Mexican Racism In Schools

Racism is not a subject that appears in every day conversations. Even though it continues to mark the lives of a lot of people, many are not aware of how much racism still exists in our schools, workforces, and anywhere else where social lives are occurring. Throughout the years it has become apparent that African Americans are not the only people who are being mistreated. Mexican Americans have been discriminated, stereotyped, and victimized. Mexican racism has significantly increased within the past few years, especially with our current president in office. Instead of becoming a society where the cultures of Hispanics and Latinos are shared with other cultures in America, too much of the country remains segregated where Hispanics, Latinos

“We have argued that the education disadvantage for Mexican Americans largely reflects their treatment as a stigmatized racial group rather than simply being a result of low immigrant human capital or of other causes suggested in the literature” (Telles & Ortiz, 81). Edwards Telles and Vilma Ortiz, authors of Generations of Exclusion, have stated in the previous quote that Mexicans tend to be more discriminated by not completing or furthering their Education. Unfortunately, some state universities have prohibited or placed restrictions towards undocumented students. This causes most to not seek any further education, but others are not feared by that and continue to search for schools, or even go through the process of becoming a U.S citizen. Regardless of pursuing an education or not, Mexican Americans are still being discriminated and seen lowered than other ethnicities. Less educated Mexican Americans might experience more stereotyping and discrimination because of their disadvantaged educational status. Or the more educated might face worse treatment because of greater social contact with members outside of their group. Additionally, being more educated might increase awareness that Mexican Americans are treated in a racial manner and that might explain part of the education effects, meaning, educated Mexican Americans might see that discrimination exists to a greater extent and that might partially explain their

Racial experiences are varied and involve many aspects of a person’s life. For example, Mexican Americans who are darker and physically different to a greater extent from Whites are more likely to be stood out from within a group. Furthermore, to the extent that the group is considered non-white and stigmatized, darker Mexican Americans would be subject to greater stereotyping and discrimination than their light skin counterparts. In Garrett Hardin’s reading, “Lifeboat Ethics: The case against Helping the Poor” he states, “For the sake of those who worry about whether the “quality” of the average immigrant compares favorably with the quality of the average resident, let us assume that immigrants and nativeborn citizens are of exactly equal quality, however one defines that term.” The purpose of this quote is to inform the readers how immigrants are seen much differently than the average residents. To outsiders, skin color is a key marker of group affiliation. An example of this would be in a workplace, Mexican Americans are likely to come in contact with Whites in work places, and treat them in discriminatory way. For instance, they are being passed over promotions or not getting hired. In education settings, teachers and other school staff make critical remarks or convey the message that Mexican