Chicano Mexican American Culture

Chicano/Mexican Culture History In the United States: Conflict and Assimilation in the Contemporary American Society

American society is described by many historians and social scientists to be a "melting pot" of cultures, and pseudo-societies of people with different races and nationalities. This is because throughout the years that America had been established as a stable political and economic society, a sudden influx of migration occurred, resulting to the arrival of numerous displaced people from all over the world. The surge in immigration in the United States are caused by the two world wars, which happened in during the early 1920s (World War I) and 1940s (World War II).

In effect, there has been immigration of German Jews, Asian nationals, and even the country's nearest neighbors, Spanish-speaking nationals from Central and South America. Among these Spanish-speaking nationals were the Mexicans, who were forced to leave their country to find better opportunities in America. Throughout history, Mexicans have been subjected under the rule of the U.S., although they were displaced and already marginalized in American society. This essay explores the dynamics of Chicano/Mexican society and culture in the U.S., from its early history until the contemporary American society. Through this discourse, an analysis of the social dynamics is related with secondary sources that determines the future of Chicano/Mexican culture and society in the United States.

Prior to discussing social and cultural dynamics among Chicano and Mexicans, it is important to distinguish the difference between the term "Chicano" and "Mexican-Americans." This is vital in determining whether the nature of Chicano and Mexican identities is synonymous with Mexican culture and society. Two major elements in U.S.-based Mexican society are the Chicanos and Mexican-Americans. These two social groups under the Mexican society are differentiated primarily through the nature of their entry into American soil. The term Mexican-American is so-called because they are the original inhabitants of the U.S.-acquired northern territories of Mexico. These northern territories include the (present U.S.) states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California (Tatum, 2001). Technically, Mexican-Americans are citizens of the U.S. who have been descendants of the original and Mexican inhabitants of these acquired states or territories. The Chicanos, on the other hand, are identified as Mexicans who immigrated in the U.S. during the period 1930s-1940s (Salvador 2003). It was, historically, a derogatory term to describe immigrant Mexicans, in the same way the term "Negroes" connote a negative meaning for African/black Americans in the country today.

Thus, from these terms, one can imply how social dynamics have been different for these two groups, as each tried to cope up by assimilating in the American society. The dynamics involving Chicano and Mexican-American assimilation in the U.S. consists of two phases: the conflict and assimilation phases. These phases are especially applicable to the Chicano society and culture in the U.S., which is representative of the struggle that Mexicans have fought for along time in American society.

The first phase, called the conflict phase, is also the initial phase of the establishment of Mexican society and culture in the U.S. This phase is illustrated through the manifested display of conflict between the Mexicans and Americans. This is especially evident in the kind of life Mexicans lead in their states (U.S.-acquired Mexican territories), where poverty, unemployment, and marginalization is prevalent. These problems arise because of the social and political context under which Mexicans have entered the country. While Mexican-Americans have already been assimilated in American society, establishing their social and economic status in the society, Chicanos are mainly 'outcasts' in the country. Driven from their country because of economic strife, Chicanos tried to make a living in American soil by working as a laborer at very low wages. Douglas (1990) explicitly studies the dynamics of Mexican society during the conflict phase, with post-war America as its social landscape: "Labor and production persistently defined the history of Mexicans in the United States, at least through World War II. Itinerant gang labor in agriculture and on the railroads of the Southwest was always essential. Mexicans worked in urban service industries as well, though not in great numbers. What some have called a secondary labor market of dead-end, low-paying jobs defined the work lives of Mexicans north of the border. Mexicans responded with a variety of adjustments, resignation, and resistance" (284). Evidently, Mexican society, which includes Chicanos and Mexican-Americans, is defined with a sense of territoriality for Americans. Because society sees Mexican society as a society of displaced people, marginalization became prevalent, whether these people are original inhabitants and citizens of the country or not, resulting to discrimination and poverty.

The second phase of the development of Mexican society in the U.S. is the assimilation phase. This phase is descriptive of the current social dynamics occurring within Mexican society in the country. In this phase, Chicanos and Mexican-Americans create a balance between maintaining Mexican and American cultures. Thus, the collectivist and high-context Mexican society is preserved as Chicanos/Mexicans try to achieve economic, social, even political statuses and roles in the American society. Similarly, American society is learning to cope with the presence of a diversified society in their country, and the rising prominence of the Mexican heritage is manifested not only in the society, but in both American and Mexican legislation as well. In 1997, a law providing Mexican-Americans the rights to have dual citizenship, and privileges for Mexicans to vote both in the U.S. And Mexico.