Immersion Experience Paper: Exploring the Dual Identity of Mexican/Americans in Rural Robeson County (Term Paper Sample)

Immersion Experience Paper: Exploring the Dual Identity of Mexican/Americans in Rural Robeson County Student Name Institutional Affiliation Course Instructor Date Immersion Experience Paper: Exploring the Dual Identity of Mexican/Americans in Rural Robeson County Introduction One of the defining features in the United States of America’s ever-progressing landscape is diversity. Cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic diversity are prevalent throughout America, often leading to unique opportunities and challenges for individuals, communities, and the society at large. This diversity immersion projects explores a specific population of Mexican/Americans who have received their US citizenship and reside in the rural region of Robeson County, North Carolina. The main purpose of the project is to attain a deeper understanding of the individuals’ identity as American Americans and US citizens, as well as understanding the intricate challenges and contributions their bring to their local communities. America’s rich history offers grounds from which we can pique into this specific population to understand the extent of diversity shared by Mexican Americans with US citizenship. The significance of this project lies in the adornment of a lively yet often underrepresented community’s struggles and experiences within the broader American context. Background and Context Robeson County, situated in the southern part of North Carolina, is a region characterized by its rich cultural diversity. The state is home to the Lumbee tribe, the largest Native American tribe east of the Mississippi River, while also hosting an acclaimed international university. Robeson County has a unique diverse environment, where Mexican Americans constitute a segment of the population whose experiences are influenced by different factors, including their immigration journeys, roots, and their interplay between their Mexican cultural heritage and their newly acquired American identities (Mandujano-Salazar, 2022). The definition of Mexican American encompasses a broad category of individuals having family ties to the Mexican culture or Mexico (PBS, 2023). This includes individuals having roots in the territory conquered by America in the Mexican American War, even if they do not speak Spanish. The group also encompasses recent immigrants, some of whom may speak indigenous languages, reflecting the multifaceted nature of this population (Smithsonian, 2023). The multi-diversified nature of the region places Robeson County at a great position to critically analyze and understand the dual identity of Mexican/Americans upon receiving their US citizenship. Naturalization serves as one of the ways in which one can become an American citizen voluntarily (Verkuytenet al., 2019). The United States’ government endeavors to make this process as straightforward and as easy as possible by sharing the significant steps to be taken when one opts to become a citizen through the naturalization process (USA gov, 2023). Mexican Americans in Robeson County have also been voluntarily undergoing the naturalization process, regardless of the area’s rural nature. However, due to this area’s rural nature and the dominance of the English language, this presents critical challenges to the individuals. There are limited resources for these individuals to explore their newly acquired American identities while maintaining their Mexican cultural heritage. Similarly, finding supportive resources during their citizenship journey and having an equal opportunity to access jobs can be daunting. Immense security concerns and the absence of public transportation within the community further compounds the various challenges, while healthcare disparities add an additional layer of complexities to the individuals. Interestingly, the Mexican American population contributes substantially to the local community through their civic involvement, diverse skills set, and participation in local events and organizations. According to Smithsonian (2023), Mexican American workers play a key role in transforming the nation’s economy. More importantly, it is critical to understand the immigration procedures they undertook, whether they legally arrived in the United States through a green card or other legal means, lor illegally, in order to fully comprehend the complexities, they face. Therefore, choosing to address the unmet challenges is a great step toward a more inclusive and equitable society. Inclusivity endeavors to cater for the rights and responsibility of every citizen without any exemption whatsoever, for the achievement of equality across the society. Exploring the aspirations of the Mexican American population as US citizens aids in envisioning a future that embraces diversity and integration. Immersion Experience Proposal The initial proposal’s aim was to engage deeply with Mexican Americans who had acquired US citizenship and resided in rural Robeson County. This was anchored toward attaining their views through conducting informal conversations, partaking in significant cultural holidays and celebrations, visiting their living arrangements, sharing authentic meals, and exploring their religious and spiritual practices shaping their lives. Through this hands-on experiences, one can attain a clear perspective on the issues faced by this population and the influence their environment has on them. Preferably, this was intended to gain insights into their daily experiences, challenges, and the unique blend of their dual identities as Mexican Americans and US citizens. Immersion Activities Embarking on this immersion experience project required the undertaking of a range of activities that are designed to avail authentic insights into the lives of Mexican Americans in Robeson County. This means that an in-depth analysis of the selected population is done to attain an understanding of what their personal experiences are upon taking the initiative to become US citizens. The activities mentioned included informal conversations, participation in the communities’ cultural celebrations, sharing meals with some individuals, and visiting their living arrangements. Being part and parcel of these activities is aimed at nurturing a sense of unison to foster and build on personal connections with the selected population. Through these activities, an opportunity to hear individuals’ stories, experiences, and perspectives presented itself, which is an extremely important factor in attaining a clear understanding of Mexican Americans’ experiences in Robeson County. Notably, our informal conversations (Swain & King, 2022) with members of the Mexican American population aided us in building trust with the community members. Listening to their stories of migration, the challenges they encountered and the triumphs they celebrated, and their feelings regarding being both Mexican Americans and US citizens, opened up doors to understand deeply what they faced being in this position. These conversations were crucial in developing a personal connection with these individuals and appreciating their unique experiences (Swain & King, 2022). The conversations also offered a broad outlook on the matter and how it affects the population and their communities. Similarly, participating in cultural celebrations and important holidays was a remarkable experience. It paved way for an analysis of how members of this population appreciated and celebrated such important dates together. It also offered the chance to witness and experience the richness of Mexican culture and traditions as expressed in Robeson County. These events were significant windows from which one can access the world of Mexican Americans with US citizenship, and consequently appreciating their customs and the role played by these traditions in the individuals’ lives. Additionally, sharing authentic meals was an educational and delightful experience. Importantly, food is often conveyed as a powerful medium for understanding cultures, allowing one to explore the various flavors and culinary traditions of Mexican Americans. Sharing melas allows individuals; to connected and experience great moments together, forming significant life bonds. During these meals, engaging in deeper conversations was paramount, offering an opportunity to learn about the individuals’ family dynamics, the significance of certain dishes, and their experiences in the United States. Moreover, by visiting the individuals’ living arrangements, valuable insights into their daily lives could be collected, aiding in attaining a deeper understanding of their social lives. This also paved way for the observation of challenges faced by Mexican Americans in such a rural setting like Robeson County, including language barriers and limited access to resources. Understanding the individuals’ living conditions is important for the appreciation of the realities they confront as Mexican Americans living in Robeson County. Personal and Professional Dialogues Personal dialogues with Mexican Americans living and working in Robeson County were instrumental in providing a more profound understanding of their experiences. Every individual shared a diverse story, reflecting on the journeys and challenges they faced in the US. Various recurring themes were evident from these personal dialogues. For instance, the theme of dual identity that Mexican Americans in Robeson County had to endure was an imminent one (Mandujano-Salazar, 2022). Most of them spoke of the complexities of reconciling their Mexican heritage with their American identity. Despite this challenge, most of them expressed pride in their Mexican culture, yet were quite eager to embrace their specific roles as American citizens. The naturalization process appeared to be an important milestone in their lives. Another significant theme was language barrier, which is a prominent challenge in the...