who should be called latinos or hispanics?

Question

Are latinos called latinos because they speak a latin languaje? so, italians and french should call latinos too? hispanics are just from spain? latinos are called latinos because they come from latinoamerica? what about Mexicans? Are they latinos too? in ALL the maps I have seen Mexico is situated in North America! just like USA and Canada so... I'm confused! sorry my ignorance but, I would love a real, truth explanation ... I also have noticed that some "latinos" are not proud from being latinos, so maybe that's why they call themselves hispanics? so, we think they are europeans?


We are all in this planet, we all feel the same, we are all human beings... we should be proud of who we are and where do we come from!

Answer 1

some facts:
◘Mexico is in North America
◘Latino is a person who speak a latin language (spanish, portuguese, ruman, italian, french)
◘Hispanic is a person who speak spanish
◘Here is a map about the latino countries (37 countries):
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagen:LatinUnionmap_2005.png
◘yep, some canadians are latinos
◘Latino is not a race, is a etnicity...there are white, black, arab, et cetera latinos
=)

Answer 2

To Claire Redfield : You are so silly. Hispanic is any person who speaks Spanish as a first Language, Mexicans, Spaniards, are Hispanic. Latino/a is any person who was born in Latin America. A Latino can be Hispanic as well. I am Latino, and speak a Hispanic language. Español.

Answer 3

Italians and Frenchs should be called "latinos" too, any latino knows it, but the people from US that ignores it, don't blame us. Mexico is in Latin America, what's wrong with a Latin American country beeing in North America? Do you think Latin America is the same thing as South America? Any country in America that speaks a Latin language is Latin America, in South, Central and North. Hispanic is not the same thing as Spanish. Spanish is someone born in Spain, Hispanic is someone that speaks Spanish, just like "Anglo" for someone that speaks English. I'm Latin American and I'm very proud of who I am and I would say the same about 80-90% of my people. And don't compare the descendants of Latin Americans in the US with Latin Americans born in Latin America.

Answer 4

Maybe they don't all mind being called Hispanic, because it's widely accepted, but I was taught in a diversity training that "hispanic" is a word that the US Census Bureau created for the sake of counting them. I prefer to call people from Latin America and the surrounding areas Latino/Latina (male/female) just to be on the safe side. If someone is from Spain, then I guess they are Spanish, not Latino/a. None of this is reliable info, however! (: Just my perspective on it. I am curious about parts of your question as well.

Answer 5

If I were born in the US I'd be a Hispanic or Latino. I proudly call myself Latin American or Colombian. You have a good point though, but the meanings of the words are determined by their sociological nuances, and thus in the US, Latino doesn't apply to Mediterranean Europeans, even if it should.

Answer 6

Hispanics/Spanish people are from Spain. Other spanish speakers including Mexicans are called Latinos. However, some people use hispanic as a general term for all spanish speaking people.

Answer 7

I am Puerto Rican. I call myself Hispanic. I think Hispanics are people who speak spanish. Or at least thats what I learned in school.
I personally dont like the word latino. But if a mexican or salvadorian called themselves latino, i think it would be okay.

Answer 8

Calling someone Latino comes from preference. I live in Los Angeles and people assume if they see someone who looks spanish speaking that they are Mexican. Calling someone Mexican who is not from mexico though is incorrect that person could be from El salvador Guatamala or any other Spanish speaking country. It can get you into trouble so using Latino is better you can not assume someone is Mexican just by looking at them. Using the term Hispanic tends to be a regional issue. I find that people who are Mexican in particular find offense in this word. Hispanic I have been told by people who take offense to it means Slave in spanish. I rarely find people who take offense to the term Latino. I use that term and I would suggest it to you though it is not good to generalize people. Your safe bet would be to simple ask the person what nationality they are and then to ask them what their name is and call them by that! Good Luck

Answer 9

Hispanics

Answer 10

those of Spanish descent. Latino is a Spanish word.