Whites have struggled in the past Historically, whites (European stock) have been, culturally and scientifically, behind other racial groups albeit during the past few centuries they have gained a significant advantage, but some subgroups are still struggling It is precisely the migratory pattern affecting a substantial number of Puerto Ricans (mainly poor) that needs to be studied very closely in order to make a reasonable consensus as to why a subgroup of Puerto Ricans are not assimilating readily into the mainstream of the American society. For sure, most Puerto Ricans are white (pg.808 The New Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary,1987) but a statistically significant subgroup appears to fall behind other ethnic groups. Surely, you could be white and still be considered vastly inferior than other ethnic groups and have obstacles thrown your way. This was something experienced by Italians arriving to this continent during the latter half of the 19th and over a quarter of the 20th Centuries. John Higman (Strangers in the Land. Pattern of American Nativism, 1860-1925, p.65), quotes the views of a New York gentleman (1830’s):”The lowest Irish are far above the level of these creatures [Italians].” Of course, being white does not give an individual an exclusive advantage economically. As a matter of fact, in the past Whites have been behind other races economically and in sciences. And, many Whites have been quite destructive and war-like for centuries. And, a particular group, the Germanic Vandals were so notorious for their wanton destruction during AD 406 to AD 533(fernweb.The Vandals.The Dark Ages), that their name is synonymous with vandalism. However, it must be said that it is quite apparent that only highly motivated and disciplined individuals are able to surge ahead and become real capitalistics in the United States. And, this apparentness is highlighted by the fact that Asians and Pacific Islanders have the highest median household income among the nation’s race groups; and, they have a higher proportion (42 percent) with bachelor’s degree than non-Hispanic Whites (28%); and, they received 22 percent of the doctorates in engineering and 21 percent of those in computer sciences; and, 6 in 10 Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States were foreign-born. The achievement of these Asians and Pacific Islanders illustrate maximally that an individual has to be highly disciplined and motivated to achieve set goals in this nation. Of course, as mentioned before, most Asians live in desperate situations in their countries. And, provided the opportunity, the most desperate and affluent of them quickly leave their countries with visions of further improving their lot and that of their children. Ironically, these affluent Asians are so disciplined that they tend to forsake their poorer countrymen for personal gains.