The history of Hispanic community
The term ‘Hispanic’ has different interpretation in the contemporary world. It could refer to the current Spain; it can also be used to refer to the Spanish language, or the term can be used to refer to the communities in the world that speak the Spanish language. Spain conquered and established her empire in several parts of the world. There was then movement of the Spanish to these conquered lands incorporating their culture in the regions.
Thus, there were Spanish-speaking communities in various parts of the world like Central and South America, Africa, and North America. The Hispanic community in the United States refers to the Spanish-speaking group that has migrated from the former Spanish territories into the US. They include Hispanics from Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Central America, and South America.
A major factor that favored the immigration of the Mexican, Central American, and the Puerto Ricans into the United States is the proximity of their homelands to the United States. Some could use the traditional means of transport to reach their destination (Miranda, 1997, p125). Primarily, the migratory movements that have been witnessed in many cases are caused by a need to search for greener pastures.
The immigrants often move from their homelands that have had some economic crisis to seek for some economic opportunities elsewhere. Some also leave their home countries to seek refuge due to the political unrest they experience at home.
The immigration of the Hispanics into the United States had similar driving factors; most of the Hispanics were attracted by the economic opportunities that were available in the United States, whereas others moved into the country in pursuit of their friends and relatives who had been to the country for some time.
Other immigrants were running from the political oppression they faced from their country leaders (Miranda, 1997, p125); this was a major reason for the immigration of the Cubans into the United States in the second half of the twentieth century. The majority of the immigrants in this period were tired of the Fidel Castro reign that was prevailing in Cuba such that, many ran away hoping that they would be back after the incumbent president had been overthrown.
The Hispanic communities have been in the United States since the mid of the twentieth century. Presence of the communities in the United States can be traced as early as 1948 when the Mexican Hispanics were present. Their number was however relatively low throughout the century; for instance, the 1975 census showed that only 311 Hispanics of the Mexican origin were living in Nevada (Miranda, 1997, p125), while Puerto Ricans arrived in the mainland of US towards the end of the nineteenth century.
Fortunately, the adoption of the Jones Act of 1917 enabled them to obtain US citizenship and they could now enjoy a free movement between the mainland and their islands. The Cubans later arrived in the 1960s due to the communism policy established by Fidel Castro.
The US Immigration Act of 1965 encouraged the influx of New Hispanic from the Central and South America (Miranda, 1997, p128), as it replaced the old tradition of giving preference to the European immigrants. The adoption of this new law led to the influx of the other Hispanic groups during this period.
Much of the immigration into the United States occurred throughout the twentieth century with the immigrants settling in urban and suburban regions of various states like California, Illinois, and Texas. The consistent movement of the Hispanics to a particular state of county was determined by certain factors. It could be that their other relatives that had come to the US were residents of the county.
It could be that the cost of living was generally low in the preferred counties. It could also be due to the well-paving employment opportunities that were available in the regions (Miranda, 1997, p126). Others preferred areas where they could obtain employment that required very little or no knowledge of the English language.
The population of the communities of the Hispanic origin has remarkably increased in the last two or three decades. The census that was conducted in 1990 showed that there had been about 53% population increase for the Hispanic in relation to the population that was given by the 1980 population census (Miranda, 1997, p176).
The Hispanic from different various descents had experienced different population increase. For instance, the Hispanics of the Cuban origin had increased by 30% while those from the Mexican origin had increased by 54.5%. Others had as high as 66.7% increase in population (Miranda, 1997, p176).
Cultural values and beliefs
There is a wide range of cultural beliefs and practices that are common to the Hispanic community. A belief in hard work was common to all the Hispanics. The elderly in the community ensured that the upcoming youths were taught the benefits of hard work. There were also taught the importance of honesty and faithful to one another in the society. Peaceful coexistence was paramount among the members of the society. There were also evidences of strong family ties among the Hispanic communities.
In the social interactions, the Hispanics usually adopt a formal approach. The usual handshake is used as a form of greeting. More close friends or members of the family could hug or kiss one another for this purpose (Clutter & Nietto n.d). The Spanish also attach some respect when having a formal address. They do not fail to include, in their address, the honorary titles that they subject has.
