The observance of Hispanic Heritage Month

The observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, which starts from September 15th to October 15th, celebrates Hispanic heritage and culture of those people from Spain, Mexico, and the Spanish-speaking nations. LaGuardia Community College holds a Panel Discussion about the event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, October 7th. The topic of discussion is “Hispanic or Latino, what’s in a name?” and “A discussion and debate on Heritage and Identity”.
Journalism Professor Victor Rosa, Associate Director of Student Life Office Irene Sosa, Cooperator of Women Center Joanna Deleon and Student Ambassador Candice Profit are invited in the Panel Discussion. Also, there are about twenty-five students and some professors attended the Panel Discussion. The host Kazembe Batts has asked a question to the guests: “How can you identify yourselves either a Latino/a or Hispanic?” The guests gave very interesting responses. Student Ambassador, Candice Profit identified herself as a Latina, the daughter of a African American father and a Puerto Rican mother, because she said she wanted to “keep the culture alive, and it is up to you”, so Profit is studying the Spanish language because as a child her father didn’t want her to learn. Joanna Deleon preferred Latina to Hispanic. She didn’t like the word Hispanic because the word as it consisted of “His-” and “panic”. There’s a answers and questions session about the words Latino and Hispanic, some of the audiences said that it is appreciate to refer to Spanish-speakers as Hispanic because the very early Spanish history has rooted and influenced every part of the world.
The words “Latino” and “Hispanic” have no difference for me because these two words basically have the same meaning which is Spanish-speakers. Because Spanish-speakers are located different parts of world, so they define these words separately. I believe it doesn’t matter which word is for your identity, and the bottom line is that do you know who you are?