According to the 2020 Census, more than sixty million Hispanics in the U.S. 5.6 percent of Louisiana’s population identifies as Hispanic. We are a lot of people with significant differences. As Latin Americans, we share a passion for our food, music, literature, and real football (aka soccer). However, we are a diverse group of people. Not all of us speak Spanish. Brazilians speak Portuguese, Jamaicans English, and Haitians French, and governments recognize many indigenous languages like Mexico and Guatemala throughout the Americas. Not all of us share the same religion.
Catholicism continues to have a strong presence in Latin America; other protestant denominations have seen significant growth in recent years, particularly in Central America and Brazil. A quick country comparison using Hofstede’s 6D framework shows that Hispanics are all over the chart regarding power distance, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, long-term orientation, and indulgence. This rich diversity of values, behaviors, beliefs, and experiences is all part of Latin American culture.
This is an invitation to celebrate your heritage by reading the works of Ernesto Sabato, Mario Benedetti, and Isabell Allende. Enjoy the rhythms of Salsa, Merengue, Vallenato, Cumbia, Mambo, Samba, Tango, and Reggaeton. Taste a good street taco or paella, empanadas, tamales, and carne asada. Invite a friend to try your favorite food, listen to your playlist, or read a good book with you. But most importantly, use this month to learn about the history of Latin America and the recent events shaping its future.
The best way to celebrate this month is by educating yourself and those around you.
About Romero
LSUA’s Rafael Romero is the Chair of the Management and Marketing Department of the College of Business. He also owns 318 Marketing, LLC, a digital marketing firm in town. He was born and raised in Nicaragua. Romero earned a Law and Economics degree from the Central American University in Managua. He worked for Nicaragua’s Trade Department for several years. In 2008, he earned a Fulbright Scholarship, providing the opportunity to attend Vanderbilt University. He also earned an MBA from LSU-Shreveport. He contends his greatest accomplishment is being a husband and father.
