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These days, it seems that the terms “Latino,” “Hispanic,” and “Spanish” are interchangeable in colloquial speech. Few people know the difference, including those who fit into these categories. Much like other racial and ethnic terminology, the words we use to describe Spanish speakers and those of Hispanic origin are confusing, inadequate, and often inapplicable.
My son, for example, could be categorized as a white Hispanic. Yet, that’s only because he is part white and he looks white like me; in truth, he has non-white ancestry on his father’s side. He is a Spanish speaker, while many who look more Hispanic than he does don’t speak any Spanish.
“Hispanic” is not a race, but an ethnic term. Although it originally signified a family connection to Spain or Portugal, it now means having a connection to Latin America. This could mean speaking Spanish or not, having dark skin or light skin, and engaging in a Latin American, Central American, or South American home culture to whatever extent you choose.
As we all know, though, it means much more than that. In fact, it means something different to everyone.
Before we can teach our kids what it means when they check the “Hispanic” box on forms throughout their lives, we need to evaluate what the word means to us. I did some informal research – asked friends and family (adults and children) what “Hispanic” means to them – and here is a sampling of the responses:
“Delicious food, saucy personalities, killer music and beautiful people (inside and out).”
“Born and raised in a Latino country and 1st language being Spanish.”
“Rich culture and family traditions.”
“Celebrating Spanish things with your family.”
“Always speaking Spanish when someone around you doesn’t know English.”
“Close families, tight-knit circles.”
Also, check out this previous post from Eugenia about her personal exploration of cultural labels.
To me, “Hispanic” is a blanket term, a general category. There are more differences than similarities amongst Hispanics, but non-Hispanics tend to gain a skewed understanding of the group because they may be exposed to only one type of Hispanic person. For example, in Orlando, we associate the term with Puerto Rican and other Caribbean cultures, since they make up the majority of the Hispanic population here. We think of a particular kind of food, dance, and use of language only. It is therefore hard to grasp what Hispanic denotes on a national scale.
For those of us who are not of Hispanic origin, it is even more important to consider how we use this and other words to describe the people around us – even, as is the case for me, our own children.
What does “Hispanic” mean to you? Do you prefer any particular term to describe your ethnic background and culture?
I think a lot of Americans don’t understand that Hispanic is an ethnic term. When I was registering my son for kindergarten, they had Hispanic listed under race. Then there was another question that asked Hispanic, yes or no. On the race question, the options were Hispanic, Black, White, Asian, Other. I checked off “White” for race but yes on the Hispanic question and the woman collecting the forms argued with me and said I couldn’t do that. She forced me to choose Hispanic for race. It made no sense to me.
Hispanic to many in my area simply means Mexican. My children are taught about Cinco de Mayo and El Dia de Los Muertos in school. I wish they could learn about other Latin American countries as well. My children are 1/2 Portuguese from my husband and then a mixture of Spanish, Colombian, and a teensy bit of Puerto Rican from my side. I have relatives who have ties to the Dominican Republic and Mexico as well.
To me Hispanic means rich food, vibrant music, and passionate people.
Great stuff! I’m enjoying reading your blog here.
I was told that I was Hispanic because I am 1/2 Mexican (My Mom first born in the states, family from Mexico.) and 1/2 Irish (Dad only one born in the states, family from Ireland.) It seemed alright for many years until I learned that the term ‘Hispanic’ included those same people that came and killed, enslaved, raped, and destroyed my families history. Then it just seemed wrong, and I no longer like to be called Hispanic. Imagine being put in the ‘White’ box because your Black family were slaves to whites in the south, totally not cool; but is what we were required to do and accept it.
Not able to speak Spanish. Yes, even my mother says she doesn’t speak Spanish and she grew up in a home speaking Spanish her whole life, speaks it fluently with family members who came up from Mexico and others. I recently read a book about my Grandmother and she tells us in that book that my Great Grandmother spoke a different type of Spanish, it was the old Mexican Indian Language. A Language that they didn’t speak when they went to Mexico City. My Grandmother had to ‘translate’ even in Mexico for my Great Grandmother.
So, what does Hispanic mean to me? It means that there is someone still trying to make us fit into a box. I’ve met some very nice Spanish people, some who have even noticed the Mexican Indian in me when we first met and felt the need to apologize for the cruelties the Spanish people put us through once upon a time. There is no need to do that. But they are Spanish and we are Mexican Indians, very little in common. Not even from the same Continent.
Hi Chelsea,
I use different terms depending on the context, really. For instance, when I travel to a foreign country I usually say I am American. If Im in the states I say…well…it depends on whom I am speaking with. Mostly it depends to whom I am speaking with. One thing I like to remind people is that all of these terms (gender, race, ethnicities etc etc) are really social constructs so they can take on different meanings and they can be negotiated through interactions. I don’t think anyone person can decide what you are or who they are it, ultimately, comes down to the individual.
Great post!
You can say that again! (re: social constructs)
Like many of the ways in which we define our lives, racial and ethnic titles are definitions we create using imaginary differences.
This and a lot of other issues we discuss here at SB bring us to the ultimate question: do we humans have a natural tendency to find others that are like ourselves, or are we artificially dividing the world with these associations?
the answer to this question is complicated, at best, considering latinos’ roots vary by country of origin and generation here in the u.s. that said, i think for the most part what unites us is what is greater than what divides us. while foods and traditions may vary, and we can come in colors from light to dark to pink or blue, there’s one common thread that runs through — and that’s the Spanish language. it’s what bridges us together.
Hello, I am Brazilian and appreciated your post about who´s Hispanic and who´s not.
But I would like to know better about Brazilian ones, who speak only Portuguese and no Spanish.
Am I Hispanic too? Why?
Ana,
My understanding is that Brazilians are not included in the “Hispanic” title, at least officially. Technically, Brazilians are Latinos because Brazil is a Latin American country, but I’m not sure that most Americans would include them in this group in everyday conversation.
The question of Portuguese speakers is interesting because they are often overlooked or assumed to be Spanish speakers! Do you find that to be the case?
@Chelsea and Ana,
Brazilians are a hard one. Hispanic means those who are from the Iberian Peninsula–i.e. Portugal, Spain, etc… So Spaniards and Portuguese are “Hispanic.”
Latinos are those who speak Spanish and live in the Americas and Caribbean and are descendants of Spain.
I would say Brazilians are Hispanic because they speak Portuguese and not Spanish.
I am Afro-Latina, my son is Afro Puerto Rican and Mexican, he will say Latino, not Hispanic. I actually hate when someone says that I am “Hispanic” when I am Latina by correct definition.
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