Most arguments about Latino identity are arguments about categories that were written by someone else. The US federal definition of “Hispanic or Latino” was last revised in 1997 and turns on Spanish origin — which is why Brazil is officially excluded from a group most Brazilians in the US say they belong to.
The same problem repeats. Turco was assigned to Levantine migrants by customs clerks reading Ottoman passports. Afro-Mexicans were not counted at all until 2020. The Garífuna are routinely counted into and out of categories they did not write.
These pieces try to do two things at once: explain what the words actually mean, and be honest about who decided them.
The articles
Hispanic vs Latino vs Latinx vs Latine: What Each Word Actually Means
What Does Wepa Mean? The Puerto Rican Word Behind the Shout
Wepa is a Spanish exclamation of joy, pride and approval, closest to “woo-hoo!” in English. What it means, where it came from, and why nobody can prove it.
Firme, Simón, Órale: The Unwritten Chicano Slang Dictionary
Chicano slang — firme, simón, órale, ese, ranfla — comes from Caló, a 1940s Pachuco code with Spanish, Romani and English roots. A field guide.
Who Are the Garífuna? The Africans Who Were Never Enslaved
Juneteenth AfroLatino: 5 Powerful Truths History Erased
Most enslaved Africans never landed in the U.S. — they landed in Latin America. Why Juneteenth's story of Black freedom is a hemispheric one.
Arturo Schomburg: The AfroPuerto Rican Who Saved Black History
A teacher told Arturo Schomburg that Black people had no history. He spent his life proving her wrong — and built the archive that anchors Harlem today.
Can Puerto Ricans Vote for President? U.S. Citizens Since 1917, Explained
Is Cinco de Mayo Mexican Independence Day? What It Really Celebrates
Roberto Clemente Legacy: The Baseball Legend Who Died Delivering Aid
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Hispanic and Latino?
Hispanic refers to Spanish-speaking origin; Latino refers to Latin American origin regardless of language. Brazil is Latino but not Hispanic; Spain is Hispanic but not Latino.
Are Brazilians Latino?
Geographically yes, and most Brazilians in the US identify that way. The US federal definition excludes them because it covers people of Spanish culture or origin.
What does Latinx or Latine mean?
Both are gender-neutral alternatives to Latino/Latina. Latine is generally easier to pronounce in Spanish and is more widely used in Latin America itself.
How many Afro-Mexicans are there?
Mexico’s 2020 census — the first ever to ask — counted 2,576,213 people identifying as Afro-Mexican, Black or Afro-descendant, about 2 percent of the population.
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