by Yessenia Gutierrez
Photo: GettyImages
Asians have surpassed Hispanics in percentage of new immigrants. They are more likely to come legally, hold college degrees, and have higher incomes than the general population, “despite being predominantly first-generation immigrants.”
There will be those who use this information to say to Hispanics, you need to get yourselves together, get college degrees, and come legally — then you won’t face as many issues as a community.
Let’s contextualize the differences between the two groups. As mentioned, Asian immigrants are more likely to come legally, and according to a new Time article, Asian undocumented immigrants are more likely to have overstayed their visas or vacation time. They are more likely to hold college degrees, which contributes to the differences in material wealth. Furthermore, if legality were the only obstacle to success, Asians would not surpass African Americans in this measure.
Time and again I’ve heard people discuss their standards for what a “good” minority is. People complain that many Hispanics don’t learn English, as if it were a purposeful act of contempt for the United States.
However, the ability to speak English depends on factors such as how long the person has been here, prior exposure to the language, ability to spend time studying, the city they live in, and prior educational levels. Some Hispanics live in cities where Spanish actually predominates. How many times have we heard this about Miami? This makes it not only easier to simply speak Spanish, but actually makes it harder to practice English.
Still, you not only need time to practice the language and people to practice it with, but also confidence to speak it.
Many of us know people learning English who are embarrassed to practice because of their heavy accents and the stigma that surrounds it. Furthermore, let’s not forget that some immigrants struggle to read and write in their native language, much less in their adopted country’s language. These facts do not make them less deserving of basic respect, and does not invalidate their hard work and achievements.
Another qualm against Hispanics is our apparently incessant need to speak Spanish in public, even when we know English — the argument being that it’s rude.
This is a ridiculous argument. We’re allowed to speak Spanish to other Spanish speakers, period. This is little more than a fear of the unknown and an arrogance that extends to other languages and cultures in sometimes more blatant forms.
I understand the frustration if a job candidate can’t communicate in English, or if you can’t ask a shop owner in English for help. But when you overhear conversations in Spanish, you have no right to complain about their perceived lack of assimilation. These are private conversations that can be spoken in whatever language speakers so please.
While it’s a great story for news outlets to compare the two racial-ethnic groups, there is little reason for Hispanics to compare themselves to Asians in America, especially if the comparison is being made to disparage Hispanics.
Originally from Miami, Florida, Yessenia Gutierrez is currently completing a double major in Biology and Latin American and Latino Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
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Worst part of the whole Asian vs. Latino articles is that not one mentioned the MILLIONS of Latinos of Asian descent, with many notable members. I expected a Being Latino article to do so. Maybe I should write one instead of complaining. Can articles be submitted to Being Latino?
I think this article should mention the qoutas for legal immigration too. Is it easier for Asians to immigrate here? I am not sure about the specifics but I know there is a limit to the number of people that can immigrate legally depending on what country they are coming from. That’s why all these people who talk out of their ass about coming here legally irk me. It’s not like you can fill out an application and poof there goes a green card. I definitely think this article is necesarry but it needed a bit more depth into the differences and why they shouldn’t be compared. Also, what impact has the US had on the respective economies of the countries people are immigrating from, that plays a HUGE role.
The article fails to actually answer the above question. Nor does it truly compare the the two groups when it comes to assimilation or immigration. While there is a perceived media bias against Hispanics, as the largest group of immigrants it’s only logical that the focus be on us.
Immigration laws are directed to Hispanic/Latino people. If your from any other country its ok for you to come here.
Funny Ken kinda feels that way but it’s not true, although I do believe its harder for Mexicans to be become legal citizens than immigrants from other countries. Just my perception .
1at off, wow fb is serious about chargeing groups or profiles that are “liked” money to spread their updates. Like seriously I haven’t seen a “being Latino” post in weeks. And that’s becaus fb will only show their post to 20% percent of their followers unless bkngvlatino pays then per post!!! Wow SMDH fb SMH -.-
And actually I saw on a tv show that asians actually pay 30k American. Money to cone here illagally and if they get caught crossing the mexiacan border their taken in and granted green cards instantly!!!!!! Like WTF!!!!! yea I’m serious they had an official law enforement agent. Who literally just picked up some Asians and the Mexican cayotes sneaking them in and he said it. that they’ll be taken in and mostly likely get some kinda political asylum or something like that. Like wow yes it is specific thy Latinos can’t get in or everyone can come in. Unless ur from a Latin country. Actually I have a friend who is Chinese but she was born in venezuela and in the past she came here on a student visa an she followed the rules and left and came back on time everytime. But now this whole debate on latni countries specifically. She actually got denied for the past three years. So she’s continueing her college education in Canada xD lol
Why even compare the two groups – they are so different it’s not funny. The assimilation factors for Asians is a hundred times higher then those of Latinos. Asian kids come here to the United States not knowing any English and in no time the are proficient, they have lost their accents, and are excelling in school without any social hang ups or pathology. They are disciplined and assimilate almost fully. Latinos kids…that’s another story – they have other priorities and are always blaming someone for their lack. Latinos, like African Americans also have a huge sense of entitlement – Asians very rarely. Latinos that have been here forever are still living in this third world funk and can’t get their acts together yet the Asians are on the ball. Genetics definitely plays a role here as nasty as that sounds.
Wow^
Article is too vage and no actual research was used..
are Asians asked to see their papers?… just saying
Wow no! Mario! I agree with you!
@ Mario Ramirez- all I can say is WOW! You seem to have quite a bit of self hate going on. You have singlehandedly lumped the achievements of thousands of Latinos and reduced them down to an “entitlement” group. Let us be clear that the term assimilation has one meaning and is often misconstrued. To assimilate means to replace ones own culture with that of the dominant society. Latinos have historically not assimilated well because we refuse to lose our cultural identity. What the vast majority prefer to do is acculturate. By definition it is to have the dominant culture parallel a persons own cultural identity. Asians do this as well. The data and the study is not detailed in the article but only because there is a 500 word limit to the submission. Asian communities hold their cultural traditions in high regard and communicate amongst their own much like Latinos do. Many Asian countries are taught English in school and have a degree of proficiency before arriving in this country. I agree with authors view that some communities are dominated by the language of the immigrant population. Take a trip to the Bronx, Spanish Harlem, Miami, china town, little Korea in queens…these are all examples of communities with populations that are acculturating not assimilating. Mario if you were not of Latin descent your comments would be considered racist. As a Latino they just make you ignorant.
These articles are designed to trigger thought provoking discussions and even enlighten those who may not be familiar with a certain topic. I am grateful for the existence of this venue but we also have an obligation to ourselves as a people to not accept everything that is fed to us. We all should practice critical thinking, ask why, dig deeper into issues and find out all versions of the “truth”. My cousin has told me that we are all entitled to our opinions. I agree, but there is a difference between opinions and “mere” opinions. Opinions are substantiated with some form of data or facts, “mere” opinions are just rants that are based on feelings and have no factual content or relevance. They are in a sense…rants.
All these new laws against immigrants reminds me of the Jim Crow laws that were used and aimed at a specific group of people who where former slaves.
@ Mario — “Genetics definitely plays a role here,” is such a bigoted, xenophobic, prejudiced statement that it boggles the mind. Of course, according to you, because I am Latina my mind is thus easily boggled.
To Mario Ramirez:
“Genetics definitely plays a role here as nasty as that sounds.” REALLY?
What americans call latinos (natives of latin america) are a branch of the mongoloid race. So Asians and “latinos” are almost the same race.
Look for a different excuse.
Well said Nancy!