Hispanic and Latino Americans

People who identify as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race, because similarly to what occurred during the colonization and post-independence of the United States, Latin American countries had their populations made up of multiracial and monoracial descendants of settlers from the metropole of a European colonial empire (in the case of Latin American countries, Spanish and Portuguese settlers, unlike the Thirteen Colonies that will form the United States, which received settlers from the United Kingdom), in addition to these, there are also monoracial and multiracial descendants of Indigenous peoples of the Americas (Native Americans), descendants of African slaves brought to Latin America in the colonial era, and post-independence immigrants from Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia.

[13][14][15][16] As one of only two specifically designated categories of ethnicity in the United States, Hispanics and Latinos form a pan-ethnicity incorporating a diversity of inter-related cultural and linguistic heritages, the use of the Spanish and Portuguese languages being the most important of all.

The largest national origin groups of Hispanic and Latino Americans in order of population size are: Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Salvadoran, Dominican, Brazilian, Colombian, Guatemalan, Honduran, Ecuadorian, Peruvian, Venezuelan and Nicaraguan.

Hispanic first came into popular use to refer to individuals with origins in Spanish-speaking countries after the Office of Management and Budget created the classification in 1977, as proposed by a subcommittee composed of three government employees, a Cuban, Mexican, and Puerto Rican American.

The 1970 United States census controversially broadened the definition to "a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race".

[46][47] The adoption of the X would be "[r]eflecting new consciousness inspired by more recent work by LGBTQI and feminist movements, some Spanish-speaking activists are increasingly using a yet more inclusive "x" to replace the "a" and "o", in a complete break with the gender binary.

Also in 1540, Francisco Vásquez de Coronado led 2,000 mostly Mexican natives across today's Arizona–Mexico border and traveled as far as central Kansas, close to the exact geographic center of what is now the continental United States.

"[131] The "salmon bias" hypothesis, which suggests that the Hispanic health advantage is attributable to higher rates of return migration among less-healthy migrants, has received some support in the scholarly literature.

When speaking in English, American Hispanics may often insert Spanish tag and filler items such as tú sabes, este, and órale, into sentences as a marker of ethnic identity and solidarity.

[241][242][243] In a 2022 study, it was found that 64% of Latinos surveyed had positive attitudes towards President Obama's executive actions on immigration, which was notably four percentage points lower than that of non-Hispanic Black respondents.

Cuban American voters, mostly concentrated in South Florida, tend to vote Republican in part because of their anathema for socialism, the party of Fidel Castro's government that many of their families fled.

Economic concerns—such as inflation, healthcare costs, and housing affordability—have become more central to many Latino voters, especially older generations, rather than the social issues like immigration or reproductive rights that were focal points in Democratic campaigns.

As Professor Carl Tobias of the University of Richmond noted, Trump's hardline stance on immigration resonated more with some Latino voters than the approach advocated by Vice President Kamala Harris.

[289] Hispanic Americans have made distinguished contributions to the United States in all major fields, such as politics, the military, music, film, literature, sports, business and finance, and science.

[291] There are many Hispanic American musicians that have made a significant impact on the music industry and achieved fame within the United States and internationally, such as Christopher Rios better known by his stage name Big Pun, Jennifer Lopez, Joan Baez, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Fergie, Pitbull, Victoria Justice, Linda Ronstadt, Zack de la Rocha, Gloria Estefan, Héctor Lavoe, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Kat DeLuna, Selena, Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Miguel, Carlos Santana, Christina Aguilera, Bruno Mars, Mariah Carey, Jerry García, Dave Navarro, Santaye, Elvis Crespo, Romeo Santos, Tom Araya, Sonny Sandoval, the Mars Volta, Los Lobos, Villano Antillano, South Park Mexican, Cuco, Malo, OhGeesy, Malu Trevejo, Ice Spice, Young M.A, Lloyd Banks, Exposé, Sweet Sensation, Jellybean, Immortal Technique, Brujeria, Fuerza Regida, Xavi, Aventura, Lunay, Myke Towers, Jay Wheeler, J.I., Amara La Negra, Joseline Hernandez, Lele Pons, Snow Tha Product, the Marías, Ángela Aguilar, Tego Calderón, Prince Royce, Don Omar, Eddie Palmieri, Wisin & Yandel, Melanie Martinez, Mariah Angeliq, That Mexican OT, MC Magic, TKA, La India, George Lamond, Sa-Fire, Cynthia, Lisa Lisa, Julieta Venegas, Intocable, Marisela, Pepe Aguilar, Jon Secada, Chayanne, DannyLux, Eslabon Armado, Iván Cornejo, Grupo Frontera, Yahritza y su Esencia, Herencia de Patrones, Omar Apollo, Eladio Carrión, Kid Frost, Cypress Hill, N.O.R.E., Fat Joe, Mellow Man Ace, Chicano Batman, Delinquent Habits, Lil Rob, Ritchie Valens, Ozomatli, BIA, Plan B, Chencho Corleone, Maye, Kap G, Tha Mexakinz, Brownside, Psycho Realm, A Lighter Shade of Brown, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Noriel, Baby Rasta, Brytiago, Farruko, J Álvarez, Darell, Ñengo Flow, Luis Fonsi, José Feliciano, Daddy Yankee, Lil Suzy, Judy Torres, Nayobe, Willie Colón, Jenni Rivera, Baby Bash, Frankie J, Larry Hernandez, Arcángel, De la Ghetto, Giselle Bellas, Juan Luis Guerra, Residente, Anuel AA, Ozuna, Lil Pump, 6ix9ine, Becky G, Ivy Queen, Cardi B, Kali Uchis, Bad Bunny, Rauw Alejandro, all of the members of all-female band Go Betty Go, Camila Cabello, two members of girl group Fifth Harmony: Lauren Jauregui and Ally Brooke, and two members of the nu metal band Nonpoint.

