LATINO CULTURAL RETENTION AND IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT 1

The Impact of Community Organizations on Cultural Retention and Identity

Development on Hispanics and Latinos in the United States

Merysabel Ortiz

Global Connections

Instructor: Gregory Falls

Tallwood High School

8 December, 2017
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Abstract

Cultural identity and sense of self are aspects which are formed in the fundamental part

of one’s life. The food, music, and traditions from our childhoods all influence how we

think of ourselves and our relationship with the world. Passing on those aspects of

culture is obtained through observation and participation, and is essential to the

survival of culture, especially in immigrant and minority communities. In the Hispanic

and Latino community, both government and community funded institutions play a

major role in maintaining culture, as well as in the success of immigrants. Organizations

such as ESL programs, Hispanic church services, school culture clubs, and Hispanic

radio stations contribute to the sense of belonging and give Latinos a space to share and

celebrate their culture. They help Hispanics overcome the obstacles of stereotypes,

discrimination, and lack of resources, and offer a social outlet of cultural expression.
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Table of Contents

Abstract​……………………………………………………………………………………………………..………...​2

Table of Contents​…………………………………………………………………………………………………...​3

Introduction​………………………………………………………………………………………………………….​4

Limitations​…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Literature Review​…………………………………………………………...……………………………………..​6

Discussion​……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Conclusion​…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...1

References​…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...1​5
LATINO CULTURAL RETENTION AND IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT 4

Introduction

Cultural retention is defined as “the act of retaining the culture of a specific

ethnic group of people, especially when there is reason to believe that the culture,

through inaction, may be lost.” (“Cultural Retention,” 2016) Throughout the world, and

especially in immigrant communities, the passing down of culture through family is

imperative to the survival of the culture. The younger generation absorbs language,

music, dance, food, religion, and other forms of culture by observing and participating

in them as they grow. Along with the learning of these practices comes a strong sense of

identity and belonging, which in turn, fuels the desire to continue the cycle and pass

down the culture to the next generation. However, if cultural practices are not passed

down and the immigrants assimilate completely, the culture is destined to be lost

through time.

A stereotype is “a preconceived notion, especially about a group of people.”

(“Stereotype,” n.d.) General stereotypes harm the passing down of culture and are an

obstacle to the success of immigrants because they fail to recognize the great diversity of

cultures. By generalizing the entire Latino and Hispanic community with one

stereotype, the distinct characteristics of ethnic groups within that community are

repressed, thus forcing the group to be seen under one broad, inaccurate label.
LATINO CULTURAL RETENTION AND IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT 5

Stereotypes also prevent individuals from achieving success because other members of

society may automatically assume the individual fits under said stereotypes, which are

often negative.

Community Organizations play a vital role in the development of cultural

identity. They create outlets for Hispanics to share and express their traditions and pass

the culture down to younger members of the community. They are also great places to

locate resources and meet other Latinos who share similar customs and beliefs.

The lack of cultural community organizations impairs cultural retention and obstructs

the development of a strong identity within the Hispanic and Latino immigrant

population in the United States.

Limitations

Cultural Limitations

Because of the complex history and culture of Latin American and Hispanic

peoples, it is not possible to cover the views of every ethnic group from each country.

There is a discrepancy among members of the Latino and Hispanic community over

which title should be used to describe the group. Generally, the term “Latino” describes

a person who has an ethnic background from a country in Latin America. This includes

non Hispanic countries such as Brazil and Haiti. The term “Hispanic” is used to describe

people with an ethnic background from a country that has Spanish as an official

language. The definition of these labels is constantly changing, and the views of Latino
LATINO CULTURAL RETENTION AND IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT 6

and Hispanics are still in development. The author chose to use both terms

interchangeably in this study.

Time Limitations

Time is an underlying factor of the researching process. The author cannot get

many first hand sources from the distant past, or document the experiences of people

who are no longer living. And although predictions based on trends in data can be made

about future occurrences, future experiences cannot be officially determined.

Personal Bias

Because the author is an Afro-Caribbean Latina, she may tend to focus and have a

possible bias toward Latinos and Hispanics with African ancestry. She has ties to the

topic because of personal experience growing up in a Latino household and being

heavily involved in Hispanic churches.

Literature Review

Self-concept and identity are affected by an array of components, many of which

are pertinent throughout childhood and adolescence. Factors that begin in earlier stages

of a person’s life such as the educational environment, religious affiliation, and

community involvement continue to influence racial and ethnic identity well past the

primary stages of development. Though ethnicity is an essential part of personal identity

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and sense of self, research on the topic is minimal, and in some cases, even ostensible.

Studies are often scattered or lack an adequate conclusion.

Most past research focuses on the distinct characteristics of minority ethnic

groups and the elements that distinguish them, but analyses of factors that affect

identity across multiple groups are rare. However, ethnic identity is not a fixed concept.

