Hispanics in America: Culture and Mexicans, Cubans, Venezuelans

Analyzing Hispanic groups in America is a long and informative journey. Hispanics are not just one culture of people; they are a multitude of different cultures with different political views, customs, religious, familial, and other conventions that make each group unique and at times similar to the others. In this paper the author will introduce you to four different Hispanic groups. The Mexican Americans, a culture that is rooted in Mexico and trying to blossom in the United States; the Puerto Ricans, already considered United States citizens, but not always treated the same; Cuban Americans, who have left a country in political and economical turmoil to make a better life for themselves; and the Central Americans, consisting of people from many different Central American countries. 

Mexican Americans

Mexican Americans have been in the United States for many years. They have traditionally been viewed as migrant workers who would come and do farm work or work in orchards and then return to Mexico. They have changed from the role of migrants to immigrants. Mexican Americans typically speak Spanish and are being taught, in bilingual classes, the English Language. 

Mexican Americans have many values that differ from the values of a typical U.S. citizen. According to Mexico: language, culture, and etiquette, (2004), the familial values of Mexican Americans are different than those of the normal values held by U.S. citizens. The core of the Mexican-American social structure lies with the family. Women, while greatly revered, are still seen as secondary to their husbands; the husbands are seen as the authority figure and the decision-maker for the family. Families are typically very large and the extended family is considered just as important as the immediate family.