The people of Hispanic origin account for a considerable part of the population of the United States. More specifically, the Hispanic population of the country has surpassed sixty million by the year 2019, and this number increases to 64 million if the people of Puerto Rico are included. In this regard, a rapid growth has been observed since the second half of the 20th century, as the Hispanic population amounted to only four million people in 1950. Moreover, it is only projected to increase up to 111 million in the next forty years (Rumbaut, 2019). Nevertheless, in spite of the similarities in origins, culture, and ancestors, the Hispanic population can be divided into two major categories. First of all, there are people who immigrate to the United Stated from Latin America. Second, a considerable portion of Hispanic Americans are born and live in the former Mexican territories ceded to the U.S.
The two categories may have varying experiences in this country, as enabled by the objective differences. From one perspective, the inhabitants of former Mexican territories may be expected to show a better degree of assimilation in terms of the American traditions, culture, and language. However, Qian et al. (2017) state that such communities tend to become more enclosed, preserving the centuries of Latin American customs. As such, they form primarily Hispanic families that rarely extend beyond the inner circle. On the other hand, the same study shows that recent immigrants from Latin America have a different experience (Qian et al., 2017). They are more dispersed across the territory of the country, often refraining from forming enclosed communities. Instead, they prefer to assimilate with the rest of the population through the language and, for example, mixed marriages. However, in spite of these differences, both local and immigrant people of Hispanic origins remain loyal to their roots and represent the parts of a whole. They share their native language and cultural code, while being subjected to similar instances of individual and systemic disparities on the racial basis.
References
Qian, Z., Lichter, D. T., & Tumin, D. (2017). Divergent pathways to assimilation? Local marriage markets and intermarriage among U.S. Hispanics.Journal of Marriage and Family, 80(1), 271-288.
Rumbaut, R. G. (2019). Hispanics in the United States: Origins and destinies. History Now, 53.