One person’s identity may be comprised of not just one, but multiple ethnicities, races,

and nationalities. Racial and ethnic ambiguity are growing continuously, which causes

constant shifting in standards for categorizing those with a complicated background.

For these reasons, the study of factors that impact identity is extremely important, and

is fundamental to the understanding of how identity is impacted in Hispanic and Latino

communities across the globe.

“A Reconsideration of Chicano Culture and Identity” by Carlos H. Arce

This article can be used to analyze a variety of ethnic groups because it encompasses

common factors of different groups. The questionnaire consisted of 417 high school

students and 136 college students from ethnically diverse schools. The relationship of

ethnic identity to a demographic range was observed, as well as its effects on

self-esteem. This study can be used to compare and contrast ethnic identity and how it

correlates among youth from different ethnic groups.

“Ethnicity and Chicanos: Measurement of Ethnic Identification, Identity, and

Consciousness” Data from the National Chicano Survey of Mexicans in Detroit

measured levels of ethnic identity. Each measure showed some aspects of ethnicity, yet

reflected how the spread of it was different throughout the participants of the survey.
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The study proved that correlations were sometimes negative, which showed that many

people had a warped, complex view of ethnicity. In addition to that, the study observed

that a strong sense of ethnic identity was linked to being more politically conscious.

Discussion

Immigration and Assimilation

Many Latinos come to America with hopes of realizing the American Dream.

They leave behind their home countries, sometimes bringing nothing but a few

belongings, to give the future generations greater opportunities for education, work, and

an overall better quality of life.

As of 2005, more than half of the over 35 million foreign-born Americans were

from Latin America and the Caribbean (Chomsky, 2017) and in 2015, there were 56.5

million Hispanics in the US, making up 17.6 percent of the population (Flores, 2017).

As the Latino population continues to grow, so does its influence on daily American life.

Though they are just one of the many diverse and growing ethnic groups that call the

United States their home, they are accountable for some tremendous contributions to

American culture, religion, and politics. Latino restaurants, Hispanic church services,

ESL programs, and other establishments are scattered throughout the U.S., especially in

areas where the Latino population is heavily concentrated. However, Hispanic

immigrants and their descendants are not always surrounded by a Hispanic community.

In many cases, jobs, education, and other circumstances cause Latinos to end up in

settings where they have trouble finding a supporting community and are in need of
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resources. This especially becomes a problem when they speak little or no English.

Having community-based organizations that focus on providing Hispanics with help is

imperative to immigrants’ success in the U.S. Not only does the availability of these

community organizations increase the immigrant’s chances of success, but they provide

them with a sense of community, belonging, and support.

Many Americans of Hispanic or Latino descent are second or third generation

immigrants, meaning they are the U.S.-born children or grandchildren of immigrants.

As time goes on and generations pass, culture starts to deteriorate if it is not kept alive

and passed on. Although most Hispanics agree that learning and maintaining their

culture is important, this is not always the case. Due to various reasons, including that

they may not have the right tools, resources, or time to teach their children, many

Latinos fail to pass on aspects of their culture to their children. Though complete

assimilation may seem to be a simple solution to the struggles faced by Hispanics, it may

be interpreted that they will give up a significant part of their identity. Immigrant’s

sacrifices drive their successors to be motivated to attain certain goals, such as

graduating high school, going to college, or having a successful career. (O. Torres,

personal communication, November 25, 2017) Being able to comprehend and utilize the

English language is an extremely useful asset and is, in most cases, critical to the success

of an immigrant as a functioning member of American society. Immigrants are

constantly pressured to learn English, and for this reason, they may neglect the language

of their native country, and in turn neglect to pass it on to future generations. In some

cases, it is a blended household where only one parent is Latino or bilingual, and the
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parents find it is easier to raise children that only speak English. Other times, it could be

a conscious decision made by the parents, for fear that the children will be discriminated

against or targeted due to their bilingualism. (G. Torres, personal communication,

November 25, 2017) According to the Pew Research Center, 69 percent of U.S. born

Hispanics say that they speak only English at home or speak it “very well.” (Taylor,

Hugo, Martinez, & Velasco, 2012) English is the third most spoken language in the

world. From an income earning perspective, speaking both languages will make the

immigrant more marketable and able to compete for jobs at an international level.

Additionally, speaking multiple languages improves one’s skill set, and increases the

probability of acquiring jobs that require bilingual skills. If initiative to maintain the

native tongue is not taken by Hispanics, the Spanish language will ultimately be lost to

the descendants of immigrants.

Representation and Stereotypes

Mexicans “have always been the largest Hispanic-origin group in the U.S.”

