HispanicEssayICS16NGU

**Topic - Overcoming Challenges: Hispanics in the United States**
Mel Martinez once said, “Forty-two years ago, I came to America from communist Cuba so I might have a better way of life, a freer way of life - a more democratic way of life. I wanted to live the American Dream where if you worked hard and put your mind to the task, anything was possible (//BrainyQuote)//.”Just like Mel Martinez, many Hispanics believed that by moving to America, they would be given more freedom to do what they want. It was a chance for them to live a better life. Unfortunately, most of them did not know the challenges they would have to face once they arrive in America. Imagine moving into a new country and starting all over again. This is why it is our responsibility to help remove these challenges so that Hispanics can live a freer way of life. There are ways we can help prevent the obstacles in Hispanics lives. Those challenges include facing poverty, struggling to learn English, and adapting to a new culture.

 Being in poverty can cause distress and worries. About 30% of Hispanics are in low-income households. These families have living wage jobs which can have disadvantages such as limited access to health care, housing, and other uses and needs for the family (Sabin). Without these necessities, they would have insufficient amount of care. The unemployment rate for Hispanics in 2011 were average to 11.5 percent. Hispanic unemployment rate changes depending on where they live, their education rank, and if they are foreign or native (Cárdenas). Most Hispanics are unemployed because of their low education. To avoid being in poverty, Hispanic families are recommended to send their children to school so they can graduate and become successful later in life. Fortunately in recent years, the number of Hispanic enrolled in college has increased by 349,000 (Cárdenas). Since the number of college enrollment have been increasing, the number of high school graduates has been increasing also. Peter Bloch Garcia of Latino Community Fund said, “Income affects stress of families and their ability to go to schools to learn" (Sabin). We are obligated to give a hand to Hispanic families so they can get out of poverty. If not, poverty will affect the health of families, children, and the society.

 Living in an unfamiliar country is one thing, but learning its language is another thing. When we communicate, we are creating conversations, expressing our emotions, and inquiring information. For all of us, communicating in our native language is easier than speaking in a foreign language. Unfortunately, some Hispanics are having a hard time learning English because they don't know a lot of their native language (Foley). This can be an issue for Hispanics because it can lead them to be jobless which can also lead them into poverty. Not only it can be a problem for Hispanics, but it can also be a problem for the society. If Hispanics cannot communicate with other people, it can be difficult for them to build up a relationship with other Spanish speakers and non-Spanish speakers. As our country is expeditiously changing and Hispanics becoming one of the major ethnic groups, we need to do whatever it takes to help Hispanic communicate to allow them to live a better life.

 Adapting to a new culture can cause Hispanics to change their race identification. After staying in America for a long period of time, many Hispanics can forget who they really are and where they came from. About 1.2 million Hispanics changed their racial identification to white from the 2000 to 2010 enumeration. Some Hispanics are struggling to embrace their race so they identify themselves as another race (Salam). This can persuade other Hispanics and future generations that they are not Hispanic. If Hispanics are afraid to embrace their race, then they will classify themselves as White or another race other than Hispanic. In order to prevent that, we should welcome Hispanics to prevent them from being another race. We need to maintain Hispanic culture in America. This will help Hispanics remember where they came from and who they are. Not only it can remind Hispanics where they came from, but other ethnicity can experience and acknowledge Hispanic culture too.

 Being in poverty, learning a new language, and adapting a new culture are not the only problems Hispanics have to face. They also struggle against many other minor problems too. Going through obstacles can be a hard and stressful time. Sonia Gandhi once said, “Together we can face any challenges as deep as the ocean and as high to the sky (//BrainyQuote).”// With everybody's participation, we can give a hand and get rid of the obstacles Hispanics and other ethnic groups face. Remember to always keep in mind that it is our responsibility to help remove these challenges so that Hispanics can live a freer way of life.

Works Cited
//BrainyQuote //. Xplore, n.d. Web. 03 May 2016. .
 * I know this is a valid site because BrainyQuote is the biggest quotation site

//BrainyQuote//. Xplore, n.d. Web. 06 May 2016. .
 * BrainyQuote is a very known website.

Cárdenas, Venessa, and Sophia Kerby. "The State of Latinos in the United States." Name. American Progress, n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. <[]>.
 * Center American Progress, an independent nonpartisan policy institute, are devoted to help change American lives. They provide ideas, thoughts, and creativity.

Foley, Elise. "Bobby Schilling: Some Latinos Struggle With English Because 'They Don't Even Know' Spanish." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. <[]>.
 * <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Huffington Post, a well known website, is an online news website.

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Sabin, Teniel. "Challenges and Solutions Faced by the Hispanic Community - Federal Way Mirror." Federal Way Mirror. Sound Publishing, Inc, n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. <[]#>.
 * <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">This is a reliable source because Sound Publishing is the largest community media in Washington state.

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Salam, Reihan. "Hispanic Americans Face Real Challenges." National Review Online. National Review, n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. <[]>.
 * <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">William F. Buckley Jr., the founder of National Reviews, was an author who wrote more than 40 books, and was a former TV host over more than 30 years.

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Silva, Cristina. "Immigration Reform 2015: More Hispanics In US Schools, But They're Struggling To Keep Up." International Business Times. IBT Media, Inc., 25 Feb. 2015. Web. 23 Apr. 2016. <[]>.
 * <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">International Business Times provides important business, economic, political, and technical issues around the globe.