Understanding Hispanics

For the Hispanically Challenged on Campus

Subject: Hispanic, Latino, Success

By Victor Antonio

As a Hispanic in this great country, I can walk tall knowing that our contributions to the American ideal is everyday becoming more visible.  Recent studies show that Hispanic purchasing power continues to increase at a healthy pace.  Hispanics are opening new businesses and moving into the upper echelons of Corporate America.  

As Hispanics continue to make great strides, I believe it’s time to stop and acknowledge our growing U.S. Hispanic population with increasing Hispanic employment, educational attainment, and a total U.S. disposable income which grew from $7.8 trillion to $8.1 trillion in the last 12 months.  Hispanic purchasing power represents more than 7.4 percent of total U.S. purchasing power, compared with 6.9 percent last year (as of 2004).  These are impressive numbers that shouldn’t go unnoticed.

We have every right to celebrate the great distances we’ve traversed; from migrants and immigrants to contributing members of a great nation.  More than just manual laborers, we now have intellectuals, business people, educators, artists and so on, who are raising their voices and shaping the economics and politics of America. 

But still, many have an incorrect or distorted view of what it means to be a Hispanic.  So…I thought I’d help those of you who are “Hispanically challenged” with a few tips.

Victor’s 10 Rules to Understanding Hispanics

1) Hispanics have become the largest minority in America with a population of 36 million.

2) We like to give hugs and kisses on the cheek to show our respect and affection.  It doesn’t mean we want to have sex!

2) Hispanic have the lowest college retention rate when compared to African-Americans, Asians and Caucasian students.   Although Hispanics should toast to their successes, there still some work to be done.

3) Not all Hispanics are alike.  A Hispanic from Argentina has a distinctive culture relative to a person from Ecuador.   Much like a person from Iowa differs in culture when compared to a person from the New York or Alabama.

4) First generation Hispanics are more apt to identify with U.S. norms and customs than their own heritage or culture.

5) Not all Hispanics born in America like “Salsa” music or for that matter, Ricky Martin.   And many Latin American countries don’t even listen to Salsa music.   Believe it or not, many would rather listen to good ole American Rock’n Roll.  Or if you live in Argentina,…it’s tango music.

6) Not all Hispanics like spicy food.  Some even have a lower tolerance than their American born counterparts when it comes to hot peppers.  So stop perpetuating the ‘me gusta caliente o’ picante’  (i.e., I like it hot) myth.

7) Gonzalez is a German(ic) derived name.  The “ez” stands for “Son of” (e.g., much like “son of John” equal Johnson).  And the root name is 'Gonzalo' which was derived from the Germanic word “Gunzhard” which literally translates into “Battle Elf”.  So “Gonzalez” translates to “Son of Battle Elf”.  Don’t laugh…just reflect.

8) The majority of native born American Hispanics speak English the majority of the time and prefer to read in English.  By the second generation, the majority of ‘hispanics’ speak English only.  So don’t worry about the U.S. being converted to an all-Spanish language country…won’t happen.

9) Hispanics come in all shades of the black-to-white spectrum.  Some with dark African features, others with blond hair and blue eyes.  You’ve been warned…Hispanics are visually undetectable.

10) If you want to understand Hispanics, all YOU have to do is look at YOUR own family’s immigration history and realize that we have a lot in common.  We all came here for a better life.  And, we all want to contribute to making America stronger and the epitome of constructive diversity.

Bonus Rule:

11) Hispanics come in all shapes, sizes and, especially, colors...no lie.  You can have a dark African looking Hispanic on one end of the spectrum to a blond haired, blue-eyed Caucasian on the other end.  We embrace the spectrum...there's a lesson in this for all of us.

God Bless United States of America!

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Copyright © 2005 by Victor Antonio   All rights reserved.  This article MAY be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, as long as the author’s name, website and email address are included as part of the article’s body.  All inquiries, including information on electronic licensing, should be directed to Victor Antonio.