The Hispanic/Latino Culture

Culture is the overall moral belief, customs, language, and attitudes a person is brought and raised into. Daily, we are exposed to diverse and different cultures everyday which allow us to learn the different values and traditions each culture possess. The importance of observing and learning different customs is beneficial because it can help us better adapt and prevent misunderstandings when we communicate and interact with others. Hispanics and Americans are two huge cultures that have been sharing the same living space for years but are an example of two different civilizations. While both, Hispanics and Americans, share many similarities they both differ in recognition of religion, language,

A group that I believe has its own culture and the group I identify with is the Latino group. Latin countries include Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, México, Nicaragua, and many more. The reason why we all fit into that group is that we share common values, practices, and of course, we speak a common language.

The Hispanic culture has different values, beliefs, and traditions. Family is highly value. Family is a close-knit group and the most important social group to gather in any events or special days. The Hispanic “family unit” includes not only parents and children but also grandparents and extended family. Individuals within the family have moral responsibilities to help other members of the family experiencing financial problems, unemployment, health conditions and any other life issues. They show the importance placed upon relationship within their family extending a hand in good times and bad. Respeto y dignidad (respect and dignity) are other important values of the Hispanic culture. Children’s are taught to avoid confrontations with parents and older persons, and to be obedient and respectful. The Hispanics believe that the father is head of the family and the mother is to take care of home. Naming children after grandparents and parents is fairly common. A well-known tradition is the celebration of a fifteen year old girl called Quincenera. Hispanics culture and traditions are based around celebrating and spending time with love ones.

I have seen over the years that the Hispanic population in California alone has grown enormously in California let alone the United States. The federal government came up with the term Hispanic to “provide a common ground to a quite large but diverse population of people that have come to the United States from a Spanish speaking country” (Clutter & Nieto, n.d.). I have seen that Hispanic families are a very tight family and that is very important to them as a social unit. Hispanic the term “family” consist of lots of family members like: children, parents, and even extended family like cousin, grandparents, etc.

The culture of the Mexican people has been resilient in Southern California. The Mexican culture is a culture of pride, courage, and humbleness that is exhibited at LA Plaza De Cultura Y Artes. This resilient culture was exhibited during the tumultuous times of the early 20th century throughout Southern California. The early 20th century specifically the twenty’s through the forties was a dangerous period as many Mexican-Americans experienced levels of racial discrimination that went against their rights of being American citizens. Incidents range from forced cultural assimilation, beating, and lynchings, to mass illegal deportations. Still, after all these injustices Mexican-Americans responded by standing up and not letting racism and fear

The Latino culture takes a more monistic approach to the mind-body problem. This may affect the ways in which depression is experienced and expressed. For example, studies have found that Latinos are more likely to express psychological distress in somatic terms such as lack of energy, sleep disturbances, and body aches (Martinez Tyson, Castaneda, Porter, Quiroz, & Carrion, 2011). Additionally, studies find that Latinos are more likely to take a holistic approach to healing as evidenced by the principle of “mente sana en cuerpo sano y alma sana’ (healthy mind in healthy body and healthy soul) which communicates the strong connection between mind, body, and soul (Comas-Diaz, 2006). This suggests that a purely physical approach to therapy may not be well-received by the Latino client, and is supported by studies showing Latino patients feel apprehensive towards being treated with anti-depressants even when they have positive attitudes towards receiving treatment for depression (Cabassa, Lester, & Zayas, 2007). Understanding the client’s perception of the self is important in diagnosing and treating depression. Therefore, an effective therapist must be able to understand and incorporate the client’s worldview throughout the therapeutic process.

