Latino is the word used to replace Hispanic—its a reference to a culture based on Spanish/Portuguese civilization from South America. Much of it is focused on Language (ie, Spanish) and Religion (Roman Catholic) The word is also a buzz word for Mexican—it never has been about Race— and Latino could mean very European types to Blacks (Cuban/etc..) Newer buzz word is Latina to mean women of the Hispano Culture. It is a clumsy word at best and does little to reflect the voting block that is diversity and vitality that has culture roots that can be traced to the Ancient Roman to Spanish Empires just as Anglo Culture reflects The culture of the English Empire.
“Latino, Latina’’, I don’t care. I’m sick of hearing it, tired of hyphenated Americans of ANY race and ‘’diversity’’ is not strength. Mt great-grandparents left Ireland one hundred and fifty years ago and I’m damned glad they caught the boat. I do not consider myself to be an “Irish-American’’. Ireland means nothing to me, I’m an American! Haven’t we fought enough wars to finally call ourselves Americans? We are The United States of America, not some boarding house for First or Third World cultures.