[301] Filmmakers like Edward James Olmos and Robert Rodriguez were able to represent the Hispanic American experience like none had on screen before, and actors like Hilary Swank, Michael Peña, Jordana Brewster, Ana de Armas, Jessica Alba, Natalie Martinez and Jenna Ortega have become successful.

Of Puerto Rican origin: José Ferrer (the first Hispanic actor to win an acting Academy Award for his role in Cyrano de Bergerac), Auliʻi Cravalho, Rita Moreno, Chita Rivera, Raul Julia, Rosie Perez, Rosario Dawson, Esai Morales, Aubrey Plaza, Jennifer Lopez, and Benicio del Toro.

In stand-up comedy, Cristela Alonzo, Anjelah Johnson, Paul Rodríguez, Greg Giraldo, Cheech Marin, George Lopez, Freddie Prinze, Jade Esteban Estrada, Carlos Mencia, John Mendoza, Gabriel Iglesias and others are prominent.

Some of the Hispanic actors who achieved notable success in U.S. television include Desi Arnaz, Lynda Carter, Jimmy Smits, Charo, Jencarlos Canela, Christian Serratos, Carlos Pena Jr., Eva Longoria, Sofía Vergara, Ricardo Antonio Chavira, Jacob Vargas, America Ferrera, Benjamin Bratt, Ricardo Montalbán, Hector Elizondo, Mario Lopez, America Ferrera, Karla Souza, Diego Boneta, Erik Estrada, Cote de Pablo, Freddie Prinze, Lauren Vélez, Isabella Gomez, Justina Machado, Tony Plana, Stacey Dash, and Charlie Sheen.

[309] In the world of fashion, notable Hispanic designers include Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Narciso Rodriguez, Manuel Cuevas, Maria Cornejo,[310] among others.

Notable Hispanic artists include Jean-Michel Basquiat, Judith Baca, Carmen Herrera, Patssi Valdez, Gronk, Luis Jiménez, Félix González-Torres, Ana Mendieta, Ester Hernandez, Joe Shannon, Richard Serra, Abelardo Morell, Bill Melendez, María Magdalena Campos Pons, Sandra Ramos, Myrna Báez, Soraida Martinez and Yolanda Gonzalez.

[325] Former Hispanic governors include Democrats Jerry Apodaca, Raul Hector Castro, and Bill Richardson, as well as Republicans Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo, Romualdo Pacheco and Bob Martinez.

The following is a list of some notable Hispanics in the military: The following 43 Hispanics were awarded the Medal of Honor: Philip Bazaar, Joseph H. De Castro, John Ortega, France Silva, David B. Barkley, Lucian Adams, Rudolph B. Davila, Marcario Garcia, Harold Gonsalves, David M. Gonzales, Silvestre S. Herrera, Jose M. Lopez, Joe P. Martinez, Manuel Perez Jr., Cleto L. Rodriguez, Alejandro R. Ruiz, Jose F. Valdez, Ysmael R. Villegas, Fernando Luis García, Edward Gomez, Ambrosio Guillen, Rodolfo P. Hernandez, Baldomero Lopez, Benito Martinez, Eugene Arnold Obregon, Joseph C. Rodriguez, John P. Baca, Roy P. Benavidez, Emilio A.

