Discussion Responses for Cuba (Feb. 17, 2024)

Hispanics vs. Latino

A Hispanic Studies Department is likely to focus on language and literature, whereas a Latino/a Studies Department will be more likely to study living people in or with heritage from Latin America. Despite this, Latino has recently emerged as the most commonly used term in academic circles, though both are still in use. Individuals having roots in Latin America or the Caribbean may identify as Hispanic or Latino, or they may want to identify as neither and call their race such as Colombian, Dominican, or Mexican-American their ancestral homeland. The setting, the individual's preferences, and the particular circumstance may all influence which response is appropriate.