Thread: Self Identity:

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Self Identity: Hispanic/Latino Widely Accepted, but Multiethnic is Used

December 5, 2006

Lourdes Medrano -- Arizona Daily Star

Hispanic, Latino, Chicano, Xicano, Mexican or Mexican American?

J.J. Federico said he can wear most of those ethnic labels comfortably, although he prefers Mexican American and Latino.

"In my opinion, there isn't just one ethnic identity," the 20-year-old said.

The views of Federico, who was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Nogales, Ariz., match those in a wide-ranging survey of the nation's largest ethnic-minority group.

The Latino National Survey found that the so-called pan-ethnic identity of Hispanic/Latino has gained wider acceptance among people who trace their roots to Spanish-speaking countries. But the study also found that most of the 8,600 respondents identified with multiple identities.

"There was a simultaneous strong sense of pan-ethnic identity, national original identity and American-ness," concluded the summer study conducted in 15 states -- including Arizona --and the Washington Metropolitan area.

John Garcia, a UA political science professor who spearheaded the survey with five colleagues from other universities, said the rising presence of a pan-ethnic identity cuts across age, national origin and education.

"It's an added dimension of who you are," he said. "A lot of it is being reinforced by mixed connections" between Hispanics of different backgrounds, as well as by the pervasiveness of the pan-ethnic labels in mainstream society.

In the survey, Hispanic was the preferred umbrella term used, Garcia noted, although the Latino label was quite popular.

"We've taken the position that the whole concept of Latino is an American identity," Garcia said. "It has no meaning outside the U.S., so when we think about if you say Latino, you're not American. ... that's not the reality which people have."

The term Hispanic grew out of government efforts to count the population as a separate ethnic group, and Garcia said the Latino label surfaced as an alternative. The perceived meaning of both has been debated intensely over the years by those who subscribe to one, the other or none.

The survey also showed that about half of Latinos surveyed see themselves as a distinct race, despite the U.S. Census Bureau's classification of Hispanics as ethnic minorities that may be of any race.

The Latino survey was one of myriad efforts to analyze a complex and diverse group -- about 42 million, or 14 percent of the population -- that includes people from various nationalities who have been in this country for several generations as well as recent immigrants; those with and without legal U.S. status; and those who speak Spanish or not.

In interviews, Tucsonans said they don't mind using the umbrella labels of Hispanic, Latino and Latina in addition to more specific references to identity. In Tucson, like in Arizona overall, residents of Mexican descent comprise the vast majority of Hispanics.

Lillian Pope, 28, said that depending on where she is and who she is with, she usually identifies herself as Mexican and Hispanic. "Here, I mostly say I'm Mexican, but when I lived in the D.C.-area I used to say Hispanic because there are more Hispanics from different countries there."

The legal assistant, who is the process of becoming a naturalized citizen, said she does not identify with the terms Latina or Chicana. But she is not offended by them, either.

Louis Hollingsworth, an attorney, also said the way he identifies himself varies with the situation. "If I'm talking to people of Mexican or Latino descent, I identify myself as a Latino. If I'm talking to an Anglo I tend to say I'm Hispanic. If I'm asked what kind of Hispanic I am, I'll say I'm of Mexican descent.

One self-identifier he won't use is Chicano, which he -- like other native Tucsonans -- said they view as militant. The term grew out of the Chicano Movement of the 1960s that with fierce ethnic pride demanded social justice.

"I'm not suggesting that it wasn't necessary or that it didn't benefit Latinos of Mexican descent," Hollingsworth said. "But it's not how I like to perceive myself."

But for Chucho Ruiz, 26, the term conjures up images of self-determination and his indigenous roots. "I feel closer to it," he said, noting that he spells his self-identifier as the more contemporary Xicano, because in the Nahuatl language of the Aztecs, the "x" sounds like "ch."

Pepe Carrillo, 50, a naturalized citizen who came to the U.S. at 11, said he describes himself as Cuban, American, Hispanic, and then Latino -- usually in that order.

"I'm Cuban by birth and American by being immersed in this country most of my life," the home inspector said. "But I can wear any of those titles: I don't have a problem."

Lorenzo Barcelo, who is originally from the Dominican Republic, said he uses the terms Hispanic and Latino interchangeably. "To me, they are the same."

Maggie Amado-Tellez, who was born in Tucson, said she thinks of herself as a Latina, although she has identified herself as Mexican American.

"In the end, I'm an American," the said. "When I'm talking about being Latina, I'm not talking about my nationality. I'm talking about my culture."

Lorraine Lee, executive director of Chicanos Por La Causa, said she proudly describes herself as a Chicana, Chinese-Chicana, or Asian-Chicana. "I'm very proud of that history because that's what set the foundation for where we are today," she said of the Chicano Movement.

Sometimes, though, she turns to the Latina term. The umbrella labels that describe all Hispanics or Latinos can act as a unifying force as the country undergoes demographic changes, Lee noted.

"People are unsure of who we are, what we're about and how to handle us," she said. "But we want what everybody else wants -- food on our table, a roof over our heads and a better future for our children."

How did Hispanics vote in last election?

Hispanic diversity
--8,600 respondents in the United States to the Latino National Survey identified themselves in this way:


l Mexican: 66.1 percent


l Puerto Rican: 9.5 percent


l Cuban: 4.9 percent


l Salvadoran: 4.7 percent


l Dominican: 3.9 percent


l Guatemalan: 1.7 percent


l Colombian: 1.6 percent


l All others: 7.6 percent

--In Arizona, slightly more than 95 percent of 400 Hispanics surveyed reported Mexican ancestry.

The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

Census view
--The U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey last August of 42 million Hispanics shows this breakdown:


l Mexican: 63.9 percent


l Puerto Rican: 9 percent


l Cuban: 3.5 percent


l Salvadoran: 2.9 percent


l Dominican: 2.7 percent


l Guatemalan: 1.7 percent


l Colombian: 1.8 percent


l All others: 14.3 percent


Source: Copyright (c) 2006, The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

Well based on my ancestory, I am scottish, irish, american indian. Do I go around saying I am Irish American, Scottish American, Indian American?? NO. I am American end of story!

Originally Posted by ohflyingone

Well based on my ancestory, I am scottish, irish, american indian. Do I go around saying I am Irish American, Scottish American, Indian American?? NO. I am American end of story!

Well, OHFLY.......you could make it really interesting and boggle some of those heads devoid of grey matter.......
"I am a Sottish - Irish -American Indian- American"
Instead of being a HYPHENATED American, you can be a
TRI-HYPHENATED AMERICAN

.

Hi Loservillelabor,

How did Hispanics vote in last election?

l Mexican: 66.1 percent

Does this include the illegals that voted (illegals registered during the mob demonstrations)? Well, I think the media won't tell us.