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Mexican American Youth of the Southwest Borderlands: Perceptions of Ethnicity, Acculturation, and Race

University of Texas at Austin

This article discusses the findings of a qualitative study of a group of young Mexican Americans in a barrio, fictitiously called "Las Montañas Bonitas," located in a large Southwestern city. Young Mexican Americans’perception of ethnic identity is the focus of this study. The ethnographic techniques of participant observation, focus groups, and semistructured interviews were used. The most poignant finding is the respondents’use of racial terms to define and understand acculturation differences. Also, the intense negative feelings expressed by Mexican Americans about less acculturated, monolingual, Spanish-speaking individuals are noted. Other findings suggest that respondents have strong connections with both contemporary youth culture and traditional culture. The overarching themes of respondent narratives relate to boundaries and loyalty in the face of internal colonialization.

Key Words: Mexican Americans • adolescents • ethnicity • race • acculturation • ethnography • internal colonialization

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