Hispanic Americans

Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Columbian Americans, and Cuban Americans are only four of an innumerable amount of Hispanic peoples living in the United States today. Each and every one of these groups shares many part of their Hispanic culture with one another but also vary in distinct ways. However, one thing is for sure, each group of Hispanic Americans still retains a specific identity based on religion, linguistics, politics, and family conventions--just to name a few.

Mexican Americans are the largest group of Hispanic Americans currently living in the United States at 64 percent--26.8 million people. Until the 1970s Mexican Americans were classified as white in status. In prior years, they were also given citizenship upon arrival and served in all units of the American military during World War II. Today, Mexican American's are divided with 48 percent considering themselves white and the rest as non-white. In addition to these status and political issues, Mexican Americans also have distinct economic and social ties. These people have notoriously met the need for cheap labor through illegal immigration. Fear of deportation keeps these people from participating in social welfare programs and keeps them in the blue color work sector primarily. However, even in such circumstances and while striving to obtain the "American Dream," this group continues to practice primarily Roman Catholicism and retain their Mexican culture and language (Spanish).

Puerto Ricans living in the United States are primarily descendents of Indian tribes of the Taino, Europeans, and African slaves, with about 8 million living in Puerto Rico and in the America. This makes the population quite multi-cultural and diverse, in contrast to the Mexican Americans. Puerto Rico became a Commonwealth of the United States in 1952, allowing Puerto Ricans much easier passage in and out of the United States and citizenship. The Puerto Ricans of today speak English and their own blend and unique pronunciation of Spanish. Puerto Ricans are also very proud of their culture with 95% considering themselves to be Puerto Rican regardless of their race of color. Most Puerto Ricans in the United States still practice Roman Catholicism. However, there are many minority groups of Islamic and Judaic followers. All in all, Puerto Ricans are a very proud group with unique and distinct ties to their mixed ancestry.

Columbian Americans as a group have increased in population in the United States in recent times with the escalating violence and economic problems in their native country. The majority of Columbian Americans, like the Puerto Ricans, are a mix of ethnicities. In their case they are considered Mestizos or Mulatos, and are a mix of Africans, Spanish, and Native American ethnicities. Since the rise of the number of immigrants after the outbreak of the Columbian Civil War, this group has been slapped with a number or immigration laws and requirements. However, their numbers continue to rise. There are large populations of Columbian Americans in New York, South Florida, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and even Chicago. Unfortunately, Columbian Americans are still facing issues with immigration. They were also a main subject to concern to many Americans with the growth of the undocumented population, which was perceived as an economic burden to many. Such feelings fueled a political backlash that led to the passage of Proposition 187 by voters in California 1994. The law denied health care, education, and other services to undocumented immigrants from Columbia. A federal appeals court ruled most of the measure unconstitutional and in 1999, the state decided not to appeal the ruling. Yet their issues continued. In 1994 even documented immigrants were threatened remain after the Republicans in congress proposed to deny them benefits and services as part of its Contract with America. This proposal did not pass. However, in 1996 Congress enacted a law denying non-emergency health care, welfare and higher education benefits to illegal immigrants and undocumented workers from Columbia. Despite these continuing issues, Columbian Americans