Latin nationalism
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Latin nationalism, also known as latino/a nationalism, Hispanic nationalism and various other names, is the Latin form of ethnic nationalism. This type of nationalism, like its counterpart black nationalism, generally says it seeks to claim, or to reclaim, the overall social identity and culture of Latin people and provide them with a means to express collective self-determination.
Problems with Specific Labels
For purposes of clarity and the maintaining of as neutral a point of view as possible — including acknowledgement of the gender problems of designating all people of this ethnic grouping as Latino when the term Latina also exists — the term Latin (which should not be confused with the Latin language) will be used in this article.The term Hispanic is the term most often used in the United States to refer to Spanish language-speaking Latin American people such as Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Ecuadorans, Cubans, and many others. In fact, the term encompasses a very diverse population, making efforts toward creating a pan-Hispanic social identity difficult. While in the United States "Hispanics" are often treated as a group apart from whites, blacks and other racial groups, "Hispanics" actually include people who do not identify with any of the aforementioned ethnic and/or national groupings, as well as including those identifying with other ethnic groups of entirely different origins, such as indigenous tribes. The problem with the overarching term "Hispanic" is that it sometimes results in overgeneralization that runs the risk of getting an observer that is uneducated in such matters in trouble.
Meanwhile, the word Latino is debated as to whether it is an appropriate label for the people living in the Americas outside of the United States and Canada. Controversy surrounds on the usage since it implies a mirroring of Europe Latin area (see Latin Europe) in the Americas, which never took place (aside of Portugal and Spain Latin Europe includes many other countries that have no role in Latin America). Moreover, in doing so, it has excluded millions of indigenous descendants, many of whom speak only a native language, that are very much grounded in what is called the Americas. Recently, Mexican-descent organizations such as the Mexica Movement have challenged the legitimacy of the newly-introduced term of "Latino" on the grounds of its non-applicability to people who are non-European. Since the term Latino refers to Latin Europe and its descendents, people of American indigenous descent are necessarily excluded from such a term.
The term Chicano is offensive to some assimilated Mexican Americans, who prefer other terms such as Hispanic, Latino, or simply Mexican. Many Chicanos, in turn, find Mexican used alone as offensive because it overlooks their American and indigenous roots. Chicanos in Texas are also referred to as Tejanos, although Tejano simply means Texan. Some who do not find the masculine term Chicano acceptable to use as a plural, use the terms Chicano/a, or Chican@.
Flag
Ángel Camblor of the Uruguayan army was its originator in 1933, and it was adopted by the Pan-American Conference that same year in Montevideo. The white background stands for peace; the Inti (sun god in Inca mythology) symbolizes the light shining on the American continent; and the three crosses represent Christopher Columbus' caravels (the Niña, Pinta, and Santa María ships used in his first voyage from Spain to the New World in 1492). The lilac color of the crosses evokes the Castilian banner.
Criticism
Those anti-nationalists who oppose identity politics generally criticize Latin nationalism in much the same way they oppose black nationalism and radical feminism.From the Radical Left of communism and some anarchism, criticism comes in the form of Latin nationalism being a threat to proletarian internationalism. From the right-wing this takes the form of it being acceptable for the self-identifying to occur in and of itself, but inappropriate for the group to expect an enumeration of "unprecedented rights" on account of that identity being established.
See also
- Black nationalism
- Brazilian Empire
- Bronze race
- Chicano nationalism
- Hispanic nationalism
- Identity politics
- Inca Empire
- Irish nationalism
- Mexican Empire
- Nationalism
- Pan-nationalism
- Pan-Americanism
- Puerto Rican independence movement
External Links
- () [La Bandera de La Raza]
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