Clay Chastain, Jenny Reyes, and Danielle Schmitt The History of Marginalization of Mexican-Americans.

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

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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.

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