sociology IR4

Latinx / Hispanic Americans - Part II: The Future

SOCY 3020-E01 Race and Ethnicity in the U.S.

Fall 2018

Latinx / Hispanic Americans: The Future

 As John Hartigan (2015) points out, Sociologist Eileen O’Brien (2008) defines the racial middle as “a

complex social landscape dominated by the fastest growing panethnic groups, Latinos and Asian

Americans, whose numbers are expected to double by 2050 (about 25% and 9% of the nation’s

population respectively).

 A defining feature of life in the racial middle is the experience of marginalization in U.S. society. This is

illustrated simply by the striking underrepresentation of these groups in national politics relative to the

size of their populations.

 At the same time, O’Brien points out that by certain key demographic indicators such as educational

levels, marriage patterns, and residential choices these groups are more ‘white than black’ in terms of

the continuum between social advantage and disadvantage associated with race” (Hartigan, 2015).

 As presented through a 2011 Pew Hispanic Center report:

 Many experts agree that one of the biggest stories that came out of the past 2010 Census was the

confirmation of the dramatic surge in the Latino/Hispanic presence in the US.

 Some of these current figures point to:

 Latinos accounting for 56% of the total U.S. population growth since 2000.

 Half of the babies being born in Texas today are Latino.

 41% of Chicago’s public school students are Hispanic.

 25% of all children under 7 in the U.S. today are Latino. This equals one in every four children.

 The numeric results from the 2010 Census showed all these trend lines have accelerated in significant

ways.

 This is a significant current and futuristic indicator of where this group is and where it is headed within

the United States.

 They can confirm the transformation of the American landscape of the past few decades.

 As the report explains, the numeric results from the 2010 Census showed all these trend lines have

accelerated in significant ways.

 This is a significant indicator, both present and future, of where this group is and where it is headed

within this country.

 These numbers confirm the transformation of the American landscape of the past few decades.

 Some unique examples of the Latino/Hispanic “boom”:

 Spanish publications both printed and online across the entire country.

 Quinceañera stores in many different major and smaller cities in the U.S.

 Dulce de leche has become a very popular flavor in many ‘American’ foods, and it is delicious so go try

it if you have yet not done so.

 We even see and question the popular trend that Salsa may have surpassed ketchup in this country.

 Very indicative and of paramount importance is Latino purchasing power surpassing $1 trillion. This

is a very significant factor that solidifies the presence and cultural place of Hispanics and Latinos in

American society.

 When it comes to politics:

 With numbers comes power and the Latino vote is indeed very powerful nowadays.

 The Economist declares that “Hispanics, long underrepresented as voters, are becoming political

kingmakers” (The Economist, 2010).

 As previously reviewed, in the 2008 presidential election that led to the historic election of Barack

Obama, it was the first time Latinos and the Latino vote played a significant role in determining the

outcome of the elections.

 Latinos also highly influenced the outcome of the 2012 presidential elections as well.

 For the first time since 1988, no Latino cabinet members in the current Administration.

 For the previous administration:

 Thomas Perez, Secretary of Labor.

 Julián Castro, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

 Maria Contreras – Sweet, Small Business Administration.

 34 current members of the House of Representatives (out of 435).

 4 senators:

 Bob Menendez (D), - NJ  Marco Rubio (R) – FL  Ted Cruz (R) –TX  Catherine Cortez Masto (D) – NV

 One Supreme Court Justice:

 Sonia Sotomayor

 In Texas, 20% of the state’s House of Representatives are Mexican-American.

 A Center for Immigration Studies report (2012) projected that:

 “Hispanics would comprise 17.2 percent of the total U.S. population, 15 percent of adults, 11.2 percent

of adult citizens, and 8.9 percent of actual voters” (cis.org)

 All these projections were met and surpassed.

 As the 2011 Pew Hispanic Center report points out:

 The new Census numbers also surprised because they eradicated some myths long held by many. Here

are three:

1. Myth #1: Most Latinos speak Spanish.

2. Myth #2: Second and third Generation Latinos are more Assimilated.

3. Myth #3: Most Latinos are Immigrants from Mexico.

Myth #1: Most Latinos speak Spanish:

 “Fact: While true for first generation Latino immigrants, once you factor in second and third

generation Latinos, the data on Hispanic youth compiled by California-based Cultural Access Group

shows that 57% of the young people surveyed prefer to speak English.

 In charting media usage, a study by the Cultural Access Group found that “young Hispanics in Los

Angeles watch nearly twice as many hours of English-language television as Spanish-language TV.

These same youths spend five times more hours reading English than Spanish.”

 However, Spanish is still very important. The U.S. is currently the fifth largest Spanish speaking country

in the world. And for many Latino youth, while maybe not fluent in it, Spanish is still an important part

of their identity” (Pew Hispanic Center, 2011).

Myth #2: Second and Third Generations Latinos Are More Assimilated:

 Fact: In many cases and for many Latino individuals the newer generations are embracing their Latino

national heritage even more so than their parents.

