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This study explores how a group of young Puerto Rican intermediate school students perceived themselves. The students' ethnic identity was approached as the result of their given cultural background and the influences of the host society. The Puerto Rican language-culture nexus was treated as the natural field where young Puerto Ricans forge their ethnic identities. Ethnographic theory and methods were the tools used to study the phenomenon from a naturalistic perspective. This was an open ended inquiry process, characterized by a constant search for the actors' interpretation of their own behavior, beliefs, values, and self-perception. Ethnic identity and school achievement were studied in relation to individual students and their behavior. Special consideration was given to their personal and cultural history, family, community and society. This study was born as the result of three years of social work practice with mainland Puerto Rican students. It attempts to explore some of the many questions that emerged while working with this traditionally undeserved ethnic group. This study provides theoretical and methodological questions and recommendations about the acculturation processes of young Puerto Ricans in the mainland U.S.A. These results may also assist practitioners working with this and other ethnic urban minorities. |
