What Does It Mean to Be Latin? Tracing Roots and Embracing Diversity

In the last decade, there's been a fervent debate about what it means to be Latin. Much of this narrative revolves around identity, particularly for Latinos and their experiences in the United States.

The term Latin originates from a language – a dead one, in fact, since there are no native speakers of Latin anymore. This language spread due to the Roman Empire's expansion, evolving into what we know as the Romance languages: Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, and Romanian. Catalan and Sardinian can also be added to this list.

In its most fundamental sense, a Latino is someone who speaks one of these ancestral languages. By this logic, every person native to these languages is Latin. However, as we delve deeper, more nuanced definitions emerge.

Latin American typically denotes someone from the Spanish, French, or Portuguese-speaking countries in the Americas. On the other hand, Hispanic has its roots in Hispania, the name Romans gave to the Iberian Peninsula, which is present-day Spain. Additionally, Iberia was the moniker used by the Greeks for this region, named after its prominent river, the Ebro (or Iberus in Greek).

However, as centuries passed, geopolitical shifts and colonization led these Romance languages to new lands. The Spanish, Portuguese, and French empires left an indelible mark across the Atlantic, imparting their languages, cultures, and religions.

Yet, especially in the United States, terms like Latin and Latino/a/x have taken on broader sociocultural and political meanings. Beyond linguistic ties, they now identify a diverse group of immigrants and their descendants from Latin America. In the U.S., Latino/a/x became more than just a linguistic identifier—it encapsulates the shared experiences of immigration, adaptation, and myriad other challenges.

These classifications, though, are not without contention. Should a Portuguese-speaking Brazilian in the U.S. be labeled Latino/a/x? How about an Italian? The answer is a resounding yes. Additionally, we must acknowledge the Afro-Latinos, historically underrepresented and excluded from mainstream definitions of Latino identity. And, most importantly, what about the Indigenous communities across North, South, and Central America? Many resist the term Latin, challenging a language, culture, and, by extension, a Christian religion that was imposed upon them through colonization.

Ultimately, the Latin identity is vast and multifaceted. While its roots are linguistic, its branches span cultural, racial, and personal experiences. Embracing this diversity and the myriad connections to Latin heritage is vital for fostering understanding and unity within this expansive community.

The question we must ask ourselves is: Is our definition of being Latin historically accurate and inclusive?