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Thousands of Mexicans were granted citizenship after the United States acquired land previously belonging to Mexico. During the gold rush years Whites became increasingly greedy and acquired land previously granted to Mexican Americans; at time by illegal means (Shaeffer, 2006). Similar to the experience of Native Americans, Mexican American citizens found themselves being stripped of land which was rightfully theirs.

Despite the proximity of Mexico to the United States, lifestyles of the people are at opposite ends of the spectrum. Poverty is the motivator for most of the immigration from Mexico to the United States, and much of the agricultural industry employs seasonal laborers from across the southern borders. As much of this movement is not documented by immigration authorities, many Mexican nationals find themselves being detained and deported, while those who are legal residents or citizens of the United States continue their battle for a peaceful life free of prejudice and discriminatory actions by White society.

Mexicans in general have poor health, live in poverty and achieve a much lower level of education than all other minority groups in the United States. A young Mexican woman's role in the family helps to foster the problem of being exempt from education and social activities to some extent, although Mexican males are more likely to enjoy the benefits of mainstream America because their roles are largely outside of the home as providers. In general, life is difficult for most Mexican Americans due to racial profiling and poverty from menial jobs because of their lack of education.

One thing all members of the Hispanic society do value is the privilege of being present in the United States. They arrive for many reasons, and most are keen to learn the English language while maintaining cultural and family traditions within the family unit. Unlike many non-Hispanic citizens, Hispanics can see the value of obtaining a good education and subsequent employment, while at the same time caring for the elderly members of their extended families. We have a lot to learn from our new Americans, but sadly, most will never fully understand these proud people due to prejudice and ignorance.

Reference

Brub, M. (2005, November). Colombian Migration Flows and Policies of Receiving Countries. Retrieved March 2009, from Migration Policy Institute: http://www.migrationinformatio n.org/Profiles/display.cfm?ID= 344

Schaefer, R. T. (2006). Racial and Ethnic Groups, Tenth Edition. Prentice-Hall by Pearson Education.

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