http://www.eagletribune.com/news/sto...523/LN_001.htm
Sunday, May 23, 1999
'Hispanic' vs. 'Latino'
By Kathie Neff Ragsdale
Eagle-Tribune Writer
Evidence of the confusion is everywhere: Some stores in Greater Lawrence advertise themselves as ''Spanish'' groceries, while others identify themselves as ''Latin.'' A group of workers at Lucent Technologies in North Andover is known as the ''Hispanic'' Employee Association, but the area also includes an Association of ''Latin American'' Merchants in Lawrence and a Haverhill ''Latino'' Professional Network.
Cuban-born Father Jorge Reyes of St. Mary-Immaculate Conception Church in Lawrence says people have difficulty with the competing descriptions as they seek a sense of their own identities.
So what's the correct term?
What do the many people in the Merrimack Valley whose families come from Spanish-speaking countries prefer to be called as a group?
''Good question,'' muses the Cuban-born Rev. Jorge Reyes of St. Mary-Immaculate Conception Church in Lawrence, reflecting the uncertainty of many.
Of 15 community leaders and others who were asked by The Eagle-Tribune, six preferred ''Latino,'' two said ''Hispanic,'' two wanted to be associated with a specific country instead of a broad group, two had no preference, one preferred ''Spanish'' and one just wanted to be counted as an American.
Age, country of origin, length of time here and even politics appear to be factors in the choice.
Politically correct
Most agree that ''Latino'' is today's politically correct term for the area's Spanish-speaking population or descendants, but use of the word is far from universal.
''Latino'' refers to Latin America, which includes Mexico, Central and South America and such Caribbean island countries as the Dominican Republic. Latin America includes 95 percent of the territory in the Western Hemisphere lying south of the United States, though such English-speaking countries as Jamaica and Trinidad are generally not considered to be a part of it.
The Merrimack Valley is home to more than two dozen nationalities from Spanish-speaking countries, the largest number from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico in Latin America.
Jorge Santiago, director of the Urban Development Program at Northern Essex Community College in Lawrence, is one who prefers ''Latino.''
'' 'Hispanic' is a concept that was developed by the (U.S.) Census Bureau, referring to individuals who speak Spanish,'' says Dr. Santiago, who also teaches a course on ''Understanding Latino Culture'' at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. ''If you went by that definition, you would have to include Spain . . . People from Central America, South America and the Caribbean would prefer 'Latino' because they are part of Latin America.''
Compounding the confusion, Census Bureau forms in the past have asked respondents to check off whether they were black, white or Hispanic -- adding to the false impression among some that ''Hispanics'' constitute a race. In fact, they have varied skin colors.
What someone chooses to call himself can also be something of a political statement, Santiago said.
''Latinos are much more liberal. Hispanics tend to be much more conservative, Republican, very often of Cuban background,'' says Dr. Santiago, himself of Puerto Rican descent.
Likewise, state Rep. Jose L. Santiago, D-Lawrence, says, ''The politically correct term would be 'Latino.' ''
''Most people call themselves Latino Americans,'' adds Rep. Santiago. ''I call myself a Latino American because I'm from Puerto Rico.'' Still, he says, '' 'Hispanic' is not offensive.''
'Latino' is softer
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Kathy Rodger, dean of Northern Essex Community College in Lawrence, has decided to use ''Latino'' because her research showed the term was more current.
''In my mind, 'Latino' sounds softer,'' says Ms. Rodger, who is half Mexican. ''But if the person I'm talking to uses 'Hispanic,' I just make a mental note of it. I think it's 50-50.''
Social worker Maricarmen Cintron, a psychotherapist at the North Essex Mental Health in Haverhill, uses ''Latina,'' the female equivalent of ''Latino.'' She is president of the Haverhill Latino Professional Network, which provides support to workers in the human services field.
School Committeeman Ralph L. Correro, who came to Lawrence from the Dominican Republic when he was 2, considers himself ''a Latino of Hispanic descent.''
Many immigrants are now second or third generation and do not even speak Spanish, he points out, ''so it really isn't appropriate to call them 'Hispanic.' ''
The growing popularity of ''Latino'' has left some questioning their longtime use of other phrases.
