Hispanic Americans
Hispanic Americans are Americans of Spanish-speaking descent. Many Hispanic Americans are the descendants of Mexican people who lived in the Southwest when it became part of the United States. Almost all other Hispanic Americans or their ancestors migrated to the United States from Latin America. The three largest Hispanic groups in the United States are Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Cuban Americans. As a group, Hispanic Americans represent a mixture of several ethnic backgrounds, including European, American Indian, and African.
Although the native residents of Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens, Puerto Rico is not a U.S. state. The U.S. Census Bureau therefore does not count the island's native residents as part of the U.S. population. In this article, the term Hispanic American applies only to Puerto Ricans who live in a U.S. state.
Today, more than 35 million people of Hispanic descent live in the United States. They make up the largest minority group in the country. African Americans are the second largest U.S. minority group. Hispanics are also the fastest-growing U.S. minority, as a result of a high birth rate and continuing immigration. Asian Americans are the second fastest-growing minority.
Most Hispanic Americans speak English but continue to use Spanish as well. As Spanish-speakers, they form the largest language minority in the United States. In addition to their language, Hispanic Americans have preserved many other traditions of their homelands. The foods, music, clothing styles, and architecture of these countries have greatly influenced U.S. culture.
Hispanic Americans are also called Latinos, because most are of Latin American origin. Many Hispanic people in the United States describe themselves simply as Americans. Others, however, identify themselves with their cultural or national background and refer to themselves as Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans, and so on. Members of some groups use special names to describe themselves. For example, some Mexican Americans call themselves Chicanos, and some Puerto Ricans who live in New York City refer to themselves as Nuyoricans or Boriquas.
Like other minorities, Hispanic Americans have suffered from discrimination in jobs, housing, and education. Some Hispanics are also hampered by not having skills that are important for competing in U.S. society. For example, many new Hispanic immigrants cannot speak or understand English. Discrimination and the lack of such skills have contributed to a high rate of unemployment