Shaping a New Century
The third
great surge in Mexican immigration is taking place as you read
this. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are currently
more than twenty million people of Mexican origin in the U.S.
In the 1990s, more legal immigrants came from Mexico than from
all the European countries combined. In addition, immigration
has become more permanent, as a greater percentage of Mexican
immigrants have chosen to stay in their new home.
Mexican immigrants
and their descendants occupy a more significant place in American
cultural life than ever before. Mexican Americans often serve
as high government officials, as well as local mayors, sheriffs,
and school board members. Prominent artists and entertainers,
such as the writer Sandra Cisneros, the musician Carlos Santana,
the boxer Oscar De La Hoya, and the actor and activist Edward
James Olmos, all help keep Mexican Americans in the public eye.
Mexican Americans now live in all regions of the country, and
can be found in most professions and trades.
The greatest
impact of Mexican immigration, though, may be its contribution
to the growing Latin American influence on the everyday life of
all Americans. Government projections show that, by the next two
generations, more than 25 percent of the U.S. population will
be of Latin American origin. The nation's clothing, music, architecture,
literature, and food have all been influenced by our growing Latin
and Mexican American populations.
American English
has been most profoundly affected by immigration from Mexico and
other Spanish-speaking nations. More people in the U.S. speak
Spanish than ever before, and many find it a great advantage to
speak more than one language. In this interview,
a Spanish-speaking Caribbean American attorney explains how bilingualism
helps her in her professional life.
Mexicans have been part of life in the present-day
U.S. even before it was a self-governing country. What impact
do you think this group will have on the nation's future? |