When it comes to cultural identity, there is often confusion between Latino and Hispanic people. While both terms refer to individuals who trace their roots to Latin America, there are also distinct differences in terms of cultural practices, language preferences and overall experiences within the US. This article explores some of those differences.
Learn about the Hispanic and Latino culture.
Learning about the Hispanic and Latino culture is key to understanding the differences between these two identities. Both cultures have strong connections to the Spanish language, art, food and music. However, there are also important variations in cultural norms and values depending on what country or region each person heritage lies in. Additionally, many Latinos and Hispanics have adapted to US societal structures while still holding onto their traditions and values. Understanding both old and new cultural practices helps us better understand the complexities of each individual's identity.
It is important to understand the distinction between Hispanic and Latino. Even though the two terms are often used interchangeably in North America, there is a significant difference between them. Latinos are related to Latin America, which includes mostly countries located in South and Central America. Hispanic refers to heritage linked to Spain, which includes Mexicans and other Spanish-speaking people from many different countries in Latin America as well as Europe. The Hispanic culture has had less influence on those living in the US than Latino cultures due to their closer proximity. Thus the language, food, religious customs and many other traditions tend to be noticeably dissimilar between Hispanics and Latinos who live within the US.
Understand potential cultural influences from countries of origin or heritage.
When exploring the variety of cultural identifications among Latinos and Hispanics, it's important to gain an understanding of the potential influences from countries of origin or heritage. History, geography, music, language and customs may all have an impact on individuals' cultural identity. It's also necessary to recognize that these influences can shift depending on a person’s current country of residence or life stage transitions, such as marriage or emigration. Understanding all layers of a person’s culture is key to developing a meaningful relationship with them.
For example, Latino is generally used to describe people with roots in Latin America, whereas Hispanic refers to a person of Spanish-speaking background or ancestry. However, many individuals from Spanish-speaking countries or regions may also identify with American Indian or African heritage. An individual from Brazil, for instance, may identify as both Latina and as Afro-Latina depending on the dynamics of their family history. Other cultural influences which may be echoed in a person’s identity include traditions and ways of being that are shared by extended family members who continue practicing it in the home environment.
Identify individual, family and community identities that can shape a person’s understanding and connection to their culture.
Identifying an individual’s specific cultural identity is a complex task. It requires consideration of the person’s individual, family and community relationships that are intertwined with their culture. A person’s age and period of emigration, gender and where they were born can all factor into this understanding. These layers of collectivity can be seen between members in different generations within the same nuclear family, as well as among members belonging to a larger racial or clan group. By recognizing how these interconnecting social networks interact and shape a single individual’s specific sense of self at any particular moment in time, we come closer to understanding the range of differences in cultural identification for Latinos and Hispanics in the US.
While Latino refers generally to any person descended from lands colonized by Spain and/or persons of Latin American heritage, Hispanic implies a more specific shared Spanish language experience and ties to colonial life in Spanish America, including Mexico. In the US, both terms are often used interchangeably. Yet in recent years the term Latino has become the de facto catch-all for the many identities of people who identify as not only Spanish speaking but indigenous Central or South American, Cuban or other communities that have all been affected by hundreds of years of colonization. To facilitate this understanding one must also explore how gender differences and intergenerational conflicts can inform an individual’s own cultural identity in-relation to family legacies as well as their connections with broader societal and economic structures such as existing labor laws or employment opportunities or other local community factors. For example, when examining family connections particular attention should be paid towards the stories passed down between generations that may shape a particular person’s understanding of Latinidad while simultaneously providing a larger context at play within the community in which they reside.
Analyze how particular aspects of American society, such as sports, education, religion, and socioeconomic dynamics may contribute to a person’s overall concept of their identity in terms of Hispanic or Latino culture.
Though many associate American identity with its core values of democracy and individualism, a person’s understanding of their cultural identity within the Latino or Hispanic community may involve different dimensions. Look deeper into how day-to-day experiences shape their overall concept of identity in this context. For instance, many Latino and Hispanic individuals in the US grew up playing soccer or engaged actively in sports that originated from Latin American countries like Mexico and Argentina. This could lead to them having an affinity for the sport itself, coaching it for their own children, or participating in local leagues that are popular among other members of the same cultural heritage. Additionally, exposure to education systems and styles found in an individual’s native country may further influence how they incorporate these understandings into their development of an overall cultural identification as either a Hispanic or Latino individual living in the US.
Religion also plays a big part in Latino and Hispanic cultural identity. For many within this community, faith often serves as a source of structure and belonging, shaping the values that guide their lives. Often, religious beliefs also connect them to political activities related to their cultural heritage such as immigration reform initiatives or economic policies that would benefit the entire Latinx community. Socioeconomic dynamics are yet another factor influencing identity in terms of one’s Latino or Hispanic culture residing in the US. Those living on the border between two countries may utilize resources found in both sides of the wall while those who identify themselves with a specific region or nationality pursued by their forebears may shape their opinions or enjoy distinct nuances related to different cultures that intertwine. Understanding these subtle aspects encapsulated within everyday life helps individuals become registered as citizens holding an identification associated with being Hispanic or Latino in American society.
Study the influence of Spanish language dialects within specific regions as a tool for self-expression within the Latino & Hispanic communities.
When exploring cultural identity within the Latino and Hispanic communities, it's important to consider the influence of language dialects on self-expression. Studies have separated out Spanish dialects into five specific regions within Latin America. These include Andean Spanish, which is found in Ecuador and Peru; Coastal Spanish, which is spoken in coastal parts of Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador and other Central American countries; Caribbean Spanish, popular throughout Cuba and Puerto Rico; Rioplatense Spanish, widely used in Argentina & Uruguay; and Mexican Spanish which dominates everywhere in between. For many Latino or Hispanic individuals living in the US, preserving their native dialect has become an incredibly important way of maintaining their ethnic heritage - particularly amongst second generation immigrants who may want to show a deep appreciation for their own community’s unique language concept.
Language and dialect variation is a form of self-expression throughout Latinos & Hispanics, providing a way to convey uniqueness while also unifying those within the same cultural group. For example, differences in accent or vocabulary can help people to identify other likeminded individuals as well as create an environment of communal celebration. Although many Americans pidgeonhole Latinx folks into one identity, the reality is that by studying Spanish language and variations among regions, individuals can discover ways they identify more with their distinct national identities or family roots. On top of this, engaging with local culture within the US gives Spanish speaking communities the chance to incorporate words and expressions from languages like (indigenous) Nahuatl or Yamalide into everyday life - furthering their strong sense of Latino-Hispanic heritage here in North America.
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