Circumstances that Gave Rise to 'Mexican Hindu' Families

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Date: 30/05/2012
Circumstances that Gave Rise to "Mexican Hindu" Families
Actually, a small community of “Mexican-Hindu was formed when immigrants from Punjabi married Hispanic women. This community emanated from the Imperial Valley after 1907. This was adjacent to the biggest irrigation system in the American hemisphere. The migration of Mexicans into America started in the 1910’s slightly after the revolution in Mexico as families migrated into America. These families had to pick cotton in plantations owned by men from Punjabi. These two cultures shared a rural life. In addition, they shared a reduced class when it came to status. The majority of men failed to retrieve the members of their families back from India. Hence, these men were compelled to look for new relationships in America. Many Hispanic women and female relatives got married to these business partners from Punjabi. As a result, they formed what can be called joint households. Thus, men friendship coupled with female kinship became the family, life structure (Chan 22).
Unfortunately, there existed some sought of prejudice which posed a danger to these marriages. Technically, interracial marriage had been banned in America within the same period. On the contrary, various clerks sometimes identified these marriages as “brown” on various certificates of marriage. This made these marriages legal. In addition, children from these marriages underwent prejudice. On the contrary, they received unique joint identity via the mixture of cultures from both sides. Surprisingly, the children claimed to harbor a Hindu descent. However, there were no restrictions for these kids to make a certain choice of religion or identity in their lives. All these factors made these two cultures to share themselves and create a tradition than continues up to date. Men from Punjabi were not allowed to own land legally.
Reasons that made Euro- Americans fear interracial marriages so much that various states passed anti miscegenation laws
For a long time, Euro- Americans passed various anti-miscegenation laws. These laws were based upon various controversial biblical interpretations. In particular was the Phinehas story. These laws banned the marriage solemnization between individuals of different races. In addition, these laws forbade the officiating of wedding ceremonies. This made miscegenation an act of felony. In some instances, people trying to marry would not be guilty of miscegenation as such. Instead, felony charges of adultery and fornication would be put on them. Using the bible, the Euro-Americans thought that God created all the races, either black, white, Malay, yellow and red. Then, He placed these races in separate continents. The idea that God separated all the races indicated that He had no intentions to make these races to mix.
Furthermore, the fact that Africans alongside their descendants were very different and inferior to whites was a common phenomenon in Shakespeare’s days. Consequently, this notion moved to America alongside the first colonialists. Alongside the introduction of slaves to these colonies, legislations were passed to keep all races isolated. Various other explanations have been coined to explain the origin of miscegenation. For example, miscegenation was a key concern in the order of discrimination of the white man. In addition, sexuality was at the center of racism and thus, a cause of miscegenation laws. Also, Oliver Cox makes a claim that economic exploitation and not interracial sex loathing formed the main basis for these miscegenation prohibitions. Euro-Americans also feared an alliance between American Indians and African Americans. They also feared the strength in numbers which such a collection of oppressed individuals could generate.
Reasons why such families may not last beyond two generations
There are various reasons which make various interracial unions not to last past two generations. For example, the majority of the Punjabi descendants take themselves as being East Indian or simply Hindu. When these individuals discuss about their Hindu origin, they do not refer to objective criteria which connect them to Punjab region or India. They are basically ignorant of both the Indian and Punjabi culture. In the real sense such families lack a well set cultural basis. These families are thus, left in confusion about what culture to use or follow. For example, the children born from Mexican-Hindu families often consider themselves as being Indians. This makes them to behave like Indians. Thus, they abandon all about the Mexican culture. Among the various reasons of which these descendants claim to be Indians rather than Mexicans is very negative. This is in relation to the Mexican’s perception of being laborers and not landowners in California (Takaki 347).
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