The Importance Of Being A Latino Culture

It is well known that the United States is made up of several different cultures and the health care system delivers care to a very diverse population. However, depending on ones culture-receiving care may be a challenge at times. In this paper we are going to take a closer look at the culture of Hispanic Americans. The Hispanic population has grown to over 55 million residents with in the United States in 2015, with an estimated growth rate of 2.1% per year (Krogstad & Lopez, 2015). Making this minority group on of the fastest growing populations within the United States (DeNisco & Barker, 2016).

Hispanics or Latinos are defined as a people of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or Central American, or other Spanish speaking culture. This term “Hispanics” was created by the U.S. federal government in the early 1970’s to refer to Americans born in a Spanish speaking nation or with ancestry to Spanish territories. Hispanics people are vibrant, socializing, and fun loving people. Among various facts associated to this culture is that they have a deep sense of involvement in their family traditions and cultures.

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 Hispanic community accounts for the largest minority in the United States. The United States Census Bureau reported as of July 2006, the percentage of Hispanics in the nation had grown to 15. This percentage excludes the 3.9 million Puerto Ricans whom call America their home. This number puts the United States ranking third worldwide for largest Hispanic populations, with Mexico and Colombia holding the first and second ranking respectively (Pew Hispanic Center, 2009). The Hispanic community is diverse in itself, although non-Hispanics may have panethnic views of the group as simply Latino or Hispanic, this group is made up of Mexican Americans, Puerto

Imagine someone is lost, standing in a checkout line at a corner drugstore. They need directions to get back on the road. The couple in front of them is having a very engaging conversation, fluently, in Spanish. Most would not even give an effort to talk or ask where to go, but why not? Too often the assumption is made that people who speak Spanish are immigrants, and do not speak English well. Hispanics are, persons of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American descent, other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race. Too often the assumption is made that Spanish-speakers are unamerican, lazy, receive low income, or are uneducated in any way. Hispanics are also demonized in the media as people who are stealing American jobs. That is the belief that some Americans associate with Hispanics.

The American Dream for everyone alike is to prosper and succeed in a land that individuals are determined to call their own. Almost every immigrant that has entered the United States has done so in hopes of finding a better life for themselves and for their families. For most Hispanic-Americans, the goal was the same. Hispanic-Americans come from a variety of different Spanish-speaking countries. Just as the wave of immigrants from Europe came to the United States of America in the late 1800's and early 1900's, Hispanics came from places like Mexico, South and Central America, and the Caribbean Islands. Although everyone came with the same goal in mind, to make sure their families would have a better life in a new environment, each subgroup within the Hispanic community faced different circumstances once they arrived in the United States and have different definitions of what it feels like to be an American.

Clara E. Rodriguez wrote an essay titled, "What It Means To Be Latino". In this essay she explains the difference between the terms Hispanic and Latino. She elaborated on how the term "Hispanic" was created by the U.S. Census Bureau in 1970, to use it as a general term to describe all of the people who came from, or, had parents who came from a Spanish speaking country. Then she states that the term "Latino", is a term considered to be more neutral and racially inclusive by many people in this population, although she made a good point of view, it still failed to describe the more complexity on the meaning of the term Latino.

As of 2014, the Latino community has become the largest minority group in the United States, making up around 17% (roughly 55 Million) of the population alone (CNN News). However, due to the lack of news and media coverage that Hispanics/Latinos receive, people are uninformed about the community. The small portion of the media that does talk about the Latino community often has false information that tends to leave a negative impression of Latinos. By informing Americans about Latinos, they will get an idea of what 17% of the county is actually made of. Even though some people believe that there is enough media coverage in the Latino community, there should be more positive media coverage for the Latino community. Americans need to know about what is actually happening in the Latino community, because Latinos are the largest minority group in the U.S, Latinos have a strong work ethic, and the Latino community has made a major impact of the American culture.

The Latino community is ironic at Viana’s college because it was unforgiving if you do not make your Latindad known. For example Viana stated, “Knowing how hard it could sometimes be to accept the group and have the group accept you in return” (Garrod, 2012, p. 113). Rather than being a group to bond with each other and embrace their ethnicity, the group gossips or rejects members. This fact about the group was surprising to me. I am in a club known as National students speech hearing language association (NSSHLA), where everyone in the group is close with each other. Each member tries the help each other especially when we all take the same course, we help each other with homework. I visualized that all groups/clubs members for any organization

The mental health disparities for Latino families who are among the largest and fastest growing ethnic minority group in the United States ( Ennis, Rios-Vargas, & Albert, 2011), reinforces the importance in understanding risk factors that contribute to the high risk of mental health issues for this population (Lawton, Gerdes, 2014). Most research has focused on the relationship between acculturation and its impact on mental health status for Latinos’ living in the U.S, but findings continue to be controversial. A synthesis of current research demonstrates that limitations in attempting to explain vulnerability issues for Latinos’ incudes lack of consistency with measurement of acculturation, limited use

Growing up hispanic means so many things to me, from having the best abuelitas and abuelitos, to late night conchas because we have to wait til midnight to open christmas presents. It has taught me that family is so important and that there are no guidelines to who or where your family comes from. There has not been one person to walk through our front door who does not immediately become"mija"or "mijo". Being hispanic also means that there is never a dull moment, there is always going to be a cousin doing something crazy and an uncle trying to dance at quinceanera. I learned so early one to never take myself too seriously. Part of being hispanic means being a welcoming person and whenever anyone is in need you are right there for them, because

Being Hispanic means a lot to me is part of my identity in this country and synonym of hard working individuals. We as Hispanics are taking a step further everyday taking more important positions and making our voice be heard in political, economic, and social issues. I would like to be part of that change, to create a more optimistic view of technology and see my name in articles, and for them to share my story as an immigrant and Hispanic. We are categorized as minority we are often stereotype, but we have one of the greatest future as a group culture ahead that soon or later have to be reach. I am extremely proud of my culture of be surround by hard working people that is willing to advance no matter how terrible the storm may look.

In his powerful address to Del Sol High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, then-President Barack Obama delivered a profound statement to his largely Latino audience, encouraging them that “What makes someone American isn’t just blood or birth but allegiance to our founding principles and faith in the idea that anyone-from anywhere-can write the next chapter of our story” (“Remarks”). This thought provokes listeners to reflect upon the definition of an “American”, encouraging them to expand beyond the confinements of citizenship. In an era marked by tumultuous racial relations and global ethnic conflicts, it is imperative that Americans recognize and revere the positive economic, political, and social contributions that Latinos have made to the

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.

Lyrics and rhythm pass through me as the beat speeds up. Lyrics of a language that not many people know of. However, one understands what they say and is consumed within those words. My parents immigrated to this country to seek better opportunities for my brother and I. It was difficult for my father to find any job he could just to send over some money to my mother in Peru. My father is truly an inspiration to me. All his life, he was told that he could not surpass obstacles to become successful. He was told that he would become a fisher or a construction worker, a profession men took in his hometown.