As mentioned, Spanish-language music allows the development of self-identity through culture. Moreno adds an interview she had with Jorge Andrés Herrera, an adjunct professor at California State University, Fullerton, who teaches Chicano Studies courses and is a Ph.D. candidate at UCLA, whom is studying the role music plays in shaping Latino identity with an emphasis on the U.S./México border. "When a Latino crosses the border, they automatically start to assimilate culturally and a big part of that assimilation comes in the form of musical tastes and musical preferences which also transform and assimilate to the dominant culture” (Moreno 5). Music helps shape Latino identity by empowering and helping those who have assimilated in the mainstream

Since 1970, United States of America has seen a considerable amount of immigration because of economic chaos and civil wars in Latin American countries. The fight between the government of El Salvador and leftist guerrillas in 1980 brought about 500,000 immigrants to United States. They settled primarily in California, Florida, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C. The civil war in Nicaragua in the year 1980 drove an estimated 800,000 Nicaraguan immigrants to the United States

To some people the word Latino can be very confusing, in the sense that there are many definitions of what is a “true” Latino and what certain groups consider themselves. Latinos come in all different shades, and might not even speak the same dialect of Spanish. Whether it be Latinos originating from Cuba, Honduras, Dominican Republic or Brazil, one thing we can argue is considering or associating yourself with being black or with your Afro roots is something that is not taken well in the Hispanic/Latino community. There is always a negative connotation about embracing your black roots or acknowledging the fact that majority of Hispanic/Latinos come from some sort of black/afro descent. This is especially seen in older generations and even within the generation now. Many people will argue that they are either mixed with European and Taino and completely forget about the other major component in their history.

Anzaldua in her essay, How to Tame a Wild Tongue” provides an insight of how she experienced the concept being brought up in dual culture society. On one hand, one of the cultures involved the American culture that she experienced on her academic journey. This culture expected her to adhere and speak clearly to the American English language. For instance, the culture required that “if Anzaldua what to be American, Speak ‘American.’ If you don’t like it, go back to Mexico where you belong” (2).

The Latino community is not just a group of people with the same heritage, but a family who works together to give others a better life and success. Being a Latina in such a world where minorities do not have as many opportunities as the privileged majority is very difficult. Especially in these times where minorities aren't able to have a say in their government and are attacked for their heritage. However, standing together as a community against oppression can be just as powerful as a united whole. It is our responsibility to bring a voice to the people of our community and join together.

The concept of culture is something that defines many aspects of one’s life. From physical objects to different ways of thinking, culture adds significance to human life and makes groups of people distinct from one another. Culture is essentially a group of people who come together with similar interests and points of view. According to the Center for Advanced Language Acquisition of the University of Minnesota, “culture is defined as the shared patterns of behaviors and interactions, cognitive constructs, and affective understanding that are learned through a process of socialization.” From a more sociological perspective, culture is a way in which people come together in order to fulfill their needs. These shared patterns and ideas identify the members of a culture group while also distinguishing those of another group.” Culture is one of the things that sets the United States apart from the rest of the world. Not that the rest of the world is not cultural, but the circumstance here is different. Many people of different cultural backroads come to this country in search of a better life. As a consequence, the United States has become a place where many cultures merge together like a colossal pot soup.

A culture can be defined as a way of life of a group of people- their behaviors, beliefs, values that are passed along by communication and imitation from one generation to the next. It also includes the customs, arts, literature, morals/values and traditions of a particular society or group (Virginia Encyclopedia). Culture can also be considered as a way of thinking, behaving, or working that exists in places or organizations. This topic is of huge importance to our society mainly in the state of

The fourth chapter in the textbook focuses entirely on culture. Culture is defined as a set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterize an institution or organization, and can be categorized in two different ways: folk and popular. Folk culture is shared usually by a smaller group of similar people, and diffuses slowly with limited connections (Rubenstein, 2014, 108). A classic example of Folk culture in Spain would be the

According to Zimmermann (2015), Culture is the distinctive features and knowledge of a specific group of people, outlined by everything from cuisine, social habits, language, religion, arts, and music. The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition takes it a step further, defining culture as mutual patterns of behaviors and interactions, cognitive constructs and understanding that are learned by. In this manner, culture can be seen as the growth of a group individuality fostered by social structures unique to the group socializing (Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition, 2014).