chosen this target group because I am from the Caribbean. Although I am not an immigrant I know many people who are immigrants and I am the daughter of one. Caribbean immigrants are a very diverse set of people who have migrated to the United States from the Greater or Lesser Antilles. There is close to 40 million people who live in the Caribbean. If you ask someone from the Caribbean, “why did they move from their home country?, Their answer would be “to search for a better life for my family”. What drew me to this population is that I am currently enrolled in Social Work with Diverse Populations and there is not a handout on this group
Traveling to a different country is a life changing experience that everybody should have the opportunity to encounter. It is true that help is needed in the United States, but so many life lessons are learned once borders are crossed. In the Dominican Republic, life is much simpler. People are more genuine, kind, and loving which can make an enjoyable learning experience in all situations. This leads to stronger relationships and memories that are unforgettable.