(Flores, 2017), and have been in America longer than any other Hispanic group. Because

of this, certain aspects of Mexican culture have become more prevalent in American

media and life than aspects of other Hispanic cultures. This underrepresentation of

other types of Latinos has caused erroneous generalizations to be made about them. For

example, Latinos are often inaccurately labeled as Mexican, simply because people are

ignorant to the multitude of other ethnic groups that are also Hispanic. This mislabeling

is dismissive of the cultural differences within the Hispanic community, and promotes
LATINO CULTURAL RETENTION AND IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT 11

the distorted idea that all Hispanics are the same simply because they have a common

language.

Like other ethnic and racial groups, Latinos face plenty of harsh stereotypes as

immigrants in the United States. They are mislabeled as lazy, uneducated, and are

accused of living in the U.S. only to benefit from the government’s welfare system (R.

Archila, personal communication, November 25, 2017). These stereotypes promote a

false image of Latinos and insinuate that they are all the same. Images like these are

demeaning to the Latino community because they gather them all under one category,

despite the diversity within the group. These stereotypes fail to recognize that just

because those from Hispanic countries share some characteristics, they are all unique.

Stereotypes and mislabeling have also led to a great amount of discrimination

against Latinos in the U.S. Latinos have been denied jobs, promotions, housing, and

educational opportunities because of their ethnicity. One Puerto Rican-American notes,

“In high school I was automatically placed on a non-college track. Because of the

language barrier, my mother was not made aware of the options and I was not given an

option by my counselor. I didn’t understand that I wasn’t prepared to go to college until

my senior year.” (O. Torres, personal communication, November 25, 2017) A

Dominican-American states, “I worked at a place for 15 years and I barely ever got

promotions, where other people who were newer but were white would get promoted in

a matter of months.” (​R. Archila, personal communication, November 25, 2017).

Stereotypes not only degrade immigrants, but they have lasting effects and

consequences for Latinos, and can set them back in many aspects of life.
LATINO CULTURAL RETENTION AND IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT 12

Community organizations

The experiences in the beginning stages of one’s life are imperative to the

development of ethnic and cultural identity. The traditions, music, food, and religion

that influence an individual’s childhood have lasting effects on that person. The degree

to which one is exposed to these different aspects of culture also impact the racial and

ethnic groups with which an individual identifies. Latinos who grow up surrounded by

people who share the same culture are more likely to have a stronger identity and ties to

their ethnic background because they are constantly watching, learning, and absorbing

their culture. They are much more likely to keep the traditions alive and continue the

practices when the time comes for them to have their own family. (F. Sánchez-Alcala,

personal communication, November 26, 2017)

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, “ten percent of all

public school students are English as a Second Language learners, meaning they have

limited English proficiency. But less than 1 percent of public school teachers are ESL

instructors.” (“NCES” n.d. )This means there is a disproportionate amount of ESL

teachers and students. Having community organizations in place can help connect those

who need stronger reinforcement in areas like tutoring, when school or government

funded institutions fail to provide them with adequate help.

LATINO CULTURAL RETENTION AND IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT 13

In the U.S. there are 30.4 million Catholics who identify themselves as Latino or

Hispanic (“Hispanic Catholics in the U.S.,”2003). Many Hispanics consider their faith

and immersing themselves in a community of others who share their beliefs to be

“tremendously important,” and look to churches for guidance and help in difficult

situations (R. Gomez, personal communication, November 26, 2017). Because religion is

such a prominent part of the Hispanic culture, religious institutions play a vital role in

the life of American Latinos. Many Catholic churches offer a Spanish language mass to

meet the needs of their Hispanic congregation, and provide resources such as support

groups, food donations, and even Flu vaccines and other healthcare services. They also

celebrate Catholic holidays and festivals specific to Hispanic countries, such as La

Virgen de Guadalupe celebration.

Conclusion

Latinos face various issues in the United states. From stereotyping, to the

language barrier, to feeling alone and lost, these problems leave them with needs that

can be fulfilled by community organizations. The presence and availability of

community organizations play a significantly important role in the success of

immigrants, as well as the retention of culture in second or third generation Hispanics.

Not only do they provide resource which benefit new immigrants, but they also allow

Latinos to practice their culture and keep their traditions alive, while sharing their

culture with other Hispanics in a welcoming and inclusive space. Being surrounded by

the cultural perspectives, practices, and products of the Hispanic community as children
LATINO CULTURAL RETENTION AND IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT 14

and experiencing their culture in a positive and nurturing environment will become

second nature to youth as they grow and their cultural identity develops. The feeling of

community and knowing that they are an integral part of their community will help to

foster a sense of belonging and acceptance of self and others. Organizations supporting

Hispanics and Latinos offer an outlet for individuals to experience community and feel

like they have something of value to contribute. Latinos and Hispanics who experience

the benefits of community organizations help others understand the importance and the

value of being bicultural and pass the culture on to future generations.

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