Chapter 10 Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans

Chapter 10 Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans

Mexican Americans • Legacy of war created America’s two largest Hispanic minorities – Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans • The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, February 2, 1848 – Under the treaty, new Americans guaranteed rights to property and their cultural traditions © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Mexican Americans – The loss of land the lack of legal protection after the treaty • US gained Texas, California, Arizona, and New Mexico for $15 million • In exchange, US granted citizenship to 75, 000 Mexican nationals – Guaranteed © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Mexican Americans • Religious freedom • Property rights • Cultural integrity • Land conflict between Anglo ranchers and Mexican-American ranchers • Mexican-Americans became outsiders in their own land © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Immigrant Experience • Immigration from Mexico is unique in several respects – Continuous large-scale movement for most of this century – Proximity of Mexico encourage immigrants to maintain strong cultural & language ties © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Immigrant Experience – Aura of illegality that surrounded Mexican migrants • Suspicion of Anglos toward Mexicans contributed to mutual distrust • Mexican immigration tied closely to the economies of Mexico & the United States © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Immigrant Experience • US corporations invested in Mexico in a way that maximized profits but minimized: – Money in Mexico to provide employment • Mexican workers are used as cheap laborers in their own country by fellow: – Mexicans & Americans or as undocumented workers here © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Immigrant Experience • Repatriation – Program of deporting Mexicans during depression of 1930 s – Constitutional because only illegal aliens were to be deported – Many classified as illegal had resided in US for decades © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Immigrant Experience • Braceros – Program between Mexico & US allow migration across border by contracted labor • Mexicans regarded as positive presence when useful • Operation Wetback and Special Force Operation (1954) © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Immigrant Experience • Mojados – Slang for Mexicans who enter illegally; refer to those who secretly swim across Rio Grande • The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) – Expressed concern over handling of illegal aliens © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Economic Picture • Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans – Higher unemployment rates, higher rates of poverty, and lower incomes than Whites • The Culture of Poverty – Embraces a deviant way of life that involves: • No future planning, no enduring commitment to marriage, and absence of work ethic © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Economic Picture • • Developed by Oscar Lewis Cultural traits as the cause of poverty Blaming the victim Used indiscriminately to explain continued poverty • César Chavez – Formed National Farm Workers Association – Became United Farm Workers (UFW) © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Economic Picture • Difficulties of organizing migrant farm workers – No savings for organizing or to live on while on strike – Growers relied on limitless supply of Mexican laborers to replace strikers – Opposition by agribusiness and lawmakers © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Political Organizations • La Raza Unida (LRU) – Pride in one’s Spanish, Native American, and Mexican heritage – Supported candidates who offer alternatives to the Democratic and Republican parties • Chicanismo (Chicanozaje) – Stress a positive self-image © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Political Organizations • Reies Lopez Tijerina (1963) – Purpose of the organization was to recover lost land • Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) 1967 – Pursue issues through the courts and protect Mexican Americans’ constitutional rights © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Dual Nationality • The United States does not prohibit dual nationality • Estimated that anywhere from 5 million to 10 million Mexican Americans are eligible: – For such dual nationality © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Puerto Ricans • Borinquen (Puerto Rico) claimed by Spain in 1493 • Native inhabitants, Taino Indians – Reduced in number by conquest, slavery, and genocide • Puerto Rico annexed by the US from Spain after the Spanish-American War © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Puerto Ricans • Colonization of Puerto Ricans – Politically, then culturally, and economically • Jones Act of 1917 – Citizenship extended to Puerto Ricans • 1948 – Cannot vote in presidential elections and have no voting representations © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Bridge Between the Island the Mainland • Despite citizenship, occasionally challenged by immigration officials – Other Latin Americans attempt to enter country posing as Puerto Ricans • Push and pull factors led to migration from the Island to the mainland © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Bridge Between the Island the Mainland • Neoricans – Puerto Ricans in New York – Better educated and have more money than Puerto Ricans from the Island – Often resented by long time Islanders • Now more dispersed throughout the mainland © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Island of Puerto Rico • Original inhabitants, Taino Indians, wiped out in a couple of generations • Neocolonialism – Refers to continuing dependence of former colonies on foreign countries • English and Spanish are the official languages © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Island of Puerto Rico • Statehood and Self-Rule – Puerto Ricans periodically argued and fought for independence – Commonwealth supporters argue too many unknown costs, so embrace status quo – Others view statehood as key to increased economic development & tourist expansion © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Island of Puerto Rico • Arguments for and against independence • Obama promised support to: – “a clear decision” by the people on statehood, whatever it be • “By the end of 2012 or soon thereafter” • Statehood, independence, or continuation of the island’s current status © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Social Construction of Race • Color Gradient – Reflects past fusion between different groups – Rather than being “black” or “white”, such societies judge as “lighter” or “darker” • On the Island social class determines race • On the mainland race is more likely to determine social class © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Island Economy • Overall economy well below that of poorest areas of the US – Federal government exempted US industries in Puerto Rico from taxes on profits (10 years) – Enterprise Zones – Island’s agriculture ignored and economic benefits to the island are limited © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Island Economy • Unemployment is three times that of mainland • Per capita income is less than half of Mississippi, the poorest state • Puerto Rico emerging as major gateway to US for illegal drugs from South America • World Systems Theory © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Island Economy • Major factors in Puerto Rico’s economy – Tourism • Government subsidies encouraged construction of luxury hotels • Criticisms – Major economic beneficiaries are investors from the mainland not locals © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Island Economy – High prices prevent less affluent from visiting – NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) • Reduction of trade barriers and its lower wages undercut Puerto Rico’s commonwealth advantage – Other island nations compete for tourist dollars © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contemporary Picture of Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans • Education – In 2008, only 55% of Mexican Americans & 76% of Puerto Ricans aged 25 or older: • Had completed high school, compared with 88 percent of White non-Hispanics © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contemporary Picture of Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans • 3 factors of increasing social isolation of Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans – Latinos are increasingly concentrated in largest cities where minorities dominate – Schools once desegregated have become resegregated • Tracking © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contemporary Picture of Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans • Family Life – Most important organization or social institution among Latinos or any group – Structure differs little from all families in US – Familism – Display variety of American family in general while suffering higher levels of poverty © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contemporary Picture of Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans • Health Care – Life Chances limited for Latinos • People’s opportunities to provide themselves with: – Material goods, positive living conditions, and favorable life experiences – Hispanics as a group are locked out of health care system © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contemporary Picture of Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans – Complicated by lack of Hispanic health care professionals – Curanderismo • Latino folk medicine, form of holistic health care and healing • Culture makes them less likely to use medical system © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contemporary Picture of Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans • Religion – Predominantly Catholic – Church has taken an assimilation role in past – Recently, more community oriented – Hispanic population growth important for the church © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contemporary Picture of Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans – Some churches starting to accommodate observances of Mexican rituals • Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) – Pentecostalism • Type of evangelical Christianity growing in Latin America © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.