The "Wetback"

Essay # 60058

Communication > Interpersonal
Ethnic Studies > North American
Latin-American Studies > Immigration/Emigration issues

The "Wetback"

This paper looks at Mexican-American history and how the word "wetback" was created.

1,980 words () | 9 sources | MLA | 2005 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that to understand the depth of the word "wetback" people must first understand the history of the Mexican-American people: Although their history on American soil goes far back in history to the Spanish conquistadors, the term "wetback" was born as a reference to those illegal Mexican aliens who crossed the Rio Grande around the time of World War I and World War II to find employment in agriculture. The author points out that the reason so many Americans looked down on "wetbacks" was the persistence of this illegal migration, an indictment against the law enforcement agencies of the U.S. and Mexico and, because it was impossible to know the status of every person with Mexican characteristics, soon all Mexicans were labeled "wetbacks". The paper relates that this slur now considered to be politically incorrect because Mexicans are now the fastest growing minority group in the United States of America, a part of the strength of the American economy and whether or not they are in America legally demand respect.

From the Paper:

"Society labels phrases 'politically incorrect' as they try to become more sensitive to the feelings and emotions of its members. "Nigger" has changed to African-American, "chink" has changed to Asian-American, retard has changed to mentally disabled, handicap has changed to physically disabled and "wetback" has changed to Hispanic or undocumented immigrant. This may appear to be a move in the right direction but the problem surfaces when people then take these 'politically incorrect' words and throw them around in an attempt to de-humanize people. One may argue that words have no meaning but upon further investigation it is obvious that in fact a word can tell a story or even the history of a people."