Overview
Latino identities are complicated...often confused as a race, but the term refers to ethnicities. Latinos are often thought of as a homogenous group, there has been a false sense created that we all fit certain criteria and stereotypes. Latinos come in all shapes, skin tones, religions, cultures and generations. To try to fit them all in one bubble is a disservice to all the rich/diverse cultures and traditions that they encompass.
Latinos started in the U.S. as Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans but now they have evolved as a collective group in the United States. As their population grows, we learn that there is not one clear cut way to be Latino. An increasing number of Latinos have intermixed with other Latino nationalities so now we see Dominican and Mexican, Colombian, and Ecuadorian, Honduran and El Salvadoran, the list goes on!
Cultures in the Latino population are all significantly different. Although Latinos have many differences with non-Latinos, there are also notable intra differences. For example, Peruvians and Argentinian may both speak Spanish, but they have different dialects and mannerisms. They also have different cuisines, traditions, popular music, and media. Latinos have a sense of unity, but if you pay attention, you will notice how uniquely diverse each nationality truly is.