Hispanics and Latin American communities contribute to around 18 % of the total population of the country. They often wish to be distinguished from the rest of the white population in the US. As such, whites of Hispanic and Latino origin are often said to be Hispanic and Latin American whites respectively. In total, both Hispanics and Latinos make up over 53 million of the US population. A Hispanic is a person who has origins patterning to Spain or any of the Spanish speaking countries within the Latin American region. Latinos are said to be people from Latin America or have origins which are directly related to Latin America.Both the Hispanic and Latino American communities make up a group of people which is said to be the most unique in the US. With their unique attributes, they are able to attract the attention of many inhabitants of the US and the world over.
Undoubtedly, you will find it interesting to learn about the actual reasons why both Latinos and Hispanics in the US are able to attract attention from all inhabitants living in the US. It is time to delve deeper into the veins of the Hispanic and Latino American societies.
Culture and language
As indicated earlier, being Latino merely means having origins patterning to or having originated from one of the countries in Latin America. Therefore, cultural backgrounds often differ among Hispanics and Latinos. They depend on the specific origin of the individual involved. But, both groups of people share a number of similarities in their cultures while exhibiting a marked level of variety. For example, they both share family attributes such as valuing monogamy, long lasting marriages and closeness between the nuclear and extended families. Thus, family gatherings and a highly pronounced grandparent centered family setup is quite common among Hispanic and Latino American communities.
In as far as language is concerned; Latin American countries are predominantly Spanish and Portuguese. The latter is the most widely spoken language in the region. But, Hispanics and Latinos in the US are mostly Spanish speakers even though the Latinos can also be speakers of Portuguese based on the definition of a Latino. Currently, around 77 % of the total number of Hispanics and Latinos in the US speak Spanish.
Even iconic celebrity figures such as Christina and Jennifer Lopez are able to speak Spanish perhaps even more fluent than most Spaniards.
Religion
Both Hispanic and Latino communities in the US consider religion as something significant in their lives. As such, they place religion at the center of their lives. Even though many religions have captured the attention of some Hispanic and Latino American individuals, they have not eroded the natural inclination of many Hispanics to Christianity. This is because most of the Hispanic and Latino American societies are generally Christian, particularly Catholic and a number of Protestants.
One of the most notable reasons that can account for this is the fact that the Latin American communities where most Hispanics and Latinos originate from are largely Christian dominated with Catholicism winning a lion share of the population.
Entertainment
The Hispanic and Latino American individuals have had a huge influence on the entertainment industry in the US for many years. The subsequent result of this was the introduction of Spanish speaking radio and television stations. Further, a number of iconic figures of the entertainment industry in the US are Hispanic and Latinos including Jennifer Lopez, Diego Mendez, Christina Aguilera and Selena Gomez.
Not shocking
Based on the information above, it is obviously clear that these communities are worth admiring. Starting from their culture and ending with their food. Further, the influence that the communities of both Hispanics and Latinos have had on the moral fiber of the country as a whole is certainly remarkable. In as far as food is concerned; Hispanics and Latinos are mainly concerned about what they eat. Their emphasis on choosing healthy food coupled with good eating habits sets apart from the rest of the American societies.