[thsmith24226]

What is the difference between Latino and Hispanic? If there are other words to denote Spanish-speaking peoples of the Americas, please include what you know of that as well.
Original Code R312. Click here to see responses from the original archives. Click “to respond” below to reply.

User Detail :  

Name : thsmith24226, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 28, City : Los Angeles, State : CA, Country : United States, 

[Kelly26581]

Here in New York the difference seems to be that if you are from South or Central America, you are Hispanic; if you are from Mexico, you are Chicano; and if you are from the Carribiean ( Puerto Rican, Dominican), you are a Latino. The forms at the public school break that down even further; you can be black Hispanic, which for some reason lists Dominican, or white Hispanic, which list Cuban. They never say what to do if you don’t fit that exactly. But you know bureaucrats – they want you to fill in all the questions.

User Detail :  

Name : Kelly26581, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Religion : Lutheran, Age : 30, City : Brooklyn, State : NY, Country : United States, Occupation : Overnight stock, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Anna, 18, Mexican female]

There is a huge distinction between the two terms. Hispanic is a politically correct ethnic label the US government construed to group together a higly heterogenous mix of people. Latino, on the other hand, is also a name to categorize different nationalities, but it is often preferd over ‘Hispanic.’ I personally will call myself what I am–Mexican or Chicana. If I have to chose an inclusive term, I chose Latina because ‘Hispanic’ is offensive to me. Please email me if you have comments. I was surprised to find out that my self-proclaimed ‘Hispanic’ friends from California and Texas consider ‘Mexican’ and/or Latino offensive and ‘Hispanic’ the satisfying term. I am really interested in anyone else’s opinions, so PLEASE email me! 🙂

User Detail :  

Name : Anna, 18, Mexican female, Gender : F, Race : Mexican, Age : 18, City : Chicago, State : IL, Country : United States, Occupation : College Student, 

[Author]

Posts