Project Director

Anderson-Barrera, Vivian

Department Examiner

Althouse, Aaron; Purkey, Lynn; Kutz, Beverly

Department

Dept. of Humanities

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

Starting in the 1980s, Latin American immigration in the United States began undergoing a series of significant adaptations in response to changing government policies and economic relocation trends. A widespread shift toward permanent settlement alongside significant economic restructuring and growth in the Southeast opened the door for many low-skill workers in nontraditional settlement areas, especially in the Southeast. Chattanooga, Tennessee, has participated in this process and demonstrates certain peculiarities, particularly in regards to its large number of Guatemalan immigrants. Characterized by a unique culture, history, and family of languages, these Guatemalans' powerful stories remain untold largely due to language barriers and legal status. This paper will examine the causes and issues surrounding Guatemalan immigration to the greater metropolitan area of Chattanooga. In particular, it uses primary research based upon surveys and interviews regarding participants' experiences living in Chattanooga and their reasons for migration. In addition, it looks at the issue of Latin American immigration to the U.S. in general as well as the influences of the history and culture of Guatemala and Chattanooga to provide a framework for analyzing immigration patterns. This data indicates that most of the immigrants to this area come because of family connections. Moreover, this study suggests that most Guatemalans left their country as a result of the extreme poverty and violence that characterized the last half of the 20th century, and that they faced extreme hardship in the U.S. while retaining an attitude of determined perseverance.

Degree

B. A.; An honors thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Arts.

Date

4-2011

Subject

Guatemalans--Emigration and immigration; Guatemalan Americans--Tennessee--Chattanooga

Discipline

Central American Studies

Document Type

Theses

Extent

ii, 71 leaves

DCMI Type

Text

Language

English

Call Number

LB2369.5 .S374 2011

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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