Steve Lefoley, president of the Massachusetts chapter of Hispanic Employees Association of Lucent Technologies, says his group has considered changing its name to the Latino Employees Association. But, because the organization is international, he fears such a change might not rest well with Spanish-speaking workers in places like Spain.
'Americano'
Even locally, member Jose Del Rio is a Spaniard and considers himself European rather than either ''Latino'' or ''Hispanic.'' Another member, Ricardo Mendoza, is from Latin America and prefers ''Latino Americano'' or ''Latino.''
Mr. Lefoley says he tends to use the word ''Hispanic.''
''I think it covers the broader group,'' says Mr. Lefoley, an Anglo who was elected president of the association, which is open to all Lucent workers.
Longtime community activist Isabel Melendez, who came from Puerto Rico, says she has been criticized by some listeners for not using the word ''Latino'' on the local radio show she hosts.
She prefers ''Spanish,'' noting that not all people from Latin America are Spanish-speaking. People in Brazil speak Portuguese, for example, and those in Haiti speak French.
Zenaida Fernandez, secretary to Lawrence Police Chief John J. Romero, is turned off by ''Latino'' because ''it sounds like one of those politically correct things to say.''
''I use 'Hispanic,' '' she says. ''I'm not comfortable with the term 'Latino' yet, maybe because it's new.''
Others prefer to be associated with a particular country or commonwealth, rather than a larger area.
''Now it seems people are more into calling themselves something based on where they come from, like Puerto Ricans and Dominicans,'' says Father Reyes. ''People are trying to get more of their own identity. In the (U.S.) census, you see 'Hispanic' and 'white' and a lot of people think of themselves as white, too. It's been a constant battle to gain that identity.''
Gilda Duran, associate director of the Massachusetts Prevention Center at the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, prefers to be called ''Dominican American'' because ''I am a U.S. citizen and born in the Dominican Republic. I think that will never go out of style or become politically incorrect.''
Her children, she adds, call themselves Dominican American ''and they were born here.''
Dr. Santiago says his 19-year-old son, who is third generation and speaks no Spanish, identifies himself as Puerto Rican. ''He would say 'I'm Puerto Rican by heritage, but I'm an American citizen,' '' says Dr. Santiago, who points out that all those from from Puerto Rico, a commonwealth of the United States, are American citizens.
Nonissue for some
Meanwhile, the U.S. Census Bureau is taking a more cautious stance toward the issue. In recent press releases, it refers to ''the Hispanic/Latino community.''
The issue is a nonissue for others.
Ecuadorian Richard Chavez, a senior credit analyst at First Essex Bank, says, '' 'Latino' is basically anyone who speaks a language derived from Latin, any of the five Romance languages. 'Hispanic' is more appropriate in a way, because the language I speak is Spanish, derived from the Iberian Peninsula. I don't find either one insulting. I am both of them. I don't have a preference.''
Likewise, Nestor DeJesus, president of the 136-member Association of Latin American Merchants, based in Lawrence, says ''For myself, I don't care.'' A Dominican immigrant, he said he prefers to concentrate on the association, his business and making his dreams come true.
Juan Rodriguez, director of interpretive services at Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, says ''I don't think it makes a big difference to the population here in Lawrence.''
In his six years of working at the hospital, the Dominican Republic native says, ''I have tried using both 'Hispanic' and 'Latino,' and I have never encountered any objection with one or the other.''
Why have any designation at all?
Dr. Santiago answered that question in a 1996 address to faculty at Northern Essex.
''We cannot use a single term to describe a group of people who are as diverse as Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Mexicans, Salvadorans, Costa Ricans, etc.,'' he said. ''It is necessary, however, to have a name since political power in a democratic society like the United States is based on numbers.''
But the phrases still ring artificial to some.
Says Ms. Duran, ''Until we came to this country, we didn't know we were 'Hispanic' or 'Latino.' Somebody else made up that word for us, and we got accustomed to being called that.''
). im puerto rican and it annoys me, actually it pisses me off when someone asks me or refers to hispanics as "spanish". honestly im not from spain, no offense to those that are, but i think calling someone that is not from spain, spanish, is not right. another thing, while im rambeling i dont like it when people say "oh you can speak puerto rican". personally i didnt know that we had our own language. 
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