Hispanic American Diversity
HisRepresenting nearly 63% Mexican Americans are the largest group of all the Hispanic Americans in the United States (US Census Bureau, 2011). Originally encouraged to settle into what is now Texas to boost Mexico’s economy. As the number of settlers increased, so did their want of autonomy – resulting in a battle over land and rights in the Mexican American War in 1846. According to “The U.S.-Mexican War, The Aftermath (2006)” by war’s end “approximately 80,000 Mexicans resided in the territory transferred to the United States as part of the Mexican-American War conclusion, the greatest numbers of whom were located in present-day New Mexico and California. Since then, the political relations between Mexican Americans and the United States have slowly made its progress. In the beginning, political participation was limited due to discrimination. In response to this type of discrimination, Mexican Americans formed activist groups and protective organizations known as ‘mutualistas’ (mutual aid societies). Through groups like these, Mexican Americans found their strength in politics. Their no nonsense approach to maltreatment aided in the support of the Fair Employment Practices Commission, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the other subsequent affirmative action legislation. Since the 1960’s to present, Mexican Americans have proven their place in modern politics. As wages for ranchers and farmers continue to dwindle, migrants leave behind their ancestors traditional trades for opportunities with a wider range of work. This drew many Mexican Americans to other regions of the United States, such as the Midwest. “By 1990 only 2.9 percent of the Mexican American working population were employed in agriculture and forestry, with less than one percent in the mining industry. Professional and health and education services employed 20.3 percent of this specific labor force, while 16.4 percent had service occupations and 15.9
References: US Census Bureau. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/2010_census/cb11-cn146.html Baker, S. (2002). Understanding Mainland Puerto Rican Poverty. Philadelphia, P: Temple University Press Countries and Their Cultures. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Pa-Sp/Puerto-Rican-Americans.html The Cuban American National Foundation. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.canf.org/ Gale Research. (2001). Statistical Record of Hispanic Americans. Phoenix, Arizona: Oryx Press Countries and Their Cultures. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Bu-Dr/Colombian-Americans.html