Monday, April 19, 2010
Asian American Immigrants
Ethnic Immigration: Asian Americans
Written by: Kate Slee
The term Asian American is used to describe Americans that are of Asian decent. The term generally refers to people who have ancestors from East Asia. This usually includes Chinese, Korean and Japanese Americans. Yet the term overall refers to any minority group whose national origin is from Asia. Asian American only make up around 5 percent of the United States population. However they are one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in terms of percentage increase in the United States. The Asian American community has been through many hardships over the years but in a number of ways the Asian American population still remains misunderstood. They have recently proved to be a major influence when it comes to culture, communities and the work force.
Overall Asian Americans have the second lowest poverty rate only after Caucasian Americans. They also have the highest educational attainment levels, median household income in addition to median personal income of any racial or ethnic demographic in the nation. Asian Americans make up the third largest minority group in the United States. As of 2000, 11.9 million people reported themselves as Asian American. Surprisingly, Honolulu does not have the largest population of Asians. According to demographics, the greater Los Angeles area has around 16,400,000 Asian Americans while New York has the largest community of Asian American at 22,000,000 million people. In addition, Baltimore, Washington, Seattle and Alaska have a fairly large population of Asian Americans.
More than three-fourths of the Asian American population has immigrated into the United States over the last two decades. This shows a proportionally higher immigration trend for Asians of the last twenty years. About 71 percent of Asian men and 57 percent of Asian women aged 16 and over are active in the labor force. Around 45 percent of Asians were employed in management, professional and related occupations, compared with 34 percent of the total population. In addition around 44 percent of all Asians have a Bachelors Degree or higher compared to 24 percent of the total United States population and the annual median income of Asian families is around $59,324. Among top Asian groups, Asian Indians and the Japanese had annual median incomes of about $71,000 each, around $10,000 more than all other Asian groups.
Information from:
http://www.asianamericanalliance.com/
http://www.ameredia.com/resources/demographics/asian_american.html
Human Resource Departments: Organizations and their Mission Statements
AACRE – Asian Americans for Civil Right & Equality
Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality (AACRE) is a progressive voice advocating for justice in California. As the first and only project based in California’s capital with a focus on state legislative and budget advocacy for Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, AACRE fights for critical legislation and funding on behalf of our diverse communities, and empowers APIAs to be an active and effective force in advancing civil rights and social justice.
Asian-Nation: Asian American History, Demographics & Issues
An authoritative, one-stop information resource and sociological exploration of the historical, demographic, political, and cultural issues that make up today's diverse Asian American community.
AAJC - Asian American Justice Center
http://www.advancingequality.org/
The Asian American Justice Center is one of the nation's leading experts on issues of importance to the Asian American community including: affirmative action, anti-Asian violence prevention/race relations, census, immigrant rights, immigration, language access, television diversity and voting rights. Our expertise is widely acknowledged: in the media, by the public and lawmakers at the very highest tiers of government.
AALDEF – Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
http://aaldef.org/
Founded in 1974, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) is a national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans. By combining litigation, advocacy, education, and organizing, AALDEF works with Asian American communities across the country to secure human rights for all. AALDEF focuses on critical issues affecting Asian Americans, including immigrant rights, civic participation and voting rights, economic justice for workers, language access to services, Census policy, affirmative action, youth rights and educational equity, and the elimination of anti-Asian violence, police misconduct, and human trafficking.
Asian American Giving
http://www.asianamericangiving.com/
Asian American Giving serves as the link between Asian American donors, leaders, and the non-profit community. We promote stories of individuals engaged in philanthropy, draw attention to the issues in our community, and highlight trends and patterns in charitable giving. We aspire to be the ultimate source for Asian American philanthropy.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Mexican-American Immigrants
Ethnic Immigration: Mexican-Americans
Written by: Katlyn Buschgans
Currently, the largest group of ethnic people immigrating to the United States is composed of Mexicans. About nine percent of all people born in Mexico come to America. Most of the Mexican-Americans are known for settling in one of the four states of California, Texas, Illinois, and Arizona; although, most recently, these immigrants are becoming known to start spreading out more to new locations. Mexican ethnic communities are frequently in these areas.
Initially, starting in the 1850’s, Mexicans began immigrating to America to escape hardships such as “indentured servants fleeing Mexican farms, small independent producers who were forced north by natural disasters or Indian raids and workers affected by the War of Secession”. After the Mexican Revolution in 1910, Mexicans also came looking for work, which was scarce in their country. When World War I started, most America’s left for war over seas and this left opportunities for Mexicans to fill the jobs that the soldiers left behind. Similarly during World War II, America also needed workers to support the war efforts and Mexicans workers were in high demand. Most of these jobs were only temporary. Field hands were referred to as “Braceros”. The conditions of the work were poor along with how they were treated. After the soldiers came back from war, they got their old jobs back. The Mexican workers lost their jobs and had to find knew work, which was scarce. Emergency Farm Labor Service decreased the amount of people able to come to America from Mexico.
In 1924, America started to patrol the borders so illegal fugitives could not get in. This is when much discrimination started in the Mexican already in America. Native citizen questioned if they were legal or not.
Ever since the late 1800s American businesses found a need for labor workers in businesses such as farms. Agriculture, mining, and railroad workers were mostly filled by Mexican individuals. Common jobs this ethnic group takes part in today includes poultry processing, light manufacturing, and construction. Although most do not have a high school diploma, Mexicans are of the highest skilled in their field of work among immigrants. Women are known to work in services and sales.
Starting in the 1980’s the trend of Mexicans moving to America grew increasingly popular. While many did come into the country illegally, they went through the processes eventually to become citizens within the next few years. One-third of this population has come to America after the year 2000, and almost all working adults. About 73% of these immigrants do not speak English well or at all. Today, almost 54% of Mexicans living in the United States are here illegally.
Information from:
http://www.pbs.org/kpbs/theborder/history/timeline/17.html
http://www.migrationinformation.org/usfocus/display.cfm?ID=208
http://www.migrationinformation.org/USFocus/display.cfm?id=767#16
Human Resource Departments: Organizations and their Mission Statements
MALDEF — Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
http://maldef.org/
Founded in 1968, MALDEF is the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization. Often described as the “law firm of the Latino community”, MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education, and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights, and political access.
Farmworkers
http://www.farmworkers.org/contents.html
This website is another initiative of Sin Fronteras Organizing Project. This website is dedicated to publicize our work and to educate the public about the plight of the agricultural workers. More importantly, this website is to recognize the dignity of the contributions made by the men, women and children who work very hard to feed us.
NCLR
http://www.nclr.org/section/about/
The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) – the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States – works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. To achieve its mission, NCLR conducts applied research, policy analysis, and advocacy, providing a Latino perspective in five key areas – assets/investments, civil rights/immigration, education, employment and economic status, and health. In addition, it provides capacity-building assistance to its Affiliates who work at the state and local level to advance opportunities for individuals and families. Founded in 1968, NCLR is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCLR serves all Hispanic subgroups in all regions of the country and has regional offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, and San Antonio
NOMAR- The National Organization for Mexican American Rights
http://www.nomarinc.org/NOMAR/Welcome.html
A National, Non-profit, All Volunteer Organization Committed to Improving Educational and Employment Opportunities for and Defending the Civil Rights of Hispanic Americans
MAPA
http://mapa.org/
The Mexican American Political Association, founded in Fresno, California in 1960, has been, and is, dedicated to the constitutional and democratic principle of political freedom and representation for the Mexican and Hispanic people of the United States of America. Only by penetrating the system can we move our issues to the top of the agenda. That is why Latinos and Latinas across the country must claim a place in the political arena.
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