Life of Latinos in the United States - Essay Example

Latino Lives In A Changing America Introduction: The United s of America has been referred to as the melting pot of cultures. The influx of Spanish speaking people into the United States of America is not a new phenomenon, and has been taking place for a long time. The Latinos form a linguistic and cultural group of their own. Most of them are economically deprived and many enter illegally. Robert Suro in his Article “Latino Lives in a Changing America” portrays with clarity what has occurred to these people in the land that beckoned them with opportunities. They have formed the largest growing linguistic and cultural group, and threaten to become the largest minority in the United States of America. This means that how they are absorbed, and how they view the absorption into the American society become significant markers for the development of American society and the nation. This is a challenge that is far different from the melding of the Europeans races and the Afro-Americans, or for that matter the increased Asian immigration, for the numbers are large and the issues are many. Analysis: The influx of the Latinos is not a new phenomenon, and started when there were any hardly borders between Mexico and the United States of America. However, in more modern times, the 1960s to the 1980s was the time of increased Latino immigration. They were welcome, as they brought with them the characteristic of hard work, and the ability to retain jobs, and there was a requirement for hardworking labor. For the Latinos migration to the United States of America was a means of getting out of the hardship and deprivation they suffered in their lands. These first generation migrants were only too happy with this change that only brought about a semblance of economic enhancement, despite many having to hold two jobs, and work from early morning to late in the night. However they tended to be extremely conscious of their culture and language. This is not surprising of immigrants to a land different from theirs. So they tended to group together, which led to the barrios in many urban settings. Within these barrios they continued to practice their culture and were protective of their language. Despite this the Latino immigration with their contribution to industrial productivity and minimal social and political aspirations was acceptable, as it did not upset the established social and political norms The situation is changing with the offspring of these first generation migrants, many of which are in the teens or early career formative years. They are Americans by birth. They have not suffered the economic deprivation of their native lands. They witnessed and experienced the meaning of the ‘American Dream’ all their lives. Therefore they are not satisfied with eking out an existence similar to their parents. They have greater ambitions. Yet, the majority of them are not equipped to create a better existence. Opportunities for unskilled labor have diminished, as with globalization these opportunities have migrated to more cost effective environments. Work and career prospects in the United Sates of America are based on education, which provides enhanced knowledge and skills. Migration from Asia with particular emphasis on China and India is making use of these opportunities, which the second generation Latinos and the continuing uneducated Latino influx are unable to. There are two reasons for this. The public education system that was set up many years ago for the purpose of enhancing education opportunities for the migrants from Europe has lost its capability and efficiency, and is gradually show signs of crumbling and decay. This education system does not attract the Latinos, and Latino school drop out is the highest in the nation. The second reason is that the first generation Latinos, being over protective of their culture and language, have restricted their offspring from developing language skills in English. Thus a requisite for enhanced career prospects in the American industries is absent in the second generation Latinos, and is conspicuously absent in the present Latino migrants. This means there is a growing Latino working force developing with no work and career prospects in the changed American economy. The second generation Latinos having grown up in America has imbibed many of that which is wrong in the American way of life. Dissatisfied with the economic status of their parents, and frustrated by the lack of career opportunities, many of the Latinos indulge in drugs and social ills. Teen age pregnancy among the Latinos is on the rise. Thus the sheen of the productive first generation Latinos is gradually being eroded by the social costs of the activities of the second generation, leading to a type casting of the Latinos that damages their social image. The continuing influx of illegal Latino migrants, who are commonly clubbed today as Hispanics, into an economy that is unsuited to them and a society that is starting to worry about the social costs of Latino migration, is starting to race the concerns of not just the white population, but also the Afro-Americans The Latinos have historical links to the United States of America. Yet socially and politically they have never been allocated a distinct place. These spaces have so far been occupied by the whites and the Afro-Americans. Though some of the Latinos may be white-skinned, their average skin color makes them unacceptable to the whites. The Afro-Americans view the Latinos as a source of competition, and therefore unacceptable to them. This means that a third space has to become a reality for the Latinos, with their growing numbers likely to eclipse the position of the Afro-Americans. The second generation of Latinos having lived and experienced the American way of life since their birth is aware of the meaning of freedom, and the rights that the nation provides its citizens. This makes them restive, as they feel they are a deprived class of people. This means that adequate attention to their concerns, and their political and social integration is necessary. There are suggestions to the manner in which this can be accomplished. The Latinos need to remove the fears that their continued illegal influx will swamp the nation, which is only possible if the Latinos discourage rather than encourage this. The second is the need for the second generation Latinos to upgrade knowledge and skill levels to prepare themselves for a productive role in the American economy, just as their parents did. For this the appropriate facilities also need to be created. Acquiring of English language skills is also a necessity. The Latinos need to be provided the recognition that is due to them as a linguistic and cultural group of significance in the United States of America. These suggestions may help to integrate the Latinos into the melting pot of American culture. Conclusion: The Latinos are a growing linguistic and cultural group that is in need of recognition in America. However it takes two hands to clap, which means there has to be effort on both sides realizing what is impeding this process, and removing the hindrances, so that the challenge of the integration of the Latinos is met. Works Cited 1. Suro, Robert. “Latino Lives in a Changing America”. Social Structure: Race and Ethnicity. 146-152. Read More