Mecican-American Culture in the Inland Empire Essay Example for Free

Mecican-American Culture in the Inland Empire Essay The area of California known as the Inland Empire, is comprised of Riverside, Ontario, and San Bernadino Counties, and is home to one of the largest, most concentrated populations of Mexican-Americans in the United States. As a result, the area has its own culture, its own style of music, dancing, art, and celebration. Ultimately, the culture of the Inland Empire is an American translation of cultural traditions that immigrants brought with them from Mexico, and they have created a world all their own. Life for Mexican immigrants to the United States, however, is not always easy. As a result, this is a high-risk population for mental illness and substance abuse. Certainly, the Inland Empire provides plenty of opportunities for the culturally aware social worker to provide help and services. According to a 2012 business report, fourteen cities in the Inland Empire have a majority Latino population. 2-million of the 4. 7 million residents in the area, are in fact Latino, suggesting a trend of growing Latino populations all over the United States (Gruszecki, 2012). The Inland Empire has a rich arts and culture landscape, with a strong emphasis on Mexican, and Mexican-American heritage. In a 2008 investigation into cultural engagement in southern California, the James Irving Foundation found that Hispanic populations in the Inland Empire tended to â€Å"practice traditions that represent their cultural heritage at higher than average rates and engage in community events that celebrate their heritage much more often than Whites,† (Brown et al, 9). The study surveyed thousands of people across the Inland Empire, and found that many Mexican-Americans in the area still celebrate many of the same holidays as their Mexican Ancestors, including Navidad, Virgin of Guadaloupe Day (Dec.12), Posadas, Cinco de Mayo, and Dia de Los Muertos (Brown et al, 74). Alamillo suggests that celebrating these holidays once in America may have been a way for the immigrants of the mid-twentieth century to â€Å"further the interests of the ethnic Mexican community† in the area, and the practice stuck (Alamillo, 57). He argues that â€Å"Mexican Americans used Cinco de Mayo festivals not only to promote ethnic solidarity, but as a tool of political opposition, (Alamillo, 59). Mexican culture is also notices in the types of stories that respondents to the James Irving Foundation survey reported that they’d brought with them to their new homes in the Inland Empire. These included many stories representing the strong family values of Mexican culture. Stories passed down from family, with family values, and those in traditional language were all among those types of stories that the study cites. Similarly, mariachi music followed Mexican immigrants to the US, as did making pinatas, dream catchers, and altars, as well as Flamenco and Pueblo dancing, (Brown et al, 77). One of the major problems among Mexican Americans, however, is often overlooked. It is thought that mental illness is more prevalent in Latino communities in the US than in white, non-Hispanic, or African American communities. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Latino girls are one and a half times more likely than white or black teens to attempt suicide, and Mexican-American immigrants to the US are at a higher risk for mental disorders and substance abuse than their counterparts living in Mexico (NAMI, 2002). However, due to the stigma associated with mental illness in Latino communities, many suffering from mental illness do not seek out treatment. Those who do seek out treatment are often more likely to see a general practitioner or clergy than a mental health professional or social worker (NAMI, 2002). There is also a stigma against homosexuality in Mexican-American communities, which may contribute to the high risk of mental illness, substance abuse and suicide among homosexual immigrants. Many studies have shown that â€Å"homosexuality is stigmatized among U. S. residents of Mexican descent and, more generally, in Latino communities in the United States,† while only a couple have found Mexican attitudes towards homosexuality to be on par with those in black and white communities (Herek and Gonzalez-Rivera, 1). It is likely that the same reverence for family that influences the beliefs of many Mexican Americans, also influences their attitudes towards homosexual behavior, ultimately leading to the alienation of Mexican-American homosexuals. The Psychological Counseling Center of California State University at San Bernadino runs a website listing places to turn for help in the Inland Empire: http://psychcounseling. csusb . edu/referrals. html. For many Mexican Americans, the Catholic Charities may be a good option as they offer a fait-based approach to dealing with mental health issues. There are many options available to residents of the Inland Empire to get help right in their community. Mexican culture has a deep and rich tradition in the United States, especially in the Inland Empire. Immigrants celebrate their Mexican heritage as a way of holding on to the history, people and place from which they’ve come. Along with these rich traditions however, come opportunities for receiving help. Often when it comes to societal issues such as mental illness and substance abuse, communities will need the help of a social worker who understands their culture and can meet their diverse needs. References Alamillo, Jose. â€Å"More than a Fiesta: Ethnic Identity,Cultural Politics, and Cinco de Mayo Festivals inCorona, California, 1930-1950. † Aztlan 28:2, Fall2003. Retrieved 15 Feb, 2013. http://josealamillo. com/fiestaalamillo. pdf Brown, Alan S. , Novak, Jennifer L. , and Kitchener, Amy. â€Å"Cultural Engagement in California’s Inland Regions. †Research Commissioned by the James Irvine Foundation,September, 2008. Retrieved 15 Feb. 2013. http://www. southarts. org/atf/cf/%7B15E1E84E-C906-4F67-9851-A195A9BAAF79%7D/Arts%20Part%20-%20Cultural%20Engagement_FullReport. pdf Herek, Gregory, and Gonzalez-Rivera, Milagritos. â€Å"AttitudesToward Homosexuality Among U. S. Residents of MexicanDescent. † Journal of Sex Research43:2, 2006. Retrieved 5March, 2013http://psychology. ucdavis. edu/rainbow/html/JSR_2006_pre. PDF Gruszecki, Debra. â€Å"ECONOMY: Latino Population Shifts. †September 27, 2012. The Press-Enterprise. Retrieved 15Feb. 2013. http://www. pe. com/business/business-headlines/20120927-economy-latino-population-shifts. ece National Association on Mental Illness. â€Å"Latino Community MentalHealth Fact Sheet,† 2002. Retrieved 5 March, 2013http://www. nami. org/Content/NavigationMenu/Find_Support/Multicultural_Support/Annual_Minority_Mental_Healthcare_Symposia/Latino_MH06. pdf.