Latino is a tricky definition. Mostly because it is ambiguous. According to Wikipedia, it refers to an “ethnolingistic group.” Meaning, it neither connotes a culture, or an ethnicity, but rather a combination of language and ethnicity, but also a shared heritage.
There are certain pop-culture markers we can use to, if not define latinos, at least agree that it includes a demo that is latino.
Hispanic PR Blog, reports on trending pop culture things, be it music or paintings or literature that they feel appeals to a demographic self identifying with being Latino. Judging by the artist covered in the blog. It’s safe to say they believe that their demographic includes people as diverse as from Cuba, The Dominican Republic, The United States, Mexico, Argentina and Bolivia. All of these countreis, which are individually rich in culture are united under a shared language and if not shared heritage, at least similar cultural beginnings.
One easier definition of “Latino” be would be calling it the mixed cultural legacies and offshoots of Spain’s claim to ownership of part of the new world. Latinos though, followed a different path to autonomy than, say, Canada or The United States. Regions that became a plethora of independent countries were all freed on Jun, 24, 1821 when Simone Bolivar “crushed the Spanish army. (Bilivarmo.com).
One important question about “Hispanic-ism,” is not so much who does belong in the categorization, but who does not. Does Spain belong in it? Some would say yes. Some might say no. There is certainly a strong Western Hemisphere link to the term. Hispanic PR Blog, for instance, includes mostly Western Hemisphere Spanish speaking artists. Language is flexible, and while Latino means different things in different settings, it is dominantly associated with the people living or of former Spanish territories.
Works Cited
About Us. (n.d.). Hispanic PR Blog - Your Complete Source for Hispanic Public Relations, Social Media & Marketing News. Retrieved April 2, 2013, from http://www.hispanicprblog.com/about-2.html
Hispanic and Latino Americans - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.).Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 2, 2013, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanic_and_Latino_Americans History of Simon Bolivar. (n.d.). Welcome to Bolivar Missouri - Local Interests, Business, Schools, and News!. Retrieved April 2, 2013, from
