MINORITIES

It happens often that Hispanic and Latino becomes a common name for the ethnic groups of people who lives in South-America or race. In a daily situation Americans probably do not even think about the importance of using these terms correctly. What they do not realize is the important difference between the two terms Latino and Hispanic. 

There is a significant difference between a Latino and Hispanic. Hispanic is mostly refereed to the language Spanish. If the person or the persons ancestry come from a country were they speak Spanish, it is highly likely they identify as Hispanic. While the term Latino refers to geography. Especially to Latin America that includes countries in South-America, Central America and The Caribbean. As you can see, they both cover two highly different areas. 

In the US the term Hispanic was adopted during the time Richard Nixon was leading the country. The term ''Hispanic'' is often used in states such as Florida and Texas where most of the Hispanic immigrants come to and settle down. The term itself comes from a Latin word for Spain ''Hispania'', later on the word became ''Espania''. Hispanic is also one of the fastest growing ethnic minority in the U.S to this day. It has over 37 million speakers and a growing percent of 52,9. 

While the Hispanic is mostly used along the Eastern seaboard, Latino is mainly used west of the Mississippi where it has taken over from the word ''Chicano'' which is almost a modern way of saying ''Mexico.'' The government started to use the word ''Latino'' for having a word to identify and segregate the mixed white with black and native blood. ''Latino'' is also shortened from Spanish latino americano. The term is translated to ''Latin American'' and it had the meaning to identify the people from Central and South-America and the Spanish Speaking Caribbean Islands.

As of today, the Asian population is the fastest growing minority in America, but Hispanic is right behind and is still a dominating minority. It is estimated that the Hispanic minority will grow past the Asian minority. By the time we reach 2050 it will already have surpassed.