Hispanic population in Georgia (Atlanta, White: how much, home, live in)

[HokiePokie]

For real, I can’t speak spanish worth a crap, I really don’t understand the way it works, and truth be told I still don’t understand some english! But why are the Hispanic speaking population not being diversified in where they live and hang around? I rarely see them where I live, not many move here from other locations and I for one welcome them whole heartedly. I have been around these people a good bit, they are for the most part respectful, kind, just good people. Do they not like white people? I ask that because they don’t try to be included. I have been what I would consider around these folks quite a bit, they are normally nicer than most white people I know. If you’ve never been around this ethnic group and tried communicating with them you are missing a blessing, they are mostly good people, may be a few that are into mischief but not many. I wish more of them lived in the town where I live, we could have a few grocery stores, and if we could get chinese, japanese, korean, and several more we could even have street food, always something to eat in town. Looks fun to me, if you’ve never looked up street food and added a country to it you should, fun to watch!

[urbancuriosity]

If you have a subscription to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, you might find this article interesting. The article talks about the Latino community and its growing presence even in rural Georgia. The metro Atlanta area has the largest number. Georgia's a big state so, over time, the Latino presence will continue to grow.

In terms of them "not trying to be included," that can happen for a variety of reasons. Sometimes people associate with one another based on language and their home culture because of the comfort level it provides. It can take time for relationships to develop. Also, "hispanic" is one label but can be attributed to many countries. You may have people from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and a variety of other countries. "These folks" may represent a variety of distinct cultures.

Overall, I think the best thing to do is what you have been doing. Be the agent of change!

https://www.ajc.com/news/we-are-here...A4VSOBBLITI7Y/

[y8tiger]

My Father was born in Puerto Rico and grew up on various Army Installations Stateside. Most of the family on his side has lived around the Atlanta area since the 70's at least and half of us don't speak Spanish. My Father's generation believed in cultural assimilation while this has not been the case with those that came in recent decades.

We were born Caucasian, but now OMB defines "Hispanic or Latino" as a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.

So now there is a demographic box that reads "White, of Hispanic descent" and we are confused as well, LOL.

[HokiePokie]

I worked around some multinational people once and it was for real the most fun you could imagine. Being white, caucasian whatever they would call me, I was the minority the majority of the time, there was about 15 or 20 of them, about 4 or 5 white people there. They were very quiet at first but eventually, I tried to communicate with them, some spoke english, some did not, but eventually they started talking back. They taught me mostly cuss words to begin with, as a joke to their boss Ricardo, one of the nicest guys I ever met. The setting was a large building, they were basically in charge of the building, I was observing mostly. One day around 1pm I went into the building, they were laying down sleeping! Ciesta, lol. I was not use to that, but it was very funny. At lunch they would use an electric skillet, smell the whole place up with fried chicken or something delicious. They are lots of fun to be around but just as the fun began the job was over, they became a memory. Still the same the fun we had changed my opinion of these groups of people, before I would see them sitting outside some Walmart stores, see them in the Atlanta area, waiting on a truck to provide them work. Not the same people but multinationals. When they don’t try communicating and just stare its a little creepy, I am sure they feel the same way about me. If I could learn spanish easy I would do it, they said to learn it you’d just about have to be around people who spoke the language

[urbancuriosity]

It's great that you continue to enjoy getting to know the Spanish-speaking community around you! I think even by hanging around them you will pick up some words or phrases.

Learning a new language can be hard, but the good news is that there's free stuff out there too. Youtube has some videos. Search for:

Learning Spanish

If you're near a library, they may have some books you can check out. Also, sometimes cities offer classes for the community. It really depends on how much time you can devote to it.

Otherwise, you seem to be having lots of fun so keep it up!

[hilltop180]

Generally latin people will hang together because they may not speak very good english or english at all. In areas like Texas or California you will start to see multiple generations where people grew up speaking both languages. I think Georgia will get more diversified as time goes on. If you go to latin festivals like Day of the dead that I went to recently in Oakland cemetery, it will give you a chance to interact and meet our fellow latin neighbors.

[floridarebel]

Georgia and the rest of the south started getting lots of hispanics starting in the in the 1990s. Perhaps due to the 1990 immigration act. They tend to be Mexican or Puerto Rican. Must be a big cultural change for those particular ones. They seem to group together in the community away from the rest of the population. It's good that they are religious and family oriented like native born Georgians and make good food. Language barrier would be/is rough if they don't speak English.

[SavannahLife]

The "family oriented religious" people you mention in Georgia might be the main reason they keep to themselves. Our governor threatened to drive a bus around rounding up them illegals. Irony being, all the megacorps that now own farms, love illegals and pay them nothing. I'd love to see a bus go around rounding up the fat cat CEOs using illegals and throwing them in jail. That would do more to keep the border secure.

[Alex29]

Originally Posted by HokiePokie

I rarely see them where I live, not many move here from other locations and I for one welcome them whole heartedly. I have been around these people a good bit, they are for the most part respectful, kind, just good people. Do they not like white people?

Why are you not moving where Latino people live?

[Southern Soul Bro]

What part of Georgia are you in? Because I live in the Northern Suburbs of Atlanta and see Hispanics, Whites, East Asians, Indians, African Americans, and African immigrants around each other all the time. Take trip to North Fulton, Cobb, Gwinnett, etc.