Mexican American assimilation is complicated by negative stereotyping

Mexican Americans may be finding their native language’s perceived connection with illegal immigration is forcing them to reject their indigenous cultural heritage.

Assimilation is the first goal of newly-arrived Mexican Americans, intrinsically linked with the American English language. However, the prejudicial reputation of the Spanish language as a mark of wetback illegal immigrants is resulting in a loss of the security of Mexican Americans’ cultural roots, leading to a fear of assimilation.

Third-generation Mexican American sophomore Jonathan Roman was quoted in The Shorthorn as feeling that it’s easier in America just to speak English. He does not speak Spanish and is struggling with the boundaries of integration even although he was born in America.

Susan Gonzalez Baker, director of the Center for Mexican American Studies, states that first-generation immigrants fear the loss of their children’s cultural roots, but desperately want them to integrate in to their new society. Stanford University assistant professor of sociology Tomas Jiminez, however, rejects the common belief that segregation amongst the Mexican community doesn’t have its roots in prejudice.

Jiminez quotes the ‘paper bag test’ used in the African American community, which states that if your skin colour is darker than a paper bag, then you’re black. This, he believes, reinforces the notion of strong prejudice within ethnic groups, adding that the word Mexican has a connotation of poverty, illegality and low standards even amongst the immigrant community itself.

Older Mexican Americans may be rejecting their roots because of negative associations, whilst later generations criticise them for not being real Mexicans, according to columnist Gustavo Arellano. Roman is finding the opposite with the recently-arrived family of his girlfriend, which he sees as being 'really Mexican' whilst they condemn him for not speaking Spanish.