Text Journal #3: 3.23.09

One of this week's chapter was on Hispanic Americans and their struggles in American society and even before entering into the United States society. I found it interesting that so many of the Central and South American countries suffered from civil war which is what drove them to the United States. Also, some of the civil war fights and gangs followed the people into the United States and gangs were formed in many of the states and the fighting continued, perhaps the most noted was Salvadoran gangs in Southern California and how it's influence spread to other countries in central America as well.
The majority of Latino Americans in the United States come from Mexico. The next highest population is Cuban and then Puerto Rican. Central and South America both are represented, but not as significantly as Mexico, Puerto Rico and Cuba. The Dominican Republic has the next highest population percentage in the United States.
Some startling statistics are that the Latino population is the fastest growing population in the United States. By 2020, it's expected that 1 in 4 children will be Hispanic. 58% of the population 25 years and older have a high school education. In 2004, almost 22% of Hispanics lived in poverty.
Some problems in society is that the different subgroups have the highest high school drop-outs of any group and the lowest high school completion rate in the country. It was interesting that men were noted for not wanting to be involved in social work sessions due to a cultural belief. Some ideas and ideals from culture are embedded deep within us and we are unable to get rid of them.