HispanicHeritageEssayICS16ALV

My name means "Son of Alvaro" which means the son of some German Warriors named the Visigoths that fought in having the Western Roman Empire collapse. Because this name means this, it has been given the shorter title of “noble guardian” (ALVAREZ). It's a Spanish name, but I am also very American... I am also really interested in Japan...and I really love Italian food...I am really confusing. But, just because I am genetically Hispanic, that does not necessarily imply that I speak or enjoy Spanish food. Though, a lot of people do think that of me. It all starts with my first and last name, both Spanish. I mean, this isn't really much of a hard challenge but it can happen to a lot of people like me. People could be reading this and are thinking, //well, I had to escape Cuba and live in a camp for most of my childhood//. Sorry, but I do know some people that have undergone that challenge. I'm genetically related to one of those people. So, what other challenges are there? Well, I know a few people who've overcome many obstacles due to Cuba, illegal immigrants, and other examples.

My Grandpa fled Cuba about 40 years ago. Do you think that he just felt like moving to Florida? If he just wanted to go to Florida for the sunny rays, he wouldn't have worked on the farms for many years just to leave Havanna, Cuba. My grandpa never had a break or vacation, he just worked. That was how bad it was for him. Though, it was all worth it just to leave. Now, his life is good and he's now 80. So, in Cuba, times have been tough. (Alvarez, Jose) Obviously, this was a challenge that many Hispanics had had to face. Another example of someone escaping Cuba is one of the people that work with my dad at La Loma Market, a local Spanish Market. He just barely escaped Cuba on a shrimp boat (of course, both of these people have became American citizens in the time that they have been in the United states).

There are also some challenges that may seem really stupid now-a-days. If you have ever watched the old but popular show, George Lopez, you would understand that he has faced many challenges. As anyone can guess by his name, as I stated in my first paragraph, he is Latino. The episode that was most understood in having Hispanic discrimination inside of it was the episode where George is offered a high paying job as boss of a company just because of his nationality, which is Mexican. Obviously, George is outraged and does not accept the job at the company even though he could become a lot more wealthier than who he was at the time. They only wanted this so that they can abide by a certain standard so that their race color or gender show that they aren't discriminating. of course, this just made them seem like they were discriminating even more since we had an inside look on this.

I mean, people in Detroit set up fliers saying that they wanted their Hispanics out of the state. (Latino-Discrimination) That's...messed up in my opinion. I mean, who cares about co- existing with Hispanics? Well, obviously they do... though, there are a lot more of white Americans rather than Hispanics, and that could actually take a large role in why Americans act the way that they do toward Hispanics. It could also be because they are different from each other. My mother says that we are the best of both worlds. This is because my mom is Hispanic but is also a true American citizen. My dad immigrated from Cuba when he was only one year old. we are classified as the minority in the United States of America. So, I believe that the product of their union (people like me) who have parents who are immigrants and American citizens, are slowly becoming the majority. Therefore, my mother and father made me who can have a taste of what it is like for both sides. I am apart of many people that have this privilege.

In conclusion, Hispanics face many challenges. Like, escaping Cuba, discrimination in a work perspective, and how people can be the product of the majority and the minority, an American citizen and an immigrant. Also, Hispanic women were not allowed to fight in wars because of their gender and nationality, such as, who wanted to fight in the war therefore she dressed as a white male to fight in the war, though she war found out when she was injured. That must have tooken much courage and even though she was figured out, she must have not regretted anything (Hispanic heritage discovery). Hispanics are the 2nd most discriminated race in America (11 Facts). What exactly would it take to change this to no one is discriminated. How hard is it?


 * WORKS CITED:**

"11 Facts About Discrimination and Poverty in the Latino Community." //11 Facts About Discrimination and Poverty in the Latino Community//. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2016. <[|https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-discrimination-and-poverty-latino-community >]
 * I know this is a trust worthy website because the info that I used, I already knew by a book that I read.

Alvarez, Jose. "Hispanic Challenge Story." Interview by Veronica Nicole Alvarez. n.d.: n. pag. Print.
 * My grandpa is a trustworthy source because he had lived in Cuba all his life and lived in the time of Castro so he knows that challenge.

"ALVAREZ - Name Meaning and Origin." //About.com Parenting//. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 May 2016. <[]>.
 * I know this is correct because I confirmed it with my mother.

"Hispanic Heritage Discovery History Makers Born Before 1900." //Hispanic Heritage Discovery History Makers Born Before 1900//. Scholastic, n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2016.<[|http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/hispanic/history1.htm >]
 * This website is a good source of information because this info has been on many other websites. I chose scholastic because I have used this website in the past.

"Latino-Discrimination." //Huffingtonpost//. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2016. <[]>.
 * I know this website is valid since I confirmed the information