The Chicanos consist of Mexicans who have moved to the United States as immigrants. In a more precise way, they include all the Mexicans who live in the United States of America (Penalosa, 25). The fact that culture is different in the two countries has led to high tension between the ethnic groups, which practice diverse cultures. Mexicans who moved to the states across the borders faced various challenges. Their urge to keep internal diversity and cultural unity made them resist any form of assimilation. Moreover, the differences between the Mexicans and Native Americans in the US have drawn much attention. The main point of discussion in this paper is geared towards examining the social organization of the Chicanos Chicanos value their cohesion and integration hence the reason why they choose to maintain their beliefs. A heated conflict came up between those who wanted to embrace assimilation and Chicanos who advocated for internal diversity.
Various factors within the United States affect the integration of the Mexican immigrants. Various researchers H written about the cultural composition of the Chicano people. The first analysis that has captured the attention of many in the history of the Chicano people is given by Gutiérrez. About the thesis, he has given a detailed analysis of who the Chicano people are and their history in the United States (Gutiérrez, 79). To him, any immigrant group that moved to the US in the mid-eighties would automatically become assimilated. Assimilation will occur structurally at both the macro and micro levels. Gutiérrez on the other hand asserts that it can happen because of the various interactions that people will have. English language mastery, marriage, political groups that are dominant, and market integration are some of the possible indicators of assimilation that is noted by the author. Further, the author has presented Chicano people as a cohesive group that has its social boundaries (Gutiérrez, 281). Gutiérrez applauds the Chicano culture even though he notes that it is complex to adjust to. Precisely, the transition of their social classes into what was referred to as American middle-class culture.
The second analysis that has been directed towards finding out the constitution of the Chicano people has been highlighted, Garcia. The author notes with concern the fact that the border meant a more significant feature to Mexicans. This is because it symbolized separation from their motherland and made them feel part of a different society (Garcia, 195). According to Garcia, the border was significantly different from Mexicans because of the historical epoch, whether one was an immigrant or not, acculturation, societal class, and consciousness. Further, the author focuses on the contributions, impacts, and significance of the way of life for three Californian newspapers. He notes that Mexicans who arrived in the US as immigrants in the 19 century underwent a lot including oppression, racial discrimination, loss of lands, labor exploitation and second-class citizenship.
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Notably, Chicano’s who came decades later responded in a different way to the matter as compared to the first lot. The Mexican revolution is the major cause that led to over one million immigrants moving the US to seek refuge. The movement increased the total population of the communities that are along the borders. Garcia asserts that the Mexican who were resistant to the conquest and those who had undergone acculturation decided to maintain a Mexican way of life. The newspapers that are in question included La Opinión, which rejected the revolution and defended immigrants who oppOsed the wrong acts. Mexicans were regarded as strangers not in their land but a different place, particularly in the US soil. Additionally, Garcia depicts that immigration and ethnic retention was a tool that was dissolving provincialism among the Mexicans. To him, immigration provided a “melting pot” that led to unification as Mexicans instead of fully embracing assimilation.
Chicano’s learned to handle their political, religious and other differences while living in a foreign land. This was particularly important as it led to cohesion and unity among them. The Chicano had a plan of developing their political tolerance in the north having gained some experience (Rosales, 299). The Mexican American border was significant to all Chicanos as they regarded it as a symbol of hope. Regarding education, La Opinion had worries that US schools were having different effects on Mexican children. They wanted to adopt a completely diferent Mexican education system for their children. The schools started though they were not many, however, they were not openly rebuking the concept of Americanization. In their schools, many Mexican children would leam their values, beliefs, and culture in general. In essence, much emphasis was put on the importance of the Mexican culture, but they would not mention any danger associated with Americanization.
The Mexicans in the US soil maintained strongly that they have their own culture that they should uphold and treasure rather than getting assimilated by Americanization. This led to increased resistance from the Mexicans in a bid to fight for better lives as immigrants in the United States. The tension between cultural diversity and assimilation faced much criticism to the extent of causing tension. Chicanos had values that they were to guard as their own instead of embracing Americanization. The analyses that have been conducted by various researchers are of significant importance in understanding the Chicano culture.
