58.6 million is the number of Hispanics currently in the U.S. (Krogstad, 2017) Although it is a commonly known ethnic group, a vast majority of people probably don’t know the history of the word itself. They might know the definition, but not how it came to be, or what it meant in another time. In this paper I will inform the reader how and when the word Hispanic has changed throughout time. I will do this by first familiarizing the reader to the history of the word, second informing the reader of modern-day interactions with the word, finally illuminating the reader to personal interactions of the word.
The History of Hispanic First used in the 1580s, by the Romans, Hispanic referred to someone who was from Spain. The word comes from the Latin word Hispanicus and Hispania, Hispania means Spain. (“Hispanic (adj.)”, 2017.) After the Mexican American war, the word Hispanic referred to a group of people who were native to New Mexico and had Spanish ancestry as well. They differentiated themselves from other spanish …show more content…
But someday -- if some "Hispanics" are to be made happy -- it may be Latino Heritage Month. Or perhaps Colombian-Dominican-Cuban-Mexican-Puerto Rican-and-Other Heritage Month.” (Gonzalez, 1992) When Hispanic was first starting to be used in the census and America to group together numerous races, who spoke spanish, people were not so happy about it. There was a conflict between being Latino or Hispanic, and what that meant. To some Latino was a respectful way of acknowledging where that person was from. While Hispanic was a derogatory way of reminding that person they were colonized. (Gonzalez, 1992) Today many continue to call themselves Hispanic or Latino. They take pride and honor in being Hispanic or Latino. While the population continues to grow, and everyone as a whole continue to interracially evolve, so will these two labels. Either one or the other will be relevant in the future, or
The History of Hispanic First used in the 1580s, by the Romans, Hispanic referred to someone who was from Spain. The word comes from the Latin word Hispanicus and Hispania, Hispania means Spain. (“Hispanic (adj.)”, 2017.) After the Mexican American war, the word Hispanic referred to a group of people who were native to New Mexico and had Spanish ancestry as well. They differentiated themselves from other spanish …show more content…
But someday -- if some "Hispanics" are to be made happy -- it may be Latino Heritage Month. Or perhaps Colombian-Dominican-Cuban-Mexican-Puerto Rican-and-Other Heritage Month.” (Gonzalez, 1992) When Hispanic was first starting to be used in the census and America to group together numerous races, who spoke spanish, people were not so happy about it. There was a conflict between being Latino or Hispanic, and what that meant. To some Latino was a respectful way of acknowledging where that person was from. While Hispanic was a derogatory way of reminding that person they were colonized. (Gonzalez, 1992) Today many continue to call themselves Hispanic or Latino. They take pride and honor in being Hispanic or Latino. While the population continues to grow, and everyone as a whole continue to interracially evolve, so will these two labels. Either one or the other will be relevant in the future, or