Do people from Central and South America prefer to be called Hispanic or Latino?

Central and South America are very diverse, some people from these places have really nothing to do with Hispanics (Spanish). Like many of us Indigenas. It's basically an insult.

Political correctness is just another way of refusing to think. Being polite is another thing though. The people of Central America, South America (and Mexico) are not "Latinos" or "Hispanic." Many of them (us) have been brainwashed into believing that we're "Hispanic," but that word means "of Spain," which we are not. If you want more information, look into the Mexica Movement online - they will explain far more than i can here ...

Both terms are mostly used in the u.s. and are not used by REAL Latin Americans. (and if they are, it does not have the same meaning as it would in the u.s.) We prefer to be called by whatever country we are from. Grouping all Latin Americans together just because we all speak Spanish would be like saying people from the u.s. and canada are the same as Jamaicans, and Australians, And british people, just because they all speak English. DIfferent latin american countries have differen racial make-ups, different demographics, different kinds of Spanish, different beliefs, traditions, cultures, just like the u.s. has these same differences with Jamaica, and england and australaia. By the way, hispanic and latino people are not a race, but if such a group even exists, it is a cultural definition.

Interesting question. I like your concern to be respectful, & I agree.

I, too, thought that Hispanic was interchangable with Latino & Mexican. Like I thought people w/a Mexican heretige are Hispanic but could also be called Latino, too, since they were from Latin America (Mexico & below).

I didn't do well in History in 7th grade. I didn't log that stuff away. Now it interests me, and I would. =]

Both.