Is the Latino Community Losing Its Identity?

From where I sit in the Philadelphia area, the Latino community is definitely not losing its identity. If anything, it is gaining it wonderfully.

I am not Latino but felt that I had been adopted by the Latino community when I studied for a year in Bogotá, Colombia and had whatever racial blinders I had taken away by witnessing firsthand that country's incredible cultural diversity and the warmth and generosity of its people. It was like a conversion experience, and one of my overriding goals upon returning to the States was to share my experiences with others.

That conversion continued when I did some part-time ESL teaching in the Latino community of Chester, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. The community was predominantly Puerto Rican but I also had the opportunity to meet people from Argentina, Panama, Cuba, Peru and other countries. Later the Latin culture became a permanent part of my life when I married a native of Colombia. Now, 24 happy years later, I am still delighted to have daily exposure to the Spanish language and the multifaceted culture of Latin America, and feel especially good to see our two grown children embrace their bilingual-bicultural heritage.

In order to continue to share my "conversion" with others, in 1991 I founded a nonprofit arts organization called Raíces Culturales Latinoamericanas ("Latin American Cultural Roots"), which today is located in the heart of Philadelphia's Latino community and celebrates the cultures of all Latin countries. The community considers Raíces its cultural home and it has been a pleasure to work alongside Latinos to make the dream of an inclusive cultural space a reality. My role has transitioned to the point that Latinos are leading the organization and ensuring its continuity.

On the contrary, as Latinos we are not only becoming the mainstream, we've managed to redefine it. I grew up in western Arizona, on an Indian reservation where a large portion of the population were first generation Mexican families. We all spoke Spanish as well as English (and some of us picked up a few words of some of the native languages as well), today I see a few of the friends I grew up with and see how connected we are to both worlds- the US and the Mexican/Chicano/Latino world and what our identities are. For many of us, losing our identity has never been an issue, although a friend of mine mentioned that may be strengthened by the fact that we live in a border state and are more connected to Mexico, where our heritage originates. Maybe it's an East Coast/West Coast thing? What about the mid-westerners?

I don't think you lose your ID, you may wander from it, some may run from it but ultimately, it's who you are. From that you are defined.

I am "puerto Rican" 100% from New York and do not speak spanish I love everything about being latino. I love this article because I have 2 sons with my husband who is Italian and Irish. My oldest son is 4 years old and I am teaching him all I can about his Puerto Rican heritage. My one regret is I was not raised speaking spanish. But I try to teach my sons the little words I know. I love being a latina and have also been called a fake Puerto Rican because I can't speak the language. Again I really enjoyed this article and all the comments people left. We must be proud of who we are everyone of us no matter what our heritage,mix or nationality and pass it on to our children.

I can totally relate to the author. Imagine if you don't "look" Latina or have a Latino last name!! That's me. I grew up in NYC when no one knew what a Dominican was. Sounds silly right? Most people didn't meet much Dominicans until the 80's and 90's. Like the author, wasn't raised to speak Spanish but my cousins and other members of my family was. Go figure!!

My parents came to the US from Dominican Republic in 1966. They were already at a disadvantage because they came to the US as Black Latinos in the height of the Civil Rights movement, and although they knew English they didn't consider themselves Black American, but everyone else did.

Big-ups to the author. We will never lose our heritage, we have to embrace it, even if it means being uncomfortable sometimes.

I found this article a bit interesting. I don't know if it's an "East Coast" "West Coast" thing. Having grown up in being a Mexican-American born here in the U.S. raised in Los Angeles, CA, I often find it rather strange when Latino's talk about loosing thier heritage. I have always been bi-lingual, was NEVER in an ESL class and the subject I excelled in most was English, which was even my major in college. I could never escape my heritage, I live in LOS ANGELES, I eat tacos about 3 times a week, my family is very close, and am glad to say that even in the 3rd and 4th generation, we are still very much bi-lingual. Our heritage as latino's has never been lost, some have just never found it! It is everywhere, in our names, the foods we eat, the way we dance, sing, move, and interact with each other. Maybe that is one of the reasons I LOVE my city so much, it engulfs me with my ancestory past and makes me feel more American than any other place. Nice article, however, when it comes to subjects like this, it all depends on what your experience has been.

