Hispanics in California

Term Paper # 101469

Ethnic Studies > North American
Labor Studies
Latin-American Studies > Race, Class, Gender Issues

This paper explores the impact of the growing Hispanic population in California.

2,354 words () | 6 sources | MLA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper defines the Hispanic population in California and analyzes their growth, racial identity and English proficiency. The paper looks at the ability of the Hispanic population to integrate into the United States through geographical stability, language diversification and economic strength. The paper highlights the need for educational improvement in order to maintain and support this large economic labor force in California. The paper concludes that this demographic will play a large socioeconomic and political role in the future of California.

Outline:
Introduction
Defining the Hispanic population
Are Hispanics a Minority in California?
Hispanics as a Staple Citizen
Racial Identity among Latinos
English Proficiency
Hispanic Education
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"There is an intrinsic difficulty in defining the Hispanic due to the numerous stereotypes evolved from such trends as migrant seasonal workers and illegal immigrations. The most widely used and accepted terms are "Hispanic" or "Latino" (Ramos 14). The term Hispanic is normally applied to all those citizens who are Spanish-speaking and have a historical and cultural heritage or lineage linked to Spain. Latino refers to people originating or having a cultural heritage from Central and Latin America. This is important to note the difference between both classes, as it can become confusing and cumbersome in data analysis. Latino does not necessarily imply Spanish background and linkages, instead encompasses numerous languages derived from Latin e.g. Spanish, French, and Portuguese, which are commonly found to be spoken in some context in many Latin American nations (Ramos 15)."

Sample of Sources Used:

Lopez, David and Andres Jimenez. "Latinos and Public Policy in California: An Agenda of Opportunity". Institute of Govermental Studies, University of California, Berkeley. San Francisco: UC Berkeley, 2003.
Ramos, Jorge. The Other Face of America. New York: Harper Collins, 2002.
Schnagl, Pam. "Hispanic Market Secondary Research Executive Summary". CUNA Mutual Group. 1 (2003): 1-25.
U.S. Census Bureau. The Hispanic Population in the United States: March 2002. Washington DC: Library of Congress, June 2002.
U.S. Census Bureau. The Hispanic Population in the United States, Census 2000 Brief. Washington D.C.: Library of Congress, May 2001.