ESSAY | Describe the variability within the larger “Latin American” group, as defined by the U.S. Census

Describe the variability within the larger \”Latin American\” group, as defined by the U.S. Census, including the racial differences.
Include in the paper:
1. When this census category became official (the first time it was used in the United States Census)
2. At least five distinctive subgroups that belong under this broad category
3. How people from Africa, both slaves and freemen, became part of the Latino population in Mexico, Central and South America, and the U.S.
4. How Africans in Mexico, Central and South America were absorbed into the Hispanic population, while generally being kept separate in the U.S.
5. How colorism affects membership within the Hispanic/Latino group today (i.e. a Mexican who is Black)
6. The role of language
7. The role of religion
8. The role of culture

SOLUTION

The Latin/Hispanic Ethnic Group

The U.S census considers that a Latino/Hispanic individual can be of any race because there are quite a number of confusing variables that can be used to tell who should be considered a Hispanic. Some of the factors used to determine persons of Hispanic origin include heritage, lineage, nationality, and country of birth of the individual or their parents or ancestors before arriving in the US (Cohn, 2017). The Hispanic became an official group in the late 20th century. Throughout that century, however, there were attempts to classify the ethnic group. For instance, in the 1940s, President Roosevelt’s policy with Mexico saw people moving into the US. Nonetheless, some were denied citizenship because they were not whites but the President circumvented the law and categorized Hispanics as whites which allowed them to enter and obtain citizenship in the US (Schaefer, 2014).

The Census bureau considered Hispanic as being of many races in the year 2000. This included individuals from the Cuban, South and Central America, Puerto Rican, Mexican or any other Spanish cultural origin. The term also refers to a group of people that share a common culture, which does not include race. For instance, one can be a Hispanic, whether they are black or white, provided that they share the Spanish culture (Cohn, 2017).  Some individuals from Africa did eventually manage to be counted as Hispanic and Latinos in the US census. The Africans came to the Americas and Europe as slaves to work on their farms. This presentation of the Africans to…