Both of these articles relate to me. I am a 17 year old latina student in a private highschool, a puerto rican and italian girl who was never taught spanish by my family, and grew up known as not a "real puerto rican"in the bronx. At first sight i am usually considered a puerto rican but once i open my mouth people tell me all the time that they thought i was white. Like an african American being called an oreo. With this background I understand and feel both articles hit extremely important points. The first article does show that it is important for all non speaking Latin(o/a)'s to embrace thier culture and understand that they are a "real" hispanic's even if they donnot speak spanish, and that it is not to late for generations to pass on the tradition of spanish speaking children, for our heritage is not lost. The second article shows that even though her family felt that a white school was better for her, that she was able to handle the same class work load that the white kids had. This just proves that the other half of the Hispanics that donnot identify with drugs, jail etc is just another stero type. The willie colon example in the first article is great and i find that both articles were written well and impactful. Thanks for the wisdom.

She is fitting in so well, no discrimination, now she is fearful of loosing her identity. Well my dear welcome to White America.

My Irish immigrant ancesters ditched their heritage to survive at the turn of the century. My grandfather would not even admit his parents were Irish. When asked he always told me were were just mongrels. I guess it was safer for him from when he was a kid.

So I am just a white American. No Irish American tag. Most of my white coworkers and friends to not wear their ethnic background on their sleeves. But at one time in the country's history "too many" from this or that country came to America and paid a hard price for being different. They blended in to survive. I guess having an "acceptable" skin color made things a bit easier for them.

She can protect her heritage and pass it on the her children. It's just not a common diversity issue. I'm glad she has the ability to celebrate her roots. We have come along way.

Excellent article you put into words what I have been feeling for a long time. As a child of the 50's growing up in a all white neighborhood I never lost where my parents came from mother Puerto Rican father Ecuadorian. My parents at the time thought this was the only was to assimilate into the American culture and they were right. They never lost sight of where they came from always with (orgullo). My parents both spoke English and Spanish very well,but English was spoken half the time and Spanish the other. The term real Puerto Rican is not accurate language does not seperate who we are as individuals. I have a habit of listening in Spanish and answering in English. You said it all Family,food,dancing.

P.S My daughter just came back from the Galapagos Islands doing some environmental work their. She has never lost her connection with her grandfather.

This is a great article. I think it applies to more than just the Latino community though. The beauty of being an American is that you can celebrate your culture, language, and your faith and still be an American. While African American's have lost their connections to Africa, remnants still exist and new ones with roots in Africa are emerging. I applaud Ms. Aguilar's comments--she is right on. As for Mr. Harris, like any group, there are those who have no appreciation for their heritage that may well assimilate and lose sight, but I would disagree with the assumption that it is more than just a small percentage of Latino's generally.

Very good article, Zayda. Congratulations. I appreciate your perspective. Your courage and commitment to sharing your story serves as a role model to many. I've met many Latinos who felt trapped in two worlds but accepted by neither. Alberto Cortez once said "No soy de aqui ni soy de alla," (I'm not from here nor from there)that describes the predicament of some of these Latinos. I believe that regardless of our own bilingual or multilingual capabilities, we are and should be who we think we are. If you considered yourself Latina and in your heart that's what defined you or at least explained some of your background, then you are so. I hope that we will soon evolve from this idea that there's a "real Latino" and others who are not.

Good article. I think one's cultural traditions are more lasting than language. As I know many 2-3 generation "Americans" who speak only english but live, breathe, and eat their heritage.

I was brought up in home where I was only allowed to speak Spanish so I could communicate with my elderly grandparents that lived with us. I was told that this "injustice" as I called it would one day help me and was not hurting anyone. My parents were right thanks to them today I am fully bilingual, speaking reading and writing Spanish. This has helped me tremendously in my field. Opening doors I never imagined. I've traveled aboard, meeting other Latinos like myself and individuals from different backgrounds. The one common thread that I see is communication. I think this is an important point for those famous Latinos. These stars market and sell to us yet when interviewed on the red carpet can't say much more than hola. That is a shame. It is important that these successful people be able to communicate well in both languages. What kind of role models are these "Latinos" for our children and the generations to come. A key element in life is communication and the ability to do to so is a gift that shouldn't be taken for granted.