 According to Between Two Worlds: How Young Latinos Come of Age in America released December

2009 (updated July 2013) by the Pew Hispanic Center young Latinos/Latinas were asked how they first

described themselves:

 “52% of Latino youth said their preference was for their family’s country of origin — Dominican,

Mexican, Cuban, etc. — over American, which 24% favored. Even fewer, 20%, responded Hispanic or

Latino” (Pew Hispanic Center, 2013).

Myth #3: Most Latinos Are Immigrants from Mexico:

 “Fact: While the majority are of Mexican descent (65%), Latinos come from 27 different countries in

Latin America.

 16% are from Central and South America, 9% from Puerto Rico (who are not immigrants), 4% from

Cuba, 6% from other countries.

 Which means while there is the shared heritage for Latinos within the bell curve of this demographic of

being Catholic, fútbol-loving, and communal in worldview there are significant differences among the

various Latino groups” (Pew Hispanic Center, 2011).

 One important and highly debated issue is immigration. We constantly hear about immigrants,

immigration reform, immigration politics, and their effects on this society.

 Nowadays we can see a clear platform used by many politicians and media outlets to discuss

immigration and the issues and people attached to it. One common perception perpetuated by many

sources is that most Latinos are immigrants, when in fact we need to remember that two-thirds of

Latinos are born in the United States which means they are Americans by birth to begin with.

 What makes the immigration debate so wrenching for the Latino community, even those who are not

immigrants, are the blood ties where families are often composed of a mix of those born in the U.S. and

those who immigrated.

 Another related predominant myth is the popular belief that undocumented immigrants pay no taxes,

take away “all” of our jobs, hinder our economy and abuse our social services.

 Chris Schefler (2001) weighs in by pointing out that:

 “The Southwest and California were built in large part by undocumented and documented Mexican

immigrants.

 There was a time when Mexican migrant workers passed freely over the border each season to labor in

the Southwest.

 In that time, Mexicans were an important and welcomed source of cheap labor.

 At the end of the season, the laborers would return to Mexico. The border was always open for their

return” (Schefler, 2001) .

 “Today, Mexican/Latino workers pay sales taxes just like everyone else and many work for substandard

wages at the lowest end jobs in the country.

 Paying undocumented workers below minimum wage is very common and results in higher profits for

the undocumented employer, and therefore higher taxes paid by the employer.

 End result: worker gets much lower pay (essentially payroll withholding) which results in more taxes

being paid into the U.S. and State treasuries (due to higher profits for the undocumented employers)”

(Schefler, 2001).

 Many undocumented employers are aware that their Mexican/Latino laborers are undocumented, but

still withhold payroll taxes from their paychecks, and instead of paying those taxes to the government,

they pocket them.

 Since many undocumented Mexican/Latino workers can live in fear of deportation, some rarely seek any

social services or file for income tax returns for fear of being discovered and deported. (They can do this

with the use of an easily obtainable Individual Taxpayer Identification Number ITIN).

 The only exceptions for using social services are emergency medical care and primary education, the

two necessities too urgent to forego (Schefler,2001) .

 So how is it that Mexican/Latino/Hispanic immigrants are responsible for many of our economic

problems and many other troubles?

 10 million undocumented Latino/Hispanics. 245 million people age 18 and over in the U.S (77%).

About 4.1% of the total adult population in this country are undocumented Latino/Hispanic individuals.

 How is a specific group representing 4.1% of the adult population in the U.S. “taking away ALL

of our jobs?” How many and what type of jobs do they actually “take away?” (4.3%

unemployment rate approx. 10 million people)

 Whichever position you may choose to adhere to, the futuristic reality of this group is that beyond being

and becoming a stronger economic force in this country ($1 trillion in buying power), Latinos/Hispanics

are and will continue to be a major political and social force as well.

 This group will keep growing and will exercise a different position within U.S. society.

 We will all be part of this group’s future, directly or indirectly.

 Whether we consider the new Latino power and its economic, cultural, social, and political effects on

U.S. society, or the social issues related to this group; several modern notions are very factual:

 Latinos and Hispanic Americans are an indelible part of this society (from past to present and future).

 They have been here and will continue to be part of this society while exercising more power on this

country’s social systems than any other minority group.

 This group carries a powerful and significant growth factor that will keep shaping this country in many

different ways and in many different social facets and arenas.

 As Richard Schaefer (2002) explains:

 “Large concentration of Latinos live in a number of U.S. largest cities.

 Economic change is also apparent. Poverty and unemployment rates fluctuate while more recent

immigrants from Mexico, and Puerto Ricans moving to the mainland are likely to enter the lower or

working class upon arrival.

 However, there is a growing middle class within the Hispanic community where even half of the

Hispanic population can now be regarded as on parity with the White middle class” (Schaefer, 2002).

 The successes are real.

 Candidates for political office seek and need the Latino vote.

 There is a mixture of positive and negative trends, but ballots are printed in Spanish among other

languages. Bilingual education is available throughout the United States.

 Espousing pluralism rather than assimilation is not un-American either (Schaefer, 2002).

 Their legacy in this country is being forged as a major social force that is:

 better educating itself,

 reshaping the working and middle class,

 repelling many stereotypes,

 gaining political and social representation,

 demanding equality and respect,

 and making meaningful contributions to the well-being of this country and this society.