HispanicHeratageEssaySD

Hispanic Heritage has changed our country and affected our lives so we should keep hispanic heritage alive. Hispanics heritage effects how we do some things. The Hispanic Americans are important to our diverse country. We always have to keep the Hispanic cutlers in our country. It will help people in the future remember where they came from. They brought ideas and cutlers here to America. Another thing they brought was food. They are very important to how we live our lives. During the first decade of the 21st century we have witnessed a considerable growth of the Hispanic culture in the United States. It is not surprising then that the Hispanics are exerting a strong influence on all areas, from politics to business, film, music and art. This minority group is the largest in the US and already represents 15.8% of the population, with more than 48 million people. The southern states of Florida, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada and California represent the majority of the Hispanic population with between 15% and 20% of the total. The state of Maine is home to the lowest Hispanic population, with approximately 1% of the total. Those are some ways they have affected our country.

How you say things and how you do things are different in Spanish places. In Latin American it is considered impolite to toss things to each other. If you need to give something to a native, make sure you walk over and hand it to them. Saying the word "stupid" in the English language is common and innocent enough. But in Spanish culture the translation is very strong and offensive. Avoid using the Spanish word for stupid at all times. Don't be offended when Latinos call you a "gringo". To them the words simply describes someone as foreign and isn't meant to degrade. The word came from war time when American soldiers wore green uniforms. The Mexicans knew enough to say "Green, go!" in order to express their wishes for the American soldiers to leave. This eventually became "gringo" and is used for any stranger, especially if you have light hair and eyes. How you say things and how you do things are different in spanish places.In Latin American it is considered impolite to toss things to each other. If you need to give something to a native, make sure you walk over and hand it to them. Saying the word "stupid" in the English language is common and innocent enough. But in Spanish culture the translation is very strong and offensive. Avoid using the Spanish word for stupid at all times. Don't be offended when Latinos call you a "gringo". To them the words simply describes someone as foreign and isn't meant to degrade. The word came from war time when American soldiers wore green uniforms. The Mexicans knew enough to say "Green, go!" in order to express their wishes for the American soldiers to leave. This eventually became "gringo" and is used for any stranger, especially if you have light hair and eyes. ( Body Language)

A strong emphasis is placed on family as the major source of one’s identity and protection against the hardships of life. This sense of family belonging is intense and limited to family and close friends. People who are not family or close friends are often slow to be given trust. The family model is an extended one; grandparents, aunts, cousins, and even people who are not biologically related may be considered part of the immediate family.Financial support of the family by the individual and vice versa is important and expected. The decisions and behavior of each individual in the extended family are based largely on pleasing the family; decisions are not to be made by the individual without consulting the family. Generational hierarchy is expected – grandparent, child, grandchild. The oldest male (direct relative) holds the greatest power in most families and may make health decisions for others in the family. The Latino culture also has strong connections regarding family that tie together people from various Latin American cultures such as Mexican, Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Cuban. Enduring traditional values for Latino families typically include a deep sense of family loyalty; extended family. (Cultural Values)

Most Latin American cultures death is intricately entwined with life. In many Western cultures people avoid talking or even thinking about death. Conversely, Latin Americans seem to embrace death. They may fear death but it is not ignored as a distasteful subject. They also do it like we do by putting pictures of that person on a casket To remember them.

They have changed us so much. The customs they bring are different. That does not mean they are bad. Just makes our country more diverse. That’s why we keep it alive today.


 * Work Cited**

"Body Language: The Meaning of Gestures in Mexico." // Hispanic Marketing Blog //. Hispanic Marketing Blog, 06 Apr. 2011. Web. 30 Apr. 2015. .
 * It is a Good source because it has been stated many times

"Cultural Values of Latino Patients and Families." //Dimensions of Culture //. Dimensions of Culture, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2015.
 * This a good source because that is how they have acted towards familiy

Dixon, Sara Villanueva, Julia A. Graber, and Jeanne Brooks-Gunn. "The Roles of Respect for Parental Authority and Parenting Practices in Parent–Child Conflict Among African American, Latino, and European American Families." //Journal of Family Psychology : JFP : Journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 43) //. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2015. >
 * This is good because it has been said by Hispanic people