clay chastain, jenny reyes, and danielle schmitt the history of marginalization of mexican-americans
TRANSCRIPT
Clay Chastain, Jenny Reyes, and Danielle Schmitt
The History of The History of MarginalizationMarginalization
of Mexican-Americansof Mexican-Americans
“to place in a position of marginal importance, influence, or power”
Can be defined through a number of factors
For Mexican-Americans, marginalization is represented through their history of discrimination.
What is Marginalization? What is Marginalization?
A Class Apart (2009)A Class Apart (2009) Video link
A new documentary featured on PBS talking about Mexican-American discrimination
Focused on Hernandez v. Texas
Map of Current Mexican-Map of Current Mexican-American Populations American Populations
The History of The History of MarginalizationMarginalization
In the 1800s, discrimination began as a series of cultural distinctions
Soon turned into biological arguments
Mexican Americans had complete political control of southwestern areas of the United States
The influx of whites stripped this power.
Early HistoryEarly History
The process of marginalizing Mexican-Americans can be divided into four groups:
◦ Control of land, leading to subordination◦ Cultural racism, leading to institutionalization of
racism◦ Discrimination, leading to a definite location in
the racial structure◦ Assimilation, leading to a crystallization of a
racialized identity
Early HistoryEarly History
The process of marginalizing Mexican-Americans can be divided into four groups:
◦ Control of land, leading to subordination◦ Cultural racism, leading to institutionalization of
racism◦ Discrimination, leading to a definite location in
the racial structure◦ Assimilation, leading to a crystallization of a
racialized identity
Early HistoryEarly History
Political pressures from the US helped ensure that Mexico was a second-class nation and an amply supply of labor.
Missions in the 1900’s attempted to “civilize” Mexicans, at the same time, creating the idea that they were an “other”.
Identities are created by the white population, reinforcing over time ideas of superiority.
Impacts of Early HistoryImpacts of Early History
The Laws and Politics of The Laws and Politics of MarginalizationMarginalization
Largely the most influential civil rights movement for Mexican-Americans and other Hispanic populations.
The African American civil rights movement was the largest initiator.
However, while successful at the time, re-racialization is occurring because of the social outcry of new immigrants.
Chicano MovementChicano Movement
Marginalization in the Marginalization in the Education SystemEducation System
The future workforce will be comprised of increasingly more immigrants and minorities.
However, their schooling often poorly prepares them for a number of reasons.
The largest factor in college dropouts of minorities (28%) is low social integration.
Factors in EducationFactors in Education
Low social integration is often blamed on the idea of “racialized spaces”, the idea that minorities intrude on traditionally white aspects of school involvement.
Whiteness is rewarded, while otherness is not accepted; a product of systemic racism.
Factors in EducationFactors in Education
Disproportionate amounts of teachers and principles of Mexican-American backgrounds in the education system.
Mexican-Americans are still lagging behind other groups in the system due to the lack of enrolment and the generally poor reading scores they receive.
Underrepresentation is blamed as a large factor in developing a proper environment where students can belong to.
UnderrepresentationUnderrepresentation
Marginalization in the Marginalization in the Military SystemMilitary System
Marginalization of Mexican-Americans is a deeply rooted issue in US society.
While much work has been done to correct the wrongs in the past, Mexican-Americans are still being marginalized today.
The process of re-racialization may be to blame.
Conclusions / Q&AConclusions / Q&A
ReferencesReferences Elizondo, Virgil. 1982. "A Report on Racism : a Mexican American in the United
States." Pp. 61-65 in Church and Racism. New York: Seabury Press. Lopez, Ian F. H. 2001. "Protest, Repression, and Race: Legal Violence and the
Chicano Movement." University of Pennsylvania Law Review 150(1):205. Menchaca, Martha. 2008. "The Anti-Miscegenation History of the American
Southwest, 1837 to 1970: Transforming Racial Ideology into Law." Cultural Dynamics 20(3):279-318.
Michelson, M. R. 2001. "The Effect of National Mood on Mexican American Political Opinion." Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences 23(1):57-70.
Michelson, Melissa R. 2003. "The Corrosive Effect of Acculturation: How Mexican Americans Lose Political Trust." Social Science Quarterly 84(4):918-933.
Parks, Kate. 2006. "Encountering Racism in the Ivory Towers: A Qualitative Analysis of Mexican American Student Experiences in Higher Education." Conference Papers -- American Sociological Association:1.
Rodríguez Domínguez, Víctor M. 2005. "The Racialization of Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans:" Centro Journal 17(1):71-105.
Thompson, Ed. 1998. "The Human Face of Economic Issues: A View from 'South of the Border'." Network News 18(4):13.
Vasquez, Jessica M. 2005. "Perceptions of Racism and Consolidation of Identity among Mexican Americans." Conference Papers -- American Sociological Association:1-23.
Weise, Julie M. 2008. "Mexican Nationalisms, Southern Racisms: Mexicans and Mexican Americans in the U.S. South, 1908-1939." American Quarterly 60(3):749-777.