Opinion: Latino, Hispanic labels don't matter - issues do
Editor's note: Ruben Navarrette Jr. is a CNN.com contributor and a nationally syndicated columnist with the Washington Post Writers Group.
By Ruben Navarrette Jr., CNN Contributor
(CNN) - What's in a nombre?
Apparently, for some Latinos, er, I mean Hispanics, it matters a lot. When researchers asked a group of people with roots in Latin America what they wanted to be called, they got a variety of responses.
According to a new survey by the Pew Hispanic Center, the preferred term for many is "Hispanic." People prefer that word over "Latino" by a two-to-one margin, 33% to 14%.
But the study also revealed that most Latinos/Hispanics (51%) don't use either term and couldn't care less what they're called.
Also, in a fascinating trend, the survey found that for those who want to affix their own label, the first preference is tied to an individual's country of origin or that of their parents. Fifty-one percent of those surveyed said they describe their identity by using country of origin.
About In America
What defines you? Maybe it’s the shade of your skin, the place you grew up, the accent in your words, the make up of your family, the gender you were born with, the intimate relationships you chose to have or your generation? As the American identity changes we will be there to report it. In America is a venue for creative and timely sharing of news that explores who we are. Reach us at inamerica@cnn.com.
Black in America
iReport
Thanks Ruben for pointing out that issues do matter and the biggest issue with immigration is the law that makes crossing a border without the proper approval is illegal and everything that comes after it is illegal. So we don't need labels just the facts based on our national law, the same law that is strictly enforced on the southern border of Mexico
Yes. I agree.. country of origin, not continent, such as africa