I am a first generation Latina. I was fortunate enough to be raised in a household were Spanish was the main language, and although my strength is in English now (I speak it without an accent), I still speak Spanish with my family. I was also fortunate to be able to travel to Mexico every other year to visit my family. I feel this experience has definitely enriched my connection with my ethnicity.

I do not agree with the comment by Chris Harris. The Latino culture is very diverse and you have to remember that there are individual differences for every group. I know Latinos who speak Spanish and others who don't. I know Latinos who speak 5 different languages, and others who don't. I know Latinos who are Jewish and some who are Buddhist, and others who are atheist. I know Latinos who will vote for Obama and are campaigning for him. I know Latinos who are vegetarian and others who are meat eaters. I know Latinos who are Black and others who are White and others who are Brown. Each of my friends and acquaintances are unique in their own way but are 100% Latino. My point is that you cannot possibly generalize this group as being one way or the other. It is much too diverse. It's important to dispel the myths and stereotypes. Like any other minority group, you have to account for individiual differences.

The Latino/Hispanic identity in the U.S. is going through a transition stage given that the attitudes and behaviors that once defined our culture as unskill, uneducated, unable to learn the language is changing through our music, our food, and our advancement in society. Even though is a long journey, the determination that brought our parents into this country seeking to improve their lives carry on through us.

In regards to Chris comment. I agree to some extent with the fascination towards eurocentric culture. However, there is a lot of african culture that is ingrained into the Latino/Hispanic that is reflected from authors like Gabriel Garcia Marquez in "100 years of solitud" to drums and lyrics of Celia Cruz with her "Azucar" chant.

I will not banked that Hispanics are more inclined to vote for McCain on this elections. I personally will vote for Obama

It's called assimilation---it occurs as any ethnic group becomes more established in America. It is up to parents and the spiritual and cultural leaders of the community to make an effort to preserve the unique aspects of the culture over the generations, while adapting to the American mainstream society.

It is about more than language, although that is a big part of it, but it also includes cultures and traditions that can thrive in our Anglophile American society.

A good example of this are the Jews, who have managed to maintain a distinct identity over eons of displacement and being embedded in many alien cultures. Most American Jews don't speak Hebrew nor Yiddish, but participate in many of the rituals and understand the cultural references of the faith and history of Judaism. However, even that is being challenged as American Jews become much more assimilated than ever before (in a way being victims of our own success).

An alternative situation: about 10 years ago, a study was done to determine the impacts of assimilation on Italian immigrants and their subsequent American born generations. It found that by the third or fourth generation, the only thing "Italian" about the people studied was the familiarity with, and enjoyment of, Italian food dishes---cooking childhood homemade recipes was the one thing that parents passed along to their kids!

I thought the article was very insightful--I think that part of the reason why there is such an identiy crisis in the Latino community is because of the governmental regulation of race and ethnicity and the racism and self-hatred that Latinos have towards each other. Words cannot describe...the how and the why the government and define and categorize who and what you are racially and ethnically. What is even more interesting is that you do not have to "prove" that you are Latino or have any connection with the Latino community to reap the benefit of being Latino--I know people who live their lives as whites but when they see an opportunity to receive preference as being a minority group member they will readily identify themselves as Latino.

Also, in my opinion, Latinos tend to esteem very highly anything that is euorcentric in regards to beauty,,color, names, lifestyle, belief systems, etc. and belittle or even reject the anything non-European espcially if it is Indian and/or African. In November I will bet there will be more Latino voting for John McCain than for Barack Obama--I think it is partially because Latinos are more ready to identify with McCain than Obama. Moreover, Latinos are more likely to marry into the majority culture and raise their children in accordance to that culture in every way.