FREE ESSAY ON HONDURAS

HONDURAS

Honduras
Located in middle Central America, Honduras is a tropical country named after the depth
of the water along the northern border of the Caribbean Sea (Lexis Nexis). Nicaragua to
the South and Guatemala and El Salvador to the West border Honduras. The climate in
Honduras varies depending upon the region. Along the coast the weather is hot and dry,
yet, in the mountain ranges it stays cool the whole year round. Honduras is the third
poorest country in the world. There are few corporations, universities, and land for the
citizens to settle on in Honduras, causing many citizens to immigrate to other countries
to find new opportunities. Due to the lack of employment, education, and land, Honduran
citizens immigrate to the United States in order to find a better life.
Honduras is a very racially diverse country. Their backgrounds, housing, and economic
patterns differ greatly than those of Americans. Ninety percent of the residence on the
island are Mestizo or Ladinos while the other ten percent are poor groups known as the
Garifuna and the blacks of the West Indies. The Garifuna and the blacks of the West
Indies make up the problem of emigration in the states. 
By the 1980's there was economic and political crisis in all of Central America and the
number of emigrants shot up. In Honduras, at this time, there was a "national economic
plan" (American Immigration Cultures 395). This plan took away much of the land from the
common folk, and Honduras economy was so bad that there were no jobs to offer. This
sparked the spike in emigration to the United States. At this time there was also a spike
in the tuition for college and considering that there are only a few universities in the
country. 
Emigration to the U.S. started subtly. Much of the emigration is connected to the UFCo
and the Stanford Fruit Company, which at one time monopolized all the banana trade.
Because bananas or one of the main exports of Honduras, many workers, managers, and their
families were granted entry into New York, New Orleans, Boston, and New Jersey. Even
through World War II Hondurans were being sent to the U.S. to work in factories and
housekeeping (American Immigration Cultures 395). It was not until the 1960's and 1970's
that "most Hondurans arrived as students, tourist, or family reunification quotas"
(American Immigration Cultures 395). The emigration patterns mostly rose in the upper
middle class and among single persons of both genders. The main ages that the emigrants
were entering the country was twenty to thirty four, and four and under fifteen (American
Immigration Cultures 395). These ages reflect that of a working class and their families
they bring with them. At these ages many were excited about the new working experience
and those that did not have families with them were excited about starting them. 
When the U.S. has tried to take a census many of the Garifuna and the blacks for West
Indies have been mistaken for African Americans. Some of the most accurate studies were
performed in the 1980s "that placed a total of 15,000 Hondurans in Los Angeles, 30,000 to
60,000 in New Orleans, and 5,000 to 10,000 in Houston in 1985. Considering that New York
City had at least as many as New Orleans, and that Boston had at least as many as Los
Angeles, this leaves an estimated 95,000 to 160,000 first generation Hondurans in those
cities alone in the United States in 1985" (American Immigrant Cultures395). Even more
studies show that in 1976 there were a total of 31,150 Honduran citizens according to the
census and an additional 16,039 illegal aliens living in the U.S. (Harvard Encyclopedia
of American Ethnic Groups 210). 
Once in the United States, the unfamiliar settlers find their way to their permanent home
or a secondary settlement. Many of the Garifunas have made their permanent home in
different burrows of New York. The Hondurans live mostly in the South Bronx, which is
home for many Dominican and Puerto Rican emigrants. Also there is a considerable number
living in Harlem and Brooklyn where many African-Americans have settled. The Hondurans
that live in New York often end up working in health care or in building maintenance. The
Mestizos have made their homes throughout city in burrows like Long Island, Queens, and
Brooklyn. These emigrants often find work as domestics, construction, restaurants, and
day labor. The third group that has emigrated is the Blacks of the West Indies. They made
their homes in neighborhoods in New Jersey and surrounding the Boston area. 
Unlike the fortunate emigrants who find their homes and settled down, the new emigrants
have to live in places known as secondary settlements. Secondary settlements are places
where Honduran emigrants go before they find their place of permanent residency. In
Houston and Los Angeles such settlements have expanded considerably. In Miami where
usually middle class Hondurans settle, there has been a growth in secondary settlements
as well. 
There are numerous reasons Hondurans emigrate to the U.S. to live in cities or secondary
residences. Many emigrate to receive and education in the colleges they have always
dreamed of attending. Unlike many American kids that take college for granted, Hondurans
know how valuable and education is and how fortunate they are to receive one. Another
reason for emigrating is the hopes to make enough money to build their own house and
start their own businesses. After they have established themselves they usually move
their families to their new homes. The majority of the emigrants that move to the states
stay here to live their lives while others return to Honduras for vacations and short
visits. There are a select few, which earn enough money to return to Honduras and live a
life that they desire. 
As for the emigrants that remain in the states, their social cultures "reflect this
traditional system and their relationship to the race/ class system of the cities in
which they live"(American Immigration Cultures 399). Once the emigrants are settled and
working, it is hard for them to move up in the social hierarchy. Depending on where the
Hondurans settle will determine what they will do with their life. The people who settle
in a Hispanic or Honduran area will find themselves not learning the English language
because they don't have a use for it. This never puts them in main stream America and
therefore, they struggle to make a life for themselves. The emigrants who grew up in New
Jersey and Boston were surrounded by main stream America. They often grow up to be
professionals such as doctors, lawyers, and teachers. 
The main reason that many Honduran emigrate to the U.S. is to find more economic
benefits. There are a few Honduran restaurants, travel agencies, and shipping agencies
that exist. But many Hondurans can be seen selling food at the athletic games, working
making tapes of birthdays and weddings, and childcare. Also many rely on the factories as
their main source of income but since many factories have moved to other countries many
Hondurans have been left to either go back to Honduras and working the factories there or
find new jobs in America. There is only one exception that exists. A family in New York
that has an ice cream company that sells ice cream to the Spanish community. The
emigrants who enter into the country legally and graduate from college find themselves
working as professionals. They usually live in middle class cities and work blue-collar
jobs. 
Whether through working or living in a community Hondurans have brought their culture
with them. Hondurans, especially mestizos and Garifuna, excel in the arts around New York
City. Secondly, there are many festivals that honor the Honduran culture. These festivals
bring together dancers, bands, and Honduran food. These celebrations attract many even if
they are not Honduran. Additionally there is a big Spanish language media. There are many
Spanish journalists that are highly respected that work in New York. These Spanish
reporters started a monthly newspaper and magazine called the Nosotros los Latinos that
focuses on the arts. The Honduran journalist also print a paper called El Sol de Las
Americas, which focuses on the Honduran community as a whole. The success to the Spanish
media is related to the strong drive that holds their culture together.
Although Honduran emigrants keep their culture alive they seem to show a different view
on American politics. This can be attributed to the lack of legal emigrants that have
applied to get their visa. Many don't even think about the fact of voting or getting
involved in politics. The second reason involves the way the Honduran government runs.
Many citizens do not get the chance to vote or do anything for their country. So it is
almost second hand for them to not think about the future for our country. 
Hondurans have made a life choice to come to America to start a new life. Once they
arrive they have many decisions to make: the jobs they want, the places they choose to
live, and the way they associate the culture in their lives. When the emigrants
culturally blend with the others and they show America some of their culture they feel
right at home. Although some remain in the United States and some return to Honduras,
each has shed their personal culture into our country. We take them weak and strong and
our arms are always open to the emigrants from Honduras.