Who is Hispanic and what does it mean?

Hispanic

Pablo’s Story

I was born in Peru.I was born in Peru.

I moved to the States when I was five.I moved to the States when I was five.

I work as a lawyer and have fully adapted to I work as a lawyer and have fully adapted to life in the United States.life in the United States.

I still respect and cherish my roots.I still respect and cherish my roots.

Am I Hispanic? Am I Hispanic?

Hannah

I am from the United States.I am from the United States.

But I have lived in Mexico for most of my life.But I have lived in Mexico for most of my life.

I work as a I work as a mesera in mesera in a local restaurant.a local restaurant.

I respect the customs, traditions, and practices of I respect the customs, traditions, and practices of the culture of which I consider myself a member.the culture of which I consider myself a member.

Am I Hispanic? Am I Hispanic?

Jesús

My parents are from Spain.My parents are from Spain.

But I was born in Philly.But I was born in Philly.

I do not speak any Spanish (much to my I do not speak any Spanish (much to my parent’s disapproval).parent’s disapproval).

I am studying to be an architect.I am studying to be an architect.

Am I Hispanic?Am I Hispanic?

The term Hispanic

Origin: Hispano—the Latin word for people Origin: Hispano—the Latin word for people from Hispania or the Iberian Peninsulafrom Hispania or the Iberian Peninsula

Many people from Spanish-speaking countries Many people from Spanish-speaking countries do not know or even recognize this term.do not know or even recognize this term.

The term became popular during the The term became popular during the presidency of Nixon (1969 to 1974) for census presidency of Nixon (1969 to 1974) for census purposes. purposes.

Hispanic or Latino?

Latino is a term more internationally used for Latino is a term more internationally used for people of Spanish decent.people of Spanish decent.

Though this term can be very broad and Though this term can be very broad and include most cultures that speak a romance include most cultures that speak a romance language, it has come to refer to people from language, it has come to refer to people from the Iberian Peninsula.the Iberian Peninsula.

Many would argue, though, that Hispanic is a Many would argue, though, that Hispanic is a perfectly descriptive and acceptable term. perfectly descriptive and acceptable term.

Hispanic or Latino?

As we’ve seen, the lines between who is As we’ve seen, the lines between who is considered Latino or Hispanic have blurred considered Latino or Hispanic have blurred and are essentially up to whatever the and are essentially up to whatever the individual prefers to be labeled.individual prefers to be labeled.

Similarly, many individuals are offended by Similarly, many individuals are offended by the term Hispanic. Fewer are bothered by the the term Hispanic. Fewer are bothered by the term Latino. What they’re labeled is really up term Latino. What they’re labeled is really up to them.to them.

Race

Race originally referred to people of similar Race originally referred to people of similar genetic make-up.genetic make-up.

““All humans today are 99.9% genetically identical, and All humans today are 99.9% genetically identical, and most of the variation that does occur is in the difference most of the variation that does occur is in the difference between males and females and our unique personal between males and females and our unique personal traits… [I]t is now clear that our human "races" are traits… [I]t is now clear that our human "races" are primarily cultural creations, not biological realities.” primarily cultural creations, not biological realities.” Anthropology at Palomar UniversityAnthropology at Palomar University

Race and Ethnicity

Race is now considered a culturally determined descriptorRace is now considered a culturally determined descriptor

According to Radford University of Radford, VA, ethnicity According to Radford University of Radford, VA, ethnicity is “defined by a sense of shared experience and people is “defined by a sense of shared experience and people hood, defined by a unique socio-cultural heritage that is hood, defined by a unique socio-cultural heritage that is transmitted across generations.”transmitted across generations.”

The “Melting Pot” Latino Style

Race focuses on biological heritage and originally had its roots in Race focuses on biological heritage and originally had its roots in shared genetic characteristics shared genetic characteristics

Ethnicity focuses on customs, behaviors, and traditions that have Ethnicity focuses on customs, behaviors, and traditions that have been shared by a people and passed down from generation to been shared by a people and passed down from generation to generation. generation.

Due to modern revelations in the field of genetics, the definition of Due to modern revelations in the field of genetics, the definition of race has increasingly aligned with that of ethnicity and may race has increasingly aligned with that of ethnicity and may presumably merge therewith in the near future as the “Melting Pot” presumably merge therewith in the near future as the “Melting Pot” becomes less the exception and more the rule. becomes less the exception and more the rule.

Latino Lineage

Blanco

Negro

Indio

Mulato

Zambo

Mestizo

Chicano

Not a result of mixing races but Not a result of mixing races but refers to Mexicans who were refers to Mexicans who were absorbed into the United absorbed into the United States, and later, the term States, and later, the term began to include their posterity.began to include their posterity.

In the 80’s, the term Chicano In the 80’s, the term Chicano acquired a strong political acquired a strong political connotation. connotation.

The Latino presence

According to the 2010 Census:According to the 2010 Census:

Hispanics make up 16.3%Hispanics make up 16.3%

That is a 4% increase from the 2000 census (12.6%)That is a 4% increase from the 2000 census (12.6%)

1 in 6 Americans are Latino or Hispanic1 in 6 Americans are Latino or Hispanic

10 years ago 1 in 8 Americans were Latino or Hispanic10 years ago 1 in 8 Americans were Latino or Hispanic

African American make up 11.0%African American make up 11.0%

Hispanics are the largest minority group in the U.S.Hispanics are the largest minority group in the U.S.

The Language Factor

In the United States 44,468,501 speak Spanish In the United States 44,468,501 speak Spanish as their first language.as their first language.

The United States is the second largest The United States is the second largest Spanish speaking country after Mexico and is Spanish speaking country after Mexico and is followed by Spain.followed by Spain.

Spanish is the 2nd most spoken native Spanish is the 2nd most spoken native language in the world following English as 3language in the world following English as 3ndnd most and behind Mandarin 1most and behind Mandarin 1stst most. most.

El Fin