3. Latino
“Latin” comes from Italy
Latin in the base language of Spanish,
Italian, Portuguese, and French
For example, in Spanish the word for
cave is “cueva”, in Portuguese “cova”,
Italian “cava”
4. The Latins (aka Romans) invaded the
Iberian Peninsula
Founded a province named “Hispania”
Lived there
7 centuries
“Hispania”
evolved into
España (Spain)
5. Latin America
Latin America is a
geographic location
People from Latin
America are all Latin,
but not all Hispanic
For example,
Brazilians speak
Portuguese, making
them Latin not
Hispanic
6. “Latino/a”
The term “Latino” (as
we -- Americans-- use
it) encompasses all
citizens of the United
States whose heritage
is Mexican, Puerto
Rican, Cuban, Central
American, and South
American.
7. Hispanic
“Hispanic” was later used to refer to all
territories conquered by Spain in the
New World
This covers almost all of Latin America
8. “Hispanic” came about
in the 1970s as a US
Census attempt to
quantify Spanish-
speaking people
Today Hispanic is
used to refer to any
people whose culture
and heritage have
direct ties to Spain
9. Hispanic is not a RACE but an ETHNIC
distinction
Hispanics come from all races and
physical traits
10. Chicano
Exclusive term used solely in reference
to people of Mexican descent
Conquistadors called Mexican Indians
“Mexicas”
Spaniards dropped the “me” and called
them Xicanos (or Chicanos)
11. “Chicano”
Became popular in 1930’s and 40’s as
a derogatory term for Mexicans
imported for cheap field labor.
Term went out of style
In 1960’s and 70’s the Brown Power
Movement adopted it as term for
Mexican-American
Today term still has negative
connotations for many Mexican-
Americans
12. History of Latino
Literature
Roots in legends and
myths
Began as oral
tradition
Ties to the Catholic
religion of Spain
13. Latino Literature
Common themes:
Familial relationships and
Loyalties
Poverty
Gender roles
Social protest
and Exploitation
14. Why Poverty?
Poverty is largely at issue because of
the desperate situations in which many
Latin American countries find
themselves.
15. Why Families?
Family is considered one's strongest
bond and loyalty, and people in the
workforce must often work to support
relatives both in the U.S. and in other
native countries.
16. Why gender roles?
Traditionally, older customs and
cultural traditions prevail. Women were
expected to be obedient and uphold
the family honor.
17. Why social protest and
exploitation?
Many Hispanic countries have gone
through periods of social unrest.
Cuba = communism
Dominican Republic = dictatorship
18. Conclusion
Hispanic literature is rich with culture
and social commentary.
– Hispanic literary themes echo American
literature
– Themes are based on life experiences
We will use terms “Hispanic” and
“Latino” interchangeably.
