Peer Review

Hispanic Power 1

Hispanic Power

Juan Rodriguez

University

Hispanic Power

The United States is a melting pot full of people from different ethnic groups trying to live the 'American Dream'. Even though we all want that dream, some races are seen as parasites like the hispanic community. We are the largest ethnic group in the United States yet we are treated like a parasite that needs to be rid off. This all started with the Mexican-American War, where Mexico “had lost about one-third of its territory, including nearly all of present-day California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico” (History.com, 2009, p.1). It's why there is bad blood with Mexicans crossing the river and getting jobs from the white people. As time progressed, so did the need of keeping Mexicans in Mexico and not stealing jobs from Americans.

Ever since then, hispanic's have tried to cross the river to once live in the land that belong to them. This continues on even today but know have to risk their lives to live the 'American Dream'. Things like the border patrol and the border wall were created. That didn't stop Mexicans from crossing over and getting jobs to support their families in Mexico. You can say that Mexicans were the first to want to live the 'American Dream' in the hispanic community. This followed by other hispanic groups like Cuba, Panama, and Colombia just to name a few.

Even when they succeeded in entering the United States, they are alone with no family, no money, no food, and not being able to speak the english language. These people were scare that if they interacted with Americans they would be deported back to their country and everything they went through was for nothing. It's why the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), was created to help any Hispanic in the United Stated even if they are illegal. They campaign for hispanic's rights and find ways to educate the hispanic community with the law, healthcare, and home ownership. The NCLR is there to represent the hispanic community when no other organization wouldn't.

The NCLR believes in the hispanic community can make a difference in the United States. Look at Obama's presidential election, he won because the NCLR influenced the hispanic vote. The hispanic votes carry so much power that some presidential runners take for granted. The NCLR have an influence on hispanic voting if the runner's don't do what we hispanic's want. Roberts and Kaper (2012) pointed out that if Obama wanted those votes then they had to comply with what the NCLR or say goodbye to the hispanic votes. Do keep in mind that even though the NCLR can influence the hispanic votes it does not mean that they lead the hispanic community.

Bordas (2014) indicates that even though the NCLR is the one that represents the hispanic community they are not the leaders of them. The community is the leader and what they want the NCLR will help them in anyway to achieve. The NCLR is meant to guide the hispanic community on what is going on with the law, healthcare, and home ownership. This are very important for us to know since the justice system is always changing and adapting laws and bills. Some hispanic's still don't know how to speak, read, or comprehend the english language. It's why NCLR emphasizes the importance of education. By having an education even if it's just to learn the language can improve their lives.

It's important that other races know that hispanic's are not really trying to take away their jobs. We just want to live the 'American Dream' that we see on tv. We want to make sure that we can provide for our families and make sure that the future generation can be somebody. With the help of the NCLR, we the hispanic community can make a difference and it can be for the better. We all can learn from one another if we all put aside the color of our skin because we are all human beings in the end of the day. We all thrive to survive and make a living so we're not that all different.

Bordas, J. (2014). Leadership By The Many The Power of Latino Inclusion. Leader to Leader. Retrieve from http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=9f4644bf-cac9-43c5-af94- 80a55e4bc4d7%40sessionmgr4001&vid=12&hid=4112

History.com Staff. (2009). Mexican-American War. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/mexican-american-war

Roberts, K., Kaper, S. (2012). The White House's Housing Fumbles. National Journal. Retrieve from