According to CNN, there are around 54 million Hispanic people in the United States, comprising over 17 percent of the population. Here at Southern Adventist University, there is 23.04 percent of the student body is Hispanics. Spanish is known as the second most spoken language worldwide and practiced all around the world. Despite the growth of Hispanics or Latinxs, some people still categorize anyone who has brown skin as “Mexican.” They also will place someone who appears Mexican as an undocumented immigrant.
According to the Census Bureau, a Hispanic or Latinx is "a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race." Being Hispanic does not automatically make one Mexican or that one speaks “Mexican” (as if that were actually a language). Being Latino does not automatically mean that one speaks Spanish. Brazilians are Latinx but speak Portuguese, which has words similar to Spanish but is completely different. Also, being Hispanic it does not mean that one cannot speak English well. English and Spanish are the primary languages for Hispanics born in the U.S.
Although there are many who came to this country to gain better opportunities, many Hispanics who reside here were born in the United States. Not all are undocumented, uneducated or unsafe. Just like with any race or background, depending on the personality and mindset, a person will become who he or she wants to be. The race of a person does not determine how far one will go.
Being Hispanic or Latinx is a beautiful thing, and many of us are proud of their heritage. I believe people need to ask friends about their background instead of making assumptions. Hispanics or Latinx can come from Central America, South America, or islands such as Dominican Republic or Cuba. I am a proud Hispanic along with the rest of my Hispanic/Latinx family here on campus.