Hispanic versus Latino

About the Term Hispanic

The English word Hispanic has a confusing etymological history. On the one hand, it is assumed to be a derivation of the Latin word Hispanicus, which was used to identify residents of ancient Hispania or today's Iberian peninsula (Spain, Portugal, and Andorra). On the other hand, its Spanish equivalent (Hispanoamericanos or Hispanic Americans) is a word used in Spain to identify those individuals born in the Spanish-speaking countries of the Americas, although this same word is seldom used in Latin America.

Probably the first generalized use of the term Hispanic occurred in 1977 when the U.S. Office of Management and Budget printed a directive indicating that the term should be used to denote individuals who trace their cultural origin to Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central or South America, or “other Spanish culture or origin,” regardless of the person's race. In practice, this label replaced older and inaccurate labels frequently used in the literature such as Spanish, Spanish speaking, and Spanish surnamed.

In general, Hispanic is considered to be a comprehensive label covering persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or Central or South American background. Criticisms of the label have been numerous. First is the fact that the label was imposed by an agency of the U.S. government rather than freely chosen by members of the group. Second is the argument that the label overemphasizes the contributions of Spain to Latin American cultures, ignoring the important role played by Indigenous cultures as well as the African traditions brought to the Americas by slaves.

A third criticism, and one that is relevant to all ethnic/racial labels, refers to the fact that Hispanic blurs intragroup differences that respond to heritage or national origin, generational history, and reasons for migration.

As such, the label Hispanic includes those individuals who trace at least part of their heritage to Spain or Portugal (e.g., immigrants from Latin America, Puerto Ricans, immigrants from Spain) as well as individuals who have lived in the United States for many generations (e.g., those whose ancestors lived in the Southwest before the land was ceded by Mexico to the United States). Another criticism leveled against the label Hispanic is that it stigmatizes the population by ignoring social class and national origin variables.

About the Term Latino

The label Latino has been proposed as a way to correct the problems inherent in the use of Hispanic and to more accurately reflect the political, geographical, and historical links between U.S. Hispanics and Latin American countries. Latino also is perceived to be a culturally and racially neutral label. Unfortunately, as an ethnic label, it is also fraught with problems.

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