Elvis Lojano

Kevin Kudic

English 110

                                       Discrimination Against Hispanic Students 

Throughout our country’s history there has been an unequal education system, where different types of ethnicities have received a better form of education with better qualities and materials provided compared to the Hispanic race. As a Latino myself I feel betrayed from the US education system because many immigrant parents come looking for the American Dream. A country that claimed to have freedom, equity and progression was just a fantasy but in reality favored white students pushing aside Hispanics trying to build a better future for themselves. This is discrimination against Hispanics students who are trying to stand out for their families who have to work twice as hard as well as making many sacrifices in life to get where they are. Researches show how educators’ biases towards Latinos contribute a negative impact towards their education leading to experience of disrespect and discrimination which leads to possible academic decrease and mental health complications. Latinos should be aware of what our race faces in order to gain what you call “educational equality”. Dev Psychol. 2020 Feb 27;56(5):982–992. Doi 

Many Hispanic parents have reported experiencing discrimination against their children from the education system. A research study titled Hispanic students left out by high stakes test panels concludes (Mary Ann Zehr – September 22, 1999) quoted ” If our children are not being tested [properly], they will be left out (Mary Ann Zehr). Some key points that could be learned are that Hispanic students aren’t receiving standardized exams in order to proceed with their education. Commission members speaking at the press conference emphasized what they see as a need for developing better tests for assessing Hispanic students, particularly those with limited proficiency in English”. Elaborating more by proving Hispanic students should be paid much more closer attention due to some not barely knowing how to speak or understand English. Where Latinos should be given more standardized exams to check their progress on their improvement rather than holding them back for something that wasn’t taught clearly. Latinos make over 20% of the United States population and holding them back from a proper education is holding a majority of the future citizens of America.

As a Latino student myself my priority is to make my parents proud. This is one of my biggest dreams as my parents say us teenagers have nothing else to do, but study and get a good education to get a better lifestyle than they could ever have. This is the same idea of many Hispanic students all over the United States. Because of this major pressure, it could be a bit stressful, and it could lead to wrongful decisions. One major issue is alcohol among teenagers, especially college students. College is a pathway to your future and the moment where you decide who you’re gonna be. This could be a major hit to the face if you weren’t ready for the next chapter in your life right after high school. Hispanics have a record of dealing with alcoholism. This is a major problem because many people just assume that just because you’re Hispanic you drink. According to “ Online discrimination fuels drinking by Hispanic college students (Newsroom, October 28, 2025)” quotes “Nearly 90% of Hispanic students surveyed reported experiencing online racial or ethnic discrimination (RED), researchers found. The study, published in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, found that higher levels of RED exposure were associated with greater alcohol consumption through what experts call “coping drinking motives” – the use of alcohol to manage stress or negative emotions. This is a serious topic since college Hispanic students experience discrimination which leads to plenty of stress, and most of these students are releasing their stress through alcohol. Why alcohol you may ask in a short couple of words it makes you forget about anything complex that’s going on in life. This could lead to bigger issues among Hispanic students as it could affect them physically and mentally. Pushing away the bright future they once dreamed of. As well as having an unfair education system towards Hispanic students is another piece to the stress that these Hispanic students are already facing in their personal lives. The education system needs to be fair and have equality among every single ethnicity. Not favoring one ethnicity just because of their skin color or background or their economic wealth. Everyone deserves a chance to be successful, regardless of where they came from.

Images all over the world show discrimination that Latinos had to face back in the 1900s. Images showing protest in the street fighting for equality among every ethnicity in the United States. A major civil movement made by Latino students was the1968 East La walkouts. Thousands of Mexican Americans students in Los Angeles, California walked out of their schools to protest against the discriminatory school system that was provided to Latinos. Latino schools were lacking of hispanics professors, new educational resources due to the lack of funding that was provided to Latino schools compared to non Latino schools leading to a major disadvantage. Lacking funds for building improvements and as well being left out from the history of The United States. Demanding change towards the education system by suggesting equality among every race when it comes to education. LA walkouts is one of many images that was taken during the protest made by Latino students fighting for an equal opportunity. The image shows a parent with a poster written, we pay high taxes for good teachers, not abusive bureaucrats. Just based on that piece of information gives us an idea of the unfairness that our Latino communities faced in getting an education. Another one saying Mexican-American liberation. This observation could be a major point as this specific proud group of Hispanics are Mexican asking for answers and demanding equality in a corrupt education system. Another image showing the data percentage of Hispanic students struggling to stay in school shows four different types of ethnicities, including Hispanic students, black students, Asian student students and white students. The majority show that Hispanic students are the largest percentage that are struggling to stay in their program during college compared to any other race. I did a little bit of research of my own on why this was the case and according to UnidosUS Hispanic students struggle with financial barriers, first generation students without family guidance and experiencing discrimination/lack of belonging on campus. The feeling of not fitting hits our Latino students preventing them from pursuing careers. The pressure of student loan debts and cost of living which forces our Latinos to find jobs and work. Leaving less time for an education and learning. Our education system has to benefit every social class, not only the wealthy ones to these higher educational colleges. Providing more financial aid or even more scholarships for Hispanics, trying to make a first generational career. Our Latinos have fought many injustices throughout their whole lives that has held them back from any race in the United States. Despite the disadvantages , they have never given up and stood up for themselves to fight for equality in a formal education system that gives an equal opportunity for anyone regardless of where they are. Crucial discrimination this face daily throughout our generations, and it must be put to end because this could deeply affect people mentally and physically. As a Latino myself, I am proud from where I came from and the changes that were made to provide the American dream