The issue of time is not strict in Hispanic as it is in the US culture. It is not moral wrong if someone was late for some occasion. The kinds of attire put on by the Hispanics depend on the occasion they are to attend. They put on formal attire when attending functions like church services, social gatherings or when going to work (Clutter & Nietto, n.d). Other occasions might be attended by casual wear.
In the ancient times, education among the Hispanic communities was of very little cultural value. As long as they could seek and find employment in the sectors that required low level of education and limited English-speaking skills, the majority of the communities valued occupational activities.
The eating habits oh the Hispanic community is not very different from most other communities in the United States. There is usually a light breakfast, but the largest meal that is valued is lunch that must be slightly heavier than the breakfast. There are often period of lunch breaks even among the formal and informal Hispanic employees.
Cultural characteristics
Primary cultural characteristics
There are various cultural beliefs and values that are unique to the Hispanic community. However, the most valued characteristics are religion and the family bonds that are common among them (Lovato, p.41). The Hispanic community is portrayed as being Tran generational whereby a family consists of extended family members, from grand fathers to great grand children. They are also known to be tied to the Catholic doctrines.
Other cultural characteristics include the clothing style and the self-identity pride they have in their culture. This is witnessed in the love for their Spanish language. The parents who have migrated into the United States would always want their children to learn the Spanish language more than English.
Effects of culture
One of the effects of the Hispanics’ commitment to stick to their traditional cultural practices is they inability to learn and speak fluent English. Most of the Hispanic communities still believe that they will be moving to their motherlands after they have reached a retirement age (Miranda, 1997, p137).
They believe that if they were to learn and adopt English as their language then their culture would be eroded completely, and be assimilated among other Americans. It has been observed that some of the Hispanics like thee Puerto Ricans do not feel at home in the United States and always have a dream of going back and establishing some business enterprises back at home (Miranda, 1997, p176).
Another important effect of culture is the role that religion has played in the Hispanic family and society. It helps in providing a meaning to the Hispanic culture among the members of the family and society (Clutter & Nietto, n.d). The attachment of the Hispanics to Catholic has resulted into the emergence of certain doctrines that include both the traditional beliefs and the Christian practices.
There is a difference on how the Hispanics can be handled in an environment like learning institution (Clutter & Nietto, n.d).
The culture and the traditional psychological theory
One of the key areas in the traditional psychology is how individuals obtain ideas from the others in the society and how such social interaction influences their behaviors. The culture of the Hispanic community that instilled the spirit of cohesion can be used as a basis for providing moral guidance on the study of conducts among a given population.
The value that was given to the family as a fundamental unit among the Hispanic community is of significant relevance to a psychologist. The family is one of the social structures that help in supplying an individual with the social norms that can help shaping the behavior of the individuals.
The teachings on the principles of honesty, integrity, and hard work among the Hispanic community are important in enabling an individual to develop the required personality. One is able to understand and develop a personality that is required by the community. The principles behind which an individual develops cognitive abilities are of great importance in psychological theory.
Implications of the culture
Understanding the cultural values and practices of the Hispanic community, or any other community, will enable a psychologist understand the behavior of an individual. Understanding how the Hispanics engage in a formal setting is particular important in winning their audiences.
In a teaching and learning environment, it is important to acknowledge the value that the Hispanic attaches to their culture. They tend to preserve ethnic dignity in a multicultural environment and are often attracted if their representative is present among the organizers of an event. Another important practice to be noted among the Hispanic is the value that they give to an individual treatment. One would always want to be individually attended to in social setting.
The family
The family among most of the Hispanic communities is considered as a single unit with some traditional ties. It is the most important unit that is valued by the Hispanic community. The father is usually regarded as the head of the family units whereas the mother is charged with the domestic chores, all of which are aimed at providing for the children and other family members.
In Hispanic, the family unit is not confined to the traditional nuclear family. It includes one’s relatives like brothers/ sisters, cousins, nephew/nieces and or uncles. The head of the family instills in the members the spirit of collective and moral responsibility. Every difficulty that is experienced by any member of the family is regarded as a family problem and every member of the family should contribute towards its solution (Clutter & Nietto, n.d).
The Hispanic communities exhibit strong family ties. This is evident especially when some immigrants have arrived following their families, friends, and other relatives that had come to the US earlier. The potential males pioneered the green pastures. They would later be joined by their wives, children, and friends (Clutter & Nietto, n.d). One would only seek accommodation from a relative who has had a good establishment in the foreign country.
