Introduction
Throughout history, people have migrated from one place to another in search of a place to prosper. Even in modem times, the global forces of migration, poverty, increase in population, and other such phenomena continue to impact and influence the shaping of that international community. People from different communities worldwide often migrate to other nations for multiple purposes. It can be done to escape persecution, poverty, or in the search for better living conditions and overall improved quality of life. Millions of people migrate from their home countries to different nations for better opportunities each year.
Among the many communities that relocate, one of the more well-known is the migration of Latinos and Hispanics who seek to find a new life in North America. A large percentage of its population comprises these communities that have migrated from the Caribbean Islands. This paper aims to discuss the history of migration of Hispanics and Latinos to North America, searching for opportunities, a better life- quality, and the struggles faced. This paper aims to analyze the history, as well as various aspects related to the process of changing the place of residence for different nationalities.
Discussion
In countries all over the world, there are people who, either legally or illegally, have migrated frothier home country for a variety of reasons. The International Organization of Migration states that an estimated 70,000,000 people in developing nations work as migrants in other countries for various reasons (Marsella). However, there is still some hostility towards these communities, despite the opportunities provided. In western history, the first Hispanic citizen of the United States was brought about through the annexation of Mexico by the US (Marsella). This historical event reflects the main reason why the migration flows of Spanish-speaking people are directed to this part of the country. In the future, this process has spread to other parts of the country, where a large number of Hispanic population can now be observed (Marsella). With the migration of the Hispanic and Latino population, the communities could gain more access to facilities that would allow them to increase and better their quality of life. This came in the form of improved health care, higher quality of education, and more significant job opportunities.
This migration process was facilitated by the existence of already settled Mexican communities in North America. This factor incentivized the migration of many Hispanic and Latino populations to the perpetually developing first world nation of North America. However, this migration from one country to another is not solely a beneficial ordeal (Bailey). With the migration of these communities to North America, there are certain aspects of shifting to a new social environment that can cause struggles and obstacles in integrating them into American societies. It is worth noting that one of the main obstacles that the Hispanic population faced was discrimination. Migrants growing up in the United States confronted a contradiction in the American and Dominican frameworks for constructing racial identities (Bailey). Then they were able to foster their sense of identity through speaking Spanish, but this resulted in the formulation of additional barriers like misunderstanding and complexity of interaction.
The difference in languages, Spanish and English, caused complications in communication and comprehension. Additionally, the distinction in cultures and ideologies between the Hispanic migrants and the North American residents caused the problem of the employment. However, the Hispanic migrants were ablest the gain access to menial jobs that allowed them to earn themselves a decent living; the contrast in cultures and perspectives, along with the identity of a migrant, caused the hindrance in rising through the ranks and gaining access to higher positions (Marsella). Initially, assimilation with the culture of the dominant group was a successful acculturation strategy.
Latin American diasporas do not create a homogeneous cultural community on the territory of the United States but retain an analog of their historical homeland in the situation of immigration. As a rule, the dominant group restricts the choice of strategies in one way or another and more often builds a framework that leads either to assimilation, separation, or segregation (Sandefur and Jeon). The least rare option is marginalization, resulting from attempts to combine forced assimilation with forced segregation.
Modern integration processes do not reduce the degree of social stratification of society and language, only their forms change. However, currently in the USA, this process is the target of acculturation, that is, a strategy of mutual adaptation, which leads to the formation of a bicultural or multicultural personality (Marsella). Through the history of migration, it can be understood that the rate of Hispanics and Latinos, alongside other minority groups like Asians and Blacks in the United States, mused closer and surpassed the rate of migration of the majority white population (Sandefur and Jeon). Even in modem times, racial differences in regional distribution can be observed. Although many countries have accepted and welcomed immigrants as an inclusion to the political, economic, and moral contributions, thus attitudes and policies have begun to change (Bailey). It is necessary to understand that there has been an increasing rise in fear of immigrants.
There is a rising fear that the immigrants will wed the children of the residents of the host countries and engage in sexual relations. These fears contribute to the increasing obstacles and struggles of integrating Hispanic and Latino immigrants into the societies and communities across the United States (Marsella). The goal and result of acculturation is a long-term adaptation to life in a different culture and even socialization. This process can be characterized by stable changes in individual or group consciousness in response to the demands of the external environment (Sandefur and Jeon). The adaptation process itself is considered in psychological and socio-cultural aspects (Bailey). Psychological adaptation is the achievement of psychological satisfaction within the framework of a new culture, which is associated with mental well-being. Socio-cultural side is the ability to freely navigate a new culture and society and involvement in social processes and institutions. Another vital target component is economic adaptation, as an indicator of involvement in the labor and economic spheres and satisfaction with work, professional achievements, and well-being.
The constant change in the composition of the Latin American population of the United States — the influx of legal and illegal immigrants from Mexico and Central and South American countries leads to the socio-economic status of the entire community of Latin Americans being relatively low. Multicultural technologies related to the preservation of their cultural values and their dissemination among the entire United States population can be considered the primary information operations of the Latin American community (Marsella). At the level of the “human factor”, the individual and the family in pluralistic societies, there is an acute problem of socio-economic adaptation, maintaining or improving social status the meeting material and spiritual needs in the emerging new conditions (Sandefur and Jeon). One of the main issues related to integration into the new national space is preserving one’s own cultural identity (Bailey). In this regard, the idea of oneself as a person and the connection with parents and family in general among immigrants of Latin American origin is high.
Conclusion
In conclusion, throughout history, and even in modem times, Hispanic and Latino immigrants have often relocated to North America to seek better opportunities and better life quality. Moreover, alongside the benefits of migrating to a new culture and nation, it whelms a slew of struggles and obstacles that new communities face. Immigrants often have difficulties establishing themselves due to their foreign language and severe issues in integrating and adapting to the new community and society.
Similarly, the immigrants’ coming can often cause fear to set in the mind of the residents of the host countries, which can create apprehension against them and result in rejecting the new people. Another factor characterizing the socio-cultural characteristics of Latin American diasporas and complicating the integration of Latin American immigrants is that their home countries are in relative territorial proximity to the United States. The current level of development of communication technologies gives modern migrants more opportunities to contact their native countries than in the past centuries. This is a factor contributing to the stability of diasporas; their resistance to integration and assimilation processes gives an incentive to migrants to preserve their identity and not forget about their history.
Works Cited
Bailey, Benjamin. “Dominican-American Ethnic/Racial Identities and United States Social Categories.” The International Migration Review, vol. 35, no. 3, 2001, pp. 677–708. JSTOR.
Marsella, Anthony J. “Migration, Ethnocultural Diversity and Future Worklife: Challenges and Opportunities.” Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health, vol. 23, no. 4, 1997, pp. 28–46. JSTOR.
Sandefur, Gary D., and Jiwon Jeon. “Migration, Race and Ethnicity, 1960–1980.” The International Migration Review, vol. 25, no. 2, 1991, pp. 392–407. JSTOR.