Regardless of how the U.S. government wants them to self-identify, the vast majority of “Hispanics” or “Latinos” shun generalized ethnic categories, according to a new survey.

 

The Pew Hispanic Center found that 51% of Hispanic adults identify themselves by their family’s country of origin. Only 24% think in terms of being “Hispanic” or “Latino.” Of those who do, Hispanic was preferred over Latino by a margin of more than two to one. Another 21% said they most often use the term “American” to describe themselves.

 

Also, 69% said the 50 million Latinos in the U.S. have many different cultures rather than a common one.

 

Among adults, 82% said they speak Spanish, and nearly 95% said it is important for future generations to continue to do so. However 87% also said that it is important to know how to speak English.

 

About half of the respondents (47%) said they consider themselves to be very different from the typical American, while an equal number think of themselves as typical Americans.

 

The term “Hispanic” was first used in the census in 1980 and the term “Latino” was added in 2000.

-Noel Brinkerhoff, David Wallechinsky