The family is seen to come together during various occasions like the celebration of Easter, Holy Communion, Christmas, wedding, and birthdays of the family members. The parents often try to speak to their children in the Spanish language so that the language is not suppressed by local English language.
Parenting
It was traditionally the role of the parents, in the Hispanic communities, to rear their children until the age of marriage. The parents taught their children the importance having good manners and the need to respect the authority and the elderly in the society (Clutter & Nietto, n.d). They taught the children the moral values that are acceptable in the society, and how one can conduct himself/herself during the youth stage.
In most cases, the movement of the female youth especially during the adolescent stage was checked by the parents to ensure that they do go for a dating until they are ripe enough for marriage. Trouble arose when a Hispanic immigrant in the United States wanted to establish control over his sons and daughters who could speak fluent English while the parent could not speak the same.
The parents have difficulties in controlling their children born and brought up in the United States due to the difference in moral and cultural values, the social life, foods, or the clothing style that is currently adopted by the children (Miranda, 1997, p136). There has always been conflict between the traditional values that the parents adopted and the values that are currently adopted by the children, as assimilation into the culture in the United States.
Other parents go ahead and restrict their sons and daughter to marry within their ethnic communities as a way of preserving and maintaining their cultural heritage (Miranda, 1997, p136). The application of such restrictions often receives strong opposition from the children especially if their peers are not subjected to the same conditions.
Elder care
There are currently formal and informal systems of providing care to the impaired elderly in the United States. The formal system recently developed to modernize the kind of care that was traditionally provided by the family, friends, and relatives of an impaired elderly among the American communities.
However, it has been noted that the newly established formal support systems is not any better than the traditional support system. The family, friends, and neighbors are seen to provide more care and support than the one provided at the formal centers.
The use of home-based care is common among the Latinos of any Hispanic origin. The poor working conditions and the relatively little pay that these Hispanic obtained due to the low level of education could not provide for good health among the elders. Their number is yet to increase in the future. It is projected that the population of the elderly Latino shall have increased by 500% in the year 2030 (Wallace & Lew-Ting, 1992, p1). This calls for a continued use of the in-home care and expansion the formal care systems.
Language
The usage of English language among the Hispanic communities differs significantly. Research evidences reveal that the Hispanics who have been born and raised in the United States can write and speak fluent English better than the recent Hispanic immigrants (Miranda, 1997, p119).
The scenario extends into the families of the recent immigrants where the parents are not able to speak fluent English whereas the children can do. The effect is an ineffective control of the children by their parents. They simply switch to the foreign language and the parents are lost.
The Hispanics that were born and raised in the US were not very fluent in their original language. However, the majority was bilingual and the language that was common to all the Hispanics was the Spanish language.
Religion
Most of the Hispanics are of Christian faith. In establishing their territories, the Spaniards carried forward the Roman Catholic culture to the conquered lands. As a result, Catholic is the main Christian denomination that is found among the Hispanic not only in the United States but also in the other parts of the world. They constitute about 90% of the Spanish speaking communities in the world (Clutter & Nietto, n.d). There are also those who belong to the protestant churches.
Others proclaim the Jewish faith. The Jewish religious beliefs and practices were introduced into the Latin America and other parts by the Jewish Europeans who conquered the lands.
In many of the countries that had some colonial rule, in which the colonial power brought in new religious culture, there were cases of blending the new religion with the traditional beliefs and practices by the natives of such countries. Some Hispanics have such a kind o religion that incorporates some of the traditional beliefs and practices of the original communities and the Roman Catholic religious practices introduced by the Spaniards (Clutter & Nietto, n.d).
References
Clutter, A. and Nietto, R. Understanding the Hispanic Culture. Web.
Lovato, A. (2006). Santa Fe Hispanic Culture: Preserving Identity in a Tourist Town. NY: UNM Press.
Miranda, M. (1997). A history of Hispanics in southern Nevada. Reno: University of Nevada Press. Web.
Wallace, S. and Lew-Ting, C. (1992). Getting by at home-Community-based long-term care of Latino elders. In Cross-cultural Medicine-A Decade Later [Special Issue]. West J Med, 157:337-344. Web.
Spanish language, Hispanic, United States, Family, Hispanic and Latino Americans, Mexico, Immigration to the United States, Culture.