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Essay / Discrimination of Puerto Ricans and Dominicans
ReflectionPuerto Ricans and Dominicans faced discrimination and prejudice when they settled in Chicago, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Both created ethnic enclaves in order to preserve their culture. When they arrived in the United States, they struggled to master the language and adapt to the community. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an original essayIn Implicit Social Knowledge, Cultural Capital, and “Authenticity” Among Puerto Ricans in Chicago by Ramos-Zayas Says Migrants from Latin America and Caribbean people were cultural impurities and were seen as tainting the culture. Chicagoans encouraged Puerto Rican migrants to become Americanized. Their culture was questioned and the media created stereotypes. The reason their authenticity was questioned was because they did not speak "proper Spanish". Their place of birth was even queried to see if they correlated with other already assimilated Puerto Ricans. It was unfair to ask Puerto Ricans whether or not they knew the Spanish language. Questioning birthplace was overkill in generalizing Puerto Ricans. The Chicago Puerto Rican story showed how Puerto Ricans were treated and the obstacles they overcame to have political representation. Upon arriving in Chicago, Puerto Ricans faced inadequate living conditions and steadily rising rents and gentrification. The Puerto Rican community never created an ethnic enclave because it was not concentrated in a specific area. Puerto Rican children were held back in first grade due to a lack of bilingual programs. They were devalued and traditional institutions, such as schools, ignored their social capital. The police constantly provoke Puerto Rican youth with brutality and discrimination. However, it created awareness and relief over the conditions the Puerto Rican community was facing. Similarly, Dominican migrants in Reading, Pennsylvania, faced discrimination because they were not fluent in English. In English, Spanish, and Ethno-Racial Receptivity in a New Destination: A Case Study of Dominican Immigrants in Reading, PA by RS Opresa addresses the difficult transitions upon arrival to new destinations, which are often met with hostility . Before the Dominicans arrived in Reading, PA, there were racial issues that made it difficult for an individual to assimilate into the culture. The former mayor of Reading even said that immigrant groups needed to learn English to be able to benefit from social mobility. This represents ignorance from a place with no history of immigration. Puerto Ricans and Dominicans faced discrimination and dealt with communities that did not value diversity and preferred the status quo. School administrators and teachers deliberately failed Puerto Rican children. Both groups were exploited by jobs that exploited immigrants by providing them with no job security. Unlike Puerto Ricans, Dominicans were racialized as black and were systematically discriminated against even if they spoke Spanish. Reading, Pennsylvania even demonstrated linguistic discrimination in public space, which meant that Dominicans were limited in retaining their language while trying to survive hostile conditions. To the point where Dominican youth often tried to work.