Hispanic Diversity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Hispanic Diversity - Research Paper Example Cuban Americans represent one of the most prominent Hispanic ethnic groups residing within the United States. In terms of social aspects, the Cuban American family structure is notable as for Hispanic Americans they have the lowest percentage of families with five people or more; conversely, they have the highest percentage among Hispanic Americans with two-person families (Ramirez 2006). As Cuba was under Spanish rule for a considerable period of time, Cuban culture is today recognized as being heavily influenced by this Spanish period. Still, perhaps the most politically notable element of Cuban Americans is the affiliation with the Castro-regime. A long-time political enemy of the United States, most Cuban Americans resent Fidel Castro for the political rule he instituted on Cuba. Cubans Americans as such have immigrated to the United States in a number of waves beginning most prominently in the 1960s. In the 1970s, Castro himself released a great number of Cubans to the United St ates in what would be deemed the Muriel Boatlift. Unique among Hispanic groups residing in America, Cuban Americans are generally conservative. This is attributed both as a rejection of Cuban authoritarian regimes and out of a general distaste for the Democratic Party dating back to the Kennedy administration. Cuban Americans are recognized as economically disenfranchised within the United States. Their average salary is indicated to be below $32,000 a year (Ramirez 2006). In terms of religion Cuban Americans generally, practice Catholicism. Linguistically Cuban Americans speak a combination of English and Spanish. While the majority of Cuban Americans speak English, their level of English proficiency is understood to vary in accordance with their level of acculturation. Another major recognized Hispanic group residing in the United States are Columbian Americans. Columbian immigration to the United States began as early as World War I, as many professionals moved to New York City. This number increased well into the 1980s (Bryan 2007). While initially, Columbian Americans resided in metropolitan areas, their social movements have changed in the last twenty years, with increased movements to suburban areas. Also similar to social and economic trends among other Hispanic groups, Columbian Americans were recognized for taking work in jobs and industries that had been abandoned by other ethnic groups. With the increasing technological advances of the late 20th century, Columbian Americans increasingly found themselves at economic disadvantages with respect to more established and educated ethnic groups in the United States (Bryan 2007). Politically Columbians are generally liberal. Religiously Columbians generally practice Catholicism. Linguistically Columbian Americans are similar to most other Hispanic ethnic groups in that they speak Spanish and English. Also similar to other Hispanic groups their level of English proficiency is greatly contingent on their lev el of acculturation. Indeed, a great amount of Columbians residing in America lack citizenship status. In terms of family dynamics, Columbians are recognized as attempting to preserve the dynamics that they constructed in Columbia, with the male as the primary wage earner and the female as the head of the household. Children are expected to follow strict family authority as taught by their parents.  Ã‚