You Say "Hispanic" I Say "Latino"

As an immigrant from Venezuela, South America, I honestly don't have any preference on being called "Hispanic" or "Latino." Based on the definitions of both terms given in the reading, I could say that I have a little bit of both. I was born in Latin America, but my grandmother's side of the family emigrated from Spain.

However, even if I were strictly Latino or Hispanic, I would not mind being referred to as either one. At times, I have also been called Mexican, and I never see it as an offense. Besides identifying myself with parts of the Mexican culture, some of my best friends, and needless to say quality individuals, are from Mexico. Honestly, I have more important things on which to focus my energy than fretting over what I'd like to be called.

Ultimately, the tone used along with any term being used to describe an individual--and the intention behind it--is what matters. Other than that, I feel I have things in common with people from all Spanish-speaking countries.

As far as my identity is concerned, and as a citizen of this country, sometimes I identify myself as an American, and others as a Venezuelan. There are always positive and negative aspects of any culture, and it is up to me which to adopt to then identify with.

Jairo Toro