In this paper, I will attempt to provide a brief summary of the linguistic, political, social, economic, religious and familial statuses of the Mexican Americans, the Puerto Rican Americans, the Cuban Americans and the Dominican Americans.
These Hispanic or Latino groups are a diverse population. Though they are from different groups they have been categorized by Americans as the same. This is largely due to the common language; Spanish. Almost all of the Hispanic and Latinos come to the United States in search of the American Dream and political asylum. Originally members of these migrating groups were not well received in the American Society and schools.




The Mexican Americans have been U.S. residents longer than any other Hispanic American. “In the United States Mexican-Americans comprise 60 percent of the Hispanic/Latino population. Mexicans live predominantly in California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. The difference between Mexican, Puerto Rican, and other Latin American countries includes 500 years of separate history, as well as entirely different native populations that were present when the Spaniards arrived. Thus, the Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Latin American cultures each have a completely different concept of what foods are appropriate and what these foods are called.” http://ohioonline.osu.edu. ( 2008). The Mexican Americans mostly hold low end paying jobs. They are primarily involve in more laborious jobs such as building and road construction workers, architecture and lawn care. This group of people maintain a humble profile within their communities.

This image is of a typical Mexican American family.
The second largest subgroup of the Hispanic Americans is the Puerto Ricans. There are approximately 3.5 million Puerto Ricans who live in the United States. Most of them reside in New York and New Jersey states. The Puerto Ricans are US citizens since Puerto Rico is a territory (Commonwealth) of the United States. As citizens of the country, the Puerto Ricans pay no federal tax. They cannot vote in the presidential elections. “Puerto Rico is a territory (Commonwealth) of the United States of America and Puerto Ricans have common citizenship, currency and defense. Although Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, residents of Puerto Rico pay no federal income tax, nor can they vote in presidential elections. As citizens, Puerto Ricans do not require a work visa (also known as green cards) to live and/or work in the United States. Over 2 million Puerto Ricans live in the United States, primarily in the northeast.” www.welcome.topuertorice.org (2008). The Puerto Ricans have been associated with high poverty levels. The Puerto Ricans rate among the highest poverty rates of any groups in the United States. Puerto Ricans are primarily catholics. “In addition to these, Puerto Ricans celebrate religious and political holidays with great enthusiasm —singing, playing music, drinking, and feasting in recognition of a sacred day, an historical event or figure, or a time of year. Often called "home fiestas," these observances tend to be private affairs that bring together close friends and family members. Public fiestas include those that honor patron saints and occasional folk-music festivals.”. www.everyculture.com, (2008). Puerto Ricans still continue with the struggle of drug-use, high crimes, poor education and the destruction of the familial structure.
A typical Puerto Rican American family.
“The Cuban people are descendants of Spanish colonizers and of African slaves once employed in the sugar industry. Two-fifths of the Cuban population is Roman Catholic. Nearly half report no religious affiliation. Many of those who call themselves Catholics are also adherents of an Afro-Cuban religious tradition known as santeria. The official language of Cuba and the language spoken by nearly all Cubans is Spanish.”. www.everyculture.com, (2008). Cuban American strive to achieve education. Cuba has now become the center for preparing some of the finest doctors today. Cubans are strong in math and science. Almost47 percent of Cuban Americans have attended private schools. There have been some antagonism between Cuban Americans and African Americans. The Cuban Americans have rooted themselves in the communities the Miami area by becoming the dominating ethnic group there. Most Cuban Americans maintain a nondiscriminatory relationship with white Americans. The Cuban Americans have always been known to maintain close knit family ties. The parents hold strong parental control over their children. Slowly this is decreasing. Most Cuban Americans are Roman Catholics, Protesants, Presbyterian, and Episcopal. The Santeria is another religious practice of the Cuban American that have received publicity. The unemployment rates of Cuban Americans are lower than Puerto Ricans and Mexican Americans. Cuban Americans do hold better jobs than Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans. Cuban Americans are employed in technical, sales and administrative positions. Cuban Americans are better off financially than other Hispanic Americans groups. Cuban Americans are considered as a successful migrating group.
A Cuban American family.
The Dominican Americans speak Spanish as their native language but most of them speak English quite well. Dominican Americans mostly practice Roman Catholics though Protestants, Jewish and Afro-Christian exist as well. Many Dominican Americans come to the United States illegally. In the Cuban American households, the men are head of household. They control the finances of the family while the women are in control over the domestication of the house. Recently, the Dominican women are taking more control over budgets and taking more authority from their husbands. The women are also the breadwinners in homes now. Education do play an important role in Cuban American lives. Some Cuban Americans further their education to college level. For many Cubans though, baseball is a sport which is enriched in this group. Baseball is a part of many Cuban American lives. Many Dominican American leave professional jobs in their home country before migrating to the US. Many Dominican American occupy low paying jobs in the US. Dominican Republicans can be seen doing cleaning jobs, working in hotels and restaurants.
A Dominican American family.









References:
1. Retrieved October 8, 2008, from
http://ohioonline.osu.edu, Cultural Diversity: Eating in America Mexican-American, 1989
2. Retrieved October 8, 2008 from
www.welcome.topuertorico.org, People, 2008

3. Retrieved October 8, 2008
www.everyculture.com, Puerto Ricans Religion and Expressive Culture, 2008
4. Retrieved October 8, 2008
www.everyculture.com