A question for Latinos...?

Question

Do you prefer to be called Latino or Hispanic?
I've heard that the term "Hispanic" is a product of the Reagan administration. And, in recent years I've now heard of people referring to themselves as Latinos.

Thanks for the answers thus far.
I am the Diversity Committee chairperson for the school that I teach at, and Sept. 15-Oct. 15 is "Hispanic" Heritage Month. Before I begin planning events for that I would like to know what to call it. And, I think it's especially important since I, along with others, are responsible for teaching the future of this country.
If you look it up on the Internet, it's called Hispanic Heritage Month, but I just didn't think this was right.

Answer 1

It does not really matter to me as long as they are not calling me Spanish, because I have ancestors from Spain but I am not from Spain.

Answer 2

Either one works for me. Latino may not be the most accurate term though. The reason is that Hispanics are supposed to be descended of various tribes of native Americans and the Spanish (from spain). Spaniards are supposed to be descended from old Germanic tribes (mainly the Oligoths and Visigoths) and the Romans. Romans were sometimes called Latins because they were supposed to be descended from and two Italian tribes (the Etruscans and the Italians) and the Trojans. The Italian king at the time of the Trojan arrival was King Latinus. However, that appears mainly to be a myth, and the Trojans and the Italians probably never met and King Latinus probably did not ever exist (though it is possible, but highly unlikely). Hispanic is therefore probably the more accurate term. But I personally like both.

Answer 3

From the Dictionary:

Pre-Hispanic: of, relating to, or being the time prior to Spanish conquests in the western hemisphere

Hispanic: of, relating to, or being a person of Latin American descent living in the United States; especially : one of Cuban, Mexican, or Puerto Rican origin

Latin: 1 a : of, relating to, or composed in Latin b : ROMANCE
2 : of or relating to Latium or the Latins
3 : of or relating to the part of the Catholic Church that until recently used a Latin rite and forms the patriarchate of the pope
4 : of or relating to the peoples or countries using Romance languages; specifically : of or relating to the peoples or countries of Latin America

Latino: 1 : a native or inhabitant of Latin America
2 : a person of Latin-American origin living in the United States
- Latino adjective

Generally, if you are from Mexico or one of a number of countries where the Spanish Conquistadors took over - or had a major impact upon - you are considered Hispanic; while Latins/Latinos were generally known as those people from South America who immigrated from various Latin speaking countries - typically from areas such as Spain, Italy, France, etc., such was the case in Argentina or even Brazil - aside from the slave traders in Brazil. The Conquistadors were primarily interested in Mexico, Central American and few countries in South America where major Indian tribes resided because they figured since the Indians were settled and living there, that they must be the most desirable areas to obtain. Conquistadors did not devastate (in the same way) and overrun the other areas - leaving room for future populations - mainly during the 1800s and 1900s - to immigrate and create/define those other nations, again, generally and originally known as “Latins” because they represented a broad spectrum of countries whose language origin was “Latin” - so it was a way to refer to them in a general way.

This is all an general overview for the purpose of answering your question.

Answer 4

I am a latina woman and that's the way I refer to myself and latinos/latinas is how I refer to my nationality because hispanic is considered to be a racail slur to the latino community.

Answer 5

Hispanic Latino is more for the east coast

Answer 6

Hispanic, we origenally are from spain,im a mexican,Hispanic sounds less racaisist

Answer 7

I think that the U.S has learned to categorize everyone. For example: Asians, whites, blacks, etc. Even if we're American by birth, our ancestors come from different countries. We should all go by our actual race, not categorization. We should be called Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Germans, Italians, Chinese, Japenese, Vietnamese ETC!

All hispanics, asians, blacks and whites come from different cultures, why not flaunt it. That's the beauty of this melting pot of a country.

Answer 8

I am a puertorican, Latino , Hispanic, American. I´m also christian. Call me any of those, no problem!!! ;)

Answer 9

I don't mind either. The only thing that bugs me is being called a Mexican, because I was not born in Mexico. I AM AMERICAN PEOPLE! My mom is Mexican. :o)

Answer 10

Latinos sounds better to me