NBCLatino asked POCHO Jefe-in-Chief Lalo Alcaraz whether he’s a Chicano or Latino or Mexican or Hispanic.
Lalo was commenting on the Pew Hispanic Center survey everybody is talking about:
Nearly four decades after the United States government mandated the use of the terms “Hispanic” or “Latino” to categorize Americans who trace their roots to Spanish-speaking countries, a new nationwide survey of Hispanic adults finds that these terms still haven’t been fully embraced by Hispanics themselves. A majority (51%) say they most often identify themselves by their family’s country of origin; just 24% say they prefer a pan-ethnic label.
Moreover, by a ratio of more than two-to-one (69% versus 29%), survey respondents say that the more than 50 million Latinos in the U.S. have many different cultures rather than a common culture. Respondents do, however, express a strong, shared connection to the Spanish language. More than eight-in-ten (82%) Latino adults say they speak Spanish, and nearly all (95%) say it is important for future generations to continue to do so.
How about you guys? How do you think of yourself?
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
An American with Mexican descent
I am Mexican! I was born in AmeriKKKa.
I was born in the USA, but I’m always asked what part of Mexico I’m from. I just say “Alta California.” Get it? They never do.
HispanAmericana
But I prefer to identify myself as the Caramel Cucaracha. This way people know that I am sweet, but I’ll fucking scare the shit out of you when you turn on the lights!
I always say i’m american, easy,simple,and straight to the point.
Hard to say for me. My dad was born Puerto Rico and my mom in Mexico. I was born in California and consider myself American of Latin decent. If asked I usually go with my parents place of origin.
XICANO!!!
Chicana! Though I do use the word Hispanic.
This is a tough one! Born in LA. Dad is Argentine via Spain, Mom is Mexican w/Irish grandfather. My short version: So Cal Mexicana.
Born in the United States, of Chilean (Spanish + Indigena) parents, Italian on my dad’s side, English on my mother’s…apparently I’m a citizen of the world…of humanity!
I didn’t even answer the question on the censes form because I am a Mexican American not “WHITE” as the form is trying to force me to do. So fuck the government y que viva la raza!!!
The use of the word “latino” in this hemisphere in incorrect’!!! The land of the “latins” are in ITALIA!! There was the latin league and the land of the latins. A lot of mexicans and central Americans are just “wanna be” white people by using the term “latinos(latinas). I lived in Italy, and the people speak Latin and Italian. I am Latino! I speak english, but does that make me “anglo-saxon”?? Heck no! In Italy, the people have no respect for people calling them-selves “Latino” or “Latina” (in mexico, central america, et al). It is a fact that 60 percent of the english language is derived from latin!
I’m an American by birth, but Mexican by the grace of God! I was born in the second capital of Mexico, which everyone knows is Los Angeles California. I like to think of myself as a global citizen, that lives in America. Why limit your citizenship to just on place? We are all of the world! Amor y paz!