8/11/2013

Historical Report on Race

On Latinos

Micheal Wade
ETH/125

The race of Hispanic Latinos has come a long way in the United States after years of struggling to get the rights they have today, which is still lacking. This race has had many experiences that are less than pleasant but persevered through hard times in hopes to have the same rights as other dwellers in the United States. Hispanics have fought not getting adequate education, not being able to vote, and struggles with gaining access to the country in the first place. It should not have been this hard for any race. Let alone, one that is such a vital part of American culture. The race of Hispanics has been in the United States for much longer than most people think. Ever since this magnificent country was founded, the natives that shared the country with the Spanish newcomers which thought they were pioneers mingled to become the Hispanic Latino people. These two groups combined to make what was called the Mestizos, which were the first run of Hispanics here in this country. Hispanics have been around enough to have helped sculpted what America has become in its current time. Knowing that this race has been side by side other races during this time makes us be able to see how diverse cultures are when placed next to others. This Hispanic race has protected its country of living dating back to the Revolutionary War. It is the Hispanics that have brought many ideas that are in place today, such as mining and setting up harbor lands by water to help with food and resources. This race is seen today as playing any of the major sports found in this country along with a slew of other races. Their building ways such as adobe homes and clay helped see efficiency in home building throughout the west. Hispanics have gone as far as making it to politics.

The number of Hispanics found in the United States is growing at alarming rates due to the higher standard in living conditions found here. This amount of Hispanics is a large enough number to make people such as presidential candidates target this race since they are such a monumental factor in winning poles. These candidates must offer Hispanics more in order to have their attention as if they do not do this; Hispanics have remarkably little need to support any candidate running. There are also the Hispanics that are here for work which cannot participate in voting without being legal citizens of the country. One other factor they may keep the Hispanics from voting is poverty. Maurilio (2012) states, there is a correlation between such socioeconomic indicators as level of education and income, and level of political participation." Hispanics have a higher poverty level than most of the other races found in the United States. Although poverty may not be the reason why; Hispanics have been the target for multiple counts of discrimination throughout this country's history. It has been for many years that this race has been made to look as the far inferior race to most other races found in the country. There are many popular stereotypes that make them look like hard people to educate, people that have no drive to make a higher standard in the workplace, or even adapt to the new ways people set to live by in this country. Long before we progress to the way we are today with everyone having equal rights, there was a time when people shunned any non-white person living here. The Alien Naturalization Act of 1790 made people such as Hispanics not allowed to gain citizenship because of being nonwhite. This law was passed to be bias towards any nonwhite person as even white immigrants in good standing could become citizens if living in the states for 2 years (Alien Naturalization Act, 1790). The groups affected swiftly began fighting for their rights since they felt they were just as much a part of the nation as anyone

else that lived here. In 1896 (Plessy v Ferguson, 1896), a "separate but equal" law were passed that allowed the separation still but equal treatment among those that were separated. This was the snowball that got things rolling as this at least gave some freedom and rights to people that were nonwhite. Hispanics gained from this as the ones that could become citizens flocked to get laboring jobs as they could be hired.

References
1. 1790 Alien Naturalization Act (Mar. 26, 1790) Retrieved from: a. http://immigration.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=000769
2.

Plessy vs. Ferguson case of 1896: 163 U.S. 573