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Hispanic And Hispanics And Latinos In The United States

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The word Hispanic is a blank umbrella that encompasses many different countries, cultures, and people who have the Spanish language in common. Many Americans refer to anyone south of the United States as being Hispanic and the Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups define the term Hispanic as "an easy way to collectively refer to a growing number of Spanish origin or Spanish -speaking people in the United States". Unfortunately, this is how we categorize and report the bulk of the research that we have gathered regarding Hispanics and Latinos in America. This area of research is especially important as Latinos from Mexico and Central and South America represent approximately 45% of the foreign born population, and their children account for 22% of all children under of the age of 18 in the United States (Passel, 2006) The Hispanic population is the fastest growing immigrant and minority population in the United States, due to its close proximity to the American border. “They currently make up about 15 percent of the U.S. population, and this figure is projected to nearly double to 29 percent by 2050 if current demographic trends continue (Passel, 2008)”. Having such a diverse Hispanic population residing together in the United States has created a unique sub-culture that has intertwined their beliefs and customs into our American way of life. Everyone that comes to this country comes for their own reasons but for many, the determination is to provide a better

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