Are *Hispanics* or Latinos assimilating to American culture in California? (homes, neighborhoods)

[2ner]

I know this is a loaded question because these days many consider assimilation a bad thing... and that people should have the right to hold on to the culture of their national origin. BUT, it does cause concern among some people living in the U.S. that Americans are becoming balkanized because of this. Some point to California as a case in point... Is there evidence of a lack of assimilation or balkanization in California among *Hispanics* or Latinos vis-à-vis other Californians?

[payutenyodagimas]

i really dont care about them assimilating but everybody should speak english. speak whatever language you want in your homes.

am an immigrant myself and have to pass IELTS before they gave me my greencard.

[wac_432]

As a white American of European origin who has lived as the 1% of the non-hispanic population in many LA-area neighborhoods, and as the 98% of white nth-generation of Euro-Americans in other parts of the state and country, yes, they act like Americans. Califonia is only "Balkanized" in the minds of frightened xenophobic conspiracy-theorist snowflakes. We all get along just fine.

I have lived and worked with FOB-to-nth-generation, professional-to-blue-collar, Latin American white and non-white hispanics, and they're just like every other American. They have cultural festivals that celebrate their heritage, they may or may know a little or be fluent in a language other than English, but they are otherwise indistinguishable from our European/Asian/African/Whatever-American neighbors and friends.

As a matter of personal preference, I rank Latin-America-Americans near the upper-middle of my list of favorites; below Asian-Americans but above Italian-Americans. They throw great parties. They focus on family over education. I'm happy to have hispanic neighbors move in.

[OptimusPrime69]

here we go

[LuvSouthOC]

Hispanics are part of the original and current culture here OP. This is ridiculous.

[Vic Romano]

EVERY culture assimilates to a degree with every succeeding generation.

[marcopolo666]

Looking at OP's list of recent posts, s/he seems to be rather focused on race, "cultural issues", etc. on multiple threads across this site. "Franco-American Culture in New England", "Why was the white race(anglo saxon) so successful?", "Was Persia conquered by an inferior civilization (the Muslim Arabs)?", "When Africans Meet African-Americans", ...

Hmmmm.

I think this will be my only post on this thread.

[ObserverJC]

In my observation the Hispanic are assimilating fine, at least better than Chinese. Also the assimilation goes both way. While Hispanic are becoming more American, Americans are also picking up some Hispanic cultural traits, foods being the most obvious one.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by 2ner

I know this is a loaded question because these days many consider assimilation a bad thing... and that people should have the right to hold on to the culture of their national origin. BUT, it does cause concern among some people living in the U.S. that Americans are becoming balkanized because of this. Some point to California as a case in point... Is there evidence of a lack of assimilation or balkanization in California among *Hispanics* or Latinos vis-à-vis other Californians?

Define "Hispanic assimilation". It's all relative. They're no more, or less, assimilated, than California's and NYC's Russian enclaves. Does anyone complain about that? no, they don't. For some reason, they only feel threatened by the thought of brown people not assimilating.

Much ado about nothing.


P.S. BTW, I live in New Mexico, a Hispanic state, with close to a 10% Native American population, as well. Here, the diversity is regarded as an asset. Life would be pretty boring, if everyone were the same, don't you think? Spare me from a white-bread, monolingual world.