100 Questions and Answers About Hispanics and Latinos

"One Hundred Questions and Answers About Hispanics and Latinos" is part of the Michigan State University School of Journalism series in cultural competence. It focuses on the diversity of the largest ethnic group in the United States.

This guide has sections on Hispanic and Latino identity, geography, language, religion, social norms, politics, immigration and deportation, education, work, money, families, culture, health and food. It explains terms such as Chicano, Tejano and Texano, Boricua and deals with deportation and immigration.

The guide is written for those who need quick answers to very basic, introductory questions. It is intended for people in business, schools, places of worship, government, medicine, law enforcement, human resources and journalism who want to get a fast grounding. The guide suggests resources for those who then want to go into greater depth.

We made this guide for individuals who have basic questions about the people around them.

We start with some definitions:

• What does "Latina" mean?
• What do "Chicano" and "Chicana" mean?
• What is the definition of Chican@?
• What does Tejano mean?
• What does Boricua mean?

And then we have other questions:

• What race are Latinos and Hispanics?
• What are their places of origin?
• Which states have the largest Hispanic populations?
• Why is Puerto Rico a territory and not a state or a country?
• Do Puerto Ricans pay U.S. taxes?
• Is Pope Francis the first Latin American pope?

Our hope is that after people read this guide, or any guide in our series, they will continue researching ad learning on their own by reading more and talking to people. Each individual has his or her own take on things, so it helps to talk to many. No single person can tell the whole story.

Thank you!

Students who worked on this guide were members of the "Bias Busters" class in the Michigan State University School of Journalism. They are: Trisha Bellgowan, Jennifer Brown, Victoria Bujny, Julia Garvey, Alexandra Ilitch, Liz LeCrone, Hannah Middleton, Alice Naser, Casey O'Connell, Monica Reida, Simon Schuster, Chelsey Spinney, Hanna Sprague and Victoria Tomkinson. Matilyn Ozment helped on the project.
We are indebted to the people at the Pew Research Center's Hispanic Trends Project and Director Mark Hugo Lopez, as well as the U.S. Census Bureau, the Gallup organization, the National Council of La Raza and others whose research is the background of this guide.
Experts in several areas patiently gave advice on the guide and we thank them for making it so much better. They include:

• Federico Subervi, professor, Kent State University School of Journalism & Mass Communication
• Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez, associate professor, University of Texas at Austin.
• Mia Moody-Ramirez, associate professor, Baylor University
• Teresa Puente, associate professor of journalism, Columbia College Chicago
• Cindy E. Rodríguez, journalist-in-residence, Emerson College
• Bruno Takahashi, assistant professor, Michigan State University School of Journalism
• Sheila M. Contreras, director, Michigan State University Chicano/Latino Studies Program
• Diana Rivera, Chicana/o Latina/o studies bibliographer, Michigan State University Libraries
• Ignacio Andrade, Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives, Michigan State University
• Susan E. Reed, supervising attorney, Michigan Immigrant Rights Center

• Al Flores, director of community relations, Michigan Department of Civil Rights
• John Golaszewski, director of business & community affairs, Michigan Department of Civil Rights

Dr. Manuel Chavez, project editor
Joe Grimm, series editor