Benjamin Marquez Essay Example for Free

Benjamin Marquez EssayBenjamin Marquez works to define identity as existence beneficial but mostly keeps minorities in check soci solelyy, scotchally, and policy-makingly. Mexican Americans created identities in response to this secernment and economic deprivation by aligning with four validations The southwest interlocking for Environmental and Economic Justice (SNEEJ), the Southwest industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), The Texas Association of Mexican American put up of Commerce (TAMACC), and the Mexican American Womens discipline Association (MANA). The Mexican-American organizations in this need atomic number 18 apiece detectking to advance its own archetype of racial politics. The minority group status depicts exclusion based on race or horticulture and lower socioeconomic status however, these are non the only defining features. Historically, they represent the most insistent points of conflict between Mexican and Anglo Americans. The Racial discrimination ha d put Anglo Americans higher on the social ladder, non to mention skin color and being a majority. To build on the disadvantages faced by Mexican Americans they battle poverty, low wages, and unemployment. These concerns have been the basis of demands made by Mexican American activists for equal manipulation before the law, nondiscrimination in hiring, access to higher education, and so son.The Authors ThesisBenjamin Marquez argues that the political organizations formed are in response to social discrimination and economic deprivation. The four organizations broken down in the mouth in his novel, he asserts, have in all different procedures and plan to battle a common rush of suppression of Mexican American nation.Data/Evidence OfferedThe author, Benjamin Marquez, uses in-person and telephone interview to put out how each of the four political organizations operated. The four political organizations focused on are The Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (SNEEJ), the Southwest Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), The Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce (TAMACC), and the Mexican American Womens National Association (MANA). There are hundreds of Mexican American organizations but Marquez narrowed his selection down because all four mentioned are well known in southwestern political, have a long record of successful organizing, and are supported by a large membership base. The four organizations chosen for this study are good examples of the regionally based organizations at work in Mexican-American communities. Benjamin Marquez made trips to each of the networks headquarters to examine each organizations records and materials. Unfortunately, a paper trail on each Mexican American organization was hard to sum by because of a lack of record-keeping.ConclusionThe argument Marquez gets across to his readers is that the reason for the hundreds of Mexican American organizations is to aid the uphill climb for Mexican Am ericans in the Anglo-dominated society essentially, to counter racial discrimination that plagues the group from the beginning. Marquez makes it certain that discrimination is still felt among Mexican Americans and continues to be a significant problem. How these problems charter shape in a political atmosphere is the focus of the sacred scripture. The four political organizations the comprise the disk are very different The Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (SNEEJ), the Southwest Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), The Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce (TAMACC), and the Mexican American Womens National Association (MANA).While, within the organizations, in that respect is at times political dissent the mission statement the members do not waiver from the mission statement. TAMACCs long-standing demand for equal opportunity is a declaration that they are the Anglos equal and are determined to prove it. Still, the members make a poin t that they place important on the individual. Their intention is to acquire property and build large business enterprises. However, it is important to note, TAMACC activists are critics of racial, not economic, hierarchies. Simply, they moot that Mexican Americans will prosper if the business world is purged of racism.SNEEJ is the only group in Marquezs study to issue a fully challenging identity on race, class, and culture. SNEEJ activists believe they have been exploited on a race, economic, and cultural level. They know that respect and recognition will come through land claims, political autonomy, and control over natural resources. In contrast, the Southwest IAF activists feel that bridging gaps between group boundaries will lastly eliminate racism. IAF use commonalities between people of different groups such as religion as a gap-filler, where both parties can connect. Even poor racial minorities, if they really wanted to, could change political stem where they can get mo re recognition for their group. For IAF, cooperation, reconciliation, and compromise are articles of faith (117). Both groups, SNEEJ and Southwest IAF, see Mexican Americans as poor and deprived, organize in Mexican American neighborhoods, and strive for a amend economic share of power and resources. Yet, as noted, they have radically different premises, values, and goals.They all agree Mexican-American people face profound socioeconomic problems but disagree on the appropriate remedy.Summary CriticismAn field that sparked an interest and had relevance to my life was the perception of migrants in a foreign country and the perception of return migrants to their countries of origin (17). The perception of migrants from two differing points of view is one that could be seen as discriminatory no involvement how one looks at it. I noticed examples of this in two separate sections of the book. On page 17, Prez states migrants who have settled in a foreign country will experience discr imination, so will their children. People on the mainland still consider American-born Puerto Ricans foreign. So not only do parents feel alienated but so does the whole family.What is even more interesting is that prototypal generation Americans from Puerto Rican families are not to identify as Puerto Rican (29). Gina Prez makes it clear through her personal experience with residents in San Sebastian as they questioned her just about her identity. Do you consider yourself Puerto Rican? When she was taken by surprise at the question she was told, Thats right, you are not Puerto Rican but of Puerto Rican descent (29). The reasoning behind this, I assume, is because when one stand ups their life outside their cultural scene, they no longer can fully identify with the day-to-day life in the state of origin. They experience cultural mixing and now practice a blend of cultures a hybrid culture.I can completely understand where this ideology comes from because I too have experienced s imilar encounters. Since I am first generation born in the U.S., I overcame the same barriers. My parents are from India. The popular term used when referring to all people from India is Desi. When I take summer trips to India, I know my identity as an Indian is questioned because I am so immersed in the American culture and more often, that not, I am referred to as ABCD (American-Born overturned Desi). This is a term that implies that I am confused as to who I am and where I come from.A word I hear thrown around a little too oftentimes is progress. What does progress mean to the people of the United States and what does it mean to other countries? Gina Prez starts the second chapter off with the idea of progress that the people of Puerto Rico hold. When she drove into Pepino she was informed that there was so much change and Pepino was ultimately progressing in the twenty-first century. A familiar phrase she had heard in her field work trinity years ago.The change Prez was expe cting does not seem to be there at least, one that does not do justice to the word progress. I guess most of us who have chosen to live in such a changing and progress-driven country have a different way of evaluating progress. We do not see the small changes that make a big impact on the lives of people in different countries because most of the luxuries they strive for, we already hold. Coming across this dialogue exchange in the book makes we wonder if the rest of the world is playing catch-up with the United States or whether they are pushing modernization when there is still a need to battle poverty and non-employment.Some of the aspects that come with progress are not even favorable to the people of small towns in Puerto Rico but they still move fore with this idea because it symbolizes the islands modernity. Progress is marked by strip malls with mega stores, fast food chains, bigger roadstead and parking lots. I believe that building infrastructures does not address the big ger issues of poverty and discrimination. On pourboire of that, I do not see a point in having a more material-based economy if the people cannot afford the prices.