A report released last month by the Census Bureau reveals that Hispanics accounted for almost half of the country’s population growth over the last four years. And for the first time, that growth has more to do with children being born here than with new immigrants coming into the country. Youth Voices reporter Josue Melgar is himself a fairly recent arrival from El Salvador. He says the distinction between these first and second generation Latino immigrants is more obvious than people might think.
More from WAMU
Global Catwalk
(00:51:26)
From: WAMU
On this episode of Latitudes, we take you on a global catwalk, talking about fashion and style in all corners of the world.
Down the Tubes
(00:51:26)
From: WAMU
Toilets are a basic necessity. But some 2.6 billion people don’t have them. Every year, more than a million people die from sanitation related diseases. This week Latitudes ...
Play
(00:51:27)
From: WAMU
On this episode of Latitudes, we look at how we play, where we play, and why play is so important.
Voices from Afghanistan
(00:51:29)
From: WAMU
Voices from Afghanistan is an hour long special marking a decade of US troop engagement in Afghanistan. The program offers snapshots of life in Afghanistan today and looks ...
The Beatles - One More Album
(00:54:00)
From: WAMU
April marks 40 years since the breakup of the Beatles. In honor of the milestone, we play a guessing game that has kept fans fighting for years - what would it have sounded ...
Bluegrass Unlimited Top 30 Countdown - January 2010
(01:57:33)
From: WAMU
Hosted by Lee Michael Demsey [http://bluegrasscountry.org/about/hosts/lee-michael-demsey/]
Bluegrass Unlimited Top 30 Countdown - December 2009
(01:57:28)
From: WAMU
Hosted by Lee Michael Demsey [http://bluegrasscountry.org/about/hosts/lee-michael-demsey/]
Old Time Jam #97
(00:56:38)
From: WAMU
Hosted by Hubie King [http://bluegrasscountry.org/about/hosts/hubie-king/]
The Katy Daley Show - 11/11/2009
(00:57:00)
From: WAMU
The Katy Daley [http://bluegrasscountry.org/about/hosts/katy-daley/] Show is an hour-long syndicated broadcast originating from WAMU's Bluegrass Country in Washington, D.C.
Piece Description
A report released last month by the Census Bureau reveals that Hispanics accounted for almost half of the country’s population growth over the last four years. And for the first time, that growth has more to do with children being born here than with new immigrants coming into the country. Youth Voices reporter Josue Melgar is himself a fairly recent arrival from El Salvador. He says the distinction between these first and second generation Latino immigrants is more obvious than people might think.
3 Comments
|
Review of JinchoReporter Josue Melgar gives voice to a rarely discussed problem regarding immigrants: the tension between the ones who have assimilated and those who haven’t. By looking at the situation in his high school, Melgar provides a sense of how it feels to be truly on the outs, beyond the regular feelings of simply being a teenager. The assimilated kids feel superior and pick on the new ones. As a student Carlos says with pride, “it’s tradition,” and Carlos has only been in the U.S. for 4 years. Jincho is the derogatory name given to a student who can’t speak or read English. Painful as it is for them to experience, these young people understand the ascendancy of language and how it shapes identity. I appreciate the sound of their accented voices, fighting to be heard above the surety of those who feel comfortable. This is commentary adults should hear. |
|
Review of JinchoThis piece really made me think about complicated issues like prejudice and stereotypes, while putting it in the everyday context of high school, which makes it easy to apply to other situations. That can help us focus on breaking the vicious circle of acceptance. |





Rocky Tayeh
Posted on December 30, 2005 at 12:17 PM | Permalink
Review of Jincho
Your story was very interesting. I had no ideal that this goes on even between people who are so similar. I learned allot of stuff from your story, that I probably wouldn't have learned in school. You see your piece is a reason why youth reporters are so important, they tell stories that would never be heard and just go unchecked, but now because of people like you we know about this know. I know for sure after listening to your story I am going to try my best to make the new immigrants of every race, culture, etc. in my school feel comfortable, because if is was I, I would want the same. In your story you focused so much on one side ( the people who where picked on) it would have been very interesting to hear more from the people who where being racist and discriminating..asking them simple questions like ?why do you pick on these new immigrants?? Also with radio stories you have to try your absolute best to make sure people can understand you, your accent makes your story unique but you have to be careful and not go to fast so we listeners can understand and put our full attention into the story and not your words....you rock man!!!