Mexicans and Racism - 1065 Words

Racism isn’t a subject that appears in every day conversations. Although most people try to ignore its existence, it’s quite obvious that it marked the lives of a lot of people and it has now become an essential part of our history. As a student who has lived in the valley all her life, I’ve been taught about the hardships African Americans had to endure while obtaining their freedom, becoming eligible to vote, being segregated, but never did I stop to think that the people who shared my culture and walked the streets of the Valley and San Antonio were going through a similar experience. Throughout the years it has become apparent that African Americans weren’t the only people who had been mistreated. In those days, from El Paso to†¦show more content†¦(Orozco 30) Although a temporary school was provided, it wasn’t until four years later that an actual permanent school was created. Despite all the problems, a bettering in the economy helped expand the educational opportunities for La Raza. Education became a tool used to expand their knowledge. The education level between the whites and La Raza still differed as the latter only received schooling regarding domestic training. â€Å"San Antonio’s Sidney Lanier Junior High School, predominantly comprised of Mexican-descent children, boasted the city’s largest and most elaborate shop facilities† (Orozco 30). Politics weren’t a strong point for Mexicans as they were looked down upon for their lack of â€Å"intelligence† and their lack of fluidity in the English language. They had little to no political representation and when it came to voting most of the time they were simply used by candidates for the political win. As time progressed fewer and fewer Raza members withheld political power. The Raza was slowly losing their representation and remaining voiceless in this system. It became evident that most people weren’t in favor of Mexicans being allowed to vote as they believed that Mexicans had no real knowledge of what a political system should be like. Their claim was based around the fact that Mexicans didn’t know what a democracy was like and that their sole reason forShow MoreRelatedMy First Act Of Racism Against Me For Being Mexican1837 Words   |  8 Pagesand set off to Chicago. When they arrived at Chicago they got work in a factory making metal cabinets for offices. During his time there he had experience something new that he had never new about, â€Å"I had experience my first act of racism against me for being Mexican†. He says that the food and the climate was not what he had expected and he only stayed there for three months and decided that the American culture was not for him. He found himself o ut of place and couldn’t relate with the currentRead MoreRacism On Trial : The Chicano Fight For Justice1134 Words   |  5 PagesIn his book Racism on Trial: The Chicano Fight for Justice, Ian F. Haney Lopez studies the change that in racial politics brought about by the Chicano movement. He examines why Chicano activists embrace their identity as members of the Brown race, an action that is a rejection of previous generations attempts to gain civil rights by claiming to be White. He analyzes this racial transformation in the context of race as a socially constructed idea meant to preserve power dynamics. Haney Lopez describesRead MoreThe Solid Power Of Discrimination1386 Words   |  6 PagesThe solid power of discrimination in modern Mexico stems from the construction of Mexican society during the Spanish colonization in the 1500’s. One of the most powerful weapons concealed by the European during the Conquest was hegemony. Hegemony is â€Å"a basic principle of social control, in which a ruling class dominates others ideologically, with a minimum of physical force, by making its dominance seem natural and inevitable† (Chasteen, 2001). Thus, by using hegemony, the Spaniard convinced theRead MoreRacism During The Middle East1151 Words   |  5 Pagesmen onto the new world, racism has affected this nation severely. Different groups of people have been subjected to racism; first, the Native Americans were driven away from their homes. After that, Africans were forced into slavery and still face racism today. While not to the same degree, one cannot deny that the racism against African Americans and other minorities is still prevalent today. There are three groups specifically who are facing an extreme amount of racism today. African AmericansRead MoreDiscrimination Effects from the 1930s1530 Words   |  7 PagesRobert Staunbach. Many people consider the 1930s to be a terrible time of prejudice, especially to some violent extremes. Between racism, sexism, and social prejudice, discrimination levels were about the highest America has ever seen. This was a difficult time for African Americans in the U.S, and despite the decline of organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan, racism was as strong as ever, especially in the southern states. During the Great Depression, colossal unemployment and relocation forcedRead MoreSummary Of An American Folk Tale By Americo Paredes1424 Words   |  6 Pagesalong the Texas Mexico border. Paredes tells the story of Gregorio Cortez a Mexican farmer living on the south Texas Border who was made a hero by his people. The second novel is that of Chester Himes If He Hollers Let Him Go. Both stories deal with the issues of violence and racism, although in very different ways. Based on both works, I believe that Bob Jones’ figure leaves a more lasting and long-term consequence of racism. Chester Himes’ novel about Bob Jones has somewhat of an autobiographicalRead More Race Relations in Modern American Society Essay1587 Words   |  7 Pageswhen dealing with America’s racism. Although the specifics may differ, the experiences of Blacks and Latinos, specifically Mexican Americans, has impacted the two communities very similarly. For example, many sociologists agree that the slavery experience is the cause of many problems Black America has today. Things such as Black on Black crime, broken homes, high poverty levels and drug problems are believed to have links back to slavery. Much like Blacks, Mexican Americans have problems inRead MoreZoot Suits Riot Film1107 Words   |  5 PagesSuit Riots, Joseph Tovares remarkably portrayed the difficult lives of Mexican Americans in the 1940s. Zoot Suit Riots is a powerful film that explores the complicated racial tensions, as well as the changing social and political scene leading up to the riots in the streets of Los Angeles in the summer of 1943. White Americans, police and service men targeted Latinos with their racist attitudes. Tovares argues that these Mexican American adolescents were victims, but they also stood up for themselvesRead MoreRacism Racism1019 Words   |  5 PagesDo you believe that everyone in this world has equal rights? Well if you think that everyone in this world has the same rights your wrong. Racism has been going on for years and still to this day racism is a big part in today’s society and will forever be a part of history. Throughout the years not much has changed from having African American slaves to having immigrants. In the beginning of the sixteenth century when there was more then ten million African Americans who were forced to becomeRead MoreThe Oldest Form Of Bullying1326 Words   |  6 PagesFelipe Barbosa English 1302 10/15/15 Ms. Dew The oldest form of bullying is racism. Racism started when humans were created in planet earth. In the past century 62 million people have died from racism, and I’m not including the other billions of people suffering from it. Racism is one of the worst social diseases or problems in our society, and we should do something about. What is Racism? Racism is the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that