De La Garza, Ralph E. Dias, Daniel Fernandez, Alfredo Cantu "Freddy" Gonzalez, Jose Francisco Jimenez, Miguel Keith, Carlos James Lozada, Alfred V. Rascon, Louis R. Rocco, Euripides Rubio, Hector Santiago-Colon, Elmelindo Rodrigues Smith, Jay R. Vargas, Humbert Roque Versace and Maximo Yabes.

Giselle Juarez, softball player of Mexican descent, emerged as a standout pitcher, leading the University of Oklahoma to victory in the 2021 NCAA Women's College World Series championship, showcasing her dominance on the mound.

Linda Alvarado, made history as the first Hispanic woman to co-own a Major League Baseball team, the Colorado Rockies, breaking barriers and paving the way for diversity in professional sports ownership.

Sofia Huerta, player of Mexican and American descent, has excelled in professional soccer, showcasing her versatility and skill as a midfielder and forward in the NWSL and internationally with Mexico's national team, inspiring young athletes with her talent and determination.

[362][363] The large number of Hispanic American stars in Major League Baseball (MLB) includes players like Ted Williams (considered by many to be the greatest hitter of all time), Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriguez, Alex Rios, Miguel Cabrera, Lefty Gómez, Adolfo Luque, Iván Rodríguez, Carlos González, Roberto Clemente, Adrián González, Jose Fernandez, David Ortiz, Juan Marichal, Fernando Valenzuela, Nomar Garciaparra, Albert Pujols, Omar Vizquel, managers Miguel Angel Gonzalez (the first Hispanic Major League manager),[364][365] Al López, Ozzie Guillén and Felipe Alou, and General Manager Omar Minaya.

[366] Trevor Ariza, Mark Aguirre, Carmelo Anthony, Manu Ginóbili, Carlos Arroyo, Gilbert Arenas, Rolando Blackman, Pau Gasol, Jose Calderon, José Juan Barea and Charlie Villanueva can be cited in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

This influence is evident in Major League Soccer (MLS), where teams such as LA Galaxy, Los Angeles FC, Houston Dynamo and Columbus Crew have substantial fan bases comprising primarily Mexican Americans.

