Why Are Some People Afraid of Hispanics?
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Why are some people afraid of Hispanics?
Here’s the reason:
According to the 2010 census, Latinos now represent 16 percent (50 million people) of the US population. That’s up from 12.5 percent in the 2000 census or a 15 million person increase in ten years.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThat’s significant amount of growth, approximately 43 percent.
Nativists fear the impact Hispanics and primarily their culture and political voice has had and will continue to have upon America. They see it as a de-Americanization of sorts that will end in Spanish becoming the official language and potentially Caucasians not being the majority population any longer.
The new immigrants are always chastised by the old ones
What’s common within the immigration debate:
Often, as most of us should know, the immigrants who were demeaned by one generation were the parents and grandparents of the successes of the next generation. Perhaps, not paradoxically, many of them, or their children and grandchildren, later joined those who attacked and disparaged the next arrivals, or would-be arrivals, with the same vehemence that had been leveled against them or their forebears.
Think about groups of immigrants who faced similar opposition from their forerunners in times past. How about the Irish? Italians? Chinese? At least today, no one will openly post “No Hispanic Need Apply” as they’d be faced by lawsuits faster than Jacoby Ellsbury can run down first base. Still, the source of such nativist sentiment is the same – those who are here like how things are and fear change.
Our debate today is worded in “amnesty” and “fair treatment” but in many ways it boils down to this – I want America to stay the way it is, and you’re trying to change it.
This might be hard to swallow for some, but I sincerely believe that there is a large segment of the US population that is afraid of the Hispanic population increase and what its impact on America. And instead of being honest about that fear phrase it in the language of immigration reform. I could be wrong and please tell me if you think I am, but we’re a country of immigrants so why is the Hispanic Immigration so threatening for many?
It’s all about the culture, stupid
I think the main reason is culture. Hispanic culture is different than mainstream American culture or so many would have you believe. There’s more significance placed on family versus the individual, the language is different from mainstream America, and just as significantly the people look different (for the most part) than mainstream America.
In my opinion, there’s a fear that America will change if “we don’t do something about it”. But, this is a country made up of the vagabonds, the castoffs, and the unwanted of the world. Those same people have made this country into the greatest nation in the world. To me, our strength is our diversity, our defining characteristic is a belief that anything is possible.
So why is it that every new immigrant faces harsh criticism? Perhaps the answer says more about the human character than the American spirit. Perhaps as people we simply fear the unknown and fight against it despite the liberty and freedom written within the Constitution. Perhaps we’re in constant struggle between our ideals and our beliefs trying to find balance.
Whatever the answer is Hispanic immigration is not the sign of the apocalypse. Instead it’s the continued evolution of America.
My exhortation to Hispanics
The one word of caution I’d offer to Hispanics concerns identification. What comes first, being an American or being from Puerto Rico, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Panama, etc.? For many Hispanics they more identify with their former country than their current one. I think that’s problematic.
Although, it’s easy for me to consider it problematic as African Americans had their African cultural roots wiped away over the past few centuries. Nonetheless, if Hispanics seek to be accepted by their fellow Americans then being American must carry more weight than being of Dominican dissent, for example.
If that’s hard for some of you reading this to swallow, then I’d suggest you’re actually playing to the fears and concerns some have regarding Hispanics. It’s not an easy issue nor one solved in a generation really.
But, America is a melting pot whose ingredients are beginning to change. That’s fine and that’s what has defined us. Instead of fighting against the diversity that has made us strong, we need to embrace new immigrants but continue to demand that being an American is first priority.
If we do that, I believe we’ll continue to be the most successful and leading country in the world.
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Don Roach is a Young Republican. Don can be reached at [email protected].
