Martin Marger in the article Hispanic Americans raises an important problem of ethnicity in the USA. Starting the discussion with the identification of the Hispanic Americans and their place in the population of the USA, the author says that some cities inhabit more Hispanic Americans than Americans.
Speaking about several Hispanic American groups differentiated by the city people immigrated from, the author stresses the peculiarities of their immigration, the specific reasons for this and particular manner. For about one hundred years Mexican Americans immigrate to the USA. He strongest wave was in 1848, the one followed by the Mexican war. People went to the USA to protect themselves.
Puerto Rican Americans became the part of American population in 1898 after the Spanish-American war. Cuban Americans recently immigrate in their own desire, however, several years ago political situation in the country made many Cubans leave their native country and to go to the USA.
Considering the problems which exist in the Hispanic ethnical group, racial status is considered as one of the most urgent. Most Mexican Americans are mestizo that makes them a different racial group even though many Mexican Americans considered themselves as European ones. Puerto Rican Americans ethnicity comprised out of African and Indian ethnical groups.
Therefore, Hispanic Americans by all means is the discriminated race which can never be equal to white Americans. Due to the dark color of skin and specific differences, racial status of Hispanic Americans will also remain as the lowest ethical group.
I see that the level of discrimination in the USA has lowered but still it exists. Hispanic Americans are not much higher that African Americans in their status, therefore, the biased attitude to them is high.
Speaking about social and economic status of Hispanic Americans, it should be stated that most Hispanic Americans do not have good education. This leaves them at the lower social stage. Additionally, most Hispanic American families live below the poverty threefold, therefore, their status is not going to improve. Completing difficult and dirty work, Hispanic Americans do not usually strive for higher positions due to lack of education.
One more barrier is the illegal status of many Hispanic Americans. The inability of some Hispanic Americans to come to the USA legally pushed them for illegal immigration. This lowers the status of all Hispanic Americans in the eyes of country population.
Many stereotypes exist among Hispanic Americans. Such stereotyping is mostly connected with the way how they case to the country. Illegal status of many people makes Hispanic Americans be prejudiced.
It is impossible to distinguish between legal immigrant and illegal one from the first site, therefore, all of them are considered as illegal. This stereotype prevents Hispanic Americans from taking strong positions in the American society.
Therefore, I want to say that having read this article, I understood that even though prejudice and discrimination are important aspects in the American society, they are still not the only problem Hispanic American face. Low level of education, racial discrimination, illegal status and other particular reasons make Hispanic Americans a serious problem for US government.
The USA tries to cope with the problem, but the number of illegal Hispanic Americans increases each year. The immigration policy should be reconsidered in order to make sure that the level of Hispanic American illegal immigrants has lowered.