The Spanish Harlem Orchestra in Manhattan . New York City is home to nearly 3 million Latino Americans, the largest Hispanic population of any city outside Latin America and Spain . Hispanic and Latino immigrants to New York originate from a broad spectrum of Latin American countries.
Storefronts at Lexington Avenue and 116th Street at East Harlem , Manhattan, also known as Spanish Harlem or "El Barrio"
The Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Little Spain on 14th Street in Manhattan , an important nucleus for many decades for the Spanish community in New York City [ 45 ]
Castillo de San Marcos in Saint Augustine, Florida . Built in 1672 by the Spanish, it is the oldest masonry fort in the United States.
San Miguel Chapel , built in 1610 in Santa Fe, New Mexico , is the oldest church structure in the United States.
Painting of Bernardo de Gálvez at the siege of Pensacola by Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau
Dolores Huerta in 2009. Huerta has received numerous awards for her community service and advocacy for workers', and women's rights. She was the first Hispanic inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame , in 1993. [ 59 ] [ 60 ]
Hispanic Americans population pyramid in 2020
Proportion of Americans who are Hispanic in each US state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico as of the 2020 United States Census
Proportion of Hispanic Americans in each county of the fifty states , the District of Columbia , and Puerto Rico as of the 2020 United States census
Intermediate level international-style Latin dancing at the 2006 MIT ballroom dance competition. A judge stands in the foreground.
Westlake Theatre building, side wall mural of Jaime Escalante and Edward James Olmos
Lauro Cavazos , US Secretary of Education from August 1988 to December 1990
Spanish speakers in the United States by counties in 2000
In 2007, University of Texas at El Paso was ranked the number one graduate engineering school for Hispanics. [ 109 ]
Flyers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport wearing face masks on March 6, 2020, as the COVID-19 coronavirus spreads throughout the United States. Disproportionate numbers of cases have been observed among Black and Hispanic populations. [ 127 ] [ 128 ] [ 129 ]
Rally to end family separation in Cleveland, Ohio
Ana Navarro , a political strategist and commentator, immigrated as a result of the Sandinista revolution .
Beginning of Calle Ocho (eighth Street) in Little Havana of Miami, Florida, United States.
The section of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro road that runs through US territory, a total of 646 kilometres (401 mi), was declared a National Historic Trail in October 2000
Income by Race and Ethnicity and Hispanic / Latino origins 2023
Income by Race and Ethnicity and Hispanic / Latino origins 2023 shows the economic status of different ethnic groups [ 140 ]
Museum of Latin American Art
Spanish Revival architecture in Santa Barbara, California
Chicago Picasso as seen at Christkindlmarket
National Hispanic Cultural Center
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park in Texas a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprises four missions, Mission San José , Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada . These missions are renowned for their architectural and cultural significance, reflecting the Spanish colonial heritage of the region.
Latino Cultural Center
Mexican food has become part of the mainstream American market
Mexican American girls at a Quinceañera celebration in Santa Fe, New Mexico .
Mariah Carey 's father was of African American and Afro-Venezuelan descent, while her mother is of Irish descent.
Anya Taylor-Joy is of Argentine of English and Scottish descent, the son of a British father and an Anglo-Argentine mother. [ 194 ] [ 195 ] [ 196 ] Her mother was born in Zambia to an English diplomat father, David Joy, and a Spanish mother from Barcelona . [ 197 ]
Rosa Salazar is of Peruvian and French descent. [ 200 ]
Camila Cabello was born in Cuba . She moved between Havana and Mexico City before locating to Miami at age 5.
Hispanic woman washing, doing household chores
Natalie Morales interviewing Jill Biden at the White House in 2016.
Santa Fe Plaza
Sunny Hostin American lawyer, columnist, journalist, and television host. Hostin was born to a Puerto Rican mother and an African American father, and her maternal grandfather was of Sephardic Jewish descent.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus , circa 1984
Congressional Hispanic Conference members met with Attorney General Al Gonzales
Delegate Joseph Marion Hernández of the Florida Territory , elected in 1822, the first Hispanic American to serve in the United States Congress in any capacity
Republican politician Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo , elected in 1928, the first Mexican American and first Latino United States senator.
Democratic politician Henry B. González , elected in 1961, served 37 years in the House, the longest-serving Hispanic American in congressional history.
Barbara Vucanovich the first Hispanic woman elected to the United States House of Representatives , in which she served representing Nevada .
US President George W. Bush announces Alberto Gonzales nomination as the Attorney General .
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen became the first Cuban American Hispanic in congress and first Hispanic chair of the Congressional Hispanic Conference .
Susana Martinez , first elected Hispanic woman Governor in the United States. She is of Mexican descent.
Bernie Moreno , Ohio Republican businessman, who won the U.S. Senate race. [ 284 ]
Julie Chavez Rodriguez the granddaughter of American labor leader, Cesar Chavez and American labor activist Helen Fabela Chávez became the director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs in 2021.
Mario Lopez actor, television host, and entertainment personality known for his roles in " Saved by the Bell " and as a host on various television programs.
Rita de Acosta Lydig .
Real estate developer Jorge M. Pérez .
Secretary Julian Castro candidate for US President and his twin brother Representative Joaquin Castro .
George Santayana was a philosopher, essayist, poet, and novelist.
Jorge Majfud is a professor, essayist, and novelist
Jorge Ramos has won eight Emmy Awards .
José Díaz-Balart .
Major General Luis R. Esteves , the first Hispanic to graduate from the United States Military Academy ("West Point")
David Farragut, first full admiral in the US Navy
Diego Archuleta, first Hispanic to reach the military rank of Brigadier General
Pedro del Valle – first Hispanic to reach the rank of lieutenant general .
Carmen Contreras-Bozak – first Hispanic women to serve in the Women's Army Corps .
Modesto Cartagena, most decorated Puerto Rican soldier in history.
Richard E. Cavazos , first Hispanic four-star general .
Antonia Novello , first woman and first Hispanic to serve as Surgeon General .
Franklin Chang-Diaz NASA astronaut and physicist known for his expertise in plasma propulsion systems.
Monica Puig at the 2013 French Open
Tony Romo , NFL quarterback known for his career with the Dallas Cowboys and current role as a popular football analyst for CBS Sports.
Alex Rodriguez baseball player who achieved iconic status in the MLB , notably with the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees , before becoming a prominent television analyst.
Puerto Rican NBA All-star Carmelo Anthony .
Carlos Bocanegra soccer player who served as the captain of the United States national team and played professionally in Major League Soccer and Europe.
De La Hoya "The Golden Boy," is a former professional boxer and Olympic gold medalist who became a prominent figure in boxing both inside the ring and as a promoter
Lee Trevino retired professional golfer who won numerous PGA Tour events, including several major championships
President Trump and Senator John Cornyn while they are visiting survivors of the 2019 El Paso shooting , which was an anti-Latino terrorist attack in El Paso, Texas
The story of Mendez v. Westminster book monument
At a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ( DACA ) rally in San Francisco , protesters displayed a variety of signs and banners advocating for the protection